Since Zhangjiajie boasting the UNESCO heritage forest park and conspicuous Avatar Mountains draws the high attention among many travelers home and abroad, you must be one of them to be interested in a personal trip there. Is 2 days enough for a trip to Zhangjiajie? Absolutely, you can make a 2-day trip to Zhangjiajie no matter you are in China or other foreign countries, with long expecting discovery of the famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and more!
There are a lot to see and do in Zhangjiajie and you will also have lots of stunning things to discover during a short 2-day trip. Besides the magnificent National Forest Park at Wulingyuan to appreciate thousands of erecting sandstone pillar mountains and the incredible prototype of floating Avatar Mountains, you will be able to get close to the charming Tianzi Mountain famous for its wondrous sea of clouds like Chinese ink paintings, experience the highest elevator speed at Yuanjiajie, peaceful and refreshing brook and valleys, etc. Furthermore, you can go to take some risks to walk along the highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, or take the sightseeing cable way up to Tianmen Mountain to appreciate the natural made large cave to heaven with a thrilling riding along the 99-turned mountain path. If you are interested in lovely lakes, you can have a laid-back enjoyment of the emerald place. If you like more geometric wonders, go to Yellow Dragon Cave to see the colorfully ignited stalactites and stalagmites with various shapes. Here is the Zhangjiajie Attractions Map for your better understanding of the top highlights! For all highlights in Zhangjiajie, please check the Best Things to Do in Zhangjiajie and Top 14 Zhangjiajie Attractions to plan your detailed Zhangjiajie 4 Day Itinerary.
Zhangjiajie Attractions Map
Arrive in Zhangjiajie by Early Flight / Train or 1 Day in Advance
To start your exploration of Zhangjiajie natural highlights, you need to arrive in the city very early in the morning at least. As a Zhangjiajie trip usually start with Wulingyuan National Forest Park at 08:00-09:00, which is about 50-60 minutes’ car distance from the city downtown, airport and railway station, it is advised to arrange a flight or train arriving in Zhangjiajie before 06:30. And if it allows, it is best to arrive in Zhangjiajie at night or in the late afternoon before your touring day, which can let you have a good rest before the trip and keep away from many worries and hurries!
Plan A: 2 Days Wulingyuan National Forest Park Exploration
If you want to explore all the natural highlights of Wulingyuan National Forest Park, you can spend the both days in the park to see the different strange formation and magic natural creation.
Day 1: Huangshi Village + Golden Whip Brook
Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park from the Forest Park Ticket Station to see Huangshi Village, where holds the largest viewing deck to admire the countless stone mountain pillars with various shapes, with one looking like a giant lion from a distance.
Then, go to enjoy a pleasant walk along the wandering Golden Whip Brook with picturesque clear waterscape, fragrant blooms, chattering birds, etc. down in the lush valley. After that, transfer to your hotel at Wulingyuan downtown.
What to do in the evening: Charming Xiangxi show (beside Pullman Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Hotel, Guihua Road, Wulingyuan District. 19:30-21:00 for first show; 21:00-22:30 for second show, 1.5 hours)
Day 2: Yuanjiajie + Tianzi Mountain
Today, enter the park again from the Forest Park Ticket Station and first take Bailong Elevator famous for its outstanding highest speed of 5m/s leading the whole world. After reaching the upper station, explore all sandstone mountain columns at Yuanjiajie including the eye-catching Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, authentic prototype of that in the movie “Avatar”.
Then, take the sightseeing bus to Tianzi Mountain that is reputed as the “King of peak forest”, and to appreciate the large coverage of bamboo-shoots like emerald stone peaks and the mysterious view of sea of clouds lingering frequently. After the visit, transfer to Zhangjiajie airport or railway station to leave for your next destination or back home.
Plan B: Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountains with Amazing Tianmen Mountain
If you favor the floating Avatar Mountains and the unbelievable meandering mountain road and natural cave at Tianmen Mountain, you can also plan you 2 days separately on Wulingyuan National Forest Park with the top 2 sites and Tianmen Mountain.
Day 1: Yuanjiajie + Tianzi Mountain
Visit Wulingyuan National Forest Park from the Forest Park Ticket Station and first take Bailong Elevator famous for its outstanding highest speed of 5m/s leading the whole world. After reaching the upper station, explore all sandstone mountain columns at Yuanjiajie including the eye-catching Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, authentic prototype of that in the movie “Avatar”.
Then, take the sightseeing bus to Tianzi Mountain that is reputed as the “King of peak forest”, and to appreciate the large coverage of bamboo-shoots like emerald stone peaks and the mysterious view of sea of clouds lingering frequently. After the visit, transfer to you hotels in Zhangjiajie downtown.
What to do in the evening: Tianmen Fox Fairy show (foot of Tianmen Mountain Forest Park, Guanling, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie. 20:15-21:45, 1.5 hours)
Day 2: Tianmen Mountain
Today, start the exciting Tianmen Mountain visit from Tianmen Mountain Cable Way experience, which is the longest cable way in whole Asia to enable you to have a full view of the mountain cave, meandering Avenue toward Heaven with 99 turns, etc. Moreover, you will not miss the thrilling treading moments on the Cliff Hanging Walkway and Glass Sky Walk built on the cliff, worthy admiration of the rare Tianmen Cave, and the gingerly going down on the steep 999 Steps. Furthermore, take your breath to take the sightseeing bus along the roller-coaster like Avenue toward Heaven to get down to the foot of Tianmen Mountain. After the visit, transfer to Zhangjiajie airport or railway station to leave for your next destination or back home.
Plan C: Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountains with Adventurous Glass Bridge Walking & Karst Cave Scenery
This 2 day itinerary plan is most suitable if you like to see the Avatar Mountain and take the adventure on the global high-profile Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge.
Day 1: Yuanjiajie + Tianzi Mountain
Visit Wulingyuan National Forest Park from the Forest Park Ticket Station and first take Bailong Elevator famous for its outstanding highest speed of 5m/s leading the whole world. After reaching the upper station, explore all sandstone mountain columns at Yuanjiajie including the eye-catching Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, authentic prototype of that in the movie “Avatar”.
Then, take the sightseeing bus to Tianzi Mountain that is reputed as the “King of peak forest”, and to appreciate the large coverage of bamboo-shoots like emerald stone peaks and the mysterious view of sea of clouds lingering frequently. After the visit, transfer to you hotels in Wulingyuan downtown.
What to do in the evening: Charming Xiangxi show (beside Pullman Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Hotel, Guihua Road, Wulingyuan District. 19:30-21:00 for first show; 21:00-22:30 for second show, 1.5 hours)
Day 2: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon + Yellow Dragon Cave
Today, transfer about 40 minutes to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in Cili County to take your challenge of walking on the heart-stopping Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge that is the highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge among the whole world, with 430 meters (1,411 feet) long and 300 meters (984 feet) high. The transparent glass bottom will let you see everything clearly deep in the canyon and make you feel walking in the air. You will also enjoy the verdant valley sceneries during the thrilling exploration. Then, go to Yellow Dragon Cave to marvel at the colorful hidden paradise. This popular site preserves precious underground rivers, waterfalls, caverns and the wonderful 10,000 stalagmites and stalactites within the 100,000 s. q. m. enormous Karst cave. After the visit, transfer to Zhangjiajie airport or railway station to leave for your next destination or back home.
If You Have 3 Days:
If you got 3 days, you can arrange you first day for arriving in Zhangjiajie City. On Day 2, head to take Bailong Elevator to see Avatar Hallelujah Mountain at Yuanjiajie and take the sightseeing bus to Tianzi Mountain. On Day 3, you can transfer to walk on the long glass bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and admire Yellow Dragon Cave. Also, you can arrange that day to take the long cable way to explore Tianmen Mountain, and then leave Zhangjiajie after touring. Learn more about How to Spend 3 Days in Zhangjiajie >>
If You Have 4 Days
Most people arrange 4 days to travel to Zhangjiajie. If so to you, you can plan Day 1 for flight/ train arrival with less tight pace. If you want a deeper discovery to Wulingyuan National Forest Park with peculiar mountain pillars and natural wonders, you can plan you Day 2 and Day 3 both to the park and visit the top sites including Yellow Mountain, Golden Whip Brook, Yuanjiajie and Avatar Hallelujah Mountian, and Tianzi Mountain. However, if you want to enjoy more kinds of sightseeing and adventures in Zhangjiajie, you can arrange you Day 2 to visit Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the splendid Yellow Dragon Cave, and Day 3 to visit Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain at the forest park area. For Day 4, it is recommended to visit Tianmen Mountain to experience the thrilling Glass Sky Walk, 99 turned Avenue toward Heaven and more exciting things to see and do. Learn more about How to Spend 4 Days in Zhangjiajie >>
If You Have 5 Days:
5 days is well enough to have a deep discovery of all Zhangjiajie highlights. The 1st day is also for arriving in Zhangjiajie. On you day 2 and day 3, make your in-depth exploration to Wulingyuan National Forest Park to see Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Brook, Avatar Mountain at Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. On day 4, you can enjoy wonderful time at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with the Glass Bridge and Yellow Dragon Cave. And on the last day, go to Tianmen Mountain to see things hard to find in the world, and then you can take your flight or train off Zhangjiajie. And if you would like to see more ancient and ethnic sites, you can arrange day 4 to Tianmen Mountain and then to transfer to Fenghuang Ancient Town and spend day 5 in the famous antique city and leave for your next destination or back home. Learn more about How to Spend 5 Days in Zhangjiajie >>
It is suitable to visit Zhangjiajie at any time in a year. The best traveling seasons are Spring and Autumn with best comfortable weather. In Spring during March to May, all flowers there are blooming among the most verdant green mountain range, and the fresh air with singing of birds help to create your great traveling mood. In Autumn from October to November, mountains and forests are covered with layers of warm yellow and orange, which is great for nice photography. In Summer, Wulingyuan National Forest Park has lower temperature to be a good summer resort to go, and it is good to walk along the streams and dense forest, however, since summer is the rainy season here, you are suggested to prepare raincoats. Furthermore in winter, it is a good time to avoid crowds, besides, many places including the national forest park are covered by snow to change the attraction into a pure beautiful lady, which is awesome for a photography tour.
Convenient flights and trains are available in Zhangjiajie City. Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, with 10 minutes’ driving distance to the downtown, has good air connection with 42 domestic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, etc. and international cities including Bangkok, Osaka, etc. Besides, Zhangjiajie Railway Station is also frequently used for reaching the city, which is rightly at the city downtown. It serves trains from Changsha (4.5-5.5 hours), Yichang (4.5-5 hours), Tongren (about 7 hours), Wuhan (10 hours), Xian (15 hours), Shanghai (20 hours), Beijing (23 hours), etc.
Zhangjiajie offers various luxury hotels and budget hostels and boutique accommodation for your stay during the trip. For your several days discovering Wulingyuan Scenic Area including Wulingyuan National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, etc., we suggest you arrange the hotel at Wulingyuan Town, which needs only 10 minutes to Wujiayu Ticket Station and 20 minutes to Forest Park Ticket Station by car. However, for your arrival day especially by a late flight or train and if you plan to visit Tianmen Mountain, it is suggested to stay in Zhangjiajie City downtown.
For spring and autumn, light sweaters, long shirts and long pants are suggested. Temperature in Wulingyuan National Forest Park is about 5-10℃ lower than that in the city area, and the temperatures varies a lot from day to night. In summer, shirts and shorts are enough, besides, it is advised to prepare light coats for lower temperature in early morning and at night. In winter, it is a little cold in Zhangjiajie, and down jackets, sweaters, warm pants and socks, scarves, gloves, etc. are better to keep warm. Remember to wear comfortable shoes or sneakers, because you will have a lot of steps to walk around those natural scenic spots. Since it often rains in Zhangjiajie, you are highly suggested to bring your raincoats or umbrellas. Besides, bring sunblock, sunglasses and hat to protect your skin and eyes.
Most accommodations in Zhangjiajie offer Western toilets. However, in the scenic area, there are only a few Western types to suite foreign visitors, which can be found at some major toilet blocks. One more, remember to bring your own tissue.
Wulingyuan National Forest Park is very large and has many ways, so it is complicated for people to travel independently to catch all the top highlights in an enjoyable and relaxing way. To help you enjoy a worry-free trip to Zhangjiajie, we suggest you travel with us, and our local guide and driver will escort you from your hotel to the scenic area and our guide will take you to the best sightseeing deck and give interesting introduction of the sites and stories to enrich your experience. All you need is to focus on the highlights. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us directly!
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