Things to Do in Zhangjiajie 2026: Top Activities & Attractions

For travellers from Singapore who want to get from the city, Zhangjiajie has many things to see and do with its huge natural landscapes.

1. Stand Before the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain at Yuanjiajie

Let's start with the famous one! Go to Yuanjiajie, in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You will see Qiankun Pillar, a 150-metre-tall sandstone spire that inspired the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. While you are there, do not miss the First Bridge Under Heaven a stone arch that connects two peaks. Also check out the Enchanting Platform for the views of everything.

2. Ride the Bailong Elevator

The Bailong Elevator is really something. It is 326 metres high, and holds the record for the outdoor elevator in the world.

The Bailong Elevator is the way to get up the mountain. When you are in the Bailong Elevator, you can see a lot through the glass walls. The view is very exciting.

The ride on the Bailong Elevator is very short. It takes just 1 minute 58 seconds.

3. Walk the Glass Skywalk on Tianmen Mountain

Perched 1,430 metres above sea level on the side of a cliff, the Glass Skywalk on Tianmen Mountain is not for people who're easily scared. The glass walkway juts out from the rock face. You can see straight down to the valley below without anything blocking your view.

It's about 60 metres long. When your heart is racing, it feels a lot longer. You can enjoy the views of the valley from the Glass Skywalk on Tianmen Mountain.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

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4. Step Onto the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

Yes, there are two glass bridges, and this one is the big daddy. Stretching 430 metres across the Grand Canyon and hanging 300 metres above the valley floor, this was once the longest and highest glass bridge in the world.

The glass is so clear you can see every detail of the canyon below.

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon

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5. Hike Golden Whip Stream

After all those peaks and elevators, Golden Whip Stream is the perfect way to slow down. This gentle 7.5-kilometre trail follows a crystal-clear river through the forest, with sandstone peaks towering above you on both sides.

It's flat, easy walking, and you'll probably spot wild macaques along the way. The air is full of negative ions, so locals call it a "natural oxygen bar."

6. Take the Tianmen Mountain Cable Car

At 7,455 metres, the Tianmen Mountain Cable Car is the longest passenger cableway in Asia. The 28-minute ride from the city centre straight up to the mountain top is an experience in itself.

As you climb, you'll soar over the famous 99-Bend Road winding up the mountain, with views getting more and more spectacular the higher you go. It's the kind of ride that makes even seasoned travellers go "woah."

Practical info: Included in the Tianmen Mountain ticket (S$53 / 278 RMB). Book Route A (cable car up, bus down) for the best experience.

7. Climb the 999 Heavenly Ladder Steps to Tianmen Cave

Tianmen Cave — literally "Heaven's Gate" — is a massive natural arch 131.5 metres high, carved into the side of Tianmen Mountain. To reach it, you've got two options: climb the 999 stone steps known as the Heavenly Ladder, or take the paid escalator (S$6 / 32 RMB) if your legs are already tired.

Climbing the steps is worth it for the sense of achievement — and the view looking back down the mountain is incredible.

Fun fact: Tianmen Cave is famous for wingsuit flying. Every year, daredevils fly through the arch at speeds of up to 200 km/h.

8. Watch the Sea of Clouds at Tianzi Mountain

If you can drag yourself out of bed early, head to Tianzi Mountain for sunrise. On a good morning, you'll see a "sea of clouds" rolling through the valley, with thousands of sandstone peaks poking through like islands. It's magical.

Even if you don't make sunrise, Tianzi Mountain is stunning any time of day. Don't miss Imperial Brush Peak and Fairy Scattering Flowers — two of the most iconic viewpoints.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

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9. Feast on Zhangjiajie's Spicy Local Food

No trip is complete without eating well, and Zhangjiajie delivers. The food here is part of Hunan's famous Xiang cuisine.

The must-try dishes:

• San Xia Guo (三下锅): Zhangjiajie's signature dish. A hearty dry-pot stew loaded with smoked bacon, tofu, radish, and dried chillies. It's rich, smoky, and packs a proper kick.
• Tujia Cured Pork (土家腊肉): Smoked over pine wood for weeks, this isn't your average bacon. It's deep, flavourful, and appears in everything from stir-fries to steamed dishes.
• Rock Ear Stewed Chicken (岩耳炖鸡): A nourishing soup made with wild "rock ear" fungus that grows on cliff faces. Light, savoury, and supposedly great for your health.

10. Watch the "Charming Xiangxi" Cultural Show

When you have been hiking all day, it is really nice to relax with a show at night. You can watch "Charming Xiangxi" (魅力湘西), which's a big performance held every evening. This show is about the Tujia, Miao and Dong people who live in Hunan.

You will see people doing acrobatics and wearing clothes. There will be folk singing and some cool things with fire. It lasts for about one and a half hours.

11. Walk the Circular Viewing Platform at Huangshi Village

People who live around Zhangjiajie have a saying: "You have not really been to Zhangjiajie if you have not been to Huangshi Village." This special place is like a flat circle on top of a hill. It let's you see Zhangjiajie from all sides.

You can see the Zhangjiajie peak forest from here. It is one of the places in the park to take pictures. The best time to take pictures is early in the morning or late in the day, when the sun shines on Zhangjiajie just right.

12. Ride the Ten-Mile Gallery Mini-Train

The Ten-Mile Gallery is a pretty valley with lots of cool sandstone peaks. You can walk through the Ten-Mile Gallery. After all that hiking, you will probably want to take the mini-train.

The mini-train in the Ten-Mile Gallery is slow and it has no roof, so you can see everything. The Ten-Mile Gallery has the "Three Sisters", "Old Man Gathering Medicine", "Palm Peak" and some other ones.

Practical Tips for Singaporean Travellers

Payments

• Mobile payments are really easy to use. You can use Alipay and WeChat Pay to buy anything. Now you can even connect your credit card to Alipay. This makes it easy to make payments.

Getting Around

• From the airport to the city, you can take the airport shuttle bus for S$3. Take a taxi for S$15 to S$20..
• To get to Wulingyuan from the city, you can take regular buses are available for S$3. The trip takes around 40 minutes. Alternatively you can take a taxi. Use DiDi, which costs S$20 to S$25.

What to Pack

• Comfortable walking shoes (you'll be doing a lot of walking)
• Light jacket or fleece (evenings and mountain tops can be cool)
• Raincoat or umbrella (rain is common, especially in summer)
• Sunscreen and hat (the sun is strong at altitude)
• Power bank (you'll be taking lots of photos!)
• Passport (required for ticket purchase and hotel check-in)