Zhangjiajie Private Day Trip: Avatar Mountain & Forest Park

See the sandstone peaks that inspired Avatar, without arranging the route yourself

A private guided day tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southern China, with an English-speaking guide, private driver and all park tickets included. The tour covers Tianzi Mountain via cable car, the Bailong Elevator (one of the world's tallest outdoor elevators), Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, and a hike along Golden Whip Stream. Eight hours total. Lunch is not included, so plan to eat before departure or bring snacks. Your passport is required for park entry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhangjiajie National Park

• Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Take cable car up Tianzi Mountain
• View Helong Park and Imperial Brush Peak
• See Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and No.1 Bridge
• Ride Bailong Elevator
• Hike Golden Whip Stream

The experience

You start with hotel pickup and a private driver who handles the route while you settle in. The day opens at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO-protected landscape of sandstone karst pillars shaped over thousands of years by water erosion and winter ice expansion. The pillars rise through subtropical rainforest, and this geology is what drew filmmaker James Cameron to use the park as inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar.

From there, a cable car carries you up Tianzi Mountain: Tianzi means Son of Heaven, named after a minority leader's revolution nearly 900 years ago. At the top you see the full sweep of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, with named peaks like Imperial Brush Peak and Fairy Spreading Flowers Peak. Then comes the Bailong Elevator, a 335-meter glass lift built into a cliff face that takes three minutes to rise and holds 48 passengers at a time. It's the world's tallest outdoor sightseeing elevator. You'll stand at Yuanjiajie, where Avatar Hallelujah Mountain rises as an independent 150-meter pillar, and walk across the First Bridge under Heaven.

The hike along Golden Whip Stream closes the day. It's a one-way route of around 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) that takes two and a half to three hours, with a murmuring stream running alongside, clear water, forest canopy, wildflowers and birdsong. The path is well-traveled but steep in places. Watch for monkeys that will steal food if you're not careful. Your guide leads the way and handles the timing so everything fits inside the eight-hour window. Air-conditioned transport, refreshments during the drive, and all park admission are included. You bring your own lunch or eat before you leave.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver.
• all park admission tickets.
• cable car up Tianzi Mountain.
• Bailong Elevator access.
• in-transport refreshments.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by IslamiChina Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving with a free afternoon or a single day to spend and want to see the major peaks without building the route yourself: the private guide, driver and fixed itinerary mean you move through all four main stops (Tianzi Mountain, the Bailong Elevator, Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and Golden Whip Stream) without waiting for group departures or figuring out connections.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and why is it famous?

Avatar Hallelujah Mountain is a 150-meter sandstone pillar at Yuanjiajie that was used as the backdrop for the Hallelujah Mountains in James Cameron's film Avatar. It rises abruptly from a valley surrounded by higher mountains and is covered in lush vegetation at the top, creating the otherworldly landscape the movie depicted.

How long is the Golden Whip Stream hike and what's it like?

Golden Whip Stream is a one-way hike of around 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) that takes two and a half to three hours. You walk alongside a clear murmuring stream through verdant forest with wildflowers and birdsong, though the terrain is steep in sections and monkeys in the area may try to steal food.

What is the Bailong Elevator and how fast does it go?

The Bailong (Hundred Dragons) Elevator is a 335-meter glass lift built onto a cliff face in the Yuanjiajie scenic area. It's the world's tallest outdoor sightseeing elevator and holds 48 passengers at a time, rising at a speed of 3 meters per second: taking about three minutes for the full ascent.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. Plan to eat a substantial breakfast before pickup or bring snacks for the day. There are limited dining options in downtown Zhangjiajie and very few within the scenic areas themselves. McDonald's and KFC at the parks offer pork-free options if needed.

Do I need my passport for this tour?

Yes, keep your passport with you throughout the day. It may be required to purchase entrance tickets at the park gates.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes all government taxes, a professional English-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle with a private experienced driver, in-transport refreshments, and all admission tickets to the sightseeing areas within the park.