Remember the place called Pandora with its fabulous mountains from the movie Avatar by James Cameron? It turns out that it actually exists, and all the sketches for the film were made here, in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (湖南张家界国家森林公园). Of course, there are no floating rocks or unusual waterfalls, alien creatures or unusual animals from You won’t see a movie here either, but these stunning landscapes will be etched in your memory for a long time, and the photographs will amaze your friends and acquaintances.,

National Park Zhangjiajie is located in the Wulingyuan Mountains in southeast China, in Hunan Province. This place is striking in its beauty, but in addition to its luxurious landscapes, Zhangjiajie Park is also a zoo, botanical and geological reserve. The area in which the park is located is famous for its quartzite rocks, the height of which reaches 800 meters, and the most high peaks The Wulingyuan massif reaches a height of more than 3 kilometers. Mountain peaks covered with dense crowns of trees, many of which are centuries old.

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The national park was opened in 1982. And 10 years later it was included in the List of objects World Heritage UNESCO. The park area is 13,000 square meters. km. This territory is home to over 500 different species of animals, as well as quite rare species of plants. Among them there are such as gingko, pigeon tree, mahogany, and animal world represented by monkeys, birds, salamanders and even rare representatives of the cat family - civet cats. Sometimes visitors to Zhangjiajie National Park compare a walk through it to viewing an exhibition of traditional Chinese paintings, only all the beauty here can be seen in person.

And at an altitude of more than 1 kilometer above sea level lies the Yellow Lion Village, where representatives of three small nationalities live - Tujia, Bai and Miao, making up 70% local population. Despite the fact that Han culture had a huge influence on their traditions, they managed to preserve their national language, as well as traditional costumes, holidays and even a special architectural style.

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So, after a long 26-hour drive from Guilin to Zhangjiajie, I finally got to the park.

Entrance to the park is paid, you can buy a two-day ticket for 245 yuan and a week pass for 298. Tickets also include internal transportation by bus (yes, the park is large, you can’t get enough of it on foot). As it turned out later, they were not included in the price : elevator rides, escalators and a train that runs around the park. There is a separate fee for them, prices are about 50 yuan one way.

If you are under 24 years old and have a student card with you, there is a significant discount on entry.

Tickets are checked only at the entrances to the park; no one checks tickets in the park itself, so you can easily “live” there for a month with a two-day ticket. But due to the relatively high prices in the park itself, you will most likely have to go out to withdraw money or buy provisions.

Accommodation in Zhangjiajie

There are two accommodation options:

  • In the town near the park there are many hotels and guesthouses to suit every budget.
  • In the park itself.

But there is a small nuance. Living in the city and going to the park in the morning, you will have to wait out huge queues every time, especially during summer holidays and Chinese New Year celebrations.
Living in the park itself, you can walk around it from the moment the buses start running in the morning, but the quality of housing there leaves much to be desired.

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I chose accommodation in the park, it was important for me to be there from morning to evening. I stayed in a guesthouse of the Yoth International hostels network (phone 0744-5713568), you can book places through Hostelworld. In order not to get confused, there are 2 of these guesthouses in Zhangjiajie - one in itself park, and the second close to the train station.

This is very convenient, because you can come, check into a guest house near the railway station, from there check if there are free rooms in their branch in the park, and the coolest thing is that you can leave large backpacks or ask them to be delivered to the hostel in the park and then not you will have to carry all your luggage with you. Of course, I found out about all this only a few days later, after dragging all my luggage to the park.

Price:

  • 40 RMB per dorm (multiple beds in a room)
  • 120 yuan for a double room (double room)

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To find a hostel, I recommend going to these guys http://backpacker-ru.livejournal.com/36853.html, they even have a map on their website that they filled with useful information.
The bus drivers don’t understand English; out of four respondents, only 1 understood where I wanted to go, despite the fact that my map was in Chinese, and the hostel was marked with a circle, so it’s better to ask questions to the guides you came across.

Note: The walk to the hostel is very long, about two hours, and you need to climb a huge number of steps (600 m up). So it’s better to pay 50 yuan and take the elevator.

While I was running around the park with a backpack on my shoulders, local residents came up to me and offered to stay with them for the night, so in addition to this hostel, apparently there are other affordable housing options.

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  • The park is crowded during the day...it's better to come early or close to closing
  • Buses run until 7 pm, the roads in the park are not lit at night, walking is not recommended
  • If you come for 2-3 days, use the buses and visit the main observation points
  • If you come for 3+ days, get off the main route and it is quieter and much more beautiful
  • If you're saving money, you'll have to walk a lot

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There were 7 days in Zhangjiajie, a ticket for this period costs 301 yuan. We left for the National Park through the central entrance in the morning (8-9 a.m.) and returned in the evening (4-5 p.m.). There are many routes inside the park that you get to (from the central square inside the park) to free buses. You get to a certain place, then - as you wish: on foot or, having been in one place, change to another bus and move on. Inside the park you can also move around on cable cars (2 closed, 1 small - open), on an elevator located in the rock (you can take pictures from it through glass), on foot.

The park is located in the mountains, the weather is often rainy and foggy, so you need appropriate shoes (possibly replaceable ones with you), and raincoats. You can’t seriously eat in the park, so either have snacks (fried potatoes, chestnuts, fish, etc.) or take them with you. Water (drinking) is everywhere, however, it is cheaper to take it with you from the city (village). There are 5 entrances to this “complex” (since the national park is only one of 5 territories). On one of these territories there is a lake, on the other there is a cave (these are separate entrances for a fee). It is better to live in a tourist village that is close to the main entrance. From the city of Zhangjiajie to the entrance to the park you need to take a bus (11 yuan) or a taxi, the travel time is about 40 minutes. Huge opportunities for filming with a camera and/or camera, even if it’s foggy. Worth visiting: cave (Soxiuei Park), Lake Baofen, national. park - repeatedly, on its territory it is necessary to ride all the cable cars, the Bailong elevator, take a short trip on the funicular train (round trip), walk along the Golden Whip Stream along different paths (you can take a rickshaw, about 300 yuan), walk along path with a glass floor: unforgettable, because... there is an abyss underfoot, and rocks all around, and from the city itself to cable car(7 km) climb Tianmen Mountain, where the Heavenly Gate is located, there are 999 steps leading to it, which must be walked (up/down), down to the entrance, then go down by bus along a serpentine road.

The impressions are stunning! You should also visit Huanglong Cave ( underground lake, along which they ride a boat, there are many stalactites, stalagmites, the largest is 19.4 m, everything is illuminated, it looks good in photographs). So, to travel around the park you need to have: a camera and/or camera, shoes (including replacement ones), waterproof clothing, food and drink with you in a backpack (optional), it’s better to live on a tour. village near the entrance to the national park, prepare for the fact that almost no one SPEAKS ENGLISH, signs inside the park are in Chinese and English languages, there are also maps with routes inside the park, but it is advisable to have the skill to understand them, the slightest desire and ability to walk (a lot!), and also a HUGE DESIRE TO SEE ALL THIS! You need to prepare to either study everything in advance (Internet forums, reviews from those who have visited), or take a guide-translator with knowledge of English (at least!), and also, if you can find it, texts in Russian (English) languages ​​with a number of written in Chinese characters denoting a particular place or name, so that you can show what exactly you need.

And one more note: if you don’t like national Chinese food too much, it will be a little difficult, then you can eat in small cafes, where you can show what you specifically want to eat (chicken, rabbit, fish, vegetables), they will quickly prepare it for you , not bad, or eat Chinese fast food, we only found one burger place. But this all applies to living in a village, and not in a city, where there is McDonald’s and, I think, many other restaurants and cafes. Good luck! Go - you won't regret it!

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The sensations you experience while in the mountains of Zhangjiajie National Park or Wulingyuan are indescribable in words and photos. These protected places in the Hunan province of southeastern China need to be seen with your own eyes. Mysterious mountain paths, abysses along the edge of which you walk in search of fantastic landscapes, clouds disappearing from under your feet and rocks surrounded by subtropical forest, the intoxicating air of the Suosi Valley, the magic of Lake Baofen...

You can fly to Zhangjiajie from almost any major city in China, or you can arrive by train. It is more convenient to settle in the village of Wulingyuan or in the village at the entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park. Entrance to the park for 3 days costs 245 yuan. The territory of the reserve is huge, it is worth downloading a map in advance and exploring the area, you can buy a map at the entrance to the park, it is worth taking a compass with you, secluded tempting paths can lead to unexpected places. They ply around the park tourist buses, a cable car was built, and even a Baylong elevator with a transparent cabin, which takes you through the rocks to the very top. If you are hungry, you can snack on fried potatoes, fish, chestnuts, and flatbreads prepared the old fashioned way in the fresh air. local residents, and again on the road for impressions.

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Zhangjiajie (zhangjiajie national forest park) is a huge park area in the southwest of China (Hunan Province). The breathtaking geo-park with an area of ​​479 square kilometers has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Unique corner nature of China, pearl mountain system Wulingshan is called Zhangjiajie Avatar Park (China) in tourist guides and brochures. Some episodes of the famous film were filmed here.

Main attraction national reserve- rock masses (weathered sand and quartz pillars) soaring towards the sun and floating in the clouds.

China's Zhangjiajie National Park is open to the public all year round. Experts recommend exploring the protected area from September to November.

Interesting! Mountain autumn gives tourists comfortable temperatures, the absence of low clouds and annoying rainy drizzle.

In winter, some of the routes in the park are closed, snowfalls and fogs clearly spoil the panoramic views, and it’s cold to walk through the “beauties.” The only good reason to visit in winter is the reduction in entrance fees.


Spring and early summer flood the region with rain. Thick clouds and fogs envelop the valley, creating the effect of rocky spurs “floating in the sky.”

To “quickly” get acquainted with the beauties recognized by UNESCO, to visit all the places of worship and significant observation points of the geo-reserve and adjacent territories, a traveler will need at least a week.

Zhangjiajie National Park how to get there?

To experience the beauty of a natural location, you need to be in Zhangjiajie (this is the most convenient way to get to the natural area).

By plane

  • from Beijing: $130;
  • from Shanghai: $115;
  • from Guangzhou: 80 dollars.

From the air harbor to the center of the settlement there is a shuttle bus, the taxi is running.

Train

For sedate and leisurely tourists best choice will Railway. There are a lot of railway routes to your destination. The trip from Beijing lasts 26 hours, the price of a reserved seat train ticket is $60.

Zhangjiajie Station is located in a strategically positioned location: the center, nearby (within walking distance):

  • airport;
  • starting point for the cable car to Tianmen Rock;
  • bus station.

By bus

When getting to Zhangjiajie, you can also take a bus. It's long and uncomfortable. Tourist guides recommend this type of communication when traveling from nearby cities (Changsha, Fenghuang).

Where is the park?

The starting zones of the national reserve are small villages with hostels, hotels, and restaurants at the entrance to the park. There, travelers “take a breath,” have a snack, and solve the problems of accommodation and overnight stay. There are three official entrances to the territory:

  • the “start” closest to the city is located thirty kilometers away (the village of Zhangjiajie);
  • intrans in the Wulingyuan area;
  • the most remote entrance to the observation area at Mount Tianzi.

Accommodation options

Zhangjiajie offers travelers an excellent choice of hotels, but once you stay in the city, you will have to spend time every day on the road to the walking and observation areas. Cost of daily accommodation in a luxury room in a central city hotel: 869 yuan (including breakfast).

By choosing a guesthouse in the starting village or a hostel inside the park, you can save a lot of money and personal time. The living conditions and the service provided are spartan (real interruptions in water, electricity, Wi-Fi).

Working schedule and issue price

Park areas are hospitably open:

  • in summer from 6:30 (7:00) to 19:00;
  • in winter from 7:30 to 17:00;

Entry price

There are two variations:

  • for four days: 245 yuan;
  • for a week: 298.

The following are listed separately:

  • Bailong: 72 yuan;
  • cable car to Tianzi: 67;
  • Funicular to Huangshizhai: 70;
  • cable car to Yangjiajie: 76;
  • pleasure narrow-gauge railway: 38.

The price of the basic ticket includes use of buses within the park.

Local travel tips

The main tourist slogan of the forest park is: “He who gets up early, God serves him!” Early rises and visits to base locations will protect “early travelers” from tiring waiting and jostling in queues. The languor before loading into the coveted Bailong elevator (in the “high” season) can last up to four hours!

Long hiking treks urgently require appropriate shoes and sports equipment. Expert guides recommend: to the top by funicular / down on foot.

Interesting! Absolutely all guidebooks and reference books about the protected area warn tourists about the aggressiveness of the monkeys there.

Do not tease monkeys / ensure the safety of valuables.

The following items will be appropriate in your walking equipment: map, guide, Chinese phrasebook, cash, drinking water, packed rations. Prices for food in the park are mercilessly raised.

Object top of the national park

Zhangjiajie National Park (China) is conventionally divided into four platform zones. In addition to funiculars and ski lifts, there are several operating in the “UNESCO heritage” bus routes: purple cars ply in the valleys, funny beige cars transport travelers along the tops of mountain ranges.

Each viewing area is individual, exotically beautiful and stunningly picturesque.

Chinese Pandora: Yuanjiajie

The northwestern part of the park, the Yuanjiajie space, is the most visited area of ​​the geo-reserve. It is these landscapes that are compared to the peaks of the film "Avatar".

The 3500 Steps panoramic route, in addition to long stepped ascents and breathtaking descents, includes a lot of well-equipped observation platforms and points for photography.

You can get to the top of Yuanjiajie by the famous “transparent lift” Bailong.

This area is famous for the “Heavenly Bridge” and the majestic rock mass, which has recently been called “Hallelujah”.

Creator and designer of the “transparent passage”: engineer Dotan. The budget for “Cloud Transition” is 3.5 million US dollars. Transit length: 430 meters. The transparent viaduct can support 800 people at a time.

The most beautiful place in the park is the unforgettable Avatar Hallelujah. The rock was originally called Jiankunzhu, which means Southern Heavenly Pillar.

Yangjiajie

Yangjiajie Zone is the youngest tourist area nature reserve. This is northeast Zhangjiajie. The observation platform connects the Xiangzhi waterway, the Longquan and Baihou valleys.

The real pearl of Yangjiajie is the breathtaking waterfall “Dragon Waterfall”.

Tianzi

The mountain range is in contact with the Suosi tract, the central park area of ​​Zhangjiajie and the Sanzhi region. Tianji is the pearl of Wulingyuan. The peak of the rock formation hovers at 1262.5 meters (Kunlun), and the lowest point is 534 meters above sea level (Shilan).

Tianji Park Reserve is a pristine natural area with protected forests and reservoirs of crystal clear water.

Interesting! The population of the province loves the saying: “He who has not climbed Tianji has not known beauty.”

In the west of the platform, the so-called “Western Sea” stretches freely. It is a valley dotted with rock formations covered with green jungle. This part of the park is also called the "forest ocean" or "picket fence".

The vale of the “Heavenly Abode” is a gorge with steep cliffs around.

Bottom part mystical place shrouded in clouds. The descent down is difficult and time-consuming; a narrow staircase-path leads there.

The absolute highlight of the tourist route in the Tianzi zone is the Emperor's Retreat Pagoda.

Whip Canyon

The canyon of the Golden Knut stream is the easiest walking area. No stairs, no abysses, no cable cars: the tourist route runs along a flat valley, along a quiet, shady water stream.

A real communion with nature: the hubbub of birds, the murmur of water, fantastic mountains and emerald greenery.

Huangshizhai

Huangshizhai means "yellow stone village" or "yellow town". The Huangshizhai rocks are spread over seventeen park hectares. “Stone village” is a horizontal “patch” at an altitude of 1100 meters.

Crossing a three-kilometer-long mountain trail takes two hours and requires good physical preparation. Along the way, tourists are pleased with equipped observation decks with romantic Chinese names:

You can get to the top by cable car, which is served by a bus from Laomuwan.

There is a restaurant in the “Yellow Stone Village” (at the top of the mountain) where you can have a good meal.

Surrounding areas worth visiting

In addition to Zhangjiajie Park, Hunan Province offers tourists a lot of beauty, attractions and exotic natural areas.

Tianmen Peak

Tianmen skyscraper and the same name natural Park spread out on the far outskirts of Zhangjiajie. Within walking distance is the starting point of the world's longest funicular, which takes thirsty people to the top of the mountain. Extreme tourists get to the reserve on foot, along the famous serpentine path “99 bends”.

The real highlight of the mountain reserve is the Buddhist pantheon from the Ming Dynasty. The Heaven's Gate Temple is hidden in a rock cave.

The temple occupies ten thousand square meters. To get to the arch, you need to overcome a difficult climb of 999 steps.

An alternative response to the famous glass bridge and the center of attraction for extreme sports fans and adrenaline junkies all over the world is the “cloud trail” along the edge of the cliff.

The cost of the park excursion (including the cable car or bus transportation along the winding route) is 258 yuan. For a fashion show along a transparent section of the route you will have to pay an additional 5-10 yuan.

Fenghuang Museum Settlement

Fenghuang is located on the water (a city on stilts) and attracts tourists with the atmosphere of the Celestial Empire. Fragile buildings, openwork bridges, winding, shady nooks and fishing nets drying in the sun.

At night, everything is illuminated by the lights of paper lanterns, which gives the city style and solidity.

From Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang the journey is 240 km (five hours of jolting on the bus). There is a fee for visiting the city-museum: 148 yuan.

Baofeng

The Baofeng water body is a man-made object formed during the construction of a dam. Vault located high in the gorge pure water surrounded by emerald forested slopes.

From the village of Wulingyuan to the world heritage site you can take a taxi (10-15 yuan) or walk (a leisurely forty minutes walk).

An entrance ticket will cost an adult traveler 96 yuan (includes a swim on the lake with songs and national costumes rowers). Locals call the lake surface “a paradise of a bustling world.”

Huanglong

Near the village of Wulingyuan there is the “Golden Dragon Hole”. A river flows through the entire cave with meanders framed by illuminated stalactites.

It's easy to get there by bus or taxi for 20 yuan. Price: 100 yuan (with boat, underground walk).

What else is the national natural park famous for?

Zhangjiajie attracts tourists with its unearthly beauty, surreal reliefs and landscapes.

The real “diamonds” of the national reserve are:

  • flying quartzite rocks over 800 meters high;
  • forested peaks reaching 3000 meters above sea level;
  • caves, ponds, flora and fauna;
  • well-functioning tourism infrastructure(elevators, funiculars, walking and car routes).

China generously gifts travelers with wealth and amazing natural beauty.

Conclusion

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (zhāngjiājiè) is the pride and natural attraction of the country. The sensations from the trip, walks, excursions, contact with virgin nature will be remembered for a long time and will call you on the road more than once.

One of the most popular films recent years is James Cameron's sci-fi drama Avatar. The mountains in China where this film was filmed actually exist. This is not computer graphics, but nature, which anyone can see on planet Earth with their own eyes.

National Park

They are located in which they have now even begun to call Avatar Park. The mountains in China where filming was organized are located in the southwest of the country, this is truly unique natural miracle. They are located in Hunan Province, which is approximately three hundred kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha. Where Avatar was filmed, the mountains in China belong to the Wulingshan system.

The main asset of this national park is the rocks. Bizarre mountains in the form of peculiar pillars rise to the sky, creating an amazing natural landscape, which is formed as a result of rock leaching and prolonged weathering.

Many admit that this place becomes a favorite place to visit as soon as they learn about its existence. It is worth noting that even living in China, going to the mountains (Avatar impressed many viewers) is not so easy. You need to figure out the time and weather, calculate your finances.

Tourist boom

It is said that Cameron was inspired to create the famous floating mountains on the fictional planet Pandora in Avatar by photographs of mountains in China. This became the most powerful advertisement for the national park in its entire history, because after the film was released, the flow of tourists here increased significantly. In gratitude for this, the Chinese even renamed one of the mountains “Avatar-Hallelujah”, installing several figures of “avatars” in the park, near which there are now constantly long lines of people wanting to take a memorable photo.

While walking around the Avatar filming locations in China, through the mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park, you really get the impression that you are on some other distant planet - such incredible landscapes open before your eyes.

Features of Zhangjiajie

It is worth noting that it is not only the mountains that attract so many tourists to this national park. A certain role is played by the diverse fauna and flora, amazingly beautiful and picturesque landscapes. For example, certain species of birds, plants and animals that are found in these places are so rare that they are listed in the Red Book. These include the civet, giant salamander, clouded leopard, pangolin, rhesus macaque and many others.

All nature lovers will find many amazing things here; they will especially like the local landscapes.

When to go on a trip?

To get the full experience of your visit mountain park in China, you need to choose the right time at which you plan your trip. Of course, the national park is open to visitors all year round, but the weather does not always allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of the local nature. Therefore, when planning a trip, you need to decide what you expect from this visit, what landscapes you want to see.

The optimal time to visit the mountains in China, where Avatar was filmed, is considered to be autumn. The best period is from mid-September to early November. During these months, the weather here is almost always exceptionally warm and sunny, and the temperature is comfortable enough to spend the whole day in the national park. At the same time, experienced travelers claim that it is in the fall that these mountains can be seen best.

Other seasons

If you go here in winter, be prepared that it will be too cold. In addition, due to bad weather, some trails may be closed for safety reasons, and fog and snowfall can cause poor visibility, so it will be very difficult to see anything.

But even this does not stop tourists; many go to take photos of mountains in China in winter, trying to see fantastic snow-covered landscapes and admire these views almost completely alone. An undoubted advantage of winter travel is the fact that tickets at this time of year are much cheaper.

In spring, the rainy season begins in these places, which lasts from March to June. Agree, it is unpleasant and uncomfortable to go along the trails and explore the mountains when the sky is constantly dripping. True, it is at this time that fogs cover the entire valley; many people go to enjoy the effect of the soaring peaks. At moments when the fog hides the bases of the mountains, it seems that the mountains are simply hanging in the air. However, there is a possibility that you won’t be able to see anything at all behind the veil of fog.

But the amount of time you need to allocate for visiting the park is strictly individual. It's best to still allow an extra day to visit the Avatar filming location in China, the mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park, in case the weather turns bad.

If you're lucky, you'll be able to visit other local attractions. Among them are Huanglong Cave, Baofen Lake, and Tianmen Mountain. In order to enjoy the beauty of the mountains themselves, one day is enough for some, while others need at least two to explore the main beauties without haste, and another couple of days to travel to other remarkable places that also deserve the attention of travelers, since they we've come this far.

If you want to avoid large crowds, then it is better not to plan a trip for the first week of May and October (at this time many local tourists come to the park due to holidays); during the summer holidays, do not be crowded due to holidays and holidays.

Route options

How to get to the mountains in China? "Avatar" has inspired many travelers to visit this unique place. To visit the national park in which they are located, you first need to come to the city, which is called Zhangjiajie. After this, you should get to one of the villages directly at the entrance to the park.

There are several options to get to Zhangjiajie. You can take a plane, bus or train.

By plane

First, let's look at how to get there by plane. If you are faced with the task of spending minimal time on a trip, then this is an ideal option. The easiest way to get here is by plane from some other Chinese city.

The local airport is located five kilometers from the city center. It receives daily flights from Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Changsha, Qingdao, Wuhan, Tianjin and other cities. There are also several international flights. Airplanes from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, and the South Korean city of Busan land at this airport.

The fastest way to fly is from Xi'an or Guangzhou - about an hour and a half. A ticket will cost approximately 70-80 dollars (5-5.5 thousand rubles). It takes about two and a half hours to fly here from Shanghai, you’ll have to pay $115, and from Beijing it’s almost three hours. A ticket will cost from 110 to 130 dollars (7.5-9 thousand rubles).

From the airport to the city itself you can take a bus or taxi. Is it true, public transport walks extremely rarely. A taxi will cost from two and a half to five dollars, depending on where exactly you have to go. For a taxi to the entrance to the national park you will need to pay about 15 dollars (1000 rubles).

The main thing is not to forget to bargain with taxi drivers, since the distances here are relatively short, and drivers take advantage of the fact that tourists do not know the area and can ask for too much.

Train

Now, knowing where Avatar was filmed in China, where the mountains are, you can get to your destination by train. Railway connection established between Zhangjiajie and many major cities countries. It’s worth noting right away that this method is only suitable for patient travelers who have a lot of time.

The journey from Beijing will take between 22 and 26 hours, depending on which train you choose. At the same time, a ticket for a reserved seat costs 60 dollars (4,200 rubles), and for a compartment - 100 (7,000 rubles). The train from Shanghai takes from 20 to 22 hours, ticket prices are 60 and 80 dollars, respectively (4-5.5 thousand rubles). You can get there from Guangzhou in 13-17 hours, paying 50 dollars (3.5 thousand rubles) for econom-class train and 77 (5500 rub.) for a compartment. The closest is Changsha, which is only five hours away by train.

It is worth noting that the railway station in Zhangjiajie is located as conveniently as possible. It is close to both the airport and the city center. Within walking distance is the cable car station to Tianmen Mountain, which is considered another mandatory place for visiting. From the central bus station you can get to the national park.

Bus

Another option is the bus. There are several bus stations in the city, which are regularly visited by regular flights from neighboring large cities.

For example, with central station buses go to Shanghai, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhuhai and several other smaller cities. Buses run quite often.

Path to the national park

The last leg of the journey to the treasured mountains will be from the city of Zhangjiajie to the national park of the same name. To get to the territory of the reserve itself, you will need to go to one of the entrances, near which there are small villages. You can stay in one of them for the night so as not to waste time returning to the city if you have allocated several days for this attraction.

The closest entrance to the city is located 32 kilometers away. The local village is also called Zhangjiajie. 40 kilometers from it there is an entrance in the Wulingyuan area, and 50 kilometers away there is an entrance directly at Tianzi Mountain.

Where to stay?

Once you reach your destination, you need to decide where you will stay for the night. The first option is to rent a room in one of the hotels in Zhangjiajie. There are quite a lot of hotels and restaurants here. There are options on how to spend your leisure time fun and usefully. But if you stay in the city, you will have to spend about two hours traveling to the park and back every day.

By stopping in one of the villages at the entrance to the park, you will save significantly more time. There are also hotels and cafes here. For example, in Wulingyuan there is a hostel just 10 minutes walk from the park entrance. Within walking distance is a market with souvenirs and fruits, several shops, a decent cafe and an ATM. In addition to hostels, there are also quite expensive hotels.

It is better to book accommodation in advance, as during high season all rooms are occupied. Housing is sold out in about a month.

Park opening hours

The park officially opens at 6:30 am. As a rule, the entrance opens around seven o’clock in the morning, by which time a fairly large crowd of tourists, mostly Chinese, has already accumulated.

In summer, the park is open until 19:00, and in winter - from 7:30 to 17:00. At the entrance you can purchase two types of tickets: for four days for 38 dollars/2700 rubles. and for a week for 46 dollars/3200 rubles. In the winter season, the cost of visiting will be only 22 dollars/1500 rubles.

You will have to pay separately for the Bailong elevator ($11/800 rubles), the cable car to Mount Tianzi ($10/700 rubles), the cable car to Huangshinzhai ($11/800 rubles), the cable car to Yangjiajie ($12/850 rubles). rub.), tourist mini-train (from six to eight dollars/400-550 rub.).

For children up to 120 centimeters tall, admission is free; for children up to 150 centimeters tall, only half the price is paid. With an entrance ticket to the national park, you can travel by bus between parking lots.

There is quite strict control at the entrance - fingerprints are attached to tickets. So do not buy tickets secondhand, even if their price turns out to be very favorable, and do not lose, otherwise you will have to buy new ones.

Experienced travelers advise coming to the park early to enjoy these beautiful views while there are very few people.

If you want to use the Bailong elevator, then it is better to go on it in the morning and go down around 15-16 hours, otherwise you may end up in a queue that will last at least an hour.

Keep in mind that you will have to walk a lot, so make sure you have comfortable shoes that won’t rub, comfortable clothes, and bring an adhesive plaster with you just in case.

Since the distances are large, it is better to combine walking with cable cars. If you rely only on yourself, you may simply not have time to see a lot. The most convenient way is to go up by cable car and go down on foot. Be prepared to encounter wild monkeys on some trails. Some can be aggressive, so you shouldn't tease them.

Or Tianmenshan Park, you need to fly to the Zhangjiajie airport of the same name and from there get to the parks themselves. In this article I will tell you in detail how best to get there, where to stop to visit the appropriate park and what to look for when planning a route.

WITH detailed description Zhangjiajie National Park can be found at.

To avoid confusion, let’s first break it down into sections. geographical names. There are 5 namesake objects named Zhangjiajie:

  1. Zhangjiajie County (Chinese: 张家界区). A region that includes the northwestern part of Hunan Province.
  2. Zhangjiajie Airport (Chinese: 张家界荷花机场).
  3. The city of Zhangjiajie (Chinese: 张家界市), which is located 3 kilometers from airport and where the cable car to Tianmenshan Park originates.
  4. , located 35 kilometers north of cities.
  5. Zhangjiajie Village (Chinese: 张家界). Located at the southern entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park.

And there are 2 objects of the same name called Wulingyuan:

  1. Wulingyuan Mountains (Chinese: 武陵源), which are part of the Wulingshan mountain system. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  2. Wulingyuan Village (Chinese: 武陵源, 东南门), located at the southeastern entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park.

How to get to Zhangjiajie

The most convenient way to get from Russia is through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan or Beijing. China Southern and Air China fly. There are also trains, but they take much longer.

We had the route Beijing - Zhangjiajie (8268 rubles per person), Zhangjiajie - Guangzhou (4137 rubles per person). When purchasing an air ticket, it is important not to confuse the name. I almost bought a ticket to another city when I booked my flight. Still, the names are somehow the same for a Russian-speaking person, so if you are looking for how to get to Zhangjiajie and which airport you need to fly to, then please note that you need Dayong Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport(Chinese: 张家界荷花机场), and the airport code must be DYG.

By the way, the landing at Zhangjiajie airport was the toughest in my entire flight history. It felt like the captain of the plane was trying to figure out where it was best for him to land at a height of 3-4 meters, and at some point he got tired and just collapsed as is. The airport itself is very small, located 3 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie.

Where to stay if you need to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

If you are going to visit, you can stay in 3 places:

  • In the park itself. There are many mini hotels and hostels on the territory of the park itself. The amenities are minimal.
  • In the village of Zhangjiajie of the same name, near the southern entrance to the park. But if you are going to enter the park through this entrance, then it will take longer to get to the main attractions.
  • In the small town of Wulinyuan near the southeast entrance. This option is the most optimal. From here it is closer to the main attractions and you can choose a good hotel.

There are only 2 good quality hotels in Wulinyuan: Zhangjiajie Pullman (Chinese: 张家界京武铂尔曼酒店) and Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel (Chinese: 张家界青和锦江国际酒店). Before the trip I spent a long time deciding between them. The declared free transfer from the airport when booking a deluxe room category played a decisive role in choosing the latter. I wrote to the hotel about my flight 3 times. As a result, no one met. We agreed with a taxi driver from Zhangjiajie airport to the hotel in Wulinyuan for 150 yuan without a meter. Upon arrival at the hotel, I had a little row about the transfer, but everyone was very apologetic and said that when we checked out, they would take us for free wherever we said. They kept their word.

Regarding accommodation. Booking has a deluxe room with beautiful view stated on the 7th-8th floors, but the hotel has only 7 of them. Dali is on the 6th. The view from the window is so-so, especially if it is foggy. Cost of two days with breakfast: 1738 yuan. Deposit: 761 yuan.

Breakfast is good, but European and American cuisine is not enough. The restaurant has excellent service, they smile, show you to your table, and ask about your preferences. All the Chinese make spicy noodle soup early in the morning, mixing various spices, sauces and herbs in a “do-it-yourself” manner, so I decided not to be different - I went up to the Chinese, gave my plate and motioned for him to make me their “mega soup” too. . A couple of minutes of shenanigans with spoons and “noodles” and now I’m sitting at the table, eating breakfast in China and freaking out at how spicy it is!!!

What else can you say about the hotel. The staff is very courteous, especially the bespectacled general manager: every time he asked if everything was okay, what plans we had for visiting the parks, and tried to give advice on planning a route. You know, in some places the staff was even very intrusive. It seemed to me that even when I was in the toilet, this guy with glasses was about to appear and ask me: “Mister, Arthur, are you all right? Toilet paper enough?".

The location of the hotel is a 20-minute walk from the eastern entrance to the park, but the hotel is the farthest. There are hotels closer to the entrance.

Wulingyuan is a small tourist town consisting of several streets lined with various shops, boutiques and cafes. Our souls demanded something savory, so after visiting the park we decided to try street food. We're in China, why not? Chicken feet, local crayfish, octopus and some other incomprehensible garbage. Everything is tasty, spicy, everyone is alive and healthy.

Where to stay if you need to visit Tianmenshan Park

If you are going to visit Tianmen Park and Tiananmen Mountain, then the best option will stay in the city of Zhangjiajie itself, because the longest high-altitude cable car in the world starts right from the city center, which will take you straight to the park.

Hotel prices here are quite affordable, but not at a high level. We booked the first hotel we came across a few days in advance (Shang Ke You Hotel) with a decent rating and a round bed in the room for 189 yuan.

The city of Zhangjiajie is small. It is pierced like an arrow by a 4-lane road.

In some places in the alleys you can see a typical picture of Chinatowns, a lot of signs, street stalls.

The Lishui River runs through the city, and there is an embankment for walking. Many people do exercises. In general, Chinese pensioners are great. Where can you find grandmothers who will so deftly throw their legs on the railing and stretch?

If you move from the cable car along Yingbin Road, then after crossing the bridge and turning left you can find the central street with squares. The density of people here is off the charts! A bunch of shopping centers, shops, pharmacies, banks. Here on the shelves they sell fruits, vegetables, and some dried things.

There are sales in stores everywhere.

We managed to have dinner somewhere here. We ordered something unclear, we just pointed at the pictures, since there was no menu in English. As a result, they brought pig ears, Chinese rice vodka, a bucket of strange food and a bowl of chicken soup. The soup came with a surprise in the form of a chicken head and legs with claws. Rice vodka is not for everyone. The establishment has round tables with a revolving tray in the middle. Convenient for companies when they order a lot of dishes.

The city of Zhangjiajie turned out to be a tourist city, although most of the tourists were Chinese themselves. There's not much to do here in the evening. Well, if you just watch TV.

Leaving the restaurant, we walked slowly towards our mini hotel. The tourists have dispersed, the sellers are gradually curtailing their trade, and the city is empty. Zhangjiajie slowly gets ready for bed.

Please note that there is a huge hole in the mountain on the left - the famous “Heavenly Gate”. Having left our things at the Zhangjiajie Dachengshanshui International Hotel, which was a 10-minute walk from the cable car station, we hurried towards new experiences. To be honest, I didn’t expect anything worthwhile from this excursion, since many travelers unanimously claim that against the backdrop of beauty National Park Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain is lost. The cable car station is located opposite the city bus station, and there is also...ahhh...McDonald's! Where were my eyes when I was preparing for the trip? Why did they miss such important and valuable information? Before traveling to China, I had no idea that the location of this fast food restaurant would excite me so much. But I’ll write about food a little later. When buying a ticket for the funicular, pay attention to the visiting time, which will appear on the ticket costing 258 yuan. Having arrived there by noon, we were only allowed to start climbing the mountain at 16:00. To all our requests and entreaties “Russo turisto, immoral appearance, tsigel-tsigel ay lyu-lyu” the guards were unshakable. Fortunately, our hotel was nearby, so after parting with Iskra, we had somewhere to rest for a couple of hours. The funicular has its own website http://tianmenshan.com.cn/, where, as Iskra said, you can pre-order tickets for the time you need. Why she didn’t do this then is still a mystery to me.

To my question, “Is there a decent establishment with European cuisine in the city?” Iskra, without blinking an eye, answered that our hotel had such a restaurant, which made me incredibly happy. Finally, I thought. Having quickly checked in, we set off with Sanka to meet such a long-awaited moment. But in one of best hotels For some reason, no one understood us in the city of Zhangjiajie. Picking up a girl at the reception who spoke some English, I dragged her into the restaurant so that she could explain to the waiters what I wanted from them. Well, the European menu was very decent: hamburger and pizza. All! Apparently, the Chinese believe that we don’t eat anything else. My child, of course, was delighted with this set of dishes. I went into prostration. Only a week had passed of our wanderings around China, and the prospect of another two weeks of such food did not make me happy at all. While we were waiting for our order, the waitress came up to us and began to chirp something in Chinese, thrusting some kind of menu brochure under my nose. Having correctly sent her to my workplace, I plunged into not very cheerful thoughts. After some time, another waitress came up to us and began putting Chinese dishes on the table. The first thought that flashed through my head was related to the set lunch. Apparently, the great desire to feed my child normal food dulled my ability to think. The dishes looked quite appetizing. Having tasted it, I very quickly stuffed them into Sanka, and, having calmed down, thanked the Almighty for giving us the opportunity to eat normally. Imagine my surprise when they brought us a hamburger and pizza. It turned out that a young girl mixed up the orders and brought us someone else's lunch. I won’t tell you what started there. But for some reason it didn't really bother me. At that moment I felt very good, I’ll tell you honestly. I wasn’t going to refuse to pay for what I ate, but they didn’t take anything from me. So there are miracles in the world, and in difficult moments they definitely help us.

It was in such a great mood that we went to ride the longest cable car in the world. The total length of the cable car is 7,455 meters, the height difference is 1,279 meters. After standing in line for two hours, we finally made it to the cable car.