The China Route
Avatar Mountains: Zhangjiajie and Chongqing in 5 Days: Zhangjiajie, Chongqing
Peaks and river city

Avatar Mountains: Zhangjiajie and Chongqing in 5 Days

Updated · By Carl

5 days Medium 2 cities Autumn Balanced

Trip facts

Duration
5 days
Difficulty
Medium
Pace
Balanced
Best season
Autumn
Budget
Mid-range
Cities on this route
2 cities

Five days exploring karst peaks that inspired Avatar and Chongqing's mountainside lanes, hot pot and river views.

Overview

Who it is for

This route suits travellers who want dramatic mountain scenery without multi-day treks, paired with a lively riverside city famous for spicy food. Five days allows two full days exploring Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars and glass walkways, one travel day, and two days in Chongqing for street food, river views and alley walks. The itinerary requires moderate fitness for steps and cable car queues but no technical hiking. It works year-round but autumn delivers the clearest skies.

How the route flows

You fly into Zhangjiajie, spend two days inside the national park seeing the Avatar-inspiring peaks, then take a five-hour high-speed train southwest to Chongqing. This順序 avoids backtracking and links two distinct experiences: mountain scenery in Hunan Province and urban riverfront life in Chongqing Municipality. The train connection is direct and frequent, making the transition smooth.

Getting around

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has shuttle buses included in the ¥228 entry ticket, plus paid cable cars and elevators to reach high viewpoints. The Bailong Elevator and Tianzi Mountain cable car each cost ¥72 one way. Zhangjiajie to Chongqing runs by high-speed train, 5 hours 30 minutes, second class ¥265. Within Chongqing, metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 cover all major sights, single rides ¥2-7, and taxis start at ¥10.

Route highlights

  • ◆Bailong Elevator, a 326-metre glass lift rising through a sandstone cliff in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, entry ¥228 plus ¥72 elevator ticket.
  • ◆Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and the 1,070 sandstone pillars visible from Yuanjiajie Scenic Area's viewpoints and walkways.
  • ◆Tianmen Mountain's 99-bend road, glass skywalk clinging to a cliff 1,430 metres up, and the Heaven's Gate natural arch, cable car ¥278.
  • ◆Hongya Cave, an eleven-storey stilted building in Chongqing's Jiefangbei district lit up nightly, free entry, nearest metro Linjiangmen Line 1.
  • ◆Ciqikou Ancient Town's stone lanes and teahouses plus authentic Chongqing hot pot at Zhu's Fat Hotpot near Jiaochangkou metro, ¥80-120 per person.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Day 1 · Zhangjiajie

    Arrive in Zhangjiajie, explore Tianmen Mountain

    Fly into Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, 30 minutes by airport shuttle (¥20) to the city centre. Head straight to Tianmen Mountain, 8 kilometres south, reachable by bus 5 (¥2, 25 minutes). The cable car (¥278 round trip including mountain entry) takes 28 minutes from the city station to the summit at 1,518 metres. Walk the 60-metre glass skywalk clinging to the west cliff (shoe covers ¥5) and see Heaven's Gate, a 131-metre natural arch. Descend via the 99-bend road by shuttle bus included in your ticket.

    Stay: 2 nights in Zhangjiajie city near Tianmenshan cable car lower station, 10-minute walk to long-distance bus terminal.
  2. 2
    Day 2 · Zhangjiajie

    Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie area

    Take bus from Zhangjiajie central bus station to the park's Wulingyuan entrance, 40 minutes, ¥12. Entry ticket ¥228 valid four days with fingerprint, includes all shuttle buses. Ride the Bailong Elevator (¥72 one way), a 326-metre outdoor glass lift up the cliff face, to reach Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. Walk the 3-kilometre loop to see Avatar Hallelujah Mountain (the 1,080-metre pillar renamed after the film), the First Bridge Under Heaven (a 40-metre natural stone span) and viewpoints over 1,070 sandstone pillars. Shuttle back down to Wulingyuan gate by 6pm.

    Stay: Same hotel in Zhangjiajie city.
  3. 3
    Day 3 · Zhangjiajie to Chongqing

    Golden Whip Gorge and train to Chongqing

    Return to the park by 8am, enter via the Forest Park gate (south side). Walk the 7.5-kilometre Golden Whip Gorge trail, a flat valley path between 300-metre cliffs along a clear stream, 2.5 hours one way. Exit at Shuiraosimen and take the shuttle bus to Tianzi Mountain cable car (¥72 up), then walk Helong Park for panoramic views over the pillar forest. Descend by shuttle and cable car, exit the park by 2pm. Catch the G train from Zhangjiajie West station to Chongqing West, departing 3:40pm, arriving 9:10pm, second class ¥265.

    Travel: High-speed train Zhangjiajie to Chongqing, 5 hours 30 minutes, second class ¥265.
    Stay: 2 nights in Chongqing, Yuzhong district near Jiaochangkou metro station (Lines 1 and 3), walking distance to Hongya Cave.
  4. 4
    Day 4 · Chongqing

    Chongqing riverfront and hot pot

    Walk 15 minutes from your hotel to Hongya Cave, an eleven-storey stilted building on the Jialing River cliffside in traditional Bayu style, free entry, best lit after 7pm. Cross Qiansi Gate Bridge on foot for river views, then take metro Line 1 two stops to Ciqikou (¥2, 8 minutes). Wander the Ming-era stone lanes, try Chen Mahua twisted doughnuts (¥12 per bag) and drink bowl tea at Baolun Temple teahouse (¥15-25 per pot). Return to Jiaochangkou by 6pm and eat authentic Chongqing hot pot at Zhu's Fat Hotpot, 50 metres from the metro exit, ¥80-120 per person for beef tallow base, lotus root, duck intestine and hand-cut beef.

    Stay: Same hotel in Chongqing Yuzhong district.
  5. 5
    Day 5 · Chongqing

    Arhat Temple, Yangtze cable car and departure

    Take metro Line 1 to Luohan Temple station (¥2, 5 minutes). Visit Arhat Temple, a Buddhist complex rebuilt in the 1940s with 500 painted clay arhat statues, entry ¥10, open 8am to 5pm. Walk 10 minutes downhill to Xinhua Road and ride the Yangtze River cable car from Xinhua Road station to Shangxin Street on the south bank, ¥20 one way, 5-minute crossing over the river 40 metres below. Return the same way or walk across Dongshuimen Bridge. If your flight is evening, visit the Three Gorges Museum near People's Square metro (Line 2), free entry with passport, 2 hours for the Bayu culture and Three Gorges dam exhibits. Airport shuttle from Shangqingsi or Jiaochangkou departs every 30 minutes, ¥15, 45 minutes to Jiangbei Airport.

Cities on this route

Zhangjiajie
Best in autumn 3 to 4 days

Zhangjiajie

Explore
Chongqing
Best in spring 3 to 4 days

Chongqing

Explore

Frequently asked questions

How do I travel between Zhangjiajie and Chongqing?
Direct high-speed trains run four times daily, journey 5 hours 30 minutes, second class ¥265. Book via 12306.cn or Trip.com 7-15 days ahead.
Do I need to book Zhangjiajie National Forest Park tickets in advance?
Yes, book at least one day ahead on the official WeChat mini-program or via Trip.com. The park caps daily entries at 40,000 and sells out on weekends and holidays.
What is the best time of year for clear views in Zhangjiajie?
Autumn (September to November) offers the clearest skies and lowest humidity. Spring has frequent mist that obscures peaks, summer brings heavy rain, winter occasional snow closes high walkways.
How much time do I need inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?
Two full days covers Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Golden Whip Gorge at a comfortable pace. One day is possible but requires skipping Golden Whip Gorge and starting before 8am.
Where should I base myself in Chongqing?
Stay near Jiefangbei or Hongya Cave in Yuzhong district. Hotels cluster around Linjiangmen and Jiaochangkou metro stations on Line 1 and Line 2, walking distance to the riverfront and hot pot lanes.