Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie is world-famous for the incomparable Wulingyuan National Park, a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site of downright mystical beauty. The steep, towering quartzite sandstone pillars, often dramatically shrouded in rolling mist, create a surreal, almost floating landscape that is unique in the world and famously served as inspiration for the movie Avatar. Besides the fantastic Avatar Mountains, adventurous visitors can explore the dizzying glass bridge suspended high above the immense Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon or the impressive, gigantic Tianmen Cave located in the mountain of the same name. The regional cuisine of Hunan Province is also widely known for its particularly spicy and aromatic dishes. Zhangjiajie has its own international airport and very good train connections to other major cities. Autumn is generally considered the best time to travel, as the weather is comfortably cool and the animated colors of nature shine especially bright.

Nearby cities

Chengdu

Chengdu is a relaxed metropolis famous as the home of giant pandas and the incredibly spicy, numbing Sichuan cuisine.

Wuhan

Wuhan is a bustling metropolis divided by the Yangtze River, famous for its historic Yellow Crane Tower and vibrant cherry blossoms.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a sprawling megacity in southwest China, famous for its hilly terrain, vibrant night views, and spicy hotpot.

Zhengzhou

The capital of Henan province and one of the ancient capitals of China.

Luoyang

One of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, located in Henan province.

Shangri-La

Shangri-La offers a truly mystical atmosphere with authentic Tibetan monasteries and spectacular mountain scenery.

Wulong

Wulong is renowned for its spectacular karst landscapes, including giant sinkholes, natural bridges, and underground caves.

Wulingyuan

Wulingyuan is famous for its thousands of towering quartzite sandstone pillars, which inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar.

Jiuzhaigou Huanglong

Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are renowned for their multi-tiered waterfalls, colorful lakes, and snow-capped peaks.

Emeishan

One of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, famous for its Golden Summit, misty forests, and mischievous wild monkeys.

Qinghai Lake

The largest inland and saltwater lake in China, surrounded by stunning mountains and bright yellow rapeseed flowers.

History & landmarks

Leshan

Home to the world's largest stone Buddha statue, carved directly into a red sandstone cliff at the confluence of three rivers.

Dengfeng / Shaolin

Dengfeng is the spiritual home of martial arts, famous worldwide for the legendary Shaolin Temple and Zen Buddhism.

More places

Longmen Grottoes

Tens of thousands of statues of Buddhist figures and their disciples, carved into the limestone cliffs of the Xiangshan and Longmenshan m…

Kaifeng Dragon Pavilion

A park built on the site of the imperial palaces of several dynasties when Kaifeng was the capital of China.