By Dan Forteza
This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!
Do you want to explore the famous Avatar mountains? Well, I do and…I did! The box-office movie Avatar, released in 2010, made Zhangjiajie a world-famous travel destination for tourists seeking traces of the iconic “Hallelujah Mountains.”
Tourists visiting Zhangjiajie are often overwhelmed by the region’s peculiar sandstone forest landforms and the magnificent scenery of Wulingyuan and the surrounding areas. Even with just a 2-day Zhangjiajie itinerary, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a magical mountain fairyland.
Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel — a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.
WHERE IS ZHANGJIAJIE?
Zhangjiajie, located in the northwest of Hunan Province, China, offers some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the country. It is roughly a 2-hour flight from Shanghai or about 2.5 hours from Beijing.
For international travelers, the most common flight routes usually include a stopover in major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong. Because of this, I recommend spending a few days exploring those cities first before booking a flight or train ticket to Zhangjiajie.
I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheaper flight rates compared to other booking sites.
Language: Chinese
Currency: Chinese Yuan (RMB)
Airport: DYG
Time Zone: GMT +8
HOW I GOT THERE
Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport (DYG) is the main airport serving the Zhangjiajie region. If you’re like me and enjoy long train rides, you can also reach Zhangjiajie by train.
Coming from Shanghai Railway Station, I took an overnight train bound for Zhangjiajie Railway Station. The journey took almost a full day, and I arrived at around 2:00 PM. My Zhangjiajie itinerary officially started the following morning.
- Shanghai South to Zhangjiajie ticket price — 35 USD
- Ticket class — Hard Seat
- Booking website: Travel China Guide
Read also: My 1-Day Itinerary in Shanghai on a Budget.
WHERE DID I STAY?
From Zhangjiajie Railway Station, I used Google Maps to navigate my way to my pre-booked hostel. I walked about 1.2 kilometers, which took around 20 minutes. I love walking and wandering around new places, so I actually enjoyed it!
- Tujia Impression Inn:
- 2-night stay
- Room type: Standard Room, 1 Bed
- Hostel rate: 78 RMB (~11 USD) per night
- Book here
The hostel is located in downtown Zhangjiajie City.
NOTE: There are three main areas where you can stay in Zhangjiajie:
- Zhangjiajie City downtown
- Wulingyuan (just outside the park)
- Inside the park itself
If you plan to spend more than one day exploring Wulingyuan Scenic Area, staying in Wulingyuan is the best option.
You can book a room at any Zhangjiajie hotel or hostel through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my accommodations through Booking.com because many properties offer free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel options.
If hostels are not your thing, you can also try Airbnb. Staying in an Airbnb often gives you a more local and homey experience since many rentals are located inside neighborhoods and residential communities. I’ve used Airbnb on some of my other trips and really enjoyed it.
If you’re new to Airbnb, you can get up to 42 USD travel credit by signing up through this link.
MY 2-DAY ZHANGJIAJIE ITINERARY
I personally prefer traveling solo because I can customize my itinerary and travel at my own pace. However, if you prefer package tours and a more relaxed experience, I highly recommend using Viator. Click here to find the best Viator deals in Zhangjiajie.
DAY 1: WULINGYUAN – ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL FOREST PARK
The Wulingyuan Mountains, officially known as the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, is a 397-square-kilometer UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1992 and later recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004.
The park includes four scenic zones:
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Tianzi Mountain
- Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
- Suoxiyu Nature Reserve
The entire Wulingyuan area is part of Zhangjiajie. You can download the park map here.
- Ticket Price: 245 RMB (valid for 4 days)
- Includes bus rides inside the park and insurance
- Does NOT include:
- 10-Mile Gallery trolley ticket — 38 RMB
- Tianzi Mountain cable car — 72 RMB
- Bailong Elevator (one way) — 72 RMB
- Duration: Whole day
- NOTE: Wulingyuan Park is huge! There’s so much to explore that fully seeing all four zones in one day is nearly impossible.
- How to get there:
- From downtown Zhangjiajie, go to Zhangjiajie Central Bus Terminal and take a mini-bus to Wulingyuan.
- Travel time: 40 minutes to 1 hour
- Mini-bus fare (one way): 20 RMB
Main Entrance to Wulingyuan Park
Cable Car to Tianzi Peak
Yubi Peak (Tianzi Mountain)
The Ten-Mile Natural Gallery
Avatar Hallelujah Mountain (In Yuanjiajie)
BAILONG ELEVATOR
DAY 2: TIANMEN MOUNTAIN
Tianmen Mountain is the second most-recommended tourist area in Zhangjiajie after the forest park.
Just as stunning as the Wulingyuan-Zhangjiajie Park, Tianmen Mountain’s highlights include the Tianmen Mountain Cableway (the longest in the world), the famous 99 Bends Road, the Hanging Bridge, the Glass Skywalk, and Tianmen Cave — a giant natural opening often called the “Gateway to Heaven” with its iconic 999 steps.
- Ticket Price: 261 RMB
- This includes the cableway ride and bus ride.
- Valid for one day only.
- This does NOT include the Glass Walkway fee (5 RMB).
- Duration (getting there + visiting): Whole day
- How to get there:
- In downtown Zhangjiajie, simply go to the Tianmen Mountain ticket office where the cableway line starts.
- I walked there directly from my hostel.
- Once you have your ticket, you can either go up by cable car or by bus.
- Take note that if you go up by cable car, you’ll need to go down by bus (and vice versa).
VIDEO: Cablecar
Glass Walkway
TIANMEN TEMPLE
The Hanging Bridge
VIDEO: Tunnel Escalators
Tianmen Cave & the “999 Steps to Heaven”
What do you think of this 2-DAY Zhangjiajie itinerary?
I know I was rushing in this do-it-yourself 2-day Zhangjiajie itinerary, but I still hope you find it informative and useful!
If you have more days to spend in Zhangjiajie, you can include these cool tours from Viator Zhangjiajie .
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.
BOOKING ESSENTIALS
- Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com — I usually book my hostel accommodations through Booking.com. Room options range from budget hostels to luxury hotels, and many listings offer free cancellation or pay-at-the-property options.
Use my Booking.com link and you may get cashback rewards after your stay.
- Airbnb
- Airbnb is also a great option if you prefer cozy apartments or neighborhood stays during your Zhangjiajie trip.
New to Airbnb? Sign up here to check available travel credits and discounts.
- Flights
- KAYAK is one of my preferred flight search engines because it compares fares across many booking websites.
Check flight prices on KAYAK for possible cheap fare deals.
- Zhangjiajie Package Tours
- Viator is a popular platform for booking guided tours and travel experiences around the world.
Browse available tours through Viator Zhangjiajie .
Dan Travels 