Travel information

Understand arrival, transfers and ticketing, then confirm current operations before travel.

Getting to Zhangjiajie

Getting to Zhangjiajie
Getting to Zhangjiajie

Wulingyuan is reached via Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, Zhangjiajie Railway Station, Zhangjiajie West Railway Station and the expressway network. Journeys to Wulingyuan town and the different park entrances are not identical; specify your destination when booking transport.

Air travel: the transport information dated 6 October 2026 lists connections with 35 cities in mainland China, routes to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and charter flights from Bangkok and Seoul. Routes and charters may change seasonally; check flights with the airport or operating airline.

Rail travel: the same information lists direct trains linking Zhangjiajie with 29 cities, with additional tourist trains possible during the summer holidays, National Day and Spring Festival. Changsha, Huaihua, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Guangzhou are examples of cities along the high-speed rail network. Check 12306 for current services and whether a journey is direct.

Road travel: the Changsha–Zhangjiajie and Zhangjiajie–Huayuan expressways provide east–west connections; provincial roads S306, S228 and S305 also cross the area. Some cities have coach services to Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan. Confirm routes, road conditions and departures before setting out.

Approximate distances to Wulingyuan
Transport connectionApproximate distance (km)
Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport30
Zhangjiajie Railway Station30
Expressway access25
Zhangjiajie West Railway Station20

Transport information compiled on 6 October 2026. Distances, frequencies and journey times are approximate references, not a promise of same-day services; check before travelling.

From the city to the park entrances

City-to-park buses depart from Zhangjiajie Bus Station, beside Zhangjiajie Railway Station, and from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station. Services go to Wulingyuan Bus Station or the South Entrance at the Forest Park Ticket Station. Confirm the destination for your chosen entrance.

For the East Entrance, Wulingyuan Bus Station is approximately 2 km from Wujia Yu Ticket Station. The walk takes around 25–30 minutes, depending on the route, conditions and your pace. Alternatively, take local bus 1 or 2 from outside the station.

For the West and North Entrances, take a minibus heading to Tianzishan Town. For Yangjiajie Ticket Station, get off at Zhonghu and walk about 2 km or use local transport. Tianzishan Ticket Station is in Tianzishan Town, not at the summit viewpoints. Departures may depend on demand.

Routes and departures may change. The information lists these enquiry numbers: Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, 0744-8305599; Wulingyuan Bus Station, 0744-5615611. Confirm services and contact details before travelling.

City-to-park bus references
DestinationDistance (km)Approximate timeIndicative frequency
Wulingyuan Bus Station, for East Entrance35About 50 minutesAbout every 10 minutes
South Entrance, Forest Park Ticket Station30About 45 minutesAbout every 10 minutes
Zhonghu, for West Entrance / Yangjiajie40About 1 hour 10 minutesTypically hourly; demand-dependent
North Entrance, Tianzishan Ticket Station55About 1.5–2 hoursTypically hourly; demand-dependent

Transport information compiled on 6 October 2026. Distances, frequencies and journey times are approximate references, not a promise of same-day services; check before travelling.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Visitors arriving at Zhangjiajie Airport, Zhangjiajie Railway Station or Zhangjiajie West Railway Station can take a taxi or book a ride to Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie National Forest Park if no transfer is arranged.

Specify the South Entrance / Forest Park Ticket Station or East Entrance / Wujia Yu Ticket Station. Routes vary with your starting point, traffic and entrance. The indicative 40–45 minutes below excludes waiting and congestion.

Destination and indicative journey
DestinationApproximate distance (km)Approximate time
South Entrance, Forest Park Ticket Station30About 40–45 minutes
East Entrance, Wujia Yu Ticket Station35About 40–45 minutes

Transport information compiled on 6 October 2026. Distances, frequencies and journey times are approximate references, not a promise of same-day services; check before travelling.

Getting around inside the scenic areas

Getting around inside the scenic areas

The Forest Park eco-friendly bus network operates in four areas: Suoxiyu, Tianzi Mountain–Yuanjiajie, the Forest Park and Yangjiajie. The information dated 6 October 2026 lists 22 bus station facilities, 8 temporary boarding/alighting points and approximately 61.3 km of operating routes, connecting transport hubs and developed attractions.

Transport inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park includes eco-friendly buses, Tianzi Mountain Cableway, Bailong Elevator, Ten-Mile Gallery sightseeing tram, Huangshi Village Cableway, Yangjiajie Cableway and the Sky Garden electric shuttle. Baofeng Lake has eco-friendly buses and sightseeing boats; Huanglong Cave has sightseeing boats. The three scenic areas have separate ticket arrangements, and a ticket does not automatically include every transport service. Opening hours, ticketing, facilities and routes may change; check each scenic area's official channels before travelling.

Tianzi Mountain Cableway serves the Tianzi Mountain area; Bailong Elevator serves Yuanjiajie; Huangshi Village and Yangjiajie each have a cableway. The Ten-Mile Gallery tram provides transport and sightseeing. The Sky Garden electric shuttle connects Dingxiangrong Station with Laowuchang Station.

The specifications below are reference equipment data from 6 October 2026. Capacity and speed are not a promise of actual waiting or visiting times. Weather, maintenance and demand may affect operation.

Reference transport specifications
FacilityReference specifications
Tianzi Mountain CablewaySingle-line circulating detachable 8-person cabins; inclined length 2,091 m, height difference 691 m; 12 towers, 78 passenger cabins and 2 maintenance cabins; maximum speed 4.5 m/s, one-way capacity 2,100 people/hour.
Bailong ElevatorSightseeing elevator serving Yuanjiajie; journey and waiting times depend on current on-site arrangements.
Huangshi Village CablewayInclined length 1,013 m, height difference 443 m; one-way capacity 2,200 people/hour, maximum speed 6 m/s.
Yangjiajie CablewayLength 1,876 m; one-way capacity 2,000 people/hour and reference one-way journey 5.2 minutes.
Ten-Mile Gallery sightseeing tram18 vehicles themed around the Chinese zodiac; reference maximum daily capacity 20,000 passenger journeys.
Sky Garden electric shuttleDingxiangrong Station–Laowuchang Station; dedicated sightseeing route 4.2 km; reference fleet of 43 electric vehicles.

Transport information compiled on 6 October 2026. Distances, frequencies and journey times are approximate references, not a promise of same-day services; check before travelling.

Tickets and concessions

Distinguish Forest Park admission, eco-friendly bus tickets and cableway/elevator tickets. The admission-and-bus combo includes admission and eco-friendly buses only; cableways, elevators and sightseeing trams are excluded unless the purchased product expressly includes them.

Admission exemption: children under 14, seniors aged 65 and above, and visitors with valid qualifying documents for disability, active military service and military family status, the three categories of bereaved families (martyrs, personnel who died in the line of duty and personnel who died of illness), disabled military personnel and retired military cadres.

Religious-site admission exemption: clergy and staff attached to a religious site within the scenic area, and other clergy of the same religion as that site, may enter to visit the religious site free of admission charge with valid documents under the applicable rules. This does not include internal transport.

Reduced admission: minors aged 14 to under 18, seniors aged 60 to under 65, and full-time enrolled students at undergraduate level or below with valid documents.

Eco-friendly buses are free for children under 14. Reduced bus fares apply to minors aged 14 to under 18, seniors aged 60 and above, and qualifying disability, active military and family, bereaved-family, disabled military, retired military cadre and full-time undergraduate-or-below student categories with valid documents issued by institutions in China.

Scenic-area insurance is RMB 3/person and is optional; the table excludes insurance. Admission exemption does not make buses, cableways or elevators free. Other transport concessions follow their respective rules. Admission rules refer to 湘发改价费规〔2024〕977号, effective from 1 January 2025.

The concessions listed here for foreign visitors are age-based. Special-status concessions, such as student, disability or military categories, require valid documents issued by institutions in China; overseas documents must not be assumed to qualify. Bring valid identification for verification at the official ticket desk. Base prices are not set differently by nationality.

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

Forest Park admission and eco-friendly buses
TicketFull price (RMB/person, insurance excluded)Reduced price (RMB/person, insurance excluded)Included services and validity
Forest Park admission + eco-friendly buses236119Admission and eco-friendly buses valid for 4 consecutive days.
Admission only16583Valid 4 consecutive days; internal buses and other transport excluded.
Eco-friendly bus ticket7236Valid 4 consecutive days; admission excluded.
Annual pass310Not separately listedValid one year; unlimited admission, eco-friendly buses included.

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

Forest Park transport fares

The three cableways and one elevator are Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie and Huangshi Village cableways and Bailong Elevator. Ten-Mile Gallery tram and the Sky Garden electric shuttle have separate prices. One-way, four-ride, unlimited-ride and admission-inclusive passes cover different services; choose for your itinerary rather than treating every facility as compulsory.

Free transport: children under 14. Reduced transport fares: minors aged 14 to under 18, seniors aged 60 and above, and qualifying disability, active military and family, bereaved-family (martyrs, personnel who died in service or of illness), disabled military, retired military cadre and full-time undergraduate-or-below student categories with valid documents issued by institutions in China.

Prices below exclude insurance; additional insurance must not be treated as a compulsory default. Four-day validity does not mean every transport service is included. Unused rides on the four-ride ticket are not refunded.

The concessions listed here for foreign visitors are age-based. Special-status concessions, such as student, disability or military categories, require valid documents issued by institutions in China; overseas documents must not be assumed to qualify. Bring valid identification for verification at the official ticket desk. Base prices are not set differently by nationality.

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

One-way transport tickets
FacilityFull price (RMB/person/one-way)Reduced price (RMB/person/one-way)
Tianzi Mountain Cableway7236
Yangjiajie Cableway7638
Huangshi Village Cableway6533
Bailong Elevator6533
Ten-Mile Gallery sightseeing tram3819
Sky Garden electric shuttle3213

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

Transport combos and all-inclusive pass
TicketFull price (RMB/person)Reduced price (RMB/person)Validity and included services
Four-ride cableway/elevator combo2381284 consecutive days; choose a total of up to 4 one-way rides on Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie and Huangshi Village cableways and Bailong Elevator. No refund for unused rides. Admission and eco-friendly buses excluded.
Unlimited-ride cableway/elevator combo2981584 consecutive days; unlimited rides on Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie and Huangshi Village cableways and Bailong Elevator. Admission and eco-friendly buses excluded.
Admission + eco-friendly buses + three cableways and elevator pass5302774 consecutive days; unlimited admission and rides on eco-friendly buses, the Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie and Huangshi Village cableways and Bailong Elevator. Ten-Mile Gallery tram and Sky Garden shuttle excluded.

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

Baofeng Lake and Huanglong Cave tickets

Huanglong Cave and Baofeng Lake sell separate tickets; neither is included in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park admission. An admission exemption does not mean that boats, buses or commentary are all free.

Huanglong Cave breakdown: full-price admission RMB 60, boat RMB 36 and audio commentary RMB 25, total RMB 121 excluding insurance. Reduced admission RMB 30, boat RMB 18 and audio commentary RMB 25 total RMB 73 excluding insurance. Commentary remains full-price in these listed combinations.

Huanglong Cave admission-exempt categories: children under 14, seniors aged 65 and above, and visitors qualifying as disabled persons, active military personnel or retired military cadres with valid documents issued by institutions in China. The reference combination charges a half-price boat fare of RMB 18 and commentary of RMB 25, totalling RMB 43; choosing RMB 4 insurance makes that example RMB 47. This is not a universal payable amount for every admission-exempt visitor.

Huanglong Cave reduced categories: minors aged 14 to under 18, seniors aged 60 to under 65 and full-time undergraduate-or-below students with valid documents. Half-price admission and boat plus full-price commentary total RMB 73; choosing RMB 4 insurance makes RMB 77. The difference between 73 and 77 is the RMB 4 insurance.

Baofeng Lake's listed full price is RMB 110 and reduced price RMB 55, including admission, the boat trip and return eco-friendly buses, but excluding insurance.

Baofeng Lake admission-exempt categories: children under 14, seniors aged 65 and above, and qualifying disabled persons, active military personnel and retired military cadres with valid documents issued by institutions in China. The reference combination applies half-price boat and bus fares but gives no total for this admission-exempt combination. Do not assume everything is free or that the total is automatically RMB 55.

Baofeng Lake reduced categories: minors aged 14 to under 18, seniors aged 60 to under 65 and full-time undergraduate-or-below students with valid documents. The information lists half-price admission, boat and eco-friendly buses for this category.

Check children's boat and bus concessions separately. The provincial public pricing rules provide free internal transport for children under 14, but adult concession combinations should not be used to calculate a child’s fare. Confirm the actual boat, bus and commentary charges for children before purchasing; adult cost examples must not be treated as a child's payable amount.

Insurance should be a voluntary choice, not a condition for an exemption or concession. The RMB 4 Huanglong Cave insurance explains only the 73/77 and 43/47 differences. Check the current product breakdown, whether audio commentary can be selected separately and the final amount.

The concessions listed here for foreign visitors are age-based. Special-status concessions, such as student, disability or military categories, require valid documents issued by institutions in China; overseas documents must not be assumed to qualify. Bring valid identification for verification at the official ticket desk. Base prices are not set differently by nationality.

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

Huanglong Cave cost breakdown (RMB/person, insurance excluded)
Cost scenarioAdmissionBoatAudio commentaryTotal excluding insurance
Full-price combination603625121
Reduced-price combination30182573
Example: admission exempt, boat half-price0182543

Reduced combination RMB 73 + optional insurance RMB 4 = RMB 77. Admission-exempt / half-price-boat example RMB 43 + optional RMB 4 insurance = RMB 47. Verify children's boat policy separately; this example is not a charge for every exempt group. Information dated 6 October 2026; current official notices prevail.

Baofeng Lake combination ticket, insurance excluded
TicketPrice (RMB/person)Included
Full price110Admission, boat, return eco-friendly buses
Reduced price55Admission, boat, return eco-friendly buses

Price reference updated 6 October 2026, reflecting pricing policies approved in 2024–2025. Check current provincial and municipal rules and official ticket-desk notices before purchasing.

Opening hours, tickets, transport and visitor services may change. Check the latest official information before travelling.