Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Tianmen Mountain Private Tour

Two mountains, two cable systems, one day without arranging the transport.

A private day tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain in Southern China, with hotel pickup, a guide, and all park entry and lift tickets included. The tour covers the Tianzi mountain area and Yuanjiajie—the Avatar film location—by cable car and the world's highest sightseeing elevator, then moves to Tianmen Mountain for cliff-path walking and views from 1,500 meters. The itinerary depends on your hotel location and traffic conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhangjiajie and Tianmen Mountain

• Meet guide at hotel lobby 7:30am
• Transfer to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Take Tianzi Mountain cable car
• Explore Tianzi Mountain for 30 minutes
• Transfer to Yuanjiajie area
• Visit Yuanjiajie for 30 minutes
• Ride Bailong Elevator down the hill
• Take shuttle bus to parking lot
• Transfer to Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
• Use cable car or shuttle bus up Tianmen Mountain
• Explore Tianmen Mountain for 2 hours
• Return to hotel or drop-off point

The Experience

Your driver and guide meet you at your hotel at 7:30am and drive to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992. The park sits within the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area, though locals call it Zhangjiajie. You'll take the Tianzi cable car up the mountain—about 20 minutes—to walk among the sandstone peaks and hear the history of Tianzi, the Ming Dynasty leader who fought here 500 years ago. The landscape here is sharp and slim pillars rising from the forest floor.

Next comes Yuanjiajie, the area that served as the backdrop for Avatar. Hundreds of tall sandstone formations stand here, with Hallelujah Mountain as the most recognizable. A 326-meter sightseeing elevator saves climbing time and lets you see more of the park's scale. The pillars are larger than those in other sections. Note that this area draws crowds during peak season, so timing matters. After Yuanjiajie, you descend via the Bailong Elevator and shuttle bus back to the car park.

Following lunch, you head to Tianmen Mountain, the highest point in Zhangjiajie at 1,500 meters. You'll take either the cable car or shuttle bus up—depending on traffic—and spend about two hours there. The mountain holds four Guinness World Records and offers a glass walkway and cliff-edge paths where you can see the whole city and countryside below. The landscape here differs from the forest park but ranks equally as world-class scenery. The full day runs eight hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Private car and guide in English or Chinese.
• entrance tickets to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain.
• Tianzi cable car and Bailong sightseeing elevator.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie, airport or train station.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Eight hours is long enough to cover both parks and their cable systems without rushing, but short enough to leave your morning or evening free. The private guide and car mean no waiting for group departures or public transport schedules, and the route adjusts to your hotel location rather than a fixed meeting point.

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Top questions

What's the difference between Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain on this tour?

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park features the sandstone peak forest with the Tianzi mountain area and Yuanjiajie (the Avatar location), reached by cable car and the 326-meter sightseeing elevator. Tianmen Mountain is a separate peak at 1,500 meters with cliff paths, a glass walkway and city views, accessed by cable car or shuttle bus depending on traffic.

Do I need to be fit to walk the cliff paths and glass walkway?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The cliff paths and glass walkway at Tianmen Mountain involve walking at height, and the cable cars and elevators move between steep terrain. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

What time does the tour start and when will I be back?

Your guide and driver pick you up from your hotel at 7:30am. The full tour runs eight hours, so you'll return to your hotel in the afternoon. The exact return time depends on traffic and which site you visit first, which is determined by your hotel location.

Are the park entry tickets and cable car rides included in the price?

Yes, the tour includes the main entrance tickets for both Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain, plus the Tianzi cable car and Bailong lift tickets. Your private guide and car are also included. Food and drinks are not covered.

What if my hotel is in Wulingyuan instead of Zhangjiajie city?

Pickup and drop-off are available from any hotel in Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie, as well as from the airport or train station. The order of sites may change depending on your location—Tianmen Mountain might be visited first if it makes the route more efficient.

How crowded is Yuanjiajie, the Avatar location?

Yuanjiajie is the most famous highlighted area in the park and draws crowds during high tourism season. The 326-meter sightseeing elevator helps you move through the area more quickly, but you should be aware that it can be busy.