Zhangjiajie, located in Hunan Province, China, is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural and cultural destinations. Famous for its unique Zhangjiajie sandstone peak forest landform — a global exclusive geological type — the city gathers towering cloud-kissing mountains, mysterious karst caves, alpine lakes, primitive forests and authentic Tujia ethnic folk culture. As a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Global Geopark and National 5A Scenic Cluster, Zhangjiajie is widely known as “The Original Pandora on Earth” and a living three-dimensional Chinese ink painting.

Sites Visited: Heaven’s Gate Mountain

Known as the “Sky Gate of Xiangxi”, Tianmen Mountain is the iconic landmark of Zhangjiajie, standing at 1,518.6 meters above sea level. Dominated by the legendary Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate Cave) — a gigantic natural through-cave piercing the cliff — the mountain creates a breathtaking celestial scene when sea of clouds drifts through the huge cave opening. Travelers can experience the world’s longest urban alpine cable car, gliding from downtown Zhangjiajie straight to the mountaintop above layered misty valleys. The thrilling cliff glass skywalk, winding 99-bend Tongtian Avenue and 999-level heavenly stone steps offer classic adventurous sightseeing. Enveloped in mist all year round, Tianmen Mountain perfectly interprets the Chinese fairyland concept of “reaching the sky through mountains”.

Sites Visited: UNESCO World Heritage

Wulingyuan Scenic Area is thecore essence of Zhangjiajie’s landscape and the origin of the global-famous Avatar floating mountain scenery. Covering vast primitive mountain terrain, it consists of three major reserves:Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and Suoxiyu Nature Reserve. Boasting over 3,000 towering vertical sandstone peaks formed over 380 million years, it is the only large-scale sandstone peak forest landscape on the planet.

Sites Visited: Bailong Elevator

As China’s first national forest park, this zone features the most classic peak forest landscapes. The iconic Hallelujah Mountain (Yuanjiajie) presents surreal floating peak views in mist. The world-famous Bailong Elevator — the highest outdoor cliff elevator on Earth — allows visitors to overlook thousands of peaks in seconds. The crystal Golden Whip Stream winds through primitive forests, and the poetic Ten-Mile Gallery unfolds like a continuous landscape scroll.

Sites Visited: Monarch of Peak Forests

Praised as the “Monarch of Peak Forests”, Tianzi Mountain offers the most panoramic and layered views of Wulingyuan. It is famous for four supreme wonders: sunrise, sea of clouds, moonlit mountains and winter snow. Classic landmarks including Imperial Brush Peaks, Fairy Scattering Flowers and West Sea Stone Forest form grand and elegant peak clusters. Rooted in Tujia historical legends, the mountain combines magnificent natural scenery with profound local ethnic culture.

Sites Visited: Baofeng Lake

Suoxiyu features the most diverse landscape combinations in Wulingyuan, integrating peaks, valleys, lakes and karst caves. The emerald Baofeng Lake is a rare alpine pearl among peaks, where boat tours enable visitors to enjoy original Tujia folk songs on the water. The spectacular Yellow Dragon Cave, known as the “Underground Dragon Palace”, boasts grand stalactites, underground rivers and world-famous stone pillars, representing the top level of global karst cave landscapes.

While Wulingyuan and Tianmen Mountain interpret Zhangjiajie’s natural charm, Tujia Ethnic Park carries its cultural soul. As a national 4A cultural scenic spot, it is a living museum of thousand-year-old Tujia civilization in western Hunan. The park’s landmark Jiuchongtian Hereditary Hall is a Guinness World Record wooden stilt building, constructed purely with traditional mortise and tenon joints without a single iron nail. Visitors can immerse in authentic Tujia folk performances, including the primitive Maogusu Dance, festive Baishou Dance and unique Crying Marriage ritual. Traditional stilted houses, ethnic handicrafts and local folk customs fully display the simple and profound Tujia culture, completing the full Zhangjiajie travel experience of “amazing scenery + touching humanity”.

Zhangjiajie — Where nature sculpts fairy peaks and culture warms every journey. Explore the real Pandora, discover the charm of Chinese mountains and ethnic customs.