While the Zhangjiajie “Avatar Mountains” are the main event, the surrounding area holds hidden gems that most tourists miss. From the adrenaline-pumping Glass Bridge in the Grand Canyon to the mystical caves and the “Stairway to Heaven” at Tianmen Mountain, exploring beyond the park borders turns a good trip into an unforgettable one.
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Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the Glass Bridge
Things near Zhangjiajie National Park. About 30 minutes from the east gate of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, you will find Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (大峡谷, dà xiá gǔ) which is the location of the famous glass bridge. Note that this attraction requires a separate ticket from the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and it’s about a 30-minute bus ride away from the east gate.
The attraction consists of 2 segments, first being the big walk across the glass bridge and the second being the walk from the top of the gorge down to the bottom. In total this will take you about 2.5-3 hours to complete depending on your pace and weather conditions. There are a lot of steep steps involved and when it rains, the path can get a little slippery – we know from experience. Throughout the walk down the gorge, there will be options to take a lift (or slide) at various segments for an extra fee which is good if stairs aren’t your thing (but why wouldn’t they be?).
zhangjiajie glass bridge tickets
When you buy your tickets on WeChat, make sure you choose the correct option based on what you want to see and do. To walk along the glass bridge, you’ll need to select ‘B route Daxia Gorge + glass bridge’ (B线大峡谷+玻璃桥). You’ll see two versions of route, which basically just gives you the option to include or exclude insurance. At the time we visited, tickets cost about 175¥ (24 USD) per person, so if you’re short on time and want to save a little money, we’d suggest just spending your extra days exploring more of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park instead.
Tianmen Mountain
If you arrive via train, you may see some of the countless ads showing the mountain with the hole in it. This is Tianmen mountain (天门山, tiān mén shān), located south of Zhangjiajie city.
Is Tianmen Mountain worth visiting? Absolutely. It features the world’s longest cable car ride, the famous “Heaven’s Gate” arch, and terrifying cliff-hanging walkways. It offers a completely different geological vibe than the pillars of the National Park and is a must-see for photographers. Unfortunately, hiking all the way up isn’t an option on this mountain and you’ll need to purchase cable car tickets. Refer to out Tianmen Mountain blog for more information on how to visit.
Furong Ancient City
Furong Ancient City (芙蓉古城, fú róng gǔ chéng) is one of two ancient cities located near Zhangjiajie. Both Furong and Phoenix are fairly similar and known for their nighttime views. Furong is closer to Zhangjiajie and has part of the city built over a waterfall.
Fenghuang Ancient City
Fenghuang Ancient City (凤凰古城, fèng huáng gǔ chéng), also known as Phoenix Ancient City, is perhaps the better known of the two ancient cities. This city is also known for its nighttime views along the river, but is equally wonderful during the early morning. Here you can dress up and do photoshoots in the traditional attire of the local Miao ethnic people!
Booking hotels in zhangjiajie
We booked our accommodation through trip.com it has many local homestays. With the additional benefit of being a foreigner friendly app in English. Highly reccomend!
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