Intense Express Tour of Zhangjiajie! 3 Full Days
For those who don't have as much time as we did to explore the attractions of Zhangjiajie, here's a packed 3.5-day itinerary that allowed us to see a lot.
Day 1: We stayed at a hotel located right in the 72 Wonder Building (a massive futuristic and beautiful building in Chinese style with lighting and shows). It was very close to the train station and not far from the long cable car to Tianmen National Park (or the 'Hole in the Rock'), as we planned to visit it in the morning.
In the morning, we called a taxi. Taxis there are very cheap! We headed to the longest cable car. We bought tickets for Tianmen on Trip.com, Route A, to avoid climbing the 999 steps on foot. Make sure to book at least a couple of days in advance to secure this route, as it sells out quickly. We chose an entry time of 11-12.
There will be a queue for the cable car; we waited about 40 minutes before finally boarding a cabin. It takes about 5 hours to complete the entire route in this national park. Be sure to visit the temple complex, which is large and beautiful, and of course, the 'Hole in the Rock.'
In the evening, you can attend the Fox Fairy show. Tickets for it can also be purchased on Trip.com, but we decided to return to the hotel and bought entry tickets to the 72 Wonder Building complex (around 1000 rubles per person for an evening ticket, also purchased on Trip.com). The ticket is valid for 3 days! You can visit the complex for 3 days. Be sure to stop by the information desk and take a photo of the show schedule from the staff. Mini-performances and shows are held constantly in different locations. The complex also has various cafes, a museum, an exhibition, and other entertainment options.
My favorite large-scale show with a storyline starts around 8:00 PM. The schedule may change, so take a photo at the information desk near the ticket counters. There is also a paid show program in a separate hall (15 yuan per person), which includes a cup of tea and performances. Out of curiosity, we attended it but were disappointed. 😁 Nothing particularly interesting. So, I wouldn't recommend it. The complex is open until 11:00 PM, but cafes start closing around 10:00-10:30 PM. Afterward, we simply returned to our hotel, which was very close and convenient.
Day 2:
In the morning, after breakfast, we took a taxi to Wulingyuan village and checked into a new hotel near the bus station and the entrance to the 'Avatar Mountains' (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park). Our room was ready, so we could leave our belongings there. Today, we headed to the Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon. You can get there by bus from the bus station (about 12-13 yuan per person) or by taxi. We bought tickets at the reception, but they are also available on Trip.com. We opted for the full package, including all lifts and attractions: zip line, slide, hot air balloons, etc.
The zip line was the most worthwhile attraction. The Glass Bridge and Canyon don't take much time, about 3 hours. The Glass Bridge is no longer as transparent as it used to be, with scratches all over, so don't expect a 'WOW' effect.
After the canyon, you can visit the Yellow Dragon Cave, which is nearby and on the way back to the village. We didn't go; instead, we took a bus back to Wulingyuan. I wouldn't call it a village; it's more like a small town with plenty of cafes to suit any taste. We had dinner and went to bed early, as we had to wake up early the next morning to explore the 'Avatar Mountains' (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park).
Note: The movie Avatar wasn't filmed there; the mountain landscapes were more of an inspiration.
Day 3: We bought tickets for the earliest entry (West Entrance) because it takes a lot of time to explore. I added a screenshot of the map to the post. It was a bit foggy, which made it even more epic. If you have more days to spare, you can visit the reserve for 4 consecutive days with the ticket. There's always a risk of bad weather!
The transportation system in the mountains is very advanced! Buses constantly run from point to point. However, the distances are significant. The most popular spots are marked with stars. Choose 4-5 key points for yourself. Maps are sometimes available at the hotel reception (we had them!). You can ask at the reception and mention you have only one day. They will highlight the best spots for you.
Don't worry about food and drinks: there are various cafes, coffee shops, and even a McDonald's in the mountains! We decided to descend the mountains on foot and saw monkeys along the way. The reception staff marked a big cross on the map for the staircase descent, saying it would take a long time, but we decided to go for it anyway. 😁
Afterward, we returned to the hotel. You can attend a show in the village, but we were very tired. The next day, we had a train to catch. If you take an evening train, you can visit the 'Avatar Mountains' once more.
That's our itinerary. We left the city happy and satisfied! We loved everything, but the 'Avatar Mountains' were our favorite. Where else can you see something like this?