Zhangjiajie National Forest Park 2-Day Private Tour with Guide

Zhangjiajie's pillar peaks took 335 meters of elevator to reach, then a hike to understand.

A 2-day private guided tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in southern China, visiting Avatar Mountain, Tianzi Mountain, Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Brook with a live English-speaking guide and private vehicle transport. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; entrance fees are reserved in advance and paid when you meet the guide. The tour paces itself for both sightseeing and photography, making it suited to first-time visitors and anyone bringing a camera.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bailong Elevator and Avatar Mountain

• Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Ride Bailong Elevator to mountain top
• Hike at Avatar Mountain (Yuanjiajie)
• Take cable to Tianzi Mountain
• Enjoy views at Tianzi Mountain

Day 2 — Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Brook

• Take cablecar up to Huangshi Village
• Explore Huangshi Village attractions
• Take cablecar down to Golden Whip Brook
• Walk along Golden Whip Brook valley
• Visit iconic spots along the brook
• Transfer to airport, railway, or hotel

The Experience

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park sits in Hunan Province as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992, built on sandstone pillars shaped by centuries of erosion across more than 90% forest coverage. The park's iconic stone formations inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar, and the tour opens with Bailong Elevator—the world's highest and fastest sightseeing lift at 335 meters tall. The three transparent elevators carry 3,000 people an hour and reach the top in 1.5 minutes, delivering you straight into views of the South Sky Pillar, a 150-meter peak that served as the real-world model for Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain. From there, a hike through Yuanjiajie takes you past the Enchanting Platform, where stone peaks rise like bamboo shoots from the ground in every direction.

Day two splits between two cable-car ascents and a valley walk. Huangshi Village sits atop an elevated stone platform at over 1,080 meters altitude, making it the largest observation deck in the park—a local saying holds that you haven't truly visited Zhangjiajie without standing there. The cable carries you up to Star Picking Terrace, Five Fingers Peak and the Remaining Piers of the Heavenly Bridge, then back down to Golden Whip Brook, a 7.5-kilometer canyon winding through the park's heart. Your guide walks you through the named stops—Divine Eagle Protecting the Whip, Reunion Rock, Purple Grass Pond, Jumping Fish Pool—before the driver returns you to your hotel, airport or railway station.

Tianzi Mountain rounds out the first day with its own cable car and four natural spectacles: mist circling the peaks, sunrise views, moonlit nights and winter snow. The mountain holds more than 80 natural platforms for viewing, so the pacing lets you choose where to linger. The guide speaks English throughout, and the private vehicle means no schedule pressure beyond the two-day frame itself—stops and timing flex around photography or rest without negotiating with other travelers.

What’s included

• All entrance fees reserved in advance (paid to the guide on day one).
• private vehicle transport for both days.
• English-speaking live guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• access to Bailong Elevator, Avatar Mountain, Tianzi Mountain, Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Brook.
• cable car rides to Huangshi Village and Tianzi Mountain.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Zhangjiajie Top Trip

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private guide and vehicle for the full two days, which means the pace stays yours and the guide can linger at any viewpoint without rushing to match a group schedule. The reserved entrance tickets mean you walk straight into each area instead of queuing at the gates.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is Avatar Mountain, and why is it called that in Zhangjiajie?

Avatar Mountain is the real-world location that inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountain in the film Avatar. It is the South Sky Pillar, a 150-meter sandstone peak within Yuanjiajie that you hike to during the first day, and the tour treats it as the centerpiece of the park's most popular attraction.

How do I get up Zhangjiajie's mountains if I don't want to hike the whole way?

Bailong Elevator carries you 335 meters up in 1.5 minutes, and cable cars serve Huangshi Village and Tianzi Mountain. The tour uses all three, so you ride up and walk the plateaus and valleys at ground level instead of climbing from the base.

What is Huangshi Village, and why do locals say you haven't visited Zhangjiajie without it?

Huangshi Village is the largest observation deck in the entire park, perched at over 1,080 meters on an elevated stone platform. It holds the most expansive views of the surrounding peaks and is considered the quintessential vantage point for understanding the park's scale and layout.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets separately, or are they included?

The tour reserves all entrance tickets in advance, and you pay the guide when you meet on day one. The total entrance fee is 495 RMB per person, covering all four main areas; the guide handles the logistics so you walk straight in.

Can I choose where the driver picks me up and drops me off?

The tour offers two pickup options at checkout: Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie City. Drop-off goes to your hotel, Zhangjiajie airport or the railway station, whichever you arrange with the guide before the tour starts.

Is this tour good for photography, or is it mostly a sightseeing walk?

The tour is designed with relaxed pacing specifically for both sightseeing and shooting, so it suits photography lovers as well as first-time visitors. The private guide and vehicle mean you can spend extra time at any platform or viewpoint without holding up a group schedule.