Tianmen Mountain

Suoxiyu Scenic Area

Suoxiyu is a transliteration from the Tujia language meaning 'mountain village of thick fog'. Eight smaller scenic areas have been developed, including West Sea, Ten-Li Gallery, Shuirao Simen, Huanglong Cave, Baizhang Gorge and Baofeng Lake. Ten-Li Gallery: Ten-Li Gallery offers a scene at every step, with paintings everywhere you look. Main sights include Longevity Star Greeting Guests, The Herb-Gathering Old Man and Fairy Worshipping Guanyin. Along more than ten li of valley, rich natural scenery lines both sides, and walking through it feels like being inside a painting. Huanglong Cave and Baofeng Lake: Huanglong Cave is a must-visit. You will not find another cave with such unique geology, complex structure, vast scale and rich formations. Baofeng Lake, known as the 'Jade Pool of Heaven', is another essential stop. West Sea: The greatest highlight of West Sea is its white clouds. After rain clears, the forest, peak and cloud 'seas' merge into one spectacular view. Tongtian Gate and Terrace are the best viewing points.

Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area

Tianzi Mountain is known as the 'King of Peak Forests'. Its landscape is extraordinary and thrilling, distinguished by its tall, large and numerous peaks. The mountain takes its name from Xiang Dakun, a Tujia leader who once proclaimed himself 'Son of Heaven' here.

Zhangjiajie Pass · 3–4 hours

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, also known as Qingyan Mountain, is as famous as Jiuzhaigou and was China's first national forest park. Its forests are home to precious tree species such as dove trees, ginkgoes and tulip trees, and rare animals including macaques and giant salamanders. Together, its unusual peaks and rock formations, mountain springs and waterfalls, deep forests and rare trees, and its rare birds and beasts form a natural landscape rarely seen anywhere in the world. The national forest park includes scenic areas such as Huangshi Stockade, Golden Whip Stream, Yaozi Stockade, Shadao Gully and Pipa Stream, with more than 100 attractions in total. Zhangjiajie uses fingerprint IC card electronic tickets. The national forest park operates a single-ticket system. The four-day pass allows entry to Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream, Huangshi Stockade and Yuanjiajie. Golden Whip Stream: The stream runs 7.5 km from Laomowan to Shuirao Simen. It takes about 2.5 hours and must be explored on foot. Stone pillars and towering peaks line both banks, and pools and waterfalls are everywhere. Ancient trees, rare flowers and wildlife thrive side by side. Main sights include Welcome Rock, Golden Whip Rock, Purple Grass Pool, Thousand-Mile Reunion and Shuirao Simen. Huangshi Stockade: Huangshi Stockade is the largest viewing platform in the park, with panoramic views over the entire forest park. Highlights include Heavenly Book Casket, Sea-Stabilising Needle, Single Pillar to the Heavens, Front Garden and Golden Turtle Searching the Sea. To climb Huangshi Stockade, you can hike up from the park's front gate or take the Huangshi Stockade cable car directly to the summit. Yuanjiajie: Yuanjiajie lies in the northwest corner of the forest park. Main sights include the World's First Bridge, Lost Soul Terrace, Heavenly White Silk Waterfall, Hallelujah Mountain, Back Garden and Sky Farmland. You can reach Yuanjiajie by sightseeing lift from Shuirao Simen, or on foot from Tianzi Mountain or Golden Whip Stream. Yaozi Stockade: This route comes second only to Huangshi Stockade. The terrain is steep, with cliffs and deep valleys on all sides, making it a favourite with thrill-seekers. The summit is an open platform said to have been where villagers hid from bandits during the Republican era. Today it is an excellent viewing point. Bailong Elevator: The Bailong Elevator has been entered in the Guinness World Records for being the world's tallest, fastest and highest-capacity elevator. While riding, you can look through the glass at one of Zhangjiajie's great sights: the Divine Soldiers Gathering, a cluster of dozens of relatively independent stone peaks directly opposite the elevator.

¥65 one-way · 1–4 days

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is located in Cili County, Zhangjiajie City. Its gorge is lush with vegetation, and cascading waterfalls and mountain streams are found everywhere. The scenic area also features the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, one of the highest and longest glass bridges in the world, offering sweeping views down into the valley.

¥128 · 3–4 hours

Yangjiajie Scenic Area

Yangjiajie combines the features of Zhangjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. Though less well known than the other two, it is equally worth a visit. Yangjiajie is a recently developed scenic area in the northwest of Zhangjiajie, north of Tianzi Mountain. It spans Zhonghu Township at the western end of Wulingyuan District and consists of three smaller areas: Xiangzhi Stream, Longquan Gorge and Baihou Valley. The total area covers about 34 square kilometres, and its highlights alone number over 200. World's No. 1 Wonder Waterfall: Yangjiajie's most famous feature is Longquan Falls, known as the 'World's No. 1 Wonder Waterfall'. Other interesting spots include One-Step Ascent to Heaven, Sky Corridor, Cliff Vine King and Gathering of White Cranes. Tujia Mountain Songs: Many places in the scenic area offer mountain songs for 10 yuan per performance. The Mountain Song Pavilion in Wulong Village is considered the best place to listen. The Tujia women here seem to have especially clear voices, and the echoes in the empty valley make it an authentic experience of traditional Tujia mountain songs. Flora and Fauna Park: Yangjiajie is rich in plant and animal life. Over a thousand macaques roam the cliffs and gullies, tens of thousands of egrets gather at White Crane Flat, and unusual five-coloured flowers and night-blooming jasmine are found throughout the mountains. Yang Family Legacy: Local legend holds that the Yang family living here are descendants of the famous Yang Family Generals of the Northern Song dynasty. They still preserve the Yang Family Genealogy and several Yang family ancestral tombs.