Zhangjiajie in western Hunan is a forest of thousands of quartz-sandstone pillars rising from the mist, the landscape that inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. Glass skywalks and cable cars thread the peaks.
Why visit Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie in western Hunan is a forest of thousands of quartz-sandstone pillars rising from the mist, the landscape that inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. Glass skywalks and cable cars thread the peaks.
Top highlights
Avatar pillars — Ride the Bailong Elevator up the quartz pillars of Yuanjiajie, the real Hallelujah Mountains.
Tianmen Mountain — Cross the cliffside glass walkway and the 999-step stair to the natural Tianmen arch.
Golden Whip Stream — Stroll the flat valley trail beside clear pools where macaques play.
Tianzi Mountain — Take the cable car to sea-of-clouds viewpoints over a forest of stone spires.
The quartz pillars of Yuanjiajie.The glass walkway on Tianmen Mountain.Golden Whip Stream's clear pools.Sea of clouds from Tianzi Mountain.
Visit in spring or autumn for clear views and fewer clouds; the mountains are often foggy in summer, so build a buffer day in case the cable cars close.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1 — Yuanjiajie pillars and Bailong Elevator in the National Forest Park. Day 2 — Tianzi Mountain cable car and Golden Whip Stream. Day 3 — Tianmen Mountain glass walkway, evening train out.
