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City in Hunan, China
Photo: Uuongkinghe, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Zhangjiajie (张家界 Zhāngjiājiè) is a city in northwestern Hunan Province, China. It is the gateway to two of China's best-known natural attractions: the sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan and the cliffs of Tianmen Mountain.
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普光禅寺
A Chan Buddhist temple dating from the 15th century, and a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.
张家界市博物馆
土家风情园
A large park devoted to the culture of the local Tujia people, with cultural performances, exhibitions, food and shopping.
武陵源
The UNESCO-listed landscape of more than 3,000 sandstone pillars that made Zhangjiajie famous. The core scenic area takes in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley, Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie. See the Wulingyuan article for details.
The Wulingyuan core scenic area (including the National Forest Park) uses a single combined ticket valid for four consecutive days with multiple entries. Entry is by real-name registration (facial recognition, or ID card / passport). In-park eco shuttle buses are included; the cable cars and the Bailong Elevator are charged separately. Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (with its glass bridge) and Tianmen Mountain are separate scenic areas, each with its own ticket.
The highest mountain in Yongding District, named after Tianmen Cave, a huge natural arch near its summit. Most visitors buy tickets at the cableway station on Dayong Road and ride the cable car, which is billed as one of the world's longest, straight from the city to the flat summit. The main sights are Tianmen Cave and the clifftop walkways around the top. See the Tianmen Mountain article for details.
A long scenic area in the west of the prefecture, taking in Jiutian Cave, the old town of Kuzhu Village, the Kuzhu River canyon, rafting on the Maoyan River, and the Jade Emperor Grottoes.
Popular local restaurant with several branches. Afterward you can walk along the river and enjoy the city at night.
Small, reasonably priced restaurant. Classics are sauerkraut beef and spicy roasted yellow beef, and the sanxiaguo is good too. You can bring your own drinks.
Very popular for its signature sanxiaguo; a small pot feeds two. Not for those who prefer mild flavours.
大张姐面馆
Good noodles and dumplings.
家旺小吃
Extremely tender beef noodles at an excellent price.
Berry tea shop; buy in store or order online for delivery.
张家界武陵源希尔顿花园酒店
A huge outdoor pool and spacious lounge area with complementary coffee, suitable for getting work done or playing cards. Probably the best choice.
张家界京武铂尔曼酒店 (Jingwu Pullman)
A nice outdoor swimming pool and busy bar area.
A newer, well-reviewed hotel that is walking distance from the park's East Gate.
A low-rise hotel built in Huizhou style with local Tujia touches.
The city's main snack street, with many local specialties.
Shopping plaza selling local specialty products, with many shops to compare prices, plus a supermarket, cinema and restaurants.
By plane
Beware of taxi touts in the airport car park. Drivers there are often unwilling to use the meter, and may claim your destination is very far away or add a bogus "parking lot fee".
By train
From the West Station, city bus 6 runs to People's Square in the centre in about 50 minutes (¥1–2); a taxi takes about 18 minutes. Bus routes 4, 7, 16 and 17 also serve the station.
By bus
Intercity buses from Changsha (about 5 hours, ~¥120) leave roughly hourly until around 19:00 from the Changsha West bus terminal, next to Wangchengpo metro station.
Most travellers reach the scenic areas from Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station at Guanliping, next to the downtown railway station; it can be reached from the West Station by bus 6 or taxi.
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Zhangjiajie (Yongding) · International · DYG
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Articles and travel topics about Zhangjiajie and China.
Nature & adventureHow to explore Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars, ride the Bailong Elevator and drift down the Li River through Guilin and Yangshuo karst peaks.
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Travel tipsHow to qualify for China's 144-hour visa-free transit, set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with foreign cards and navigate train travel as a foreigner.
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ItinerariesHow to link Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai by high-speed bullet train, booking Great Wall hikes, Terracotta Warriors and modern urban towers.
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Nature & adventureUNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
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