Zhangjiajie national park china bridge over the gorge. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

10 - 18 September 2021
(Stay in China 7 nights, September 11 - 18 )

Their height is three meters, they have blue skin, and their faces are similar to those of a cat. Their planet is Pandora,
is located a few light years from Earth. Most of it is covered in jungle
mountains hang in the air, plants glow in the dark ...
To get to know Pandora, you need to go to the James Cameron film "Avatar", which was inspired by the Wulingyuan Mountains.
To see the "flying" mountains in reality, escape from everyday life and feel like the heroes of "Avatar" - you need to fly to China.

In the program: panoramic trails - serpentines, various cable cars (among which the longest in the world). The cliffs are surrounded by route belts made of stones and even glass, connected by giant bridges. The world's tallest open elevator was built to the top. Landscapes of unreal beauty, as if descended from the canvases of Chinese painters, became available thanks to the miracle of human genius and hard work.

China. Land of four wonders
China. Sichuan. Funny panda
China. Day in Urumqi
China. Two capitals. Excursions in Beijing and Xi'an
Taiwan ... A tiger living on its own

Day 1. September 10

Departure from Russia. 21.10 - 11.10 - Moscow (Sheremetyevo) - Guangzhou

Day 2. September 11

23.00 - departure from Guangzhou. 00.40 - Arrival in Zhangzadze late at night. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Zhangzadze (night from 11 to 12 September).

National park Zhangjiajie of southeastern Hunan province, 32 km from the city of Zhangjiajie - China's first national forest park, was opened in 1982. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most
famous and visited nature reserve in China. A total of 52 sites in China are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

On 4940 hectares of the park, there are 243 mountains and 3000 peaks and cliffs of amazing shape, as if floating in the air as a result of weathering of sandstones and limestones. The tops of the cliffs are covered with dense coniferous caps with an average height of 800 meters; there are also three-kilometer giants. 88% are dense mountain forests... The most popular observation deck, Huangshi, rises 1300 m above sea level, with exactly 3800 steps leading to it. 19.4 meters - the height of the largest stalagmite in the Huanglong Cave. This picturesque area is home to over 40 caves and two huge natural stone bridges. There are about 150 animals, including 28 listed in the Red Book of the country, for example, the golden pheasant and the rhesus monkey.

When fog comes to the mountains and clouds melt under your feet, the atmosphere in the park becomes especially magical, surreal. Many, having seen "Avatar" by James Cameron, appreciated the unreality of the landscapes of the planet Pandora, the basis of the landscape of which was the Jiankunzhu Mountain and the Huangshan Mountain Range. Released in 2009, Avatar broke all box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time on the planet. In 2010, Chinese craftsmen began to create unique giant "gadgets" in the park so that everyone could see the Avatar Flying Mountains.

At the end of 2018, the park operates: 5 cable cars, including the longest in the world - 7.5 km (about 30 minutes on the way), the fastest panoramic elevator in the world, three unique glass bridges.

Zhangjiajie Park is unusual at any time of the year. In winter, snowfall turns the park into fairy tale Snow Queen. In spring, nature blooms and flowers are fragrant. In autumn, all the luxury of colors sparkles on the trees. And dense fogs and mountain coolness of heights create a special atmosphere in summer.

Day 3.September 12

Excursion to Mount Tanmen, translated from Chinese - mountains "Heavenly Gates".

The feeling of flight will accompany you all day. Spectacular climb on the longest mountain cable car in the world (7.5 km, travel time 28 minutes). Walking tour of the Skyway Suspended Glass Road, total length which is 1600 meters at an altitude of 1400 meters. On Mount Tanmen there is a glass Bridge of the Brave, which the most desperate travelers can cross. There is also a "Winding Dragon" glass bridge on Mount Tanmen with special effects: as soon as a person steps on the glass, cracks immediately spread across it.
Visit Buddhist Center on the mountain with an open cable car(800 meters). Panoramic drive along a mountain serpentine road (99 turns).
Ascent to the Tanmen cave (132 meters high, 57 meters wide).
Travelers who do not want to climb the 999 steps to the cave can stay in the teahouse at the foot and taste the famous imperial yellow tea Yin Zhen, which is produced only in this region.Dinner. Excursion to the Tujia National Park, where you will get acquainted with the folk customs and traditions of one of the small peoples of China. You will see the tallest, multi-storey wooden building in China, which was created on the basis of ancient fortress residents of Xiangxi. Your attention will be presented to theatrical mini performances in national costumes, based on episodes of the true life of Tujia. You will hear Xiangxi folk songs. Tujia People's Crafts and Dances Listed Intangible cultural heritage UNESCO.

Optional attendance at the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show in the evening. Overnight at the hotel in Zhangzadze.

In the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show more than 500 people take part, modern lighting technologies are used, decorations are built into the natural mountain landscape. This is one of the most expensive theatrical projects in the world, the creation of which was spent $ 177 million! The show runs from 20.00 - 22.30. average price ticket 60 USD.

Mount Tanmen famous for a giant "window" in the rock called the "Heavenly Gate". This is the highest mountain cave in the world, which was formed in 263 as a result of an earthquake. The height of the cave is 131.5 meters, width - 57 m, depth 60 m. A staircase of 999 steps and a mountain serpentine of 99 turns leads to the "Heavenly Gate": in Buddhism, the number "9" means the highest spiritual power and a heavenly number. There has been a Buddhist temple on the mountain since the Tang Dynasty.
An interesting fact is that in the 20th century, the Tanmen summit suddenly collapsed 4 times, and a quarter of an hour later a 1500-meter waterfall disappeared: in 1949 (the formation of the PRC), in 1976 (the death of Mao Zedong), in 1989 (suppression of student protests in Beijing) and in 1998 (flood). At the top of the mountain, right along the edge, there is a glass path, which very often turns out to be higher than the clouds ... Descending from the mountain along the 11 km long serpentine "heavenly highway" is another adventure. The longest and highest cable car in the world (7455 meters) with spans up to 500 meters leads to the mountain! Sometimes the road rises at an angle of 70, crashing right into the clouds.

It was built over an abyss at a height of 180 meters above the ground. The structure is 299 meters long and made of glass with a thickness of 24 mm and is capable of supporting 800 people. The bridge was originally made of wood, but in 2015 it received a new glass life. It is considered one of the longest glass bridges in the world and is very popular with park guests.

The Wriggling Dragon Bridge is glass trail - 100 meters, and a little more than one and a half meters wide. The bridge leads directly along the gentle slope of the cliff, 1430 meters high; underfoot only 6.5 cm of transparent glass and an abyss. A low glass rim separates you from the abyss. Daredevils who dare to cross the bridge are asked to put on special shoe covers on their feet so as not to scratch the glass.

A truly dizzying view of the valley on the other side of the mountain range opens before the eyes of tourists. The bridge hangs at an altitude of 1500 meters above the ground and is the third such bridge on Tianmen Mountain. More recently, it was just an ordinary wooden path. Only the most daring and courageous tourists walk along the cliff to the mountain slope indented by caves. Walking along such a glass road in the sky gives a colossal rush of adrenaline, as well as the opportunity to observe the incredible beauty of the landscapes of the Avatar mountains.

Day 4.September 13

We continue to travel through Zhangjiajie National Park.Excursion to the "Yellow Fortress" Huangshizhai: You will see the Big Rock, Pavilion of Six Wonders, Star Harvest, Echo Corridor, Golden Turtle, Five Fingers Peak, Sky bridge - best places with poetic names traditional for China. The journey includes the cable car to Huangshizhai and takes about 3 hours. Dinner. Walk along one of the longest canyons in the world "Golden Whip" (about 3 hours). Arrival in Wulingyuan city. Accommodation at the hotel for two nights.

The Golden Whip Canyon, framed by sheer cliffs, has a stream at the bottom of the gorge, which sparkles with gold on a sunny day, hence the poetic name. On a historical stone in the canyon it is written that the famous Chinese emperor, Qin Shihuang (who united the kingdoms into a Great State and connected separate parts into the Great Wall of China), was so fascinated by the mountains and the gorge that he dreamed of moving the mountains to the sea and admiring them from the water ... During a walk along the 6 kilometer canyon, you will walk along suspension bridge, see the 380-meter Golden Whip Peak, Crimson Grass Pond, and drink from the "Well of Long Life". The Chinese consider the Golden Whip Canyon the most beautiful in the world.

Day 5.September 14

Excursion to the Avatar mountains. "Wide-angle" ascent on the glass elevator Bailun (translated as "100 dragons") to the top of the mountain with a height of 326 meters in 2 minutes. One third of the lift goes inside the mountain, the other two thirds overlook the open mountain landscapes. This tallest open elevator in the world is an engineering wonder of the world. Access to the panoramic platform Yuanjiajie Senic Spot, from where you can enjoy unforgettable views of the Avatara mountains. View of the main mountain Jiankunzhu (translated as "southern heavenly pillar") in honor of the film, which has become a masterpiece of world cinema, today renamed "Hallelujah, Avatar". The most high peak called "Rabbit Looking at the Moon." Heitsunnao Stone Peak is famous for centuries-old pine trees.
Visit to the world's largest natural bridge between rocks, which is called "No. 1 in the world" - "Number one in the world." Dinner. Inspection of the picturesque Tianzu mountain with the Kunlun peak - "Abode of the Gods". Return by cable car 2084 meters long, 692 meters high.
In the evening, optional visit to the show "The Charm of Western Hunan". The show introduces the mysterious ethnic culture of the Hunan province - the Tujia, Miao and Bai peoples. Overnight in Wulingyuan.

Bailun elevator("Elevator of the Hundred Dragons") - the tallest external elevator in the world. It is built directly into the cliff and takes tourists to the observation deck at the top of the mountain at a height of 330 meters.
The elevator itself consists of three two-story cabins, each of which can accommodate 50 passengers. Seismic sensors are also installed on the elevator, when triggered, the elevators must be in short time evacuate all people down. "Elevator of the Hundred Dragons" entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in terms of carrying capacity, the fastest passenger elevator, the highest modern lift, the highest open exhibition elevator.

Performance "The Charm of Western Hunan" reveals the traditional culture of these places to the music of ethnic groups combined with the sound, light and electrical technologies of the modern stage. The program includes typical local folk customs such as “wedding crying”, “funeral ceremonies”, witchcraft, mountain climbing, as well as contemporary songs and acrobatics that interpret the lifestyle and original culture of the Western Hunan ethnic minorities.

Day 6.September 15

Excursion to the stalactite cave "Huanglong" ("Yellow or Golden Dragon"), which is one of the most beautiful caves in the world and is under the protection of UNESCO. The tour lasts 3 hours and includes a boat trip through the labyrinths of an underground river. Dinner. Excursion to mountain lake Baofen surrounded by picturesque mountains.
Boat trip to panoramic location Suoxiyu with a view of the waterfall. The ascent leads to the lake with overcoming 333 steps.A visit to a uniquely beautiful place - the Zhangzadze Grand Canyon, where you can walk along a glass bridge between two mountains at an altitude of 380 meters. It is one of the longest and tallest in the world. pedestrian bridges with a glass bottom, 430 meters long and 6 meters wide. Overnight at the hotel.

Yellow Dragon Cave in Avatar Mountains- one of the most beautiful "magic karst caves" in the world. Water plays an important role in the formation of the cave. This four-level cave has one lake, two rivers, three waterfalls, 98 pedestrian galleries and 13 large halls, one of which is 140 meters high. Travelers are surrounded by hundreds of thousands of natural stalactites and stalagmites, striking the imagination with intricate shapes. You will see the Palace of the Dragon and the Dragon King, the Ballroom with draped stone curtains, the Immortal Falls, the Longevity Gate, the Happiness Gate and much more.

Lake Baofen located at the top of Mount Baofen (Jewelry Peak). It has a length of 2.5 km, a width of up to 500 meters, and a depth of 72 meters. During a cruise on the lake, guests can see floating houses, Baofen waterfall, the mountain peak "Hawk's Nest", an ancient temple and a Narrow Gorge. Sometimes the melodious singing of a young couple of the local Tujia people is heard. Transparent air, fragrant nature and complete unity with nature.


Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon famous for the huge glass bridge over the abyss, the construction of which cost $ 3.4 million. Designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan in 2016, the bridge has already set 10 world records in the field of architecture and design; it is made entirely of glass and has no steel construction at the base. A bridge of 99 three-layer transparent glass panels connected two rocks. The structure can support 800 people at a time and has additional tests for resistance to changes in ambient temperature and swing in wind.

Additional attraction: the bridge has the highest in the world, a dedicated bungee jumping platform, located under the central span of the bridge at an altitude of almost 270 meters above the ground. And at the beginning of the bridge, where its width reaches 12 meters, theatrical performances are held and there are stands with 3000 seats.

Day 7.September 16

Drive to the southwest (4 hours) and on the way visit the Red Stone Geopark. Inspection of the section of the South Great Wall of China in the vicinity of Fenhuan. Overnight at the hotel.

National Park "Red Stone Forest"(Red Rocks National Geopark) was first opened to the public in 2005. In sunny weather, rocks that look like forest trees glow kr

bright color.

South Chinese Wall was built in the early 17th century during the Ming dynasty with the participation of 5,000 soldiers to guard the southern borders of the country. The ensemble once included more than 800 terraces, bunkers and outposts. The total length is 190 km, the height of the wall is about 3 meters, the width at the base is about two meters, it runs along the mountains and is washed by rivers. Much of the South Great Wall was built on sheer cliffs.

Fenghuan Ancient Town is located in the southwest of Hunan province, at the foot of a mountain on the banks of the Totjiang River.
In translation, it means "Chinese Phoenix" - a miracle bird that embodies the feminine principle (yin) and the symbol of the south of the country in the mythology of China; while the Dragon is masculine. The earliest mentions of Fenghuang are found in Yin fortune-telling inscriptions around the 15th century BC. One of the most beautiful ancient cities in China is located at the foot of the mountains next to the water, and was built in accordance with the artistic and philosophical traditions of ancient China. Authentic Fenghuan has preserved the layout and pristine appearance of the 14th century Ming and 17th century Qing empires to this day, sending curious travelers in a time machine deep into the eras. The city is surrounded by fortress walls, gates with towers, behind which there are 20 streets and more than 200 civil residences and ancestral temples, ancient wells and rainbow bridges. Fenghuang is a candidate for UNESCO listing.
Fenghuan is spread over the lands where representatives of three small distinctive peoples of China live: Miao, Bai and Tujia. Each distinctive people has its own language, customs, clothing and everyday life.

Day 8.September 17

Free morning in the authentic city of Fenghuan. Hiking the authentic city of Fenghuang, including a boat cruise on the river. A 5-kilometer pavement passes through the city, turned into pedestrian street... Walk along Crafts Street, famous for its wax paintings and batik. Departure to Zhangzadze. Accommodation and overnight at a hotel in Zhangzadze (September 21 - 22).

For those who take the program "Land of four wonders" , second night in Feihuang

Day 9.September 18

Breakfast and transfer to Zhangzadze airport.
Flight and arrival to Russia.

The fantastic world of Avatar is waiting for you!

Combines well with tours:
China. Land of four wonders
China. Sichuan. Funny panda
China. Day in Urumqi
China. Two capitals. Excursions in Beijing and Xi'an
Taiwan ... A tiger living on its own

tour cost"China. Flying mountains Avatar "

per person based on double occupancy:

350 USD / 370 USD supplement for single room 3 * / 4 *

The tour is considered prepaid if you deposit 500 USD at the expense of the tour cost.

Until February 1, there is a discount of 120 USD for accommodation in 4 * hotels, subject to prepayment - 500 USD

Description of hotels under the China. Flying mountains Avatar "

Flights according to the program:

from 32,000 rubles. Moscow - Guangzhou - Zhangjiadze (Dayong)- Guangzhou- Moscow

Air tickets are booked and issued individually for each tourist. Airfare depends on:
- availability of rates on the day of booking;
- the airline's rate on the day the ticket was issued.

Included in the price:

• Russian-speaking escort along the entire route;
• Meeting at the airport and transfers (from / to the airport) - if the whole group arrives on one flight;
• Accommodation based on double occupancy in selected hotels;
• Excursion service according to the program;
• Transport bus and driver services;
• Entrance fees to all observation platforms according to the program;
• Meals according to the program: breakfasts, lunches (except for the eighth day);
• Government taxes.

The price does not include:

• Visa processing services;
• International and domestic flights;
• Food and drinks not mentioned in the program;
• Tips for guides, attendants, drivers, etc .;
• Personal expenses;
• Shows listed in the program as optional.

Attention! To participate in the tour, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip.

To apply for a visa, you need:

1. International passport
2. A photocopy of the passport of the Russian Federation (1 page and page with registration)
3.1 color photo 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, on a light background
4. Questionnaire

Visa processing time - from 5 working days

Note: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (translated as "White Clouds") is 30 km away. From the city and is connected with the metro (20 min.)
1. You can spend a day in the city

Zhangjiajie National Park in China is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Middle Kingdom. The well-known film Avatar originates from here, and the landscapes of Zhangjiajie Park became the prototype of the soaring mountains in the film. I would like to add that this is not just a publicized place. Zhangjiajie Park is truly beautiful and is worth going here for inspiration and photos.

Today in the article we will analyze in detail the routes in the park, we will understand how to get to it and how much it will cost in total. Since I already visited Zhangjiajie Park several years ago in winter time year, today there will be a mix of "summer" and winter photographs. This is due to the fact that being in Zhangjiajie in October 2017 was caught in a typhoon and visibility was almost zero. Accordingly, only a few photographs were taken. Therefore, do not be surprised at snow-covered photographs and their almost complete absence. More practical information today

How to get to Zhangjiajie

There are several ways to get to Zhangjiajie Park. You can fly by plane, take a bus or train. We will consider the option with a train, I see it as the most budgetary and convenient. After a while I will write a separate article on how to book trains online in China, it's pretty simple. In a nutshell, just install the ctrip application on your phone, which has, among other things, a Russian interface. Choose the name of the city you are leaving from (the names of cities can be written in Russian) and the city of arrival - the city of Zhangjiajie. You book, pay, at the railway ticket office with your passport, you get a ticket in your hands and calmly get on the train. Just in case, here is the name of the city of Zhangjiajie in Chinese (in pinyin brackets) - 张家界 （Zhāngjiājiè）

So, we need to get to Zhangjiajie National Park in China. To do this, first we reach the city of the same name Zhangjiajie. Next, we have two options. Stop for a few days in Zhangjiajie city or get a little closer to the park by taking a bus to Wulinyuan town. I highly recommend the second option as Wulinyuan is located in close proximity from the entrance to Zhangjiajie Park.

In order to get to Wulinyuan, you need to take a mini bus that departs from the bus station of Zhangjiajie city. The bus station is a five-minute walk from the railway station. Enter the bus station building, bypassing the ticket office, immediately go to the waiting room. To your left will be exit number 1. Feel free to go to this exit, exit to the parking lot and then you need to take a bus to Wulinyuan. All foreigners travel in this direction and the Chinese know very well where you need to go, so you will hardly be able to get on the wrong bus. Just in case, here is the name of the bus station in Wulinyuan town - 武陵源 (Wǔlíngyuán).

From the city of Zhangjiajie to Wulinyuan, it will take about an hour and a half by bus, the ticket price is 20 yuan per person.

Where to stay in Zhangjiajie

I can recommend a hostel in which I myself spent several days. The hostel is called Wulingyuantuniu Youth Hostel, is located just five minutes from the entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park. The road on foot from Wulinyuan Bus Station will take about 15 minutes, no more.

Entrance gate to the park from Wulinyuan side

We figured out how to get to the park and where to stay for the night. Let's talk about how much the entrance ticket to Zhangjiajie Park and movement inside the park cost, and then let's move on to the route options.

Prices in Zhangjiajie Park

Below you can see a photo with the prices for the entrance to the park (photo for October 2017). Also, it will not be superfluous to indicate the prices for cable cars and an elevator inside the park. Prices are in RMB. The ticket is valid for 4 days. You can also buy a ticket that will be valid for a year (I don't know if it is valid for 12 months after purchase or only until the end of the current year).

Zhangjiajie National Park entrance ticket during high season is 245 per adult, 160 discounted (most likely discounted for children, students and seniors).

Low season admission ticket 136 per adult and 82 discounted.

Cable cars in the park from RMB 65 to RMB 72

Baylong elevator 71 yuan

Below are two parts of the same map. The first image is Eastern park from where we enter Zhangjiajie Park. The second image, the western part, is where most of the points of interest are located. On the map, I numbered the areas and points of the park to make it easier for you to navigate. Detailed description The routes follow immediately behind the maps of Zhangjiajie Park.

Place with good hostels in Wulinyuan

Entrance to the park. Here they buy a ticket and take buses

Lower cable car station

Upper cable car station

Observation deck

The beginning of the walking path along the lower part of the park. From the entrance to the park by bus you get to this point in 20 minutes. Walking distance to the beginning of the ascent to Avatar (point 12) will take 30 minutes. It will take about 1 hour to reach another entrance to the park (point 10).

Baylong elevator

Hiking to the site with Avatar (takes about an hour).

Turn to a deserted path. It will take about one hour to walk the trail and return (the end of the trail is marked with number 11 on the map).

The beginning of the ascent to the mountain. Ascent and descent takes about 3 hours. Alternatively, you can go down by cable car.

The end of the trail. The map shows that there is no passage. In fact, the road is split into two more. One leads to the cable car (about 10 kilometers), the second uphill with access to the road with buses (you can go up in 1 hour).

Observation platform with Avatar.

Lower cable car station leading to the Yangjiajie area.

The beginning of the Yangjiajie route. The passage of the selected area takes about 3 hours.

An asphalt road with no buses running. The road in both directions will take about 3 hours at a brisk pace.

* Pay attention to the map. There are numbers next to the bus icons. They indicate how many minutes the bus takes from one station to another.

Zhangjiajie itinerary for 1 day

No matter how many days you have to visit the park, my advice is to always come to the opening. The park opens at 7 am. There are about a dozen routes in the park, and they all have the right to life. It depends how much you want to rush to see everything or you need a leisurely pace, whether you will use cable cars and an elevator, or prefer walking ascents. I will offer one of the options, and you will edit it yourself to your liking.

For the first day, the Zhangjiajie route can be constructed as follows. We arrive at seven in the morning, when the park is just opening. There will already be many tourists, but still not crowds. We pass the turnstile, get on the bus and reach the Baylong elevator (marked with number 7 on the map). We rise on the elevator and go to the observation deck with the Avatar (12). The option with a morning arrival and an elevator is the only one when you can really be alone on this observation deck. It is very crowded and noisy throughout the day. If the crowds of people do not bother you, you can take a bus from the entrance to the beginning of the walking route (6), walk alone half an hour before the ascent to Avatar (8) and go directly to the observation deck (12). It will take you about two hours on the way from the entrance to the Avatar at an average pace.

Bridge near the observation deck with Avatar

Anyway, we are at the observation deck marked on the map at number 12. Then you can take a bus and get to the beginning of the western part of Zhangjiajie Park called Yuanjiajie. Inspection of this area of ​​the park takes from 3 to 5 hours. Depends on your fitness and free time. First, it is better to inspect the right side (on the map, the end point of the right side of Yuanjiajie is marked as Tianbo Mansion), since there is a chance that it will not be as crowded as in the afternoon. Then the left side, which will take more of your time. On the map of Zhangjiajie Park, the left side of this area ends with a place called Corridor the Cliffs.

One of the typical species in the Yuanjiajie area

Would highly recommend Yuanjiajie. Especially, on the left side of Yuanjiajie you practically will not meet people, the views are sometimes very beautiful, and at the end of the path you will find a fenced cliff, where you can fully enjoy what we came here for - the views of Zhangjiajie National Park with its hills and fogs.

After visiting Yuanjiajie, we take a bus and go to point 5, the next observation deck. The views are beautiful, but be prepared that there will be no crowds of tourists. You can return to the entrance to the park by either going down the cable car or walking down the stairs. Alternatively, you can spend 3 hours exploring a completely deserted area (15). If in general Zhangjiajie is a lot of steps, then this area is an ordinary asphalt road with practically no cars. It's hard for me to judge how much beautiful views... When I was there, everything was in a fog, like milk. But if you have time, why not take a walk.

On this route for 1 day in Zhangjiajie Park is over. We return to the hostel, rest and gain strength for tomorrow.

Zhangjiajie itinerary for 2 days

If you want to build a route for 2 days in Zhangjiajie Park, on the second day you can also come to the opening, take a bus and get to the beginning of the walking route along the lower path of the park (6). In this case, you have a great chance to stroll under the quaint hills almost alone, enjoying the nature of Zhangjiajie. The road from the beginning of the hiking trail (6) to the turn to the right, onto a completely deserted path (9), will take about 30 minutes. I highly recommend walking along the trail marked on the map at number 9. The way back there will take about an hour. Along the way, you can contemplate the nature of Zhangjiajie alone and most likely meet the local inhabitants - monkeys. In this park, monkeys are not at all aggressive and you should not be afraid of them. Photos of our smaller brothers are below in the article.

After passing the secondary trail and returning to the main trail, you can continue along the lower part of the park, reaching the other Zhangjiajie gates (10). Here you will have the opportunity to climb one of the observation platforms. A pretty temple awaits you at the top. The walk up and down on foot at a calm pace will take about three hours. Alternatively, you can go down the cable car.

Temple at the top of the mountain

Panorama from the temple

If you have only two full days to explore Zhangjiajie Park, after lunch on the second day, you can go to a cave located near Wulinyuan. Or spend more time in the park itself. There are many options, all the information is in front of your eyes.

If planning for Zhangjiajie Park seems a difficult task to you, you do not want to waste your time on it, and you also want to combine Zhangjiajie National Park with other equally beautiful places in China, my first program in China will be organized in May 2018. All the details are in a separate article. In a nutshell, in 11 full days we will travel from Shanghai to Guilin and see a lot.

Pictures of monkeys in Zhangjiajie park

Since I had the opportunity to take photos of the park as many as I would like, below you can see photos of monkeys, which are very numerous in the park. After the photos, the article will tell you what you can see in the vicinity of Zhangjiajie.

Places around Zhangjiajie Park

In addition to the park, there are several places that can be visited at once. But you need to think a hundred times before going to them. Any entrances to the natural attractions of China are not cheap. Below I will tell you about three popular places located in the vicinity of Zhangjiajie National Park.

Glass bridge

A highly publicized place, just under an hour by bus from Wulinyuan. As for me, a waste of time and money. It will take you about four hours to get to the bridge, check tickets, inspect the bridge and return. And it will take about an hour to stand in lines with hordes of Chinese. When you get to the bridge, respectively, those Chinese with whom you stood in line will be on the bridge with you. The pleasure is doubtful.

In addition, the bridge is not entirely glass. In the pictures below, you can see that on the bridge just made rectangular transparent areas, in which you can see the canyon below. The views from the bridge are the most common, especially, they are not impressive after visiting the park itself. You will walk the bridge over a hundred Chinese tourists jumping in place or lying with selfie sticks. I understand everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but I was not impressed by this place at all.

If you are going to the glass bridge, the entrance price is about 260 yuan. You need to book a ticket at least one day before arrival. This can be done at the hostel. By the way, in the hostel where I stayed ( Wulingyuantuniu Youth Hostel), you may be helped to buy a ticket with a discount of about 80 RMB. The name of the glass bridge in Chinese is 玻璃 桥 (Bōlí zhàndào / Bōlí qiáo)... You can get there from Wulinyuan Bus Station in 40-50 minutes. You cannot bring cameras with you; you will have to leave them in the storage room next to the first checkpoint upon arrival at the bridge. Your ticket will indicate that you need to arrive before 10 am. If you are late, you will have to pay an extra 20 RMB on top. The bridge is open for visits from 7 am to 3:30 pm.

Unlike the glass bridge, I would recommend going to the cave. You can get from Wulinyuan in 20 minutes by taxi or bus, the cost entrance ticket 100 yuan. Plus 15 yuan can be paid to enter a separate small area while already in the cave. Yes, you will not be alone in the cave, you will also have to fight your way through the crowds of Chinese tourists, led by guides with loudspeakers. However, the main feature of the cave is its river. More precisely, the opportunity to ride a small boat along the water channel of the cave. It's really worth the time.

In Chinese, the name of the cave will be 黄龙 洞 (Huánglóng dòng)... The cave is open from 7 to 15.30. It is better to lay the inspection for about two hours.

boat trip through the cave

Tianmen Mountain

To tell the truth, I don’t know whether to recommend this mountain or not. When I happened to be there, it rained all day, a stormy wind blew and everything was in fog. Judging by the photos from the internet, the place is quite interesting. If you've seen pictures with a huge hole in the mountain and a staircase leading there, this is the place. Most importantly, remember that when you buy a ticket you have two options. Or first go up the cable car and then, having completed the walking route, going down, go back by bus. Or take the bus and return to the cable car. This is a prerequisite. You won't be able to go back and forth only by bus or just by cable car. Heard many recommendations that the best option is to take the cable car and then return by bus.

(6 voted. Vote and you !!!)

One of the most popular films in recent years is James Cameron's sci-fi drama Avatar. The mountains in China, in which this picture was filmed, really exist. This is not computer graphics, but nature, which everyone can see on planet Earth with their own eyes.

National park

They are in which now they even began to call the Avatar Park. The mountains in China, in which the shooting was organized, are located in the southwest of the country, this is a real unique natural wonder. They are located in the Hunan province, which is approximately three hundred kilometers from the capital of Changsha province. Where Avatar was filmed, the mountains in China belong to the Wulingshan system.

The main asset of this national park is the rocks. Bizarre mountains in the form of peculiar pillars rise to the sky, creating an amazing natural landscape, which is formed as a result of the washing out of rocks and prolonged weathering.

Many admit that this place becomes a favorite to visit as soon as they learn of its existence. It should be noted that even living in China, it is not so easy to go to the mountains ("Avatar" impressed many viewers). You need to guess with time and weather, calculate finances.

Tourist boom

It is said that they inspired Cameron to create the famous soaring mountains on the fictional planet Pandora in the Avatar photo of mountains in China. This became the most powerful advertisement for the national park in its entire history, because after the release of the picture on the screens, the flow of tourists here increased significantly. In gratitude for this, the Chinese even renamed one of the mountains "Avatar-Aliluyah", having installed several figures of "avatars" on the territory of the park, near which long queues of people wishing to take a memorable photo are constantly lining up.

During a walk through the filming locations of "Avatar" in China, through the mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park, one really gets the impression that he is on some other distant planet - such incredible landscapes open up before your eyes.

Features of Zhangjiajie

It should be noted that not only mountains attract such a number of tourists to this national park. Diverse flora and fauna, amazingly beautiful and picturesque landscapes play a certain role. For example, certain species of birds, plants and animals that are found in these places are so rare that they are listed in the Red Book. These include the civet, giant salamander, clouded leopard, pangolin, rhesus monkey, and many more.

All nature lovers will find many amazing things here; the local landscapes will especially appeal to them.

When to travel?

To get the full experience of visiting a mountain park in China, you need to choose the right time when you plan your trip. Of course, the national park is open to the public all year round, but the weather does not always allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of the local nature. Therefore, when planning a trip, you need to decide what you expect from this visit, what landscapes you want to see.

Autumn is considered the best time to visit the mountains in China, where Avatar was filmed. The best period is from mid September to early November. During these months, the weather is exceptionally warm and sunny almost constantly, and the temperature is comfortable enough to spend the whole day in the territory of the national park. At the same time, experienced travelers claim that it is in the fall that these mountains will be best viewed.

The rest of the seasons

If you go here in winter, then be prepared that it will be too cold. In addition, due to bad weather, some trails can be closed for safety reasons, and fog and snowfall can cause poor visibility, so it will be very problematic to consider at least something.

But even this does not stop tourists, many go to take photos of mountains in China in winter, striving to see fantastic snow-covered landscapes, to admire these views almost completely alone. The undoubted advantage of winter travel will be the fact that tickets at this time of the year are much cheaper.

In spring, the rainy season begins in these places, which lasts from March to June. Agree, it is unpleasant and uncomfortable to go along the trails and inspect the mountains when it is constantly dripping from the sky. True, it is at this time that fogs cover the entire valley; many go to enjoy the effect of the soaring peaks. In moments when the fog hides the bases of the mountains, it seems that the mountains are simply hanging in the air. However, there is a possibility that nothing will be seen at all behind the veil of fog.

But the amount of time that you need to allocate to visit the park is strictly individual. Better to plan for an extra day to visit the Avatar filming location in China, the mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park, in case the weather turns bad.

If you're lucky, you can visit other local attractions as well. Among them are Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake, Tianmen Mountain. In order to enjoy the beauty of the mountains themselves, one day is enough for someone, while someone needs at least two to explore the main beauties without haste, and a couple more days for a trip to other noteworthy places that also deserve the attention of travelers, since they already got so far.

If you want to avoid a large crowd of people, then it is better not to plan a trip for the first week of May and October (at this time a lot of local tourists come to the park due to the holidays), during the period summer holidays not overcrowded by vacations and vacations.

Route options

How to get to the mountains in China? Avatar has inspired many travelers to visit this unique place. To visit the national park in which they are located, you first need to come to the city called Zhangjiajie. After that, you should get to one of the villages directly at the entrance to the park.

There are several options to get to Zhangjiajie. You can take a plane, bus or train.

By plane

First, let's take a look at how to get there by plane. If you are faced with the task of spending the minimum time on the trip, then this is the ideal option. The easiest way to get here will be by plane from some other Chinese city.

The local airport is located five kilometers from the city center. On a daily basis, it receives flights from Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Changsha, Qingdao, Wuhan, Tianjin and other cities. There are also several international flights. At this airport, planes land from the capital of Thailand - Bangkok and the South Korean city of Busan.

The fastest way to fly is from Xi'an or Guangzhou - about an hour and a half. The ticket will cost approximately $ 70-80 (5-5.5 thousand rubles). From Shanghai to fly here about two and a half hours, you will have to pay $ 115, and from Beijing - almost three hours. The ticket will cost from 110 to 130 dollars (7.5-9 thousand rubles).

You can get from the airport to the city itself by bus or taxi. Truth, public transport walks extremely rarely. A taxi will cost from two and a half to five dollars, depending on where exactly you have to go. For a taxi before entering the national park, you will need to pay about 15 dollars (1000 rubles).

The main thing - do not forget to bargain with taxi drivers, since the distances here are relatively short, while drivers take advantage of the fact that tourists do not know the area, they can ask too much.

Train

Now, knowing where Avatar in China was filmed, where the mountains are located, you can get to your destination by train. There is a train connection between Zhangjiajie and many major cities country. It should be noted right away that this method is suitable only for patient travelers who have a lot of time.

The journey from Beijing will take from 22 to 26 hours, depending on which train you choose. At the same time, a ticket for a reserved seat costs 60 dollars (4200 rubles), and in a compartment - 100 (7000 rubles). The train from Shanghai runs from 20 to 22 hours, the ticket price is 60 and 80 dollars, respectively (4-5.5 thousand rubles). You can get from Guangzhou in 13-17 hours by paying $ 50 (3.5 thousand rubles) for econom-class train and 77 (5500 rubles) for the compartment. The closest is Changsha, which is only five hours away by train.

It should be noted that Train Station in Zhangjiajie is located as conveniently as possible. It is located near both the airport and the city center. Within walking distance is the cable car station to Tianmen Mountain, which is considered another must-see. From the central bus station you can get to the national park.

Bus

Another option is a bus. The city has several bus stations at once, which are regularly visited by regular flights from neighboring large cities.

For example, with central station buses run to Shanghai, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhuhai and several other smaller cities. Buses run quite often.

The path to the national park

The last segment of the road to the cherished mountains will be the path from the city of Zhangjiajie to the national park of the same name. To get to the territory of the reserve itself, you will need to go to one of the entrances, near which there are small villages. In one of them, you can stay overnight so as not to waste time returning to the city, if you have devoted a few days to this attraction.

The nearest entrance to the city is located 32 kilometers from it. The local village is also called Zhangjiajie. 40 kilometers from it there is an entrance in the Wulingyuan area, and 50 kilometers away - an entrance directly at Tianzi Mountain.

Where to stay?

When you get to your destination, you need to decide where you will stay for the night. The first option is to rent a room in one of the hotels in the city of Zhangjiajie. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants here. There are options for how to have fun and usefully spend your leisure time. But if you stay in the city, then every day you will have to spend about two hours on the road to the park and back.

By staying in one of the villages at the entrance to the park, you will save significantly more time. There are also hotels and cafes here. For example, in Wulingyuan, there is a hostel just a 10-minute walk from the park entrance. Within walking distance there is a market with souvenirs and fruits, several shops, quite a decent cafe and an ATM. Apart from hostels, there are also quite expensive hotels.

It is better to book your accommodation in advance, as all rooms are occupied during high season. Housing is sold out in about a month.

Park opening hours

The park officially opens at 6.30 am. As a rule, the entrance is opened at about seven o'clock in the morning, by which time a rather large crowd of tourists, mainly Chinese, has accumulated.

In summer, the park is open until 19:00, and in winter - from 7.30 to 17.00. At the entrance you can buy two types of tickets: for four days for 38 dollars / 2700 rubles. and for a week for 46 dollars / 3200 rubles. In the winter season, the cost of visiting will be only 22 dollars / 1500 rubles.

Separately, you will have to pay for the Baylong lift (11 dollars / 800 rubles), the cable car to the Tianzi mountain (10 dollars / 700 rubles), the cable car to Huangshinzhai (11 dollars / 800 rubles), the cable car to Yangjiajie (12 dollars / 850 rubles), tourist mini-train (from six to eight dollars / 400-550 rubles).

For children up to 120 centimeters in height, admission is free, for children up to 150 centimeters, only half of the cost is paid. With an entrance ticket to the national park, you can travel by bus between parking lots.

At the entrance, there is quite strict control - fingerprints are tied to the tickets. So do not buy tickets hand-held, even if their price turns out to be very favorable, and do not lose, otherwise you will have to buy new ones.

Experienced travelers are advised to come to the park early to enjoy these beautiful views, while there are very few people.

If you want to use the Bailong elevator, then it is better to go to it in the morning, and descend at around 15-16 hours, otherwise you can get into the queue, which will stretch for at least an hour.

Please note that you will have to walk a lot, so make sure you have comfortable shoes that will not chafe, comfortable clothes, just in case, take an adhesive plaster with you.

Since the distances are long, it is better to combine walking crossings with cable cars. If you rely only on yourself, then you can simply not have time to see a lot. The most convenient way is to go up the cable car and go down on foot. Be prepared for the possibility of wild monkeys on some of the trails. Some are aggressive, so don't tease them.

Zhangjiajie Park in China it is now famous not only as the most beautiful national forest park, but also as a place, where the sensational "Avatar" was filmed... It seems to me that being here is a great success. The park makes you fall in love at first sight at its extraordinary rocks soaring in the morning haze and at the first breath of its fresh forest air.

A little about the history of the park

Zhangjiajie China National Park was founded in 1982, and soon after that it was deservedly accepted into the UNESCO World Heritage List. In general, these beautiful places have long been known to mankind, many legends and tales are associated with them. One of them says that a long time ago, during the fierce wars, one of the Yang clan commanders set up his camp at the foot of Tianzi. Since the war lasted for many years and decades, the sons and grandsons of the commander and his armies settled these lands. After that, the area acquired its name, which in translation from Chinese means "land of Yang".

Zhangjiajie has always been popular with tourists, but after the fantastic "Avatar" appeared on the screens and the audience heard that this park became the prototype of the landscapes depicted in the film, the influx of visitors increased even more.

Important! There are especially many tourists in the park from May 1 to May 3 and from October 1 to October 7 (national Chinese holidays), as well as in July-August during the summer holidays. If you want to explore the park calmly and unhurriedly, without standing in queues for half the time and not crowding around to take pictures of some beautiful place, I strongly advise you to choose another time for your trip.

Zhangjiajie - main attractions

First of all, the park mesmerizes with its natural beauty. Stretching over a huge area, the park combines picturesque mountain landscapes, the peaks of which are lost in the clouds, dense green slopes covered with forests and thin sparkling streams of streams and waterfalls.

Did you know? A characteristic feature of the park are frequent fogs, which, gently enveloping the ground, give the landscapes an even more mysterious look.

The park has the richest flora and fauna, there are many rare animals and plants, including salamanders, civets, rhesus macaques, ginkgo trees, mahogany and many others.
Due to the mild climate and the absence of sudden changes in temperature, walking in the park will be a real pleasure.

Important! You will really have to walk a lot in Zhangjiajie - I advise you to think in advance about comfortable shoes and clothes. If you are not in the best physical shape, or just to save time, I recommend using the cable cars to climb the mountain peaks. Although it will require additional financial costs, it will save you energy for sightseeing.

So, what are the main attractions of the park?

Avatar Mountains... First of all, most tourists tend to see this very attraction, thanks to which the park has found a new life.

There are a lot of high lonely mountains, as if floating in fog, in the park. Their formation is associated with the gradual weathering of rocks.

Did you know? One of these rocks, after the release of the film, was even renamed "Avatar Hallujah".

The area of ​​the park, in which there are especially many "soaring" mountains, is called Yuanjiajie. Here, by the way, there are many sculptures depicting those very avatars - rarely who can resist the opportunity to be photographed with these fabulous characters.

Yangjiajie Park... Some consider it a separate park, others just the Zhangjiajie zone. Be that as it may, this attraction attracts crowds of tourists.

Tianzi mountain... This attraction is popular not only for its natural beauty, but also for another interesting architectural object - the Imperial Palace.
As for me, this is a too loud name for a building of this size, but the building is really beautiful, made in the traditional way.

Stream of the golden whip... This is a very picturesque stream, walking paths along which stretch for 8 km. There are not so many tourists here as in other places, so if you want to enjoy the murmur of the stream and the singing of birds in relative solitude, this is the right place for you.

By the way, a big plus of this place is the ease of overcoming the route - the stream is located in a valley at the foot of the mountains, so your walk here will not require steep and long climbs.
There are many more valuable and unusual places but these are perhaps the most important ones.
Wild monkeys will be encountered on many of the park's trails and trails. These cute creatures make visitors fall in love with them - especially their kids.

Important! But stay alert - one of the monkey's favorite activities is stealing. They often snatch packages and bags from tourists' hands and run away with them high into the trees.

What to see in the vicinity of Zhangjiajie?

• Tianmenshan Mountain... The most popular among tourists is Tianmen Shan Mountain. It reaches 1518 m in height and is one of the main attractions of the area.

Did you know? There is a legend associated with the mountain that it warns local residents about the upcoming changes. They say that before important historical events with mountain peak a waterfall begins to flow.

• Another popular attraction is located in Tianmenshan - the picturesque Heaven's Gate Cave... The best way to get to the top of the mountain is using the cable car service. By the way, this cable car is the longest in the world. It also takes place here interesting route – The Path of Faith in Zhangjiajie, which is an interesting structure: it is a narrow path with a glass bottom, laid along the cliff. Not everyone decides to walk along it, although in fact it is absolutely safe.
• Cave of the yellow dragon... An equally popular attraction is the huge Yellow Dragon Cave, whose height reaches 140 m. It is one of the largest karst caves on the planet. Thanks to the beautiful interior "decoration", consisting of bizarre and unusual shapes and colors, the cave is considered magical. Inside, you can also see numerous underground rivers and pools, as well as waterfalls.
• Fenghuang... It is, albeit small, but very ancient and beautiful city, which attracts tourists primarily with its architecture. Its small wooden houses look really "Chinese" and are very picturesque. The atmosphere in the city is indescribable.
• Baofeng Lake... This picturesque reservoir fits so harmoniously into the surrounding landscape that it is hard to believe that it has no natural origin.
• Zhangjiajie - the grand canyon... Not far from National park there is another popular attraction - The grand canyon Zhangjiajie, where, in addition to beautiful walking trails and a magnificent lake, there is another iconic place: The suspension glass bridge is the longest and narrowest in the world.

Cave of the yellow dragon

Amusements and attractions of the park

• Undoubtedly, the main entertainment of Zhangjiajie is the walk in the park itself.
• In addition, climbing its sights with the help of cable cars or Bialong elevator can also be a fun adventure.
• It also has its own small Railway ... You can explore some of the attractions in a comfortable and fun way by traveling by mini-train.
• Many come to large glass bridge or on the path of faith to "tickle" your nerves.
• The park has many cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy your time and have a tasty snack.
• The city of Zhangjiajie, located near the National Forest Park, has many restaurants and entertainment facilities where you can have fun with your leisure time.

Bialong elevator

Zhangjiajie National Park - how to get there?

Getting to the park is pretty easy.

1. First you need to get to Zhangjiajie City. Since it has its own airport, the easiest way is to fly here. by plane... There are regular flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and many others.
2. From the airport, you can get either to the city or directly to the park using taxi or bus... If you are thinking about how to get to Zhangjiajie from Beijing or Shanghai as quickly as possible, air travel is probably the best option.
3. Also you can get to Zhangjiajie by train... It will take much longer, but the cost of such a trip is lower.
4. If you are already close to Zhangjiajie, you can use bus services... However, buses from such cities as Shanghai, Changsha, Wuhan and others also regularly travel here, but this is far from the most convenient way to travel - travel by train or plane is much more comfortable. I advise you to choose them in order to save energy and nerves for exploring the park.
5. From the city you can get to the National Park by bus or order a taxi.

Important! Taxi drivers like to greatly inflate the cost of the trip, insist that they use the meter or bargain.

Immediately I advise you to choose the attractions that you want to see first of all - the park has three entrances, and you need to get to the entrance that will be closest to the objects you have chosen.

Zhangjiajie Park or Avatar Mountain (video)

A beautiful video about Zhangjiajie Park. Happy viewing!

Zhangjiajie Park prices, promotions and opening hours

The opening hours of the park differ between summer and winter.

• In summer, the park is open from 6:30 to 19:00, in winter from 7:30 to 17:00.
• The prices for visiting the park also differ at different times of the year. In winter, visits are much cheaper.
• You can buy two types of tickets: a ticket for 4 days will cost you about $ 38, a ticket for 7 days will cost about $ 46.
• For an additional fee, you can also order a porter service.

Important! The ticket price also includes transfers by buses inside the park. For the use of the cable cars, the elevator and the local train, you will have to pay extra separately.

There are a lot of promotions in the park all the time.

• Students under the age of 24 pay half the cost of the visit.
• The same applies to pensioners from 60 to 69 years old... People over 69 pay even less.
• Children up to 120 cm tall can visit the park completely free of charge, and children from 120 to 150 cm also pay half the cost of tickets.

I sincerely invite you to visit the Avatar Mountains in China - my beloved Zhangjiajie National Park.
I hope I have provided all the information you need to plan your trip. If you still have questions or you have already been to Zhangjiajie Park and you have something to add to what has been said, I will be very glad to receive your comments.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you to a unique place in central China's Hunan province, which served as the inspiration for the creation of the world famous picture of the film Avatar. Welcome to the lost world of Pandora - Zhangjiajie National Park!

Wulingyuan Nature Reserve

Zhangjiajie Park, established in 1982, is marked as the first authorized national forest park in China. It is located in the picturesque Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源 风景 名胜 区), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here water and wind have created about three thousand peaks of bizarre shapes, consisting of sandstone and quartz. The picturesque area boasts natural beauty where mountains, valleys, forests, caves, lakes and waterfalls coexist in perfect harmony. To tell the truth, it was this place that served as the main reason for the trip to China. I really love nature in its original form, so while looking for something that could impress no worse, I found my treasure and began to pave it.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Chinese 张家界 国家 森林 公园) belongs to the Wulingyuan nature reserve and includes 4 zones:

• Suosi Valley (Suoxi Gully, Ch. 索溪峪)
• Yuanjiajie (Chinese 袁家界 风景区)
• Yangjiajie (Chinese 杨家界 风景区)
• Tianzi Mountain (Ch. 天子山)

Other objects located outside the park also belong to Wulingyuan Nature Reserve:

• Baofeng Lake
• Yellow Dragon Cave (Huanglong Cave, 黄龙 洞)
• King Long Wang Dong's Cave (龙王 洞)

A few kilometers south of the city of Zhangjiajie (not to be confused with Zhangjiajie Park) there is another chic park - Tianmenshan. It is not included protected area Wulingyuan, however it is not less unique place, but he will be discussed in the next post.

In 2016, another interesting place- The Grand Canyon with a fully transparent bridge. When it opened, it became the longest and tallest glass bridge in the world.

For convenience, I have provided information on how to get to Zhangjiajie and where to stay. But here I will note once again that if you plan to visit the Zhangjiajie National Park, then it would be best to stop at the southeast entrance in the village of Wulingyuan of the same name the day before (Wulingyuan, Southeast Gate, Ch. 武陵源, 东南 门). Just below on the map below, it is marked as Entrance B.

Well, let's go see the great creation of nature? From our hotel to the southeastern entrance to the park 25 minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi. In order not to waste time, we catch a taxi for 10 yuan to the park.

How much is a ticket to Zhangjiajie National Park?

There are 2 types of entrance tickets:

• For 4 days. Entrance fee is 248 yuan for an adult, 163 yuan for benefits.
• For 8 days. Entrance fee is 301 yuan for an adult, 196 yuan for privileged persons.

Notes:

• The discount ticket can be used by children from 1.2 to 1.5 meters in height, students up to 24 years old, pensioners aged 60-70 years.
• For persons with a 1st or 2nd group of disabilities and pensioners over 70 years old, the cost of an entrance ticket for 3 days is 60 yuan, for 7 days - 80 yuan.
• The free ticket is provided to Chinese military personnel, journalists and children up to 1.2 meters tall.

When buying, your finger is scanned, so if you come the next day, it will be enough to put your finger on the turnstile. Together with the tickets, they give a map of the park with routes and stops. You can move around the park between the main points on free shuttle buses that run every 10-15 minutes. Bus stops at major attractions are marked with a “P” on the map below. I will write the cost of tickets for additional transport in the process of describing the route.

Park opening hours

• The park is open every day from 07.00 to 18.00
• Opening hours of the funicular up from 07.30 to 16.00, down from 07.30 to 18.00
• Buses run from 07.00 to 18.00

Zhangjiajie National Park Map

For convenience, I am posting a map of Zhangjiajie National Park

Zhangjiajie National Park Visiting Route

The park is divided into upper and lower plateaus, between which you can move by funiculars and a huge lift in the rock. There are many routes, including hiking trails. We took 1 full day to visit the park, so we decided to move clockwise.

We go to the park, take the bus and go to railway station where the first stop awaits us - Ten-mile Natural Gallery, China. 十里画廊) located in the northwestern part of the Suoxi Valley at the foot of Tianji Mountain . A small railroad 5.8 kilometers long (marked in gray on the map) runs through picturesque landscapes of unusual rocks. The journey takes 10 minutes. Round-trip travel is RMB 52 per person. If you don't want to spend money, then there is a path nearby, a walk along which will take no more than 30 minutes.

On both sides, many peaks look like statues, as if carved by someone. The most famous peak is Herb Collecting Old Man 采药 老人 图片... He is a symbol of this valley and looks like an old man with a basket on his back, collecting medicinal herbs.

Not far from the herbal picker, you can also see a towering peak, which, according to the locals, resembles a man with crossed legs, and near him a series of smaller ones. This composition is called Immortals Worshipping Guanyin (Ch. 观音 十里画廊)... According to legend, it is said that the highest peak is the deity Guanyin, and 19 people are worshiped nearby, asking for mercy to this world and blessing people with a happy life.

At the final stop you can see Three sisters (Chinese 三 姐妹).

Admire the monkeys living in the cage.

And invest the first money in the Chinese economy by looking at the various counters that sell Chinese herbs, postcards, wood and glass products. Having bought a wooden fruit basket, we return back by train and go to the bus stop.

The next item is Bailong elevator (Chinese 百 龙 电梯)... It is located in the area Yuanjiajie and is installed in the mountain of the same name, and Bailun itself translates as "one hundred dragons" and is considered the tallest external elevator in the world, its height is 326 meters. When you approach this structure, your legs give way, and the lens cannot completely fit it into one shot.

We go upstairs. The cost of the lift is RMB 72 per person. On the way to the elevator, there are posters from the movie "Avatar".

The ascent takes 2 minutes. At first, part of the ascent takes place in the rock, but then this height opens up to the eye and you no longer know what to do, whether to photograph, or to be afraid. If you exit the elevator and turn right, you can find a steep observation deck on the elevator itself.

After a little admiring the views and fashionable Chinese slippers with pandas, we moved on to bus stop, already at an altitude of more than three hundred meters.

Arriving at one of the most important points in the park, McDonalds was discovered. Suddenly. But we decided to support a local producer and tried an unknown fruit for us - yangmey, Chinese strawberry tree or mountain peach. Juicy and tasty.

So, the walking path lies along the cliff. In some places there is observation decks, from where breathtaking panoramas open. Where the views are especially good, there are platforms for photographers who, for a fee, will take a picture for you as a souvenir.

The weather was far from sunny, sometimes the mountains were enveloped in a white veil. Moreover, it is not clear whether these are clouds, or fog, however, one way or another all this added some mysticism to the picture, visually it seemed that the mountains were soaring, and you were as if on another planet, as if in truth now blue would jump out from somewhere little men. And here, by the way, they are.

Having overcome a few more hundred meters, we came to the most important exhibit. Mount Jiankunzhu (Qiankunzhu, Chinese 乾坤 柱) more than a kilometer high and consisting of quartz sandstone, it translates as the column of the Southern Heaven and has a deep philosophical meaning.

Qian (䷀) - the first trigram in the ancient Chinese philosophy I-Ching, a symbol of the masculine principle, sky, sun, father, husband, fortress.
Kun (䷁) is the second trigram in the ancient Chinese philosophy of the I Ching, a symbol of the feminine principle, earth, moon, mother, wife, subject.
Zhu is a pillar, a column.

Having deciphered the trigrams, we get another name "The Column Between Heaven and Earth", which, in my opinion, sounds much better.

In 2010, commerce defeated philosophy when Western media spread information that this mountain formed the basis for the creation of the planet Pandora from the movie Avatar. After some time, in order to develop tourism, the mountain was given a new name - Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Chinese 阿凡 达 - 哈利路亚 山... And then they came up with an inviting slogan: "Pandora is far away, and Zhangjiajie is close!"

However, despite the fact that the park is promoted at the international level, in fact we were the only Europeans walking in this park. By the way, my girlfriend is blonde, and during these 2 weeks in China she was a celebrity. Here and here, every 10-15 minutes, they tried to either settle down to us so that we could get into someone's lens, or they openly asked to be photographed together.

Further on our way - The First Natural Bridge under Heaven (Ch. 天下第一 桥)... It connects two peaks at an altitude of 360 meters and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest natural bridge in the world.

On the bridge, lovers can buy a lock for 40 yuan, ask them to carve names and hang them, and throw the key into the abyss. They say that after that the family will be happy and strong. True, finding a place for your lock will not be easy - the railings and stairs are closely bound by thousands of locks. It seems to me that from time to time they are filed.

Having passed to the end of the path, we get out to another stop. We also found a post office here, but my attempts to find out whether our postcards would reach Russia were unsuccessful.

To get to the next attraction, which is already in a different area Yangjiajie next to the funicular of the same name, we get off at the next stop "WuLong Village" and go for a short trek. First we go down, and then at the T-shaped intersection we turn up to the right. Compared to the previous trails, this is a rather steep climb, and some of the stairs seem to be about to fall apart.

But at the end of the ascent, a surprise awaits us - Tianbo Mansion (Tianbo Mansion, Ch. 天波 府)... From here, an amazing panorama of Great natural wall stone pillars (The Natural Great Wall)... A distinctive feature of this place is the narrow and high natural rock walls, different from the typical pillars.

After that we go down back to the T-shaped intersection and go already in the opposite direction to the next observation deck, which is called One Step to the Heaven (Chin. 一步登天).

I will say that the first one was more interesting. Although it is also beautiful, but after spending half a day in the park, you already start to get used to it and the “wow-effect” disappears a little. Some even manage to sleep.

We return back to the bus stop and go to the area Tianzi to the final attractions to date. The Highest Peak of Mount Tianji, also called Mountain of the Son of Heaven, is the most high point in the park, its height is 1182 meters. Friends, just look at this beauty!

Well, let's plunge into history a little? Mountain Tianzi before the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was called "Qing Yan Mountain". In 1353, Xiang Dakun, the leader of the Tujia ethnic group, started a rebellion in the area and declared himself Tianji, which means Son of Heaven and is a traditional synonym for the Chinese emperor. In 1385, Xiang Dakong faced a fierce siege by an army commanded by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), the first emperor of the Ming dynasty we have already heard of. Sadly, Xiang died in the battle and fell into Shentang Bay. To show their respect for Xiang Dakun, the settlements were rebuilt and the mountains were named after Tianji. Legend has it that sometimes the sounds of drums, neighing horses and shouts of people can be heard from the canyon, as if an ancient medieval battle is still going on somewhere below!

Confuses nothing? Right. There is no bay here. So called Valley of the Heavenly Abode (Shentang Gulf, Ch. 神堂 湾) where we headed. Not to go to reverse side, you need to ask the driver to stop a little earlier than the last stop. In the heart of the gorge there is a dark pool and there is only one way there - a terrible staircase, as if leading into an abyss. Shentan Bay is still untouched by human footprints, like a mythical labyrinth with a bottomless gorge that bathes in fog all year round. And again, mesmerizing panoramas make us freeze for a moment in order to capture this extraordinary beauty forever in our memory.

At the final stop of the main route, we get to He long Park (Chinese 贺龙 公园), named after the Chinese revolutionary Marshal He Long. The Tianji area was one of the battlegrounds in the 1930s. In these parts, he organized a Soviet Red Army of more than 200,000 men and in 1935 joined Mao Zedong to support him in the uprising. After he led the guerrilla forces in northwestern China, both in civil war in China and during the Sino-Japanese War, and generally made progress in expanding communist control. By the end of 1945, he commanded a force of 170,000 troops. After the founding of the Chinese People's Republic in 1949 he held a number of civil and military positions, and in 1955 he was awarded the honorary title of Marshal (there are 10 in China) for his invaluable contribution to the victory of the Communist Party. To perpetuate the memory of the great Marshal, at the 90th birthday celebration in 1986, the Zhangjiajie city government established a park and erected a seven-meter bronze statue weighing about 9 tons. It is the largest in China.

Passing the bronze statue, we find ourselves on The Emperor's platform (Tianzi Sightseeing platform, Chinese 天子 观景 台), from which the next breathtaking landscapes open. Of course, nature creates amazing things, somewhere it has created huge canyons, somewhere a magnificent ensemble of rivers and lakes, but here it is hard to imagine where these isolated mountains came from, which seem to stand on a thin leg, and are waiting for something. After 10 minutes, this beautiful picture was again covered with a white veil. The weather here is completely unpredictable. It is believed that the best time to visit Zhangjiajie it is spring and autumn.

There was not much time left before the park was closed, shuttles stopped running at 18.00, and we still have to go down the funicular, so we make the last dash towards the pagoda, which bears the name Pavilion of the Son of God (Tianzi Pavilion, Chin. 天子 阁)... Here you can also have a snack, buy souvenirs, or even go inside.

Further from the pagoda, a long hiking descent into the Suosi Valley starts (remember, we started with it at the very beginning?). Of course, we will not go down it, but we will only go down a couple of hundred meters to capture the final and one of the most important sights of the park - Imperial Writing Brush Peaks or Yu Bi Feng, Chinese 御笔 峰. These are free-standing sandstone columns surrounded by mountainous green peaks. The tops of more massive peaks smoothly flow into thinner ones. The name Yubi Feng derives from the brush used by the imperial calligrapher, where the thicker end turns into a thin brush. Legend has it that the stone tassels belong to the same king of Xiang. They say that it was these places that served as the reason for the park to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Well, it's time to return to the ground, for this we head towards He Long Park and take another bus that takes us to the upper station of the Tianzi cable car, Chin. 天子山 索道, which costs 67 yuan per person. And finally, probably, Zhangjiajie wants to tell his visitors: "You still have not realized all my majesty and power? So get a flight around my planet!"

Time flew by here unnoticed. Of course, one day to explore the park is not completely enough, but to be honest, more days are not needed either, especially considering that there are other attractions in the vicinity, but Zhangjiajie Park will definitely be included in the top amazing places on the planet that I have seen. Such places are remembered for a lifetime and give rise to inspiration and a passion for travel inside.