Zhangjiajie Adventure Ideas: Hiking, Glss Skywalks, Biking, and More

With its dense forests, limestone caves and marvelous quartz and sandstone peaks, Zhangjiajie is a dream destination for intrepid travellers seeking a great outdoor adventure in China.

Whether it’s hiking, mountain trekking, cycling, rock climbing or even wingsuit flying, the surreal landscape of Zhangjiajie mountains is an iconic challenge for active travelers and you can experience an ultimate, exquisite enjoyment.

>> Recommended Zhangjiajie Adventure tours:

Hiking in Zhangjiajie

There are cable cars taking you to the top of Tianmen Mountain and the mountain peaks in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, yet you can hike up and down. With some of the world’s most incredible views, you’ll find the walking journey has been totally worthwhile. Therefore, those seeking Zhangjiajie adventure ideas, allow yourself at least three to five days for a Zhangjiajie hiking tour.

Hike around Yuanjiajie to find the floating “Avatar Mountains” and the “World’s No.1 Bridge”. Pay with the wild monkeys when along Golden Whip Stream, and Natural Gallery of Ten Miles. Breathe in fresh air on Huangshi Village. The summit loop hiking trail of Huangshi Village overlooks an ocean of peaks and forests and is one of the most spectacular panoramic viewpoints in Zhangjiajie. And you don't want to miss the hikes to marvel at the stone peak forests on Tianzi Mountains. 

Tianmen Mountain’s cliff-side walkways will challenge your fear of heights, while the Tianmen Cave has been a holy place for wingsuit flyer and other extreme sports enthusiasts.

Zhangjiajie has more to offer for hikers, including the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with breathtaking cliffs and lush forests, Qixing (Seven Star) Mountain, Qingfeng Gorge, Badagong Virgin Forest, etc.

Find yourself a Zhangjiajie hiking map or a local tour guide, hike efficiently and maximize our time.

>> Recommended 6-day Zhangjiajie Hiking Tour

Biking in Zhangjiajie

With some of the best and most thrilling bike trails in South China, Zhangjiajie has long been a favored destination for bikers. There is an annual cycle race held in Wulingyuan Scenic Area – racers will cycle through the major attractions of Wulingyuan and have a different perspective of Zhangjiajie’s stone forest. 

For master riders, you may challenge clycing the “99-bend Sky Road”of Tianmen Mountain. It is 10.77 kilometers long, with an altitude difference of nearly 1,100 meters and a total of 99 bends. Densely distributed with 180-degree sharp turns and scenic roads, it is hailed as "the world's No. 1 road wonder".

You’re also encouraged to cycle to the nearby towns of Zhangjiajie such as Furong Ancient Town and Aizhai Bridge for the hidden backroads, primitive villages and the diversified minority cultures.

Whitewater Rafting in Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie feature more adventure ideas. It also offers great places for whitewater rafting trips, with gorgeous scenery and fun for all.

Mengdong River (猛洞河) – 40km from Furong Town and 92km from Zhangjiajie city center, the river is perfect for whitewater rafting, with sleep slopes, large river bed gradient, splashy rapids, beautiful mountain vistas, and dozens of waterfalls. The total distance of the rafting is about 45km, and takes about 5 hours.

Lou River (娄江) - 70km from Zhangjiajie city center and 20km from Wulingyuan Scenic Area, the river is shaped by Karst landform, therefore, you can see many stone peaks, pillars, caves, as well as some cultural sights all along. The total distance of the rafting is about 38km.

Maoyan River (茅岩河) – you may feel you are rafting on a Chinese landscape painting with the beautiful mountains and waters. Don’t miss the more than 70-meter tall Shuidong Waterfall on the way.

Unique Glass Sky Walks in Zhangjiajie

On Tianmen Mountain, there are three glass-bottom skywalks, each built on the sheer cliffs. The glass section of the Ghost Valley Plank Road is the earliest and most famous glass plank road to open. It is approximately 60 meters long, 1.6 meters wide, and has an altitude of 1,400 meters.

The glass walkway on the eastern line of Tianmen Mountain offers the most expansive view and is the most suitable for sightseeing and taking photos. It is about 100 meters in length, the longest among the three. Look into the distance at Tianmen Cave and the urban area of Zhangjiajie, you will be rewarded a great view. 

The glass walkway on the southern line of Tianmen Mountain is located near Tianmen Cave. It is a combination of a glass platform and a short walkway, and its length is not as long as the previous two. This is the best location to take photos of the "Heavenly Gate" and the 999-step stairway.

>> Recommended Zhangjiajie tour packages:

Rock Climbing in Zhangjiajie

As a World Natural Heritage Site and a Geo-park, Zhangjiajie is also one of the most popular outdoor natural rock climbing destinations in China. The rarely-seen quartz sandstone vertical cliffs are a paradise for rock climbers throughout the world. There are many well-established rock climbing routes in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmenshan mountain are suitable for beginners to experienced climbers.

Tianmen Mountain has a rock climbing difficulty level of 5.8 to 5.12, suitable for intermediate and advanced climbers. The South Wall of Huangshizhai is suitable for beginners or ordinary tourists who want to experience rock climbing in Zhangjiajie. Yangjiajie Peak Wall offers professional level climbing, with a number of 5.10 to 5.12 difficulty routes in the "Tianbofu" area.

Wingsuit Flying - One of the Extreme Sports in Zhangjiajie

With some of the most treacherous and beautiful mountains in China, and spectacular quartz sandstone peak forest landscapes, Zhangjiajie is a mecca for wingsuit flying. Tianmen Mountain serves as the main flying spot, with a height difference of nearly 1,000 meters. Since 2011, Tianmen Mountain has hosted a number of International Wingsuit Flying Competitions every September, attracting top pilots from around the world. Several world champions and extreme sports record holders such as Jeb Corliss have flown here and set new records.

Tianmen Mountain Cliff Jumping Point, located at the top of Tianmen Mountain at an altitude of 1500 meters, has a vertical difference of about 1100 meters. The Tianmen Cave Crossing is the only wingsuit flight route in the world where someone has successfully crossed a natural cave. The whole journey takes only a few seconds, but is thrilling. Flying between forests and canyons is one of the routes commonly used for wingsuit flying demonstration competitions.
For tourists, it is free to watch the amazing but thrilling performances of the wingsuit flyers.