Zhangjiajie Forest Park Tour: Cable Car & Bailong Elevator

Walk the ridgelines and ride the world's longest cable car to Zhangjiajie's stone peaks.

A full-day private tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan, departing from your hotel at 9am with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, cable car to Tianzi Mountain, and the 335-meter Bailong Elevator. The tour visits the park's mist-shrouded sandstone pillars, Yuanjiajie Mountain (Avatar's filming location), and Golden Whip Stream, with a one-hour hike along the water. Moderate fitness required. Not suitable for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park3h
2. Wulingyuan3h

Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

• Meet guide at hotel lobby
• Visit Tianzi Mountain cable station
• Walk up 200 steps to cable station
• Take 20-minute cable car ride to Tianzi Mountain top
• Take 5-minute shuttle to Tianzi Mountain central area
• Explore Yuanjiajie Mountain platform
• Visit Yangjiajie Scenic Area stockaded village
• Walk stone path in Tianbofu Scenic Reserve
• Take 15-minute shuttle to Bailong Elevator
• Ride Bailong Elevator
• Hike 1 hour along Golden Whip Stream
• Take shuttle out of park back to hotel

The experience

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park spreads across 243 towering stone pillars wrapped in subtropical rainforest, the same landscape that inspired Pandora in Avatar. Your guide meets you at 9am at your hotel in Zhangjiajie city or Wulingyuan and drives you into the park, where you'll move between mountain areas by shuttle. The park holds over 500 species of wildlife and vegetation, including rare monkeys, gingko trees and thousands of birds. The stone formations themselves are the main draw, rising one after another across the valleys.

The cable car carries you 20 minutes up Tianzi Mountain, known as the Monarch of the Peak Forest, where you'll see the full extent of Wulingyuan Scenic Area spread below. From the summit you move by shuttle to the central viewing area, which opens onto panoramic views of peaks in every direction. The tour then takes you to Yuanjiajie Mountain, a platform-shaped peak where you walk past three gates to reach the stockaded village at the top, a historic bandit stronghold built for defense. Next is the Bailong Elevator, a 335-meter structure that runs three parallel sightseeing elevators up the cliff face. The ride itself is the spectacle here, climbing the rock wall at speed. After the elevator you hike for about an hour along Golden Whip Stream, a valley path lined with flowers, trees and water, before a final shuttle returns you to your hotel.

The tour runs eight hours total. You'll need a moderate level of fitness for the walking sections and the 200 steps up to the cable car station. Children from age one are welcome if accompanied by an adult. A valid passport is required on the day of travel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off service.
• transportation by shuttle throughout the park.
• cable car ride to Tianzi Mountain.
• the Bailong Elevator descent.
• services of an English-speaking guide for the full day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Hotel pickup in WulingyuanGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Pickup is included: you will be collected from a hotel in central Wulingyuan and returned to a central Wulingyuan hotel only, with a local taxi used for transport if required.

Hotel pickup in ZhangjiajieGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Pickup from your Zhangjiajie hotel is included, and you will be dropped off at your hotel in Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Paid on siteUS$ 34

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want to start early and complete the full circuit of peaks, cable car, elevator and stream hike within daylight. The eight-hour schedule packs four major viewpoints into one day, so you'll need moderate fitness for the walking and climbing sections.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What is the Bailong Elevator and how does it work?

The Bailong Elevator is a 335-meter sightseeing lift built into the cliff face, with three parallel elevators running side by side. Each one holds 50 passengers and moves at 5 meters per second, taking you up the rock wall as part of the tour's descent from Yuanjiajie.

How long is the hike along Golden Whip Stream?

The walk along Golden Whip Stream lasts about one hour and follows a stone path through a valley lined with flowers, trees and water. It is the final major stop before the shuttle returns you to your hotel.

Will I recognize Zhangjiajie from Avatar?

Yes. The sandstone pillars and floating-peak landscape of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park directly inspired the scenery of Pandora in James Cameron's Avatar. Yuanjiajie Mountain, which you visit on this tour, was a filming location.

Do I need to book entry to the park separately?

The main park entrance fee (227 RMB per person) is not included in the tour price and is paid separately on the day. Your guide will help you purchase tickets at the gate.

Can I do this tour if I'm pregnant or have back problems?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries. It involves walking, climbing 200 steps to the cable car station, and riding the Bailong Elevator. If you have health concerns, contact the operator before booking.

Where does the tour pick me up?

Your guide meets you at 9am at your hotel lobby in either Zhangjiajie city center or Wulingyuan, depending on which pickup location you choose at checkout. Hotel drop-off is included at the end of the day.