Zhangjiajie
Nestled in the northwestern region of Hunan Province, 
the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the broader Wulingyuan Scenic Area form one of China’s most extraordinary natural landscapes. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and later inspiring the floating mountains in James Cameron’s Avatar, this region is renowned for its towering sandstone pillars, some exceeding 200 metres in height, formed over 300 million years of geological evolution. The area spans 398 km² and encompasses quartzite sandstone peaks, deep ravines, dense forests, and clear streams, creating an otherworldly panorama.
The Wulingyuan Scenic Area comprises three main sections: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (China’s first national park, established in 1982), Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve. Among its most famous landmarks is the "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" (formerly known as the Southern Sky Column), a towering pinnacle that has become an iconic symbol of the region. The Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, with its "First Bridge Under Heaven" - a natural stone arch spanning two cliffs - offers breathtaking views, while the Golden Whip Stream provides serene hiking trails flanked by lush vegetation and wildlife, including the endangered Chinese giant salamander.
Visitors can ascend the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor lift, carved into a cliff face, or explore the glass-bottomed Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge, one of the highest and longest of its kind. Rich in biodiversity, the area is also home to rare flora such as the Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) and serves as a vital conservation zone. With its dramatic karst formations, mist-shrouded valleys, and cultural significance to the Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities, Zhangjiajie remains an unmissable destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
How to get to Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie has an airport with flights to China, Korea and Malaysia and a train station.
Accommodation
There are countless hotels, bookable via international hotel booking portals.
the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the broader Wulingyuan Scenic Area form one of China’s most extraordinary natural landscapes. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and later inspiring the floating mountains in James Cameron’s Avatar, this region is renowned for its towering sandstone pillars, some exceeding 200 metres in height, formed over 300 million years of geological evolution. The area spans 398 km² and encompasses quartzite sandstone peaks, deep ravines, dense forests, and clear streams, creating an otherworldly panorama.The Wulingyuan Scenic Area comprises three main sections: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (China’s first national park, established in 1982), Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve. Among its most famous landmarks is the "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" (formerly known as the Southern Sky Column), a towering pinnacle that has become an iconic symbol of the region. The Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, with its "First Bridge Under Heaven" - a natural stone arch spanning two cliffs - offers breathtaking views, while the Golden Whip Stream provides serene hiking trails flanked by lush vegetation and wildlife, including the endangered Chinese giant salamander.
Visitors can ascend the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor lift, carved into a cliff face, or explore the glass-bottomed Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge, one of the highest and longest of its kind. Rich in biodiversity, the area is also home to rare flora such as the Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) and serves as a vital conservation zone. With its dramatic karst formations, mist-shrouded valleys, and cultural significance to the Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities, Zhangjiajie remains an unmissable destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
How to get to Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie has an airport with flights to China, Korea and Malaysia and a train station.
Accommodation
There are countless hotels, bookable via international hotel booking portals.
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54 photos of the Tianmen mountain, a natural landmark within the Zhangjiajie scenic area
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36 photos of the Yuanjiajie scenic area west of Wulingyuan, famous for its towering sandstone pillars
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28 photos of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge and the Liuyang river canyon area
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Gallery with all images
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©Copyright Alfred Molon