Zhangjiajie & the Avatar mountains.
Zhangjiajie is the place that inspired the floating mountains of Avatar — thousands of sheer sandstone pillars rising from the forest of remote Hunan, so often wrapped in mist that their bases vanish and the peaks seem to hover. Around the national forest park sit two more headline thrills: the world's highest glass bridge, and Tianmen Mountain with its cliff-edge walkways and the natural arch of Heaven's Gate. It takes effort to reach, but three days here deliver some of the most extraordinary scenery in China.
What to do
The Avatar mountains (Yuanjiajie)
The core of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: the sandstone pillars that inspired the film's Hallelujah Mountains, including the column officially renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain." Misty mornings are the most cinematic. Book a National Forest Park ticket.
Tianzi Mountain
The other great viewpoint area in the forest park, a dense field of pillars reached by cable car. Pair it with Yuanjiajie over a full day inside the park; the scale takes time to absorb.
Bailong glass elevator
A 326m glass elevator bolted to a sheer cliff inside the park — the tallest outdoor lift in the world. It saves a long climb and delivers a startling view as you rise past the pillars.
Zhangjiajie glass bridge
In Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, a separate site: the world's highest and longest glass bridge — 430m across the gorge, around 300m up, with a transparent floor. Tickets are timed and limited; book a glass bridge ticket ahead.
Tianmen Mountain & Heaven's Gate
A long cable car climbs to cliff-hugging walkways (including glass sections) and the vast natural arch of Heaven's Gate, reached by 999 steps. A full day, separate from the forest park. Book the Tianmen cable car.
Golden Whip Stream
For a gentler pace, this flat valley walk follows a clear stream through the base of the pillars — wild monkeys, sheer walls and far fewer crowds than the clifftop viewpoints.
Where to stay
The best base — right at the main entrance to the national forest park, with hotels at every level and easy access to the Avatar pillars and the glass elevator.
A few simple hotels sit up on the mountain inside the park, letting you catch sunrise over the pillars before the day-trippers arrive. Basic but unforgettable.
The transport hub with the airport, train station and Tianmen Mountain cable car. Handy for Tianmen and arrivals, but about 40 minutes from the forest park itself.
Stick to international chains or English-listed hotels to guarantee foreign-guest registration. Search Zhangjiajie hotels on Trip.com → See our Stay guide on which hotels accept foreigners.
Reach Zhangjiajie by high-speed rail (the Zhangjiajie West station) or a domestic flight to DYG, often via Changsha. The sights are spread out and English is limited, so many visitors use a driver or guide for the multi-day park logistics — book a station pick-up to Wulingyuan. See getting around China for the rail options, and DiDi for local hops.
Zhangjiajie in pictures.
Where Zhangjiajie sits.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. View Zhangjiajie on a larger map → In China, the local navigation apps are Amap and Apple Maps — see getting around.
Best time to visit Zhangjiajie.
Late spring and autumn give the clearest skies and the famous sea of mist between the sandstone pillars, with comfortable temperatures for the long days of walking and cable cars in the park.
Heads-up: Deep winter (Dec–Feb) is cold and the peaks can close with snow or ice on the walkways. Midsummer is hot, humid and prone to afternoon downpours, and the park is at its most crowded in the school holidays.
Avoid the three golden weeks
Whenever you visit, dodge China's national public holidays. Hundreds of millions travel at once — trains and flights sell out, hotel prices spike, and every famous sight is shoulder-to-shoulder.
- Spring Festival around 17 Feb 2026 the biggest travel rush of the year — book weeks ahead or avoid entirely
- Labour Day 1–5 May 2026 a 5-day national break; major sights hit peak crowds
- National Day 1–8 Oct 2026 the longest holiday — the single worst week to travel domestically
Dates shift each year (the lunar Spring Festival especially) — confirm before booking. Mid-week, off-holiday travel is always smoother and cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Avatar mountains real, and are they in Zhangjiajie?
Yes. The floating "Hallelujah Mountains" in the film Avatar were inspired by the real sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan, China. The most famous pillar was officially renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" after the film. The pillars are genuine — over 3,000 quartz-sandstone columns rising up to 300m, often wrapped in mist so their bases disappear.
What are the top things to do in Zhangjiajie?
See the Avatar sandstone pillars in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Yuanjiajie and the Tianzi Mountain area), ride the Bailong glass elevator up the cliff, and walk across the world’s longest and highest glass bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. On a separate day, take the cable car up Tianmen Mountain for the cliff-edge glass walkway and the natural arch of Heaven’s Gate.
How many days do you need in Zhangjiajie?
Three days is ideal: two for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (it is huge — the Avatar pillars, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and the Bailong elevator), and one for Tianmen Mountain and the glass bridge. With only two days, prioritise the forest park and pick either Tianmen Mountain or the glass bridge.
Is the Zhangjiajie glass bridge worth it?
For many travellers, yes. The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge is the world’s highest and longest, spanning 430m across the canyon at around 300m up, with a transparent glass floor. It’s a separate site from the national forest park, so allow a half to full day. Tickets are timed and limited, so book ahead in peak season.
Is Zhangjiajie worth visiting?
Yes — the Avatar sandstone pillars are unlike any other landscape in China, and the mix of the forest park, the glass bridge and Tianmen Mountain makes it one of the country’s most spectacular natural destinations. It takes effort to reach (it’s in remote Hunan), but high-speed rail and a domestic airport now make it a viable two-to-three-day add-on to a wider China trip.
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