Zhangjiajie National Forest Park one-day tour with guide

Wulingyuan's sandstone pillars, cable cars, and a stream gorge in one morning and afternoon

A guided one-day tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park covers Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Golden Whip Stream Gorge, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Ten Miles Gallery with park entry, scenic bus transport and a live Chinese-speaking guide. Pickup and drop-off from the city center are included; lunch is on your own. The tour runs roughly 8 to 9 hours, moving between the towering sandstone peaks that inspired Avatar's floating mountains.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

• Arrive and queue at park entrance
• Visit Wulingyuan and Golden Whip Stream
• See Hundred Dragons Elevator and Yuanjiajie
• View Hallelujah Mountain and Qiankun Pillar
• Ride the World's First Elevator
• Lunch break
• Travel to Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area
• Visit Tianzi Mountain attractions
• Take Tianzi Mountain Cable Car
• Travel to Ten Miles Gallery
• Visit Ten Miles Gallery attractions
• Return to Wulingyuan Sign Gate and end tour

The Experience

The day starts at the park entrance by 8:30 am, where you'll queue with your passport to enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. From there, the guide leads you through Wulingyuan Scenic Area for the morning's main stretch—Golden Whip Stream Gorge, Yuanjiajie, and Hallelujah Mountain (also called Qiankun Pillar), the iconic rock formation that became the floating islands in Avatar. A scenic bus moves the group between viewpoints, so you walk the trails and take in the panoramic views of thousands of sandstone peaks without managing your own route through the park.

Lunch is a break you arrange yourself around 1 pm. After eating, the tour heads to Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area by vehicle. The cable car up Tianzi Mountain is optional and costs extra—it takes you above the clouds to see the sea-of-clouds phenomenon and the peaks from above. From there, the group visits Ten Miles Gallery, a scenic stretch with its own attractions, before ending at the Wulingyuan Sign Gate around 5 pm for the return drive to the city center.

The tour operates as either a group of 8 or a group of 15, both with a live guide in Chinese. Pickup and drop-off are included. If you want the Mini Train in Ten Miles Gallery or the Bai Long Sky Ladder entrance, those are add-ons you choose at checkout. The park's scenic bus ticket is included in the tour price, so you don't buy a separate transport pass inside the park.

What’s included

• Park entrance ticket to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
• scenic bus transport between attractions.
• pickup and drop-off from the city center.
• live guide in Chinese.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mickey Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the group of 8 if you prefer a smaller group moving through the park; the group of 15 is the standard option. Both include the same attractions and guide, so the difference is group size and pace.

Top questions

What exactly is Hallelujah Mountain and why is it called that in Zhangjiajie?

Hallelujah Mountain, officially named Qiankun Pillar, is the iconic towering sandstone peak in Yuanjiajie that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. It's one of the most photographed formations in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and a main stop on the morning portion of the tour.

Do I need to bring anything specific to enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?

Bring your passport—you'll need it to queue for entry at the park entrance when you arrive at 8:30 am. The guide will be with you for the entry process.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included; you'll have a break around 1 pm to eat on your own before the afternoon portion of the tour begins.

What is the cable car on Tianzi Mountain and do I have to take it?

The Tianzi Mountain Cable Car is an optional add-on that costs extra. It takes you up the mountain to see the sea-of-clouds views and panoramic peaks from above; it's not part of the base tour but you can add it at checkout if you want that experience.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes walking the trails at Wulingyuan, Golden Whip Stream Gorge, Yuanjiajie and Ten Miles Gallery, with a scenic bus moving the group between major viewpoints. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended; the tour is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the tour price and what costs extra?

The tour includes park entry, the scenic bus ticket inside the park, pickup and drop-off from the city center, and a live Chinese-speaking guide. The Tianzi Mountain Cable Car, Mini Train in Ten Miles Gallery, and Bai Long Sky Ladder are optional add-ons you can choose at checkout.