3-Day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park & Glass Bridge Tour

Hike the Avatar peaks and walk the world's longest glass bridge in three days

A 3-day guided tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and park transport included. Day 1 is arrival; Day 2 covers Tianzi Mountain, the Sky Garden, Yuanjiajie and the Bailong Elevator descent; Day 3 includes a 2.5-hour hike along Golden Whip Stream and a walk across the 375-meter glass bridge 300 meters above the canyon floor. Groups stay under 10 people. Entrance fees and cable car rides are paid separately to the guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Zhangjiajie city

• Provide arrival flight and hotel details
• Free pick up from airport or train station

Day 2: Explore Zhangjiajie National Park

• Meet guide at hotel lobby at 9:00am
• Take park green bus to Tianzi cable car station
• Visit Imperial Brush, Xihai Stone Forest, Fairy Lady Present Flowers
• Take shuttle bus to Laowuchang (Sky Garden)
• Explore Laowuchang and Sky Field Garden
• Take eco-bus to Yuanjiajie area
• Have food in Yuanjiajie area
• Hike 1.5 hours to Pillar of the Southern Sky
• Visit platform Forgetfulness and No.1 Bridge under Heaven
• Descend mountain via Bailong elevator
• Visit Kongzhong Tianyuan (Sky Field Garden)
• Enjoy dinner arranged by guide

Day 3: Golden Whip Stream and Glass Bridge

• Morning hike along Golden Whip Stream (2.5 hours)
• Lunch
• Transfer to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
• Walk on World's Longest Glass Bottom Bridge
• Transfer back to hotel
• Visit Sandstone Painting art by Li Junsheng
• Dinner

The experience

How do you see the Zhangjiajie peaks that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains without spending a week in the park? This tour condenses the main sights into three days, starting with hotel pickup on arrival and moving straight into the National Forest Park on Day 2. Your guide meets you at 9am and takes you by eco-shuttle to Tianzi Mountain, where you visit the Imperial Brush and Xihai Stone Forest before heading to Laowuchang: the Sky Garden area that sits between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, off the ordinary route. This is where photographers shoot sunrise. Most visitors never reach it.

Day 2 continues with a hike to Yuanjiajie to find the Pillar of the Southern Sky, the rock formation that became the Hallelujah Mountains on screen. You walk the No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven and then take the Bailong Elevator (one of the world's tallest outdoor elevators) down the cliff face. The afternoon moves to the Sky Field Garden (Kongzhong Tianyuan), a small area of paddy fields that seems to float on an outcrop surrounded by Zhangjiajie's peaks, farmed by local ethnic people. Day 3 starts with a leisure hike of about 2.5 hours along Golden Whip Stream, a valley that feels like stepping into Pandora itself, before you transfer to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to walk the glass bridge: 375 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 300 meters above the canyon floor. After that, you visit a local sandstone painting gallery before returning to your hotel. The guide is English-speaking. The group stays under 10 people.

Entrance fees, cable car rides and the elevator are not included in the tour price and are paid directly to your guide during the tour (580 RMB per person for the main park fees and transport). Hotel accommodation is your own arrangement. Pickup and drop-off from Zhangjiajie airport or train station are free.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for Days 2 and 3.
• free hotel pickup and drop-off from Zhangjiajie airport or train station on arrival.
• eco-shuttle bus transport inside the National Forest Park.
• all hiking and walking routes to the main viewpoints and the glass bridge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (14 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 13 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePets welcome

Operated by Zhangjiajie China international travel service CO.,LTD

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guide to navigate the park's layout and direct you to the glass bridge and main peaks in one day, rather than figuring out the route yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 13 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the Pillar of the Southern Sky and why does it matter in Zhangjiajie?

The Pillar of the Southern Sky is the sandstone column that inspired the Hallelujah Mountains in the movie Avatar. It stands in Yuanjiajie, and you hike to it on Day 2 to see the formation up close and understand why the filmmakers chose Zhangjiajie as the visual model for the film's alien landscape.

How long is the hike along Golden Whip Stream on Day 3?

The hike along Golden Whip Stream takes about 2.5 hours and is described as leisure paced. You walk through a valley with mountain views, fresh air and clear water, with no scrambling or technical sections.

Is the glass bridge walk difficult or scary?

The glass bridge is 375 meters long and sits 300 meters above the canyon floor. It is designed to be walked on (the glass is thick and safe), but it is not for people afraid of heights. The operator notes it is "not for the faint-hearted," meaning the view straight down can feel intense even though the structure is sound.

What is the Sky Garden and why is it part of this tour?

The Sky Garden (Laowuchang) is an undeveloped area between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, off the ordinary travel route. It holds a small area of paddy fields that appear to float on an outcrop surrounded by Zhangjiajie's peaks, farmed by local ethnic people. Photographers consider sunrise here a must-shoot scene, and most tourists never see it because few guides take groups there.

What do I pay separately from the tour price?

Entrance fees to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, cable car rides and the Bailong Elevator cost 580 RMB per person and are paid to your guide during the tour. Hotel accommodation is your own booking. Gratuities are not included.

Does the tour include a guide who speaks English?

Yes, an English-speaking guide is included and meets you at your hotel at 9am on Day 2. The guide also arranges all transport within the park and handles the logistics of the cable cars and elevator.