Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountains & Glass Bridge Journey
Explore otherworldly sandstone pillars inspired by Avatar's floating mountains in this magical Chinese landscape
About This Route
Zhangjiajie, in Hunan Province, is home to the stunning Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. This 7-day journey will take you through incredible sandstone pillars, across glass bridges, and up Tianmen Mountain with its famous sky gate.
What You'll Experience:
- Explore Wulingyuan Scenic Area, the inspiration for Avatar's floating mountains
- Walk across the thrilling Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
- Visit Tianmen Mountain with its incredible Sky Gate and cliff-side walkways
- Ride the world's longest cable car to Tianmen Mountain
- Explore the Golden Whip Stream and Yuanjiajie scenic areas
- Experience the unique Tujia ethnic minority culture
7-Day Itinerary
Arrival & Zhangjiajie City
Morning: Arrive at Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport. Transfer to your hotel in Zhangjiajie city or Wulingyuan. Afternoon orientation.
Afternoon: Relax and explore Zhangjiajie city, try some local snacks.
Evening: Welcome dinner featuring Hunan cuisine (known for being spicy!).
Wulingyuan - Golden Whip Stream & Yuanjiajie
Morning: Enter Wulingyuan Scenic Area, hike along Golden Whip Stream, a beautiful valley with towering sandstone pillars.
Afternoon: Take the Bailong Elevator (the world's tallest outdoor elevator) up to Yuanjiajie, see the "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain".
Evening: Return to your hotel, rest after a day of hiking.
Wulingyuan - Tianzi Mountain & Yangjiajie
Morning: Visit Tianzi Mountain for incredible panoramic views of the sandstone pillars.
Afternoon: Explore Yangjiajie scenic area with its stunning viewpoints.
Evening: Return to your hotel, enjoy dinner in Wulingyuan.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge
Full Day: Day trip to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, walk across the famous Glass Bridge, and explore the canyon below.
Tianmen Mountain
Morning: Ride the world's longest cable car up to Tianmen Mountain, walk along the cliff-side glass walkways.
Afternoon: Visit Tianmen Cave (the Sky Gate), climb the 999 steps if you're feeling adventurous!
Evening: Return to Zhangjiajie city, enjoy a farewell dinner.
Tujia Folk Customs Park & Local Culture
Morning: Visit Tujia Folk Customs Park to learn about Tujia ethnic minority culture.
Afternoon: Explore local markets and buy souvenirs, relax.
Evening: Dinner with local Tujia cuisine.
Departure
Morning: Final breakfast, last-minute shopping, or a final view of the mountains.
Afternoon: Transfer to the airport for your departure, with wonderful memories of Zhangjiajie's otherworldly landscape!
Gallery
What Travelers Say
James Wilson
San Francisco, CA | June 2026
Avatar Hallelujah Mountain is even more surreal than the movie made it look. Standing on the observation platform with those sandstone pillars rising through the mist genuinely feels like another planet. We got lucky with weather—morning fog cleared just as we arrived. The park buses are efficient but crowded; start at 7 AM to beat the tour groups.
Sophie Chen
Seattle, WA | May 2026
The glass bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. Looking 300 meters straight down through transparent panels while people scream and take selfies around you is an experience. They make you wear shoe covers to protect the glass. The canyon hike below the bridge is gorgeous too—waterfalls and turquoise pools.
Jessica Wong
New York, NY | April 2026
Bailong Elevator is the world's tallest outdoor elevator and riding it up the cliff face in 2 minutes flat is intense. The views from the top platform are sweeping but honestly the elevator itself is the main attraction. Tianmen Mountain's Heaven's Gate is a natural arch you reach by climbing 999 steps. My legs were jelly but the photo was worth it.
David Park
Denver, CO | March 2026
Tianmen Mountain cable car is the longest passenger cableway in the world—7.5 kilometers from the city center up to the summit. The glass skywalks bolted to the cliff edge had me gripping the rock wall. The Tongtian Avenue road with 99 bends is visible from above and looks like a child's scribble on the mountainside.
Brittany Hayes
Chicago, IL | May 2026
Golden Whip Stream trail is a relatively easy 7-kilometer walk through the valley floor with the pillars towering above you. We saw wild monkeys—keep your snacks hidden, they're bold. The water is crystal clear and the trail is mostly flat. This is the best way to see the park if you're not into heights or strenuous hiking.
Tyrone Banks
Dallas, TX | April 2026
The mist is what makes Zhangjiajie magical. Without it, the pillars look cool but ordinary. With it, they become floating mountains. We stayed inside the park at a hotel near Tianzi Mountain and woke up to a sea of clouds below us at sunrise. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Book park accommodation if you can—it lets you experience sunrise and sunset when day-trippers are gone.
Rachel Simmons
Los Angeles, CA | May 2026
Yuanjiajie area has the best concentration of viewpoints without requiring intense hiking. The Natural Bridge is a massive stone arch connecting two pillars that you can walk across. The park's signage is surprisingly good in English but maps are confusing—hire a local guide for a day, it's about 300 yuan and saves hours of wandering.
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
The best times to visit Zhangjiajie are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). The weather is mild and comfortable. Summer can be hot and rainy, while winter can be cold with occasional snow (which can be very beautiful!).
Getting Around
Zhangjiajie has a good bus system to get between the city and Wulingyuan. Taxis and Didi are readily available. In Wulingyuan, you'll use park buses to get around the scenic area. Wear comfortable hiking shoes!
Local Cuisine
Don't miss Tujia bacon, sour fish, spicy tofu, and Zhangjiajie rice noodles. Hunan cuisine is known for being spicy, so ask for "not spicy" (bu la) if you can't handle it!
Cultural Tips
Learn basic Mandarin phrases. Be respectful of Tujia culture and traditions. Bring comfortable clothes and shoes for hiking. Stay hydrated, especially in summer. Bring a rain jacket, as it can rain unexpectedly in the mountains.