With sandstone spires soaring skywards and glass bridges spanning canyons—plus cable cars and the world’s tallest outdoor elevator—Zhangjiajie National Forest Park delivers some of China’s most spectacular landscapes. Yet the area around Zhangjiajie city has more to offer than just the park, which is part of the Wulingyuan UNESCO World Heritage Site. Things to do in Zhangjiajie include Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Tianmen Mountain, Yellow Dragon Cave, and Baofeng Lake, plus sand painting lessons and cooking classes.
With rainy, crowded summers and chilly winters, spring and fall are the sweet spots for exploring Zhangjiajie: April and October (excluding the National Day holiday in the first week) are relatively dry, less crowded, and not too cool. Zhangjiajie is understandably popular with domestic tourists: avoid visiting at weekends, during the first weeks of May and October, or over the July-August summer peak. Snow and ice may affect services such as buses and the Bailong Elevator in January and February.
Zhangjiajie city buses and taxis are hard to use unless you speak Chinese—although translation apps can help—so many travelers opt for tours or private drivers. A cableway links Zhangjiajie city with Tianmen Mountain, while minibusses run from Zhangjiajie central bus station to Wulingyuan Bus Station, a 15-minute walk from one entrance to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. There’s no private transport in the park: a network of shuttle buses, plus cableways, monorail, and the Bailong Elevator, connect the five main zones.
It’s no longer possible to stay inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, but Wulingyuan town is a better base for exploring both the park and other attractions than Zhangjiajie city: it’s closer to all sights but Tianmen Mountain, and easier on the eye. When in Wulingyuan, don’t miss the chance to brave the spicy, sour cuisine of the local Tujia minority: Tang Shi Fu Tu Jia Shi Fu is a great place to try it.
