Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: 1-Day Mini Group Tour

Bailong Elevator ride with glass cabin views of karst peaks in 88 seconds

A full-day guided hike through Zhangjiajie National Forest Park takes you to Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain with hotel pickup and a professional English-speaking guide. The tour includes the Bailong Elevator ascent, access to the Avatar Hallelujah Mountains, and a no-shopping guarantee with no hidden fees. Groups stay small — about 12 people — so the pace stays unhurried and the guide can tailor the route to your comfort.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Zhangjiajie Forest Park tour

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Start unhurried hike with local guide
• Ride Bailong Elevator to summit
• Visit Avatar Hallelujah Mountain viewpoint
• Explore Yuanjiajie cliffside trails
• Flexible lunch on mountain
• Take shuttle to Yangjiajie
• Admire Natural Great Wall formations
• View Imperial Brush and Flower Fairy Peaks
• Relax on downhill cable car at sunset
• Return to hotel with guide and driver

The Experience

Nine to ten hours on the mountain starts with pickup at your hotel near the East Gate or downtown Zhangjiajie. Your guide and driver meet you in the lobby, and the drive to the park entrance gives you a first sense of the landscape — endless sandstone peaks rising from the forest floor. Once inside, you buy tickets on the spot with your guide's help, backed by the operator's guarantee of no middlemen and no hidden charges.

The Bailong Elevator is the first shock: it climbs the cliff face in 88 seconds, and the glass cabin lets you watch the karst forest shrink beneath you. From the summit, your guide leads you on a shortcut to the main vantage point overlooking the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain — the real-life formation that inspired the film. Then you walk the cliffside trails of Yuanjiajie, passing named landmarks like the Back Garden, Enchanting Platform, and First Bridge Under Heaven. Lunch is left to you; pack snacks or grab a meal at your own pace on the mountain. Fast-food chains like Dicos and McDonald's are at the summit if you want something familiar and lighter than the local dishes.

A park shuttle takes you to Yangjiajie, where the peaks are less crowded. Here you see the Natural Great Wall — rows of pine-covered sandstone peaks that have stood for 380 million years since the Devonian Period — and the jagged Imperial Brush Peaks and Flower Fairy Peaks rising into the clouds. A downhill cable car ride lets you relax and watch the sunset spread across the karst forest. Your guide and driver then escort you back to your hotel as the day closes.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off near the East Gate or downtown Zhangjiajie.
• professional English-speaking guide and dedicated driver.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transport.
• unlimited bottled water.
• Bailong Elevator access.
• park shuttle between Yuanjiajie and Yangjiajie.
• cable car ride at Yangjiajie.
• free child seat upon request.
• specialized infant seats available.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Travel China Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you have one full day and want to cover all three peaks with a guide who knows the timing and routes to see Hallelujah Mountain without the day-tripper crowds.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

276 verified traveler reviews

5 ★274

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the Bailong Elevator and how does it work?

The Bailong Elevator is the world's tallest and fastest cliffside elevator, built into the rock face of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It rises 88 seconds straight up, and its glass cabin lets you watch thousands of karst peaks drop beneath you as you ascend to the summit.

Can I bring my own food, or do I have to eat at the mountain restaurants?

Lunch is intentionally left flexible on this tour. You can pack snacks to keep your energy up, or buy a meal at your own expense on the mountain. Dining options at the summit are limited, and local dishes tend to be salty, spicy and greasy, so fast-food spots like Dicos in Yuanjiajie and McDonald's at Tianzi Mountain are better choices if you want something lighter and more familiar.

What makes the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain special?

The Avatar Hallelujah Mountain is the real-life formation that inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar. Your guide leads you on a shortcut to the best vantage point overlooking it, so you stand directly in front of the landmark the movie made famous.

How many people are in a mini group tour?

Mini group tours stay at about 12 people, which keeps the pace unhurried and lets your guide tailor the route to your comfort level instead of rushing through the park.

Do I need to carry my passport on the tour day?

Yes, you need to carry the same valid ID you provided for the real-name ticket booking. The scenic area will deny entry without it, so bring your passport or the ID you registered with.

What happens if the tour runs late and I have a flight or train the same day?

The operator recommends not booking trains or flights immediately after the tour, since unexpected mountain delays can occasionally occur. If you have same-day travel plans, let your guide know in advance so they can adjust the itinerary if needed.