Four days is the right number for Zhangjiajie: two in the national park, one for Tianmen Mountain, and one for the glass bridge or Fenghuang old town.
Day 1: Avatar Country
Enter at Wulingyuan gate; ride the Hundred Dragon Elevator (326m cliff lift) up to Yuanjiajie — the sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar’s floating mountains. Boardwalk circuit, then shuttle to Tianzi Mountain for the west-sea stone forest. Overnight Wulingyuan town.
Day 2: Canyons & Streams
Morning: Golden Whip Stream — a flat 2.5-hour riverside walk beneath the towers, monkeys included. Afternoon: Ten-Mile Gallery’s scenic tram, or Baofeng Lake’s quiet boat. If it rained overnight, skip both and re-climb Yuanjiajie for the cloud sea.
Day 3: Tianmen Mountain
The 7,455m cable car from the city, the 99-bend road below, the cliff-hung walkways, and the giant Tianmen Cave arch up 999 steps. The glass skywalk section is optional but unforgettable. Descend in late afternoon light.
Day 4: Glass Bridge or Fenghuang
Option A: the 430m Grand Canyon glass bridge. Option B: Fenghuang Ancient Town, 2.5h away — Tuojiang river lanterns and stilt houses. Option C: Huanglong cave’s vast chambers.
Tickets & Timing
Park entry (4-day pass) excludes lifts/cable cars — budget extra. Real-name booking with passport. April–June and September–November bring the best mist-to-view ratio; winter offers snow-dusted pillars and no queues.
Getting There & Around
Fly to Zhangjiajie or take HSR to Zhangjiajie West. Inside the park, shuttle buses connect everything — but a private MPV with driver transforms the Fenghuang and cave days. The AI trip planner prices 4-day Zhangjiajie routes instantly.