Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Ticket Guide: How to Save 20% and Avoid Overpaying

Ticket Policies: Standard Ticket: 165 yuan (valid for 4 days, excluding shuttle bus) Shuttle Bus: 60 yuan/person (must be purchased separately) Combo Ticket Discounts: All-inclusive Combo: 518 yuan (includes entrance ticket, shuttle bus, and "Three Cableways and One Elevator": Tianzi Mountain/Huangshi Village/Yangjiajie cableways + Bailong Elevator) Three Cableways and One Elevator Combo: 238 yuan (choose any 4 one-way rides within 4 days) Free Admission: Children under 14, seniors over 65, active military personnel, etc. Half-price Admission: Students, minors, etc. Opening Hours: Peak Season (March-November): 7:00-18:00 (last entry 16:00) Off-season (December-February): 8:00-17:00 Transportation Guide External Transportation: High-speed Rail/Train: From Zhangjiajie West Station/Zhangjiajie Station → Special shuttle bus to scenic area (12-20 yuan, 50-90 minute ride) Air: From Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport → Taxi takes about 55 minutes (approximately 200 yuan) Internal Transportation: Shuttle Bus: Free transfers between scenic spots (operating hours 7:00-19:00) Vertical Transportation: Bailong Elevator: 65 yuan one-way, reaches Yuanjiajie in 1 minute 28 seconds Cableways: Tianzi Mountain (72 yuan), Huangshi Village (65 yuan), Yangjiajie (76 yuan one-way) Must-See Attractions and Recommended Routes 1. Core Attractions: Yuanjiajie: "Hallelujah Mountain" from Avatar (Qiankunzhu), the First Bridge Under Heaven, breathtaking peak forest views Golden Whip Stream: Filming location for "Journey to the West," 7.5 km valley walk with occasional monkey sightings Tianzi Mountain: Helong Park, Emperor's Brush Peak, Fairy Scattering Flowers, best spot for sunrise and sea of clouds Huangshi Village: "You haven't truly visited Zhangjiajie if you haven't been to Huangshi Village," circular viewing platform overlooking peak forest 2. Special Theme Routes (New for 2025): Avatar Fantasy Journey: East Gate → Bailong Elevator → Hallelujah Mountain → Sky Garden → Tianzi Mountain Journey to the West Trail: South Gate → Golden Whip Rock → Water Surrounding Four Gates → Ten-Mile Gallery Family Learning Route: East Gate → Ten-Mile Gallery → Golden Whip Stream, interactive scenes inspired by "Monster Hunt" 3. Route Planning: One-Day Efficient Tour: East Gate → Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie → Tianzi Mountain (cable car down) → Ten-Mile Gallery Two-Day In-depth Tour: Day 1: East Gate → Yuanjiajie → Yangjiajie (Natural Great Wall) → Tianzi Mountain (stay at mountaintop guesthouse) Day 2: Huangshi Village → Golden Whip Stream → Ten-Mile Gallery Food and Accommodation Local Specialties: Three-pot Stew: Cured meat, pork stomach, and blood sausage stew, spicy and flavorful (about 50 yuan per person) Rock-ear Mushroom Chicken Soup: Slow-cooked mountain delicacy with free-range chicken, rich and delicious (about 80 yuan per person) Accommodation Recommendations: Mountaintop Guesthouses: Dingxiang Rongcun (convenient for sunrise viewing, average 500 yuan/night) Wulingyuan District Hotels: Nabali Resort Hotel (mountain view from windows, average 800 yuan/night) Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps Visit during off-peak hours: Enter before 7:00 or after 15:00 to avoid tour groups Safety tips: Don't feed the monkeys to avoid scratches Bring rain gear during rainy season; cableways may close during strong winds Recommended gear: Non-slip hiking shoes, sunscreen, power bank (no public charging stations on the mountain) Hidden Experiences Sunrise and sunset: Capture the sea of clouds and morning light at Daguantai on Tianzi Mountain or Sky Garden at Laowuchang Night activities: "Charming Xiangxi" live performance during peak season, experience Tujia ethnic culture