Short answer: the «Avatar Mountains» are the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (张家界国家森林公园) in Hunan Province, south-central China. The park is part of the Wulingyuan scenic area (武陵源), a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. The nearest city is Zhangjiajie, with an airport and train stations. Admission is 165 yuan for 4 consecutive days, or 236 yuan with the park’s eco-buses. Plan 2 days for the park and book a time slot for every entry.
Checked November 2026. Prices and park rules are from official and Chinese sources checked in October–November 2026. Rules change, so check the park’s announcements before you go.
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You can visit on your own. Tickets are sold online, entry is by passport, and high-speed trains run from Changsha and Guangzhou. Here’s what the place is, what to see and how many days to plan.
Avatar Mountains in 5 minutes
| Where | Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan, Hunan Province. For maps, search 张家界国家森林公园 or 武陵源. |
| The famous view | Yuanjiajie and the Qiankun Pillar, nicknamed «Avatar Hallelujah Mountain» in 2010 |
| Ticket | 165 yuan for 4 consecutive days; 236 yuan with eco-buses. The Bailong Elevator and cable cars cost extra. |
| Reservations | Book a gate and time slot for every entry, including repeat entries |
| How long | 2 days for the park; 3–4 days with Tianmen Mountain and a spare day for fog |
Where are the Avatar Mountains?
They’re in the north-west of Hunan Province, in Zhangjiajie prefecture. It isn’t one mountain or a separate town. The name refers to the sandstone pillars Zhangjiajie Forest Park is famous for, and the park is part of the larger Wulingyuan area. In Amap, type the Chinese name: 张家界国家森林公园.
The confusion with names starts because «Zhangjiajie» is the city, the park and the whole prefecture. The city is separate: from its centre it’s about 30 km to the park’s south gate and about 35 km to the east gate in Wulingyuan, roughly 40–45 minutes by car.
| Name | Chinese | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Zhangjiajie city | 张家界市 | Hehua Airport, train stations, Tianmen Mountain right by the city |
| Wulingyuan | 武陵源 | Scenic area made up of several parks, a UNESCO site; also the town by the east gate |
| Zhangjiajie National Forest Park | 张家界国家森林公园 | The main part of Wulingyuan: the «Avatar Mountains» |
| Yuanjiajie | 袁家界 | Area with the most famous views and the Qiankun Pillar |
| Tianzi Mountain | 天子山 | Area with panoramas over the «forest» of pillars, reached by cable car |
| Tianmen Mountain | 天门山 | A different mountain near the city, with Heaven’s Gate. Not part of the Avatar Mountains |
Why «Avatar», and where is Hallelujah Mountain?
Wulingyuan’s pillars reminded viewers of the floating mountains in the film Avatar. In January 2010 a sign reading «Avatar Hallelujah Mountain» appeared at the Qiankun Pillar (乾坤柱), about 150 metres tall, in the Yuanjiajie area. The park administration later explained it’s a nickname and the pillar kept its old name. So on Chinese maps you’ll find 乾坤柱.
What to see in the park
The park is big, and you can’t cover it in a day. Most people choose two or three areas. Eco-buses run between them (included in the 236-yuan ticket), and the elevator and cable cars take you up for an extra fee.
Yuanjiajie and Hallelujah Mountain
The most popular area: viewpoints over the gorge, the Qiankun Pillar and the «just like the film» view. The Bailong Elevator brings you up, and eco-buses run around the area from the elevator. It’s also the most crowded, so arrive at opening time.
Tianzi Mountain
The second upper area, with wide panoramas over the «forest» of stone pillars. The Tianzi Mountain cable car runs up from the Wulingyuan side, so it combines well with Yuanjiajie: go up one way and down the other.
The Bailong Elevator
A glass elevator on the cliff rises about 326 metres, linking the valley near Golden Whip Stream (the Shuiraosimen area, 水绕四门) with Yuanjiajie. It’s one of the quickest ways up and has the longest queues. In spring 2026 the elevator was under maintenance, with two of its three cars still running. The ticket is separate: 65 yuan one way.
Golden Whip Stream and the Ten-Mile Gallery
Down in the park you can walk along Golden Whip Stream (金鞭溪) from the south gate, or visit the Ten-Mile Gallery valley (十里画廊) with its mini-train. This is the calm part of the park: you walk along the bottom of the gorge with the pillars above your head.
The glass bridge isn’t here
The famous glass bridge hangs over the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (张家界大峡谷). That’s a separate park with its own ticket, usually about an hour’s drive from Wulingyuan. Chinese travel sites list the bridge at 430 metres long, about 300 metres above the canyon floor, as of 2026.
How many days do you need?
| Days | What you can do | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie → eco-bus → Tianzi Mountain → cable car down | Very little time and clear weather |
| 2 days | Day 1 for the upper areas (Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain); day 2 for Golden Whip Stream and the Ten-Mile Gallery | The sweet spot for the park itself |
| 3–4 days | 2 days in the park + a day on Tianmen Mountain, plus the glass bridge if you like | Seeing all of Zhangjiajie with a buffer for fog |
The park ticket is valid for 4 consecutive days, so days two and three cost nothing extra for entry. You only pay for transport inside. The main thing to remember: since 15 June 2025, every entry must be booked, including repeat entries, and you use the exact gate and time slot you reserved.
Fog is common here, especially in the morning, and it can hide the pillars completely. One spare day is worth more than an extra area in your plan.
Is it worth going on your own?
Yes, if you already know your way around Chinese apps or are ready to install them. Transport inside the park follows a clear system, and tickets are sold online. The hard part is usually logistics, not the park itself: choosing a gate, the right ticket type, booking entry times and not getting stuck in the elevator queue. All of that can be sorted in advance.
Plan your trip in five steps
| Step | In short |
|---|---|
| 1. Entry to China | Check whether you can enter visa-free: see China 240-hour visa-free transit |
| 2. Payments | Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card, plus some cash: see how to pay in China |
| 3. Getting there | Fly to Zhangjiajie or take a train to Zhangjiajie West (张家界西), then a bus or taxi to Wulingyuan |
| 4. Tickets | 165 yuan for 4 days, 236 yuan with eco-buses; the elevator and cable cars are extra; entry by passport |
| 5. Where to stay | Wulingyuan town by the east gate, or guesthouses near the south gate |
If Tianmen Mountain is also on your list: since 13 October 2026 the long cable car from the city has been closed for reconstruction, and only Route C from the park gate is running. Details in Tianmen Mountain tickets and Route C.
Find Zhangjiajie tickets and tours on Trip.com →
See hotels in Zhangjiajie on Trip.com →
When to go
The park is open all year, and since 2025 the ticket costs the same in every season. Summer brings the most rain and the most people. During Chinese holidays (the first week of May and the first week of October) the park is packed, and the daily visitor cap is 53,000. November is drier than summer.
FAQ
Where are the Avatar Mountains in China?
In Hunan Province: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, in the Wulingyuan area. The nearest city is Zhangjiajie, about 30–35 km from the park gates.
What are the Avatar Mountains really called?
Officially, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (张家界国家森林公园) in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源). The most famous pillar is Qiankun Pillar (乾坤柱) in Yuanjiajie, nicknamed «Avatar Hallelujah Mountain».
How much does it cost to visit the Avatar Mountains?
165 yuan for a 4-day ticket, the same price all year since 1 January 2025. With the park’s eco-buses it’s 236 yuan. The Bailong Elevator (65 yuan one way) and cable cars are extra.
How many days do you need in Zhangjiajie?
Two days for the park itself. With Tianmen Mountain and a spare day for fog, 3–4 days.
Can I visit the Avatar Mountains without a tour?
Yes. Tickets are sold online, entry is by passport, and trains and domestic flights go to Zhangjiajie. Choose your ticket type in advance and book every park entry.
Is the glass bridge in the Avatar Mountains?
No. The glass bridge is over the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, a separate park with its own ticket, about an hour from Wulingyuan.
Are the Avatar Mountains and Tianmen Mountain the same?
No. The Avatar Mountains are in Wulingyuan’s forest park. Tianmen Mountain with Heaven’s Gate is next to Zhangjiajie city, about an hour away. Plan separate days for them.
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