Zhangjiajie Forest Park Day Tour: Avatar Mountain & Lunch

Pillar mountains, three viewpoints, and a full day arranged

A guided day tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in southern China that combines three mountain zones—the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain with its natural bridge, Tianzi Mountain's west sea of rocks, and Helong Park—with cable car rides, hiking trails, and lunch included. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours from hotel pickup at 8:30am, with an English or Mandarin-speaking guide leading the route and all site admission fees covered. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

• Start from hotel lobby at 8:30am
• Visit Zhangjiajie National Park
• Take elevator to Yuanjiajie scenic area
• See Avatar Hallelujah Mountain
• Have local Chinese lunch
• Shuttle bus to Tianzi Mountain
• Visit Helong Park and viewpoints
• Take gondola ride down mountain
• Transfer back to Zhangjiajie hotel

The Experience

You start from your hotel at 8:30am and head into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a woody territory where mountains rise like giant pillars from the canyons—the same landscape that inspired the film Avatar. The park's trails wind through rich vegetation and natural formations shaped over thousands of years. An elevator carries you up to the Yuanjiajie scenic area, which opens onto a view of the whole zone below, and from there you reach the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, renamed from the Southern Sky Column, where a natural bridge spans the rock face.

After a local Chinese lunch, a shuttle bus takes you to Tianzi Mountain. Here you visit Helong Park—the only manmade structure in the day's itinerary—and walk to the west sea of rocks viewpoint and the imperial brush formation. A gondola ride descends the mountain, and then transport returns you to your hotel. The cable car, all site admissions, and the guide are included; you bring only comfortable walking shoes and a camera.

What’s included

• Cable car and gondola rides.
• admission to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Tianzi Mountain and Helong Park.
• local Chinese lunch.
• hotel pickup and return transport.
• English or Mandarin-speaking tour guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Ws China Trips

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the three signature peaks—Avatar Mountain, Tianzi Mountain, and Helong Park—in one day with cable cars handling the steep sections and a private vehicle moving you between sites.

Top questions

What is the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and why is it called that?

The Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, formerly known as the Southern Sky Column, is a peak in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park featuring a natural bridge created by geological forces over thousands of years. It was renamed after the film Avatar because its towering pillar shape and landscape match the alien world shown in the movie.

How much walking and climbing is involved in this tour?

The tour includes hiking trails through the forest and viewpoints on Tianzi Mountain, but an elevator carries you up to the Yuanjiajie scenic area and a gondola descends the mountain, so you are not climbing the full height on foot. The itinerary suits all physical fitness levels, though comfortable walking shoes are essential.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will we eat?

Yes, lunch is included and served locally before the shuttle bus ride to Tianzi Mountain. The meal is Chinese cuisine prepared for tour groups.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total and ends with a transfer back to your Zhangjiajie hotel, so you return by the same transport that picked you up in the morning.

Do I need a passport or any documents for this tour?

Yes—at the time of booking, you must provide your passport name, passport number, date of birth and country for all customers. You also need to carry a current valid passport on the day of travel.