The photographs I want to show are from Zhangjiajie City District in Hunan Province, namely the so-called Avatar Mountains. Heard for the highest elevator in the world, which rises up the mountain and a very beautiful view opens up from there. So I drove without any preparation - what, where, and how? As, however, and always, I don't know where I am going, and I like it, then the impressions of the trip seem to me stronger, more impressive and more emotional. So this time I went to look at the elevator and a beautiful view from the mountain, and ended up in a fantastic place - Avatar Mountain. The day I climbed the mountains, it was beautiful, sunny weather.

Entrance to the park costs 158 yuan and entitles you to visit the park for two days.

First on foot, then the cable car and again on foot, on foot and on foot, there is a five-kilometer queue for the cable car, and here I am in a booth, together with the Chinese going up, we swim between the rocks, the view is simply amazing.

The cabins are designed for 6 people, if the "people" are small, then it is possible for eight.

The place is not very much in demand among European tourists, for all the time it has met at most two or three Europeans and then not Russians.

That is why I think the Chinese looked at me with interest and wonder, probably the same way I looked at the mountains.

With every turn, more and more breathtaking panoramas opened up.

The mountainous region is famous for its quartzite rocks, up to 800 meters high. The highest peaks of Wulingyuan reach an altitude of more than 3 km above sea level.

Along the way, my attention was attracted not only by beautiful views of the mountains, but also by girls dressed in bright national costumes.

You could take a picture with them for 10 yuan.

It was convenient to walk, along the cliff paths were laid out evenly and neatly with exits to observation platforms.

The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge stone pillars above the rainforest.

I met them at one of the viewing platforms.

The kid was scared, but my mother was very happy when I photographed them.

The wife called this photo - "Daddy, don't leave." -)

Mountain flower.

High, horizontally flat rocks. There are observation platforms with an extension above the precipice with a glass bottom.

Almost the entire route is on such steps, you can also relax on them.

For those who are tired, it was possible to relax, enjoying the views from the "minibus" .-) But it is not cheap.

Taxi station -).

At the transfer points, sale of souvenirs and beautiful pictures with picturesque views of Pandora.

There you can also have something to eat or drink tea, coffee and further on the way, there is little time, and there are so many interesting things ahead.

Leaving the reserve in the evening, a flock of wild monkeys flew in and one of them took away from me a banana, which I wanted to eat, and this happened to everyone who had something edible in their hands. And then one of the monkeys starts screaming, her whole flock is running away, and in the distance I saw a running man, he ran up, shot them with a slingshot into the jungle and ran on. The monkeys instantly appeared and continued their gop-stop chaos.

Well, how not to give a banana to such people, although they do not ask, and do not ask, but take away.

Fruit for tourists is more expensive than for the Chinese, I asked on the fingers of a passerby to buy me apples and bananas, it turned out four times cheaper.

Market, the seller fell asleep.

As in a fairy tale, Masha and the Bear.

Throughout the journey, pumps were sold on trays, I could not understand why, then I understood ...

In the evening, returning to the hotel, I could not help but have dinner at a cafe that serves very unusual dishes, and made an original order - frogs.

Looking ahead, I will say that the next day I ordered 20 frogs, only of another individual, which were jammed in front of me, thrown to the ground, a sight not very pleasant, but tasted, no worse than chicken, I ate all of them.

The next day the weather let down a little, it started raining. It was windy and cloudy, but that didn't stop me from taking the bus to the world's tallest elevator. The elevator is transparent glass, the floor is ordinary, not transparent, when you go up, you can contemplate all the beauties, if you want to see something, you must, if possible, go first and stand at the glass wall, the latter will see only the back of their heads and listen to enthusiastic ahs. Part of the ascent goes along the mine inside the rock, then a beautiful view opens up. The rise of the elevator to the top, height 326m., Ascent time 1m 58s. It was not possible to take a picture of the elevator from the outside, as it was raining well, and all attempts were unsuccessful, only the camera and the lens had to be wiped off the water.

With fog even lucky, the feeling of Pandora's Hanging Mountains.

Fumes of fog slowly float, now closing, then not for a long time opening the peaks of the peaks.

On this day, the rain did not interfere, its drops fell far down and disappeared from my gaze, only emphasizing the height and splendor of the mountains.

The mountains are covered with moss - they are actually trees.

The dragon flies off the cliff onto the cliff, the Chinese have tried, everything reminds of the film.

When I got to the famous Mount Hallelujah, I was already soaked through (the camera was saved by an umbrella that I took from the hotel), and did not expect that I might be so unlucky. The mountain was covered in fog, and nothing was visible at all.

After about 10 minutes, my joy knew no bounds, the fog began to dissipate and Hallelujah appeared in front of me in all its glory, probably so that I could take a picture of her, and as quickly hid in the fog as it appeared.

The fences along the trail were covered with locks so that I had the impression that the Chinese were not 1.5 billion, but 6 billion - the inhabitants of planet Earth.

Locks are shaped like a heart, lovers come here to fasten their lock.

Crossing from one rock to another, this huge stone arch is a natural bridge.

On the right, on the rock, we attached a banner with the inscription.

After looking at the mountains that were in the filming of Avatar, I went to the funicular to go down and move to another part of the reserve by bus. Lucky, I defended a three-kilometer line, still less than when I was climbing.

The cabins fell into the fog, as if into an abyss.

To be continued in - Planet Pandora from "Avatar" is real!

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 during the winter season, 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 the visibility was almost zero. Accordingly, only a few photographs were taken. Therefore, do not be surprised at snowy 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 Zhangjiajie city 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 to the entrance to Zhangjiajie Park.

In order to get to Wulinyuan you need to take a mini bus that departs from the Zhangjiajie bus station. 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 there 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 perfectly 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 just five minutes from the entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park. The road on foot from the 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).

    Entrance ticket to Zhangjiajie National Park during high season is 245 per adult, 160 discounted (most likely discounted for children, students and senior citizens).

    Low season entrance 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 the eastern part of the park, from where we enter Zhangjiajie Park. The second image, the western part, is where most of the interesting places are located. I numbered the areas and points of the park on the map, so that it was easier for you to navigate. Detailed route descriptions follow the maps of Zhangjiajie Park.

    Place with good hostels in Wulinyuan

    Entrance to the park. Here they buy a ticket and get on 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. The 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 deck 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 that does not run on buses. 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 the cable cars and the elevator, or prefer walking ascents. I will offer one of the options, and you yourself will edit it 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 go up by 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). The journey from the entrance to the Avatar will take you about two hours on an average pace.

Bridge near the Avatar observation deck

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 \u200b\u200bthe 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 - 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 tourists will not be crowded. 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 beautiful the views are. When I was there, everything was foggy, 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 walk under the bizarre 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 gate (10). Here you will have the opportunity to climb one of the observation platforms. A pretty temple awaits you at the top. Walking up and down 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 only have 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, no less beautiful places in China, my first program in China will be organized in May 2018. All details 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 a chance 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 China's natural attractions 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 completely 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 across the bridge through 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 RMB. 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 the 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 entrance ticket costs 100 yuan. Plus 15 yuan can be paid to enter a separate small area while already in the cave. Yes, you won't 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. The main thing to remember is 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 there and back 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 !!!)

Zhangjiajie Park is a unique nature reserve. On its territory you can see a real miracle of nature - fantastic rocky landscapes reminiscent of the floating mountains from the movie "Avatar". It is said that it was the Zhangjiajie cliffs that inspired the filmmakers to depict the Pandora Mountains. Part of the wider Wulingyuan Conservation Area, Zhangjiajie Park is the first park in China to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the park, visitors can see thousands of stunning peaks and cliffs of bizarre shapes, dense vegetation, gorges, rivers and waterfalls. This place has become a kind of symbol of Chinese nature, and its unearthly beauty definitely deserves to be paid attention to.

In order to avoid long queues, it is recommended to explore the sights of the park in the opposite direction, that is, not on the way with tourist groups.

  • Route 1: Entrance Wulingyuan - take the "Hundred Dragons" elevator to the top of Mount Avatar - Mount Avatar-Yuanjiajie - Mount Tianzi - Go down the funicular - exit from the park
  • Route 2: Entrance to the park - Mount Huangshichzhai (1-3 hours, it is better to ascend and descend by cable car) - Golden Whip Stream (1-4 hours) - exit

To start the route, you should choose a bus that goes to the Tianzishan area. A cable car leads to Tianzishan Mountain (also called Mountain of the Son of Heaven and Mountain of the Emperor). Such names are not given by chance - from a height of 1182 meters, a gorgeous view opens up of the famous, seemingly floating in the clouds, mountains. The peaks of these mountains form the so-called Stone Forest. The central viewing platforms are always crowded, but if you go down a little further from the main tourist routes, you can find a place to stay alone and take a great photo. In the same places there is a beautiful pagoda - the Emperor's Palace, from which beautiful views also open.

Snackers will find various Chinese street food eateries along this stretch of the trail, as well as McDonald's. To walk through this part of the park, you should lay about an hour and a half.

Next, you should take a bus to Yangjiajie. There are practically no people here, however, the natural views are also breathtaking. It should be noted that this area is for true nature lovers. After all, you have to walk not along paved paths, but along paths, which in places can even be slippery and dangerous. The hiking trails, in turn, are marked with signs and the paths are neatly paved. Also in this area is an ethnic village called Wu Long, where the locals are farming according to ancient traditions.

If it will be difficult to climb the mountains, there is an opportunity to use the services of local Chinese, who will be taken to the heights in a special chair made of bamboo. You can spend 2-3 hours in this area.

From Yangjiajie area, from the upper cable car station, take a bus to the Yuanjiajie Park Visitor Center. The landscapes of this park are most often compared to the mountains from the famous film. In this place is the most famous 1080-meter mountain Avatar Hallelujah, which is also called "Lonely standing stone pillar supporting the sky" or "Pillar in the southern sky." The mountain got its name associated with the avatar after the release of the cult film. Here you can also see the highest Natural Bridge in the world (Bridge over the Sky) - a unique natural creation that connects the peaks of two rocks. Its length is 50 meters. The bridge is easy to recognize by the red ribbon with the wishes and locks of lovers. 1.5-2 hours will be enough for these edges.

From Yuanjiajie there is a descent to the Golden Stream. The journey will take an hour and a half and the road is not too difficult. It is also possible to take a bus to the popular Baylon tourist lift. The queue for the lift is always huge, it is easy to spend several hours in it, and the descent itself will take no more than one minute.

This route is suitable for those who come to the park for one day.

When is the best time to go

The best time to visit the park is September and October. In these autumn months, the weather is still quite warm, however, the low season is approaching, and the queues are noticeably shorter.

The high season is from May to September.

April to July is also a good time to visit. The only negative is high humidity and the likelihood of rain (often light) and fog.

It is not worth planning a visit during the Chinese holidays, as well as for the winter, as it can be very cold at this time.

How many days does it take to visit Avatar mountains

It is recommended to set aside two to five days to visit the park. Most should be devoted to Wulingyuan Nature Reserve, where you can leisurely explore the hiking trails. If you have more days to the route indicated above, you can add a visit to the Ten Mile Gallery in Tianzishan, visit the Yellow Rocks Region, where the famous Five Fingers Peak is located, part of Huangshizhai, the "wild" Larvuchang, attractive for photographers, as well as stroll along the most popular tourist route along the Zolotoy Khlyst stream.

Where are the flying mountains in China

The Avatar Mountains are not fictional at all, but actually exist. The Flying Mountains are located in China's Zhangjiajie National Park, which is part of the huge Wulinyuan Nature Reserve. The park, which has now become known as Avatar Park, is located in the northwest of the Chinese province of Hunan.

The closest city is Zhangjiajie, although the distance to it is 50 kilometers. There is also a town of Wulingyuan nearby with all the infrastructure necessary for tourists.

How to get to Zhangjiajie

Getting to the park and the famous Avatar mountains is easy enough.

To do this, you need to fly to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, which receives flights from many major cities in China.

The train journey from Beijing or Shanghai will take more than 20 hours, so this option is considered not the most convenient.

Park opening hours

In summer, the park is open from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm, and in winter from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Visit cost

The cost of a ticket to Zhangjiajie Park is 245 yuan - for 4 days. All tickets are personalized, and upon purchase you will need to show your passport and be fingerprinted. This price includes all areas of the park, visits to observation decks, as well as travel by bus.

A separate fee is charged for trips by trams, funiculars and lifts. For example, for a ride on the Baylon elevator you will have to pay 72 yuan, and for the Tfnzishan funicular - 134 yuan (a round trip ticket).

The Wulingyuan Nature Reserve includes four parts: Zhangjiajie National Park, Tianzishan Mountain, Yangjiajie Region, and Suoxi Valley. By purchasing a ticket to Zhangjiajie Park, a tourist gets the right to visit all four areas.

Official site

You can always find more information on the official website of the park - www.zhangjiajienationalforestpark.com. Information in English only.

  • It is better to come to the park early, as most of the tourists arrive after 10.00.
  • It is worthwhile to include more walking and less transportation as the lines are usually huge.
  • For long walks, you need comfortable shoes that do not slip.
  • All buses and cable cars in the park stop moving one hour before closing time.
  • In some places of the park, there are many monkeys with which you need to be careful: animals can snatch food, bags and phones.
  • It is recommended to bring cash with you, as cards may not be accepted everywhere.
  • It is best to have water, food, raincoat and sunscreen with you.

Zhangjiajie National Park Map

Photo

Or Tianmenshan Park, you need to fly to the Zhangjiajie airport of the same name and from there get to the parks themselves. In this article, I will tell you in detail how to get there, where to stay to visit the appropriate park and what to look for when planning a route.

A detailed description of Zhangjiajie National Park can be found at.

In order not to get confused, let's first sort out geographical names on the shelves. There are 5 objects of the same name with the name Zhangjiajie:

  1. Zhangjiajie County (Chinese: 张家界 区). A region that includes the northwestern part of Hunan province.
  2. Zhangjiajie Airport (Chinese: 张家界 荷花 机场).
  3. The city of Zhangjiajie (Chinese. 张家界 市), which is 3 kilometers from airport and from where the cable car to Tianmenshan Park originates.
  4. located 35 kilometers north of cities.
  5. Zhangjiajie village (Chinese 张家界). Located at the southern entrance to zhangjiajie national park.

And there are 2 objects of the same name with the name Wulingyuan:

  1. Wulingyuan Mountains (Ch. 武陵源), which are part of the Wulingshan mountain system. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  2. Wulingyuan Village (Ch. 武陵源, 东南 门), located at the southeastern entrance to zhangjiajie national park.

How to get to Zhangjiajie

From Russia, the most convenient way to get there is through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan or Beijing. China Southern and Air China fly. There are also trains, but it takes much longer.

We had a route Beijing - Zhangjiajie (8268 rubles per person), Zhangjiajie - Guangzhou (4137 rubles per person). When buying a ticket, it is important not to mix up the name. I almost bought a ticket to another city when I booked the flight. After all, the names are somehow the same for a Russian-speaking person, so if you are looking for how to get to Zhangjiajie and which airport you need to arrive at, then please note that you need Dayong Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (Chinese 张家界 荷花 机场), and the code the airport should be - DYG.

By the way, the landing at Zhangjiajie airport was the toughest in my entire flight history. It seems that the captain of the plane was trying to measure himself at a height of 3-4 meters where it is better for him to sit, and at some point he got tired and he just collapsed as it is. The airport itself is very small, located 3 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie.

Where to stay if you need to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

If you are going to visit there are 3 places to stay:

  • In the park itself. On the territory of the park itself, there are many mini hotels and hostels. The amenities are minimal.
  • In the village of the same name Zhangjiajie near the southern entrance to the park. But if you are going to enter the park through this entrance, then it will take longer to get to the main attractions.
  • In the small town of Wulinyuan near the southeast entrance. This option is the most optimal. From here it is closer to the main attractions and you can choose a good hotel.

There are only 2 good quality hotels in Wulinyuan: Zhangjiajie Pullman (Chinese 张家界 京 武 铂 尔曼 酒)) and Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel (Chinese 张家张 青 和 锦江 国际 国际 酒). Before the trip I chose between them for a long time. The decisive role in the choice of the latter was played by the declared free transfer from the airport when booking the deluxe room category. Wrote to the hotel about my flight 3 times. As a result, no one met. We agreed with a taxi driver from Zhangjiajie Airport to a hotel in Wulingyuan for 150 yuan without a meter. Upon arrival at the hotel, I had a little scandal about the transfer, but everyone apologized very much, said that when we checked out, they would take us free of charge to wherever we said. They kept their word.

With regard to accommodation. On the booking desk, a deluxe room with a beautiful view is declared on floors 7-8, but the hotel has 7 floors. Dali is on the 6th. The view from the window is so-so, especially if it is foggy. Price for two nights with breakfast: 1738 yuan. Deposit: 761 RMB.

Breakfasts are good, but not enough European and American cuisine. The restaurant has excellent service, they smile, see them off to the table, ask about their preferences. All Chinese sutra wrap up spicy noodle soup early, and mix different spices, sauces and herbs in a "do it yourself" manner, well, I decided not to be different - I went up to the Chinese, gave my plate and with a gesture asked him to make me their "megasuper" ... A couple of minutes of shenanigans with spoons and "noodles" and now I'm sitting at the table, eating breakfast in China and fucking how hot it is !!!

What else can be said about the hotel. The staff are very courteous, especially the head manager with glasses: every time he asked if everything was in order, what plans for visiting the parks, tried to give advice on how to plan a route. You know, in some places the staff was even very intrusive. It seemed to me that even when I was in the toilet, this guy with glasses was about to appear and ask me: “Mister, Arthur, are you all right? Is there enough toilet paper?

The location of the hotel is even 20 minutes walk from the eastern entrance to the park, but the hotel is the farthest. There are hotels closer to the entrance.

Wulinyuan is a small tourist town consisting of several streets lined with various shops, boutiques and cafes. The soul demanded piquancy, so after visiting the park, we decided to try street food. We're in China, why not? Chicken feet, local crayfish, octopuses and some other incomprehensible garbage. Everything is delicious, spicy, everyone is alive and well.

Where to stay if you need to visit Tianmenshan Park

If you are going to visit Tianmenshan Park and Tiananmen Mountain, then the best option would be to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie, because the longest high-altitude funicular in the world starts right from the city center, which will take you straight to the park.

Hotel prices are quite affordable here, but there is no high level. We booked the first hotel available (Shang Ke You Hotel) a few days in advance with a decent rating and a round bed in the room for 189 yuan.

Zhangjiajie city is small. A 4-lane road pierces him like an arrow.

In some places in the side streets you can see a typical picture of Chinatowns, a bunch of signs, street stalls.

The Lishui River runs within the city limits, there is an embankment for walking. Many do exercises. In general, Chinese pensioners are great. That's where you will find grandmothers with us who will so deftly throw their legs on the railing and stretch?

If you move from the funicular along Yingbin Road, then after passing through the bridge and turning to the left you can find the main street with squares. The density of people here is off scale! Many shopping centers, shops, pharmacies, banks. Fruits, vegetables, and some kind of dried gizmos are also sold here on the shelves.

Sales are everywhere in stores.

Somewhere here we managed to have dinner. They ordered it is not clear what, they just poked at the pictures, since there was no menu in English. As a result, they brought pork ears, Chinese rice vodka, a bucket of incomprehensible food and a bowl of chicken soup. The soup turned out to be a surprise in the form of a chicken head and legs with claws. Rice vodka for a big fan. The establishment has round tables with a revolving tray in the middle. Convenient for companies when they order a lot of dishes.

The city of Zhangjiajie turned out to be a tourist city, although the tourists are mainly the Chinese themselves. There is not much to do here in the evening. Well, if you just watch TV.

Leaving the restaurant, we set off at a leisurely pace towards our mini hotel. Tourists dispersed, sellers are gradually curtailing trade, the city is empty. Zhangjiajie slowly prepare for bed.

Zhangjiajie, (zhangjiajie national forest park), is a huge park area in the south-west of China (Hunan province). The breathtaking 479 square kilometer geo park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A unique corner of China's nature, the pearl of the Wulingshan mountain system, is called Zhangjiajie Avatar Park (China) in tourist guides and avenues. Some of the episodes of the famous film were filmed here.

The main attraction of the national reserve is rock massifs (weathered sandy and quartz pillars) soaring towards the sun and soaring in the clouds.

Zhangjiajie National Chinese Park is open to the public all year round. Experts recommend getting acquainted with the protected area from September to November.

Interesting! Mountain autumn presents tourists with a comfortable temperature, lack of low clouds and annoying rainy drizzle.

In winter, some of the routes in the park are closed, snowfalls and fogs obviously spoil the panoramic views, it is cold to walk through the "beauty". The only good reason for a winter visit is the reduced entrance ticket prices.


Spring and early summer flood the region with rain. Thick clouds and fogs envelop the valley, creating the effect of rocky spurs "soaring in the sky".

In order to "fluently" get acquainted with the beauties recognized by UNESCO, the traveler will need at least a week to visit all the places of worship and significant observation points of the geo-reserve and the surrounding area.

Zhangjiajie National Park how to get there?

To get in touch with the beauties of a natural location, you need to be in Zhangjiajie (this is the most convenient way to get to the natural massif).

By plane

  • from Beijing: $ 130;
  • from Shanghai: $ 115;
  • from Guangzhou: $ 80.

From the air harbor to the center of the settlement there is a shuttle bus and a taxi.

Train

For sedate and leisurely tourists, the railway is the best choice. There are a lot of train routes to the destination. The journey from Beijing lasts 26 hours, the price of a reserved seat train ticket is $ 60.

Zhangjiajie station is located at a strategically verified point: the center, nearby (within walking distance):

  • the airport;
  • the launch pad of the cable car to the Tianmen cliff;
  • bus station.

By bus

To get to Zhangjiajie, you can also use the bus. It's long and uncomfortable. Travel guides recommend this type of communication when traveling from nearby cities (Changsha, Fenghuang).

Where is the park?

The starting zones of the national reserve are small villages with hostels, hotels, restaurants at the entrance to the park. There travelers "take a breath", have a snack, solve the problems of accommodation and lodging. There are three official entrances on the territory:

  • the "start" closest to the city is located thirty kilometers away (Zhangjiajie village);
  • intrans in Wulingyuan area;
  • the most distant entrance to the observation area at the Tianzi mountain.

Accommodation options

Zhangjiajie offers travelers an excellent choice of hotels, but having settled in the city, you will have to spend time on the road to the walking and observation areas every day. Cost per night in a deluxe room in a central city hotel: RMB 869 (breakfast included).

Choosing a guesthouse in a starting village or a hostel inside a park can save you a lot of money and personal time. Living conditions and the service provided are Spartan (real interruptions in water, electricity, Wi-Fi).

Work schedule and issue price

Park areas are hospitably open:

  • in summer from 6:30 (7:00) to 19:00;
  • in winter from 7:30 to 17:00;

Entrance ticket price

There are two variations:

  • for four days: 245 yuan;
  • for the week: 298.

A separate price list includes:

  • Baylong: 72 yuan;
  • funicular to Tianzi: 67;
  • funicular to Huangshizhai: 70;
  • funicular to Yangjiajie: 76;
  • walking narrow-gauge railway: 38.

The basic ticket price includes the use of buses within the park.

Local travel tips

The main tourist slogan of the forest park is: "He who gets up early, God gives to that (tourist)!" Early wake-ups and visits to the base locations will protect the "lark travelers" from the tedious waiting and hustle and bustle of queues. The languor before loading into the coveted Baylong elevator (in the "high" season) can take up to four hours!

Long hiking trails strongly require appropriate footwear and sports equipment. Experts recommend the guides: to the top by funicular / down on foot.

Interesting! Absolutely all guides and reference books on the protected area warn tourists about the aggressiveness of local monkeys.

Do not tease monkeys / watch the safety of valuables.

In walking equipment, the following will be appropriate: a map, a guidebook, a Chinese phrasebook, cash, water for drinking, dry rations. The prices "for food" in the park are mercilessly raised.

Object top of the national park

Zhangjiajie National Park (China) is conditionally divided into four platform-zones. In addition to funiculars and lifts, there are several bus routes in the “UNESCO heritage”: purple cars run in the valleys, funny beige cars transport travelers along the tops of mountain ranges.

Each observation area is individual, exotic beautiful and stunningly picturesque.

Chinese Pandora: Yuanjiajie

The northwestern part of the park, the Yuanjiajie space, is the most visited territory of the geo-reserve. It is these landscapes that are compared to the peaks of the movie "Avatar".

The sightseeing trail "3500 steps", in addition to long stepped ascents and breathtaking descents, includes a lot of well-equipped observation platforms and points for photography.

You can get to the top of Yuanjiajie with the famous "transparent lift" Bailong.

This area is famous for the "Sky Bridge" and the majestic rock mass, which has recently been called "Hallelujah".

Creator - designer of "transparent transition": engineer Dotan. Cloud Transition budget is US $ 3.5 million. Length of crossing: 430 meters. The transparent viaduct can hold 800 people at a time.

The most beautiful place in the park is the unforgettable Avatar Hallelujah. Initially, the rock was called Jiankunzhu, which meant the Southern Heavenly Pillar.

Yangjiajie

Yangjiajie Zone is the youngest tourist area of \u200b\u200bthe nature reserve. This is the northeast of Zhangjiajie. The observation platform connects the Xiangzhi watercourse, Longquan and Baihou valleys.

The real pearl of Yangjiajie is the breathtaking Dragon's Waterfall.

Tianzi

The mountain range adjoins the Suoxi tract, the central park zone of Zhangjiajie and the Sanzhi district. Tianji is the pearl of Wulingyuan. The peak of the rock formation hovers at around 1262.5 meters (Kunlun), and the lowest point is 534 meters above sea level (Shilan).

Tianji Park Reserve is a virgin natural area with protected forests and reservoirs of crystal clear water.

Interesting! The population of the province adores the saying: "He who did not ascend the Tianji, did not know the beautiful."

In the west of the platform, the so-called "Western Sea" is freely spread. It is a valley dotted with rocky formations covered with green jungle. This part of the park is also called the "forest ocean" or "picket fence".

The vale of the "Heavenly Abode" is a gorge with sheer cliffs around.

The lower part of the mystical place is shrouded in clouds. The descent is difficult and time-consuming, there is a narrow staircase-trail.

An absolute decoration of the tourist route of the Tianzi zone is the Emperor's Shelter pagoda.

Knuth canyon

The Canyon of the Golden Knut stream is the easiest walking area. No stairs, no precipices, no cable cars: the tourist route runs along a flat valley, along a quiet, shady stream of water.

True communion with nature: bird noise, murmur of water, fantastic mountains and emerald greenery.

Huangshizhai

Huangshichzhai means "yellow stone village" or "yellow village". The Huangshichzhai cliffs spread over seventeen park hectares. "Stone settlement" is a horizontal "patch" at an altitude of 1100 meters.

The three kilometers long mountain trail takes two hours and requires good physical fitness. On the way, tourists are delighted with equipped observation decks with romantic Chinese names:

You can get to the top by funicular, to which a bus takes you from Laomuvan.

The Yellow Stone Village (on the top of the mountain) has a restaurant where you can have a good meal.

Noteworthy surroundings

In addition to Zhangjiajie Park, Hunan Province offers tourists a lot of beauty, attractions and exotic natural areas.

Tianmen summit

Tianmen skyscraper and the natural park of the same name are located on the far outskirts of Zhangjiajie. Within walking distance, the launch pad of the world's longest funicular, delivering thirsty people to the top of the mountain. Extreme tourists get to the reserve on foot, along the famous serpentine path "99 bends".

A real hit of the mountain reserve is the Buddhist pantheon of the Ming dynasty. The Heavenly Gate Temple is hidden in a rocky cave.

The temple is ten thousand square meters. To get to the arch, you need to overcome a difficult climb of 999 steps.

An alternative answer to the famous glass bridge and the center of attraction for extreme lovers, adrenaline addicts around the world is the "cloud trail" along the edge of the cliff.

The cost of the park excursion (including the funicular or the shuttle bus service) is 258 RMB. For a defile along a transparent section of the track, you will have to pay 5-10 yuan.

Fenghuang Museum Settlement

Fenghuang is located on the water (city on stilts) and attracts tourists with the atmosphere of the Celestial Empire. Fragile structures, delicate bridges, winding, shady corners and fishing nets drying in the sun.

At night, everything is illuminated by the lights of paper lanterns, which makes the city stylish and solid.

From Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang to go 240 km (five hours of shaking in the bus). A visit to the city-museum is paid: 148 yuan.

Baofeng

The Baofeng water body is a man-made object formed during the construction of the dam. Located high in the gorge, the reservoir of the purest water is surrounded by emerald wooded slopes.

From Wulingyuan Village, you can get to the World Heritage Site by taxi (RMB 10-15) or walk (leisurely forty minutes walk).

The entrance ticket will cost an adult traveler 96 yuan (includes a swim on the lake with songs and national costumes of rowers). Locals call the surface of the lake "a paradise of the hectic world."

Huanglong

Near the village of Wulingyuan is the "Burrow of the Golden Dragon". A river flows through the entire cave with meanders framed by illuminated stalactites.

It is easy to get there by bus or taxi for 20 RMB. Price: 100 yuan (with boat, underground walk).

What else is famous for the national natural park

Zhangjiajie invites tourists with unearthly beauty, surreal reliefs and landscapes.

The real "diamonds" of the national reserve are:

  • flying quartzite rocks over 800 meters high;
  • wooded peaks, overcoming the mark of 3000 meters above sea level;
  • caves, reservoirs, flora and fauna;
  • well-functioning tourist infrastructure (elevators, funiculars, walking and car routes).

China generously endows travelers with the wealth and delightful beauty of nature.

Conclusion

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (zhāngjiājiè) is the pride and natural attraction of the country. The sensations from the trip, walks, excursions, contact with virgin nature will be remembered for a long time and will be called on the road more than once.