Zhangjiajie Travel FAQs
Zhangjiajie Transportation
Currently there is not direct flight from any European counties to ZJJ Hehua Airport. For European travelers to Zhangjiajie, you can take flight to the international airports in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, or Hong Kong firstly, then make your way to ZJJ City.
Yes, there are direct trains between Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie, yet not with bullet trains right now. The train journey takes from 12 hours to 18 hours. The ticket price for soft-sleeper is about 300RMB. If you fly to Zhangjiajie from Guangzhou, the full price for the air ticket is 910RMB (with the tax), and you can expect some discounts.
They are 32km apart. You can take a taxi from the city center to the national park. Or take bus No. 4 to Zhangjiajie Bus Station, and then change for a tourist shuttle bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
Yes, there are plenty of taxis and easy to catch, and you can negotiate the fares. Or you can take bus No. 4 to Zhangjiajie Bus Station (1 RMB, 08:00 – 18:00) first, where there are tourist shuttle buses to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, departing every 10 minutes. It takes 35–40 minutes and costs about 10 RMB.
There is not direct flight between the two cities, so:
Option A: You can fly from Hong Kong to Changsha first, and then go to Changsha West Bus Station to take bus to Zhangjiajie.
Option B: You can get to Guangzhou or Shenzhen from Hong Kong first and then fly to Zhangjiajie directly.
It is 220km (137miles) between them. You can take a bus from Zhangjiajie Long-distance Bus Station to Fenghuang, with about 4-hour drive.
If you would like to take a train, remember to get off the train at Jishou Station (吉首站), then bus to Fenghuang. There are several trains between ZJJ and Jishou daily.
There are direct flights from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie, with air journey of about 2.5 hours. It takes about 21 hours to get to Zhangjiajie by rail. Make sure you buy a sleeper if you decide to take a train.
You’re suggested to find a travel company to plan on a Zhangjiajie tour. Contact the travel consultants of Easy Tour China for a tailor-made Zhangjiajie trip.
Zhangjiajie Weather
If you’re not sick of the cold, winter is also a nice time for Zhangjiajie visit. The average temperature is around 13℃. You’ll have chance to see the pure snow world – all the mountains, trees and roads are blanked with snow. Besides, not many people visit it in winter, so there will be no crowding.
Zhangjiajie is beautiful at all time, but the scenery varies from season to season. Generally, people consider April and October the best months for a visit to Zhangjiajie, as its oddly-shaped mountains are at its most beautiful time, with mild climate. See what Zhangjiajie is like in different seasons: http://www.easytourchina.com/tip-v580-zhangjiajie-weather-best-time-to-visit-zhangjiajie
It rains much in ZJJ, but the real rainy season usually falls in June till early July.
Zhangjiajie Attractions
The entrance ticket to the park is 225RMB per person in peak season (from March 1 to November 30) and 115RMB per person in low season (from December 1 to February 29 next year) . The ticket includes the tickets for shuttle buses in the National Park, but does not include the insurance fee of 3RMB per person, cable car, Bailong Elevator and sightseeing car at Ten Miles Gallery. Each ticket of Zhangjiajie National Park allows unlimited entries for 4 consecutive days by the same person.
The park is not a huge challenge for the elderly: the main scenic spots are paved with good level concrete pathways; the shuttle bus service helps to transfer from one place to another; and the cable cars and outdoor elevator take you up and down. Thus, you can just walk between the viewpoints and save your energy. However, if they have the heart problems it should be take into consideration. Consult your doctor before the trip, and avoid going to the dangerous places.
You’re advised to read the travel guide to Zhangjiajie first, and also find a good tour itinerary with highlights and things and activities you want to do. The must-have sights include ZJJ National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, Yellow Dragon Cave, Baofeng Lake and ZJJ Grand Canyon. Rread more for the detail information: http://www.easytourchina.com/tip-v1408-city-of-natural-wonder-top-things-to-do-in-zhangjiajie
The glass bridge is expected to be open in May 2016, but no official decision has been reached. It will be the world's longest glass bottomed bridge.
For people with disabilities and wheelchair bounded, please understand that currently the park is not very wheelchair friendly, but you are advised to consult a travel agency which can communicate with the park administration and see whether there are some attractions for you to see and get the most out of your visit to Zhangjiajie.
Zhangjiajie Travel Tips
Travelers in Zhangjiajie are suggested to stay in Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie city center. Wulingyuan is close to all scenic spots, including the national park, Baofeng Lake, Yellow Dragon Cave, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, etc. While Zhangjiajie city is also convenient to all scenic spots, 40 minutes to the park and 50 minutes to Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave. There are luxury 5-star hotels in Zhangjijie, as well as 3-star and economic hotels. You can find many on the hotel reservation website, or contact us for more information.
Zhangjiajie is ideal for trekking and mountain hiking. There are maps in each scenic spot that show clearly defined trails, with which you can find yourself the correct trekking route. It is better to have an experienced English-speaking guide with you, to understand better, save time and explore the most of the city.
In three days, with well-organized itinerary you can see a lot, though not for all the major attractions. It is a very large area, so you are encouraged to have an English-speaking local guide to move better and understand better, and take the elevator and cable car to get to the top of the mountains. Once at the top, move one place to another by tourist shuttle bus.
Zhangjiajie is a destination for breathtaking mountains, therefore, you can expect much hiking and mountain climbing. Dress comfortably and bring with some mountaineering equipment like hiking shoes and alpenstock if you plan to do some hiking. Also, don't forget to bring umbrella or disposable raincoat and warm clothes in case of cold weather. Medicine for insects' biting is needed too.