The Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源风景区) of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park contains over 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars rising 200–400m from the forest floor — the landscape that inspired James Cameron’s floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. Walking routes through this forest of pillars takes you through one of the world’s most otherworldly natural landscapes.
Orientation: The Three Main Areas
The park is divided into three main areas:
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (张家界国家森林公园): The southern entrance area — most accessible, includes Golden Whip Stream and the densest pillar formations.
Suoxiyu Valley (索溪峪): Central area — Baofeng Lake, and the main accommodation cluster for overnight park visitors.
Tianzi Mountain (天子山): Northern area — the least visited and most dramatic elevated viewpoints; accessible by cable car from the Suoxiyu area.
Golden Whip Stream (金鞭溪)
The best all-ability trail in the park — a 7.5km valley walk following a crystal-clear stream through a gorge lined on both sides by towering sandstone pillars. The walk is entirely flat; the scale of the formation walls above is visible from the valley floor.
Wildlife: The trail has populations of grey-side-throated monkeys (猕猴) that are habituated to visitors. Also watch for golden pheasants in the forest floor and various endemic bird species.
Duration: 2–3 hours one way. Buses return from the far end.
Yuanjiajie (袁家界) — The Avatar Viewpoints
Yuanjiajie is the elevated plateau at the park’s northern edge — accessible by elevator (Bailong Elevator, one of the world’s tallest outdoor elevators at 326m) or cable car from the park floor.
Hallelujah Mountain (哈利路亚山, officially Qiankun Pillar 乾坤柱): The individual column that directly inspired Cameron’s floating mountains. From the Yuanjiajie viewpoint, floating clouds partially obscure the base of the column, creating the “floating” effect most visible in October–November fog conditions.
First Bridge Under Heaven (天下第一桥): A natural rock arch spanning two pillars at 357m elevation — the drop below is genuinely vertiginous.
Tianzi Mountain (天子山)
The highest and least-crowded section of the park — the cable car from Suoxiyu ascends to a plateau at 1,260m, giving elevated views over the entire pillar forest.
Xianren Jumufeng (仙人居木峰): “Fairy Peak” — the most dramatic elevated viewpoint in the park, looking out over a sea of sandstone pillars stretching to both horizons. Better than the Yuanjiajie viewpoints for photography.
Avoiding crowds at Tianzi: Most package tour itineraries focus on Yuanjiajie; Tianzi Mountain on weekdays has significantly fewer visitors.
2-Day Zhangjiajie Hiking Plan
Day 1:
- Morning: Enter at South Gate → Golden Whip Stream walk (3 hours)
- Afternoon: Bus to Bailong Elevator → ascend to Yuanjiajie → Hallelujah Mountain viewpoints → First Bridge Under Heaven
- Evening: Overnight in Wulingyuan town
Day 2:
- Morning: Cable car to Tianzi Mountain → Xianren Jumufeng → North gate viewpoints
- Afternoon: Suoxiyu valley walk → Baofeng Lake boat trip
Transport: Shuttle buses within the park connect all three areas (included in park ticket).
Ticket: ¥248 (valid for 4 days, including all shuttle buses). Elevator and cable cars extra.
Also see: Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge Guide | Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Guide | China Hiking Guide