Frequently asked questions

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Is Zhangjiajie worth visiting?

Yes. Zhangjiajie means three main things: the city of Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (part of the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan scenic area), and the general area around the city and the park. The natural wonders of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the scenic area are spectacular; you can skip Zhangjiajie city.

It takes two days to explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the Wulingyuan UNESCO World Heritage-listed area, which spans 102 square miles (264 square kilometers). Four days in the Zhangjiajie area gives you enough time to see the park, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Tianmen Mountain, Yellow Dragon Cave, and Baofeng Lake.

The Zhangjiajie area includes the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan scenic zone with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It’s special for its otherworldly landscapes: eerie sandstone spires and pinnacles are often wreathed in drifting mist. Engineering feats include glass bridges, glass skywalks, and spectacular cableways, plus the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor elevator.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park offers hiking, photography, simple eateries, cableways, glass walkways, and the Bailong Elevator. There are five main scenic areas: Golden Whip Brook, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Huangshi Village, and Tianzi Mountain (not to be confused with Tianmen Mountain). Despite the name, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is about a 15-mile (25-kilometer) drive.

April is the best month to visit Zhangjiajie. The summer rains have yet to start and the summer crowds have yet to arrive. Plus, there are no major public holidays to worry about. Temperatures hover in the hiking-friendly range—54–68°F (12–20°C)—and the landscapes are green with the occasional spring flower.

You should stay in Wulingyuan district instead of Yongding district because most of the tourist attractions (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Baofeng Lake, Yellow Dragon Cave, Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge etc.) are located in Wulingyuan district. This can help you save a lot of time and money for the transport.

Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie Folk Custom Park and the Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport are in Yongding district. You can see the Wulingyuan district’s attractions ( 1-3 days) first and then see the Yongding district’s attraction (1 day is enough for Tianmen Mountain + Zhangjiajie Folk Custom Park + Airport transfer).

Please note that the star-rated hotels in Zhangjiajie might not be up to the standard of those in the famous tourist cities like Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guilin. Most hotels in Zhangjiajie opened over 10 years ago and have not undergone renovation, so the facilities might not be very new. For example, 4-star hotels (first class) in Zhangjiajie might only compare to economy standard hotels (3-star) in cities like Shanghai. Breakfast at a 4-star hotel in Zhangjiajie is very basic. At 5-star hotels breakfast is usually Chinese style mixed with some western choices. We suggest you bring your own toiletries and towel.

Zhangjiajie features a lot of boutique inns. Some inns are even more expensive than the deluxe hotel. Most of the inns only offer Chinese breakfast, don’t offer Western style breakfast. If you find a special stay, we suggest trying the ethnic style inn.

Please also note that tourists cannot stay overnight in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. All the family hotels and inns were relocated outside the park in 2017.