Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Private Tour: Avatar Mountain

The elevator climbs 326 meters in 90 seconds to a sandstone peak forest that hangs above the clouds.

A private, guided tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Southern China with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. You walk Golden Whip Brook, ride Bailong Elevator to panoramic views, explore Yuanjiajie's Hallelujah Mountain (the Avatar-inspired rock formations), and ascend Tianzi Mountain for a wide vista of the reserve before descending by cable car. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and includes all transport within the park, bottled water and travel insurance; entrance tickets are paid separately to the guide on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

• Get off at Shuiraosimen Station
• Walk 1-1.5KM along Golden Whip Brook
• Ride Bailong Elevator to mountain top
• Visit Yuanjiajie and see Hallelujah mountain
• Explore Tianzi Mountain and Helong Park
• Take Tianzi Cablecar down

The Experience

How do you see a national forest park without renting a car or piecing together public transit? This tour handles the logistics—hotel pickup, the guide, all transport between stops inside the park—so you move through the day without planning the connections. Your guide speaks English and stays with you through the four main sections of the park, which means you get context for what you are standing in front of instead of reading signs alone.

The day starts at Shuiraosimen Station with a walk along Golden Whip Brook, a 1 to 1.5 kilometer paved path that runs beside water through forest. From there you move to Bailong Elevator, the world's highest and fastest sightseeing lift—it climbs 326 meters in just 90 seconds through transparent walls, so the sandstone peaks open up as you rise. Yuanjiajie comes next, where the rock formations that inspired Avatar's floating mountains sit in the northern section of the park. The final stop is Tianzi Mountain, a mesa where the view opens across the whole reserve; you descend by cable car instead of retracing your steps.

Entrance tickets to the park cost 374 RMB per person (about 237 + 65 + 72 RMB across the different zones) and you pay this to your guide when you meet. The tour operates in all weather, so bring layers and wear shoes built for walking on paved paths and cable car platforms. Pregnant travelers and anyone with cardiovascular concerns should check with the operator before booking, as the elevation changes and the day's length matter for those conditions.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in your choice of Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie City.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• all transport between the four main stops inside the park.
• bottled water.
• travel insurance.
• all taxes and handling charges.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Zhangjiajie Top Trip

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to move through the park without assembling your own transport or reading maps—the guide handles the route, the timing and the context. Pick the Wulingyuan pickup if you are staying near the park entrance, or the Zhangjiajie City pickup if you are based in the city center.

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Top questions

What is Golden Whip Brook and why does the tour start there?

Golden Whip Brook is a paved walking path beside water that runs for 1 to 1.5 kilometers through the forest in one of the most scenic sections of the park. The tour begins there to ease you into the landscape before moving to the higher elevations and cable car rides later in the day.

How fast does Bailong Elevator actually climb?

Bailong Elevator takes 90 seconds to rise 326 meters to the top of the mountain. It is the world's highest and fastest sightseeing elevator, and the three transparent cabins let you watch the sandstone peaks grow larger as you ascend.

What are the Hallelujah Mountains and where do I see them?

The Hallelujah Mountains are the floating rock formations at Yuanjiajie that inspired the landscape design of the movie Avatar. They sit in the northern corner of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and are the main reason many travelers choose this tour.

Do I need to book entrance tickets in advance, or do I pay on the day?

Entrance tickets are not included in the tour price. You pay them to your guide after you meet, totaling 374 RMB per person for access to all the zones you will visit.

What should I wear and bring for an 8-hour tour in the forest?

Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for paved paths and cable car platforms. Bring layers because the weather changes with elevation, and the tour operates in all conditions—rain, sun or cold. Bottled water is provided.