Zhangjiajie Train Stations: Where and How to Take a Train?

Since June 2024, a high-speed train has connected Zhangjiajie and Hong Kong in around 6 hours 41 minutes, with a stop in Fenghuang. The route was built in just a few years. Pretty impressive, isn't it?

However, this train does not depart from the historic Zhangjiajie Railway Station in the city centre. It leaves from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, around 11 km away. The two stations have very similar names, but the older station now mainly serves conventional trains.

To help you avoid choosing the wrong station when booking, Trip.com explains which one to use to reach the spectacular rock formations of Wulingyuan or continue your journey to Changsha and Guangzhou.

Zhangjiajie Train Stations: An Overview

Two railway stations serve Zhangjiajie, with significant differences in the services they offer to other cities and stations:

• Zhangjiajie Railway Station is the historic station in the city centre and now mainly serves conventional trains.
• Zhangjiajie West Railway Station opened in late 2019 and is now the main station for high-speed trains.

This change is significant. When the Zhangjiajie–Jishou–Huaihua high-speed railway opened in late 2019, most long-distance services moved to the new station. The historic station now mainly serves regional routes to Jishou, Huaihua and Mayang.

Many travellers still confuse the two stations, partly because automatically generated maps and older travel guides have not always been updated to reflect the change.

Zhangjiajie Railway Station (City Centre)

This station is easy to recognise by its white, eagle-like architecture, perched among the mountains. It is only around 4 km from the city centre and 4.5 km from Hehua Airport.

It may seem conveniently located, but the station is around 35 km from Wulingyuan National Forest Park, the main gateway to Zhangjiajie's famous sandstone pillars. This often surprises first-time visitors, who assume the most central railway station must also be the closest to the main attractions.

Today, only conventional trains operate from this station, including services to Jishou, Huaihua and Mayang. All high-speed services were transferred to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station from late 2019 onwards.

How do you get there?

💡 Trip.com tip: As the station is less than 5 km from both the city centre and the airport, taking a taxi is a convenient option if you're staying in the city. However, allow nearly an hour for the bus journey to Wulingyuan, as the distance is considerably greater than from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station.

Station facilities

• 🎫 A ticket office on the ground floor, on the west side of the building
• 🧳 Luggage storage near the east entrance, with an additional storage service at the tourist centre
• 🚰 Drinking water and toilets on both levels of the waiting area
• ℹ️ An information desk and service area in the main hall
• 🏧 A cash machine near the main entrance
• 📶 Wi-Fi in the waiting areas, although connection speeds are not guaranteed

Zhangjiajie West Railway Station

Opened on 26 December 2019 in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie West Railway Station is now the region's main gateway for high-speed rail travel. It is around 8.5 km from the city centre, 9 km from the airport and about 11 km from the old railway station. The area around the station is still being developed.

As the northern terminus of the Zhangjiajie–Jishou–Huaihua railway line, it offers services to destinations including:

• Changsha
• Guangzhou
• Shanghai
• And, notably, a direct service to Hong Kong, introduced in June 2024.

This marks a major transformation for a region that had no high-speed rail links around a decade ago. Travellers previously had to rely largely on flights or long bus journeys to reach China's major cities.

The station building has three levels, including a basement, making it a much larger transport hub than the small historic station in the city centre.

How do you get there?

👉 To reach Wulingyuan: Leave the station and walk for about one minute to the tourist transport centre. From there, a direct bus takes around one hour and costs CNY 13. Once you arrive, it is about a 15-minute walk to the park's eastern entrance.

👉 To reach Tianmen Mountain: Take city bus 4, 6 or 17 to the cable car station. The fare is CNY 2.

How do you buy train tickets?

• On Trip.com (recommended for most international travellers): Book in English, link your ticket to your passport and avoid queuing at the ticket office.
• Through the 12306 app: China's official railway ticketing platform offers a comprehensive service, but its interface is primarily in Chinese, which can make it less convenient for overseas visitors.
• At the station ticket counters: Located on the ground floor, these counters allow you to buy tickets and get help if needed. Self-service machines may only accept Chinese identity cards. Foreign travellers can generally travel using the original passport linked to their online booking, without collecting a paper ticket.

Station facilities

• 🍜 Restaurants and shops are spread across all three levels of the station building.
• 🧳 Left-luggage facilities are available at the tourist centre near the exit.
• 💼 A waiting area is available for business travellers, families and passengers with reduced mobility.
• 🚕 Taxi ranks and bus stops are directly outside the main entrance.
• 🏧 ATMs are located on several levels, with some accepting international bank cards.

Key train routes from Zhangjiajie West

With nearly 55 trains a day, Changsha is by far the most frequently served route. The service is so frequent that it almost resembles a commuter rail line, making Changsha a convenient option for a day trip to the capital of Hunan Province.

Visit Fenghuang: A Popular Day Trip

After exploring the sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan, many travellers head to Fenghuang Ancient Town and its historic riverside streets along the Tuo River.

The direct train from Zhangjiajie West takes around 51 minutes. There are about 19 services a day, with fares starting at around £9.

What can you do in Fenghuang?

With its traditional stilt houses lining the Tuo River and cobbled streets dating back to the Qing dynasty, Fenghuang is a popular next stop after spending a few days among Wulingyuan's sandstone pillars.

You can explore the ancient town in a day, but staying overnight is even better. This gives you time to enjoy the atmosphere along the riverside promenade after dark, when the buildings are beautifully lit.

>>> Find out more about Fenghuang and its main attractions >>>

👉 Good to know: Unlike many other tourist destinations in China, Fenghuang's railway station is close to the ancient town, so you won't need a long taxi transfer. The station is also on the same railway corridor as the direct service to Hong Kong, which launched in June 2024. This route connects Zhangjiajie West with Hong Kong West Kowloon via Shaoyang, Huaihua South, Dongkou, Fenghuang and Jishou East.

Which Zhangjiajie Train Station Is Best for the Airport?

Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport is surprisingly close to both railway stations, although they are not the same distance away. Zhangjiajie Railway Station in the city centre is just 4.5 km from the airport, while Zhangjiajie West Railway Station is around 9 km away.

👉 In practice, the difference is minimal if you're travelling by taxi. Both stations are a short drive from the airport, usually taking less than 20 minutes.

The key factor is not how close the station is to the airport, but which type of train you need to catch. It's best to choose your station based on your next destination rather than simply its proximity to the airport.

Which Zhangjiajie Train Station Should You Use for Your Route?

It all depends on your route and where you want to go next:

• Arriving by high-speed train or travelling onwards by high-speed rail (Changsha, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong): Zhangjiajie West is the only option for high-speed trains.
• Taking a conventional train to Jishou, Huaihua or Mayang: Head to Zhangjiajie Railway Station in the city centre, which is closer to the central area.
• Planning to visit Fenghuang: Depart from Zhangjiajie West, as the direct train is considerably faster.
• Staying near the airport or city centre: Both stations are accessible, but Zhangjiajie West is the more convenient option for reaching Wulingyuan.

If you're unsure, always check the full station name on your ticket before booking a taxi. The two stations have similar names but serve very different train routes.

Many travellers also plan a circular itinerary, arriving at one station and departing from the other after exploring the area around Wulingyuan, the city centre and Tianmen Mountain.

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