Recommended routes

Option A climbs by Tianzi Mountain Cableway and descends by Bailong Elevator, followed by Shuirao Simen, the Geopark Museum and Ten-mile Gallery. Option B visits Ten-mile Gallery first, ascends by Bailong Elevator, then visits Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie and Tianzi Mountain before descending by Tianzi Mountain Cableway and leaving through the East Gate. Explore Ten-mile Gallery on foot or with a separately ticketed sightseeing tram.

Choose an itinerary and one branch around your accommodation, booked entrance, time and fitness. Do not try to combine every option in one day. If you enter and leave through different gates, arrange your return journey or car collection in advance.

Cableways, the elevator, park shuttles, the sightseeing tram, trails and the museum may change their operating arrangements with weather and site conditions. Confirm opening, tickets and last departures before setting out, allowing time for queues, transfers, viewpoints and breaks. Baofeng Lake and Huanglong Cave are separately ticketed attractions; arrange transport between them and the forest park.

The sequences below list visit stops, not navigable trail tracks. Follow signs on site and current transport instructions; confirm connections between visitor areas with the park on the day.

Option A: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station) → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (uphill) → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator (downhill) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option B: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station) → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → Bailong Elevator (uphill) → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (downhill) → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Enter at the South Gate and ascend to Huangshizhai by cableway or on foot, according to your fitness. Descend by cableway or on foot, then choose one branch at Oxygen Bar Plaza. Options 2 and 3 leave through the East Gate. Option 3 covers many areas; assess it against your bookings, queues and last transport departures.

Option 1: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Ascend to Huangshizhai by cableway or on foot → Huangshizhai visitor area → Descend by Huangshizhai Cableway or on foot → Oxygen Bar Plaza → Golden Whip Stream (around 30 minutes, returning the same way) → Oxygen Bar Plaza → South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station)

Option 2: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Ascend to Huangshizhai by cableway or on foot → Huangshizhai visitor area → Descend by Huangshizhai Cableway or on foot → Oxygen Bar Plaza → Golden Whip Stream (around 2 hours on foot) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option 3: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Ascend to Huangshizhai by cableway or on foot → Huangshizhai visitor area → Descend by Huangshizhai Cableway or on foot → Oxygen Bar Plaza → Golden Whip Stream (around 2 hours on foot) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Bailong Elevator (uphill) → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (downhill) → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Visit Yangjiajie first after entering at the West Gate. The three branches have different stop sequences and exits. Use park shuttle connections where required; the stop list is not a continuous walking trail. Alternatively, take the circuit via Yuanjiajie, Ten-mile Gallery and Tianzi Mountain, descending by Yangjiajie Cableway to return to the West Gate.

Option 1: West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station) → Yangjiajie Cableway → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie Cableway → West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station)

Option 2: West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station) → Yangjiajie Cableway → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option 3: West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station) → Yangjiajie Cableway → Yangjiajie visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Circuit option: West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station) → Yangjiajie Cableway → Yangjiajie visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator (downhill) → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (uphill) → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Sancha Road parking area → Yangjiajie Cableway (downhill) → West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station)

The sequences below list visit stops, not navigable trail tracks. Follow signs on site and current transport instructions; confirm connections between visitor areas with the park on the day.

Option 1 visits the summit areas via Bailong Elevator and returns to the Central Gate. Option 2 combines a short return visit to Golden Whip Stream with Ten-mile Gallery. After descending by Tianzi Mountain Cableway on Option 3, leave through the East Gate or continue to Ten-mile Gallery and return by park shuttle via Shuirao Simen to the Central Gate. Follow the park’s current shuttle connections between areas.

Option 1: Central Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Bailong Elevator → Central Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station)

Option 2: Central Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Golden Whip Stream (around 30 minutes, returning the same way) → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area; Exit options: Central Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station) or East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option 3: Central Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Bailong Elevator (uphill) → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (downhill); Exit options: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

To continue and return to the Central Gate: Tianzi Mountain Cableway lower station → Ten-mile Gallery → Shuirao Simen → Central Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station). Use park shuttle connections from the lower station to Ten-mile Gallery and onward via Shuirao Simen to the Central Gate; confirm that day’s service and last departures.

The four options follow different stop orders. Options 1 and 4 return to the North Gate; Options 2 and 3 leave through the East Gate. Option 4 descends by elevator and later ascends by Tianzi Mountain Cableway, so allow transfer time and confirm current connections.

Option 1: North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station) → Sancha Road parking area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Sancha Road parking area → North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station)

Option 2: North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station) → Sancha Road parking area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option 3: North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station) → Sancha Road parking area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option 4: North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station) → Sancha Road parking area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator (downhill) → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (uphill) → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Sancha Road parking area → North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station)

The sequences below list visit stops, not navigable trail tracks. Follow signs on site and current transport instructions; confirm connections between visitor areas with the park on the day.

This is a compact two-day plan. On Day 2, leave the forest park through the South Gate and travel separately to Baofeng Lake and Huanglong Cave. Check each attraction's entry times and transport; allow fewer stops or choose the three-day plan if needed.

Day 1: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station) → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (uphill) → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator (downhill) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option B: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station) → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → Bailong Elevator (uphill) → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (downhill) → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Day 2: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Huangshizhai Cableway (uphill) → Huangshizhai visitor area → Descend by Huangshizhai Cableway or on foot → Golden Whip Stream (around 30 minutes, returning the same way) → South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Baofeng Lake → Huanglong Cave

Day 2 enters at the South Gate and exits at the East Gate. Allow around 2–3 hours for the Golden Whip Stream walk, plus viewpoints and breaks. Day 3 visits separately ticketed lake and cave attractions, not a continuous trail within the forest park.

Day 1: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station) → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (uphill) → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Bailong Elevator (downhill) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → Zhangjiajie Geopark Museum → Ten-mile Gallery sightseeing tram → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Option B: East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station) → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → Bailong Elevator (uphill) → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Yangjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Tianzi Mountain Cableway (downhill) → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Day 2: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Huangshizhai Cableway (uphill) → Huangshizhai visitor area → Descend by Huangshizhai Cableway or on foot → Golden Whip Stream (around 2–3 hours on foot) → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates) → East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Station)

Day 3: Wulingyuan town → Baofeng Lake → Huanglong Cave

For the evening, consider cultural performances such as Charming Xiangxi, Zhangjiajie Romance or Dreamlike Zhangjiajie, or a walk beside the Suoxi River, Xibu Street or around Xiangxi Fu. Check each venue's current programme and admission arrangements. These are optional experiences, not an endorsement of a particular operator.

The walk moves from the valley into a sustained stepped ascent, for visitors who want to reach Yuanjiajie on foot. Assess your fitness for both climb and descent. Avoiding cableways and the elevator does not guarantee an uncrowded visit or eliminate all waits.

Distances and times are planning estimates, not completion guarantees. Mountain walks include steps and sustained climbs or descents. Choose for your fitness, wear suitable walking shoes, carry water and adjust to weather and slippery surfaces. A gentler valley section is not automatically suitable for everyone or free of physical effort.

Walking sequence: Qianli Xianghui on Golden Whip Stream → Luancuanpo mountain trail → Yuanjiajie Rear Garden parking stop → Yuanjiajie visitor area (Mihun Terrace, Avatar Mountain, The First Bridge Under Heaven) → Descend on foot along the same route

Views change from the valley to elevated peak forests, with physical effort on both ascent and return. Plan for steps, climbing, weather and your own walking ability; this is not an easy walk suitable for everyone.

Walking sequence: Ten-mile Gallery visitor area → Wolongling mountain trail → Yueliangya → Tianzi Pavilion → Tianzi Mountain visitor area (Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Scattering Flowers, Warrior Training a Horse) → Descend on foot along the same route

This circuit combines climbs, descents and park shuttle transfers; it is not entirely on foot. Both Luancuanpo and Wolongling require physical effort. Confirm shuttle connections and trail opening before setting out, and allow time for views, breaks and queues.

Walking sequence: Qianli Xianghui on Golden Whip Stream → Luancuanpo mountain trail → Yuanjiajie Rear Garden parking stop → Yuanjiajie visitor area → Tianzi Pavilion → Tianzi Mountain visitor area → Yueliangya → Wolongling mountain trail → Ten-mile Gallery visitor area

Walk from the South Gate along the valley toward Shuirao Simen, mainly on level ground and gentle slopes, with stream and rock views beneath the trees. The full route still requires sustained walking. Suitability for children, older visitors or people with reduced mobility depends on individual needs, current surfaces and weather.

Walking sequence: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Oxygen Bar Plaza → Mother and Child Peak → Golden Whip Rock → Zicao Pool → Qianli Xianghui on Golden Whip Stream → Shuirao Simen (Water Around Four Gates)

Planning estimates: around 7.5 km; 2 hours of walking, or around 2.5–3 hours including sightseeing and breaks. Actual time depends on pace, weather and stops.

The route includes climbing sections and cliffside viewpoints over valleys and peak forests. Do not rely on low visitor numbers as a guarantee. Confirm access to Yaozizhai and its trails, then plan around weather, fitness and site rules.

Walking sequence: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Oxygen Bar Plaza → Yaozizhai trailhead → Liubin Rock → Feiying Fort → Paishan Daohai viewpoint → Follow the circuit back to the start

Planning estimates: around 5.3 km; 3–3.5 hours of walking, or around 4 hours including sightseeing and breaks. Actual time depends on pace, weather and stops.

From the South Gate, pass Oxygen Bar Plaza and climb the mountain trail to Huangshizhai, walk the summit circuit and descend by the same route. The full journey includes substantial climbing and descent; a gentler summit section does not make the entire hike easy. Plan breaks and the return for your fitness.

Walking sequence: South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station) → Oxygen Bar Plaza → Huangshizhai mountain trail → Huangshizhai summit circuit (Six Wonders Pavilion, Star-picking Terrace, Five Fingers Peak) → Descend on foot along the same route

Planning estimates: around 9 km; 4–4.5 hours of walking, or around 5 hours including sightseeing and breaks. Actual time depends on pace, weather and stops.

The itinerary passes both cableway stations but connects them on foot. In particular, confirm access to Balipo, Wulongzhai and the associated trails before setting out. An operating cableway does not mean every nearby trail is open, and fewer visitors cannot be guaranteed.

Walking sequence: West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station) → Yangjiajie Cableway lower station → Balipo → Wulongzhai → Yangjiajie Cableway upper station → Yangjiajie visitor area → Return along the same route