3 Days ZhangJiaJie Itinerary in China

Zhangjiajie Tours & Activities

What to Pack for Zhangjiajie, China?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Zhangjiajie, China:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Zhangjiajie, China in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Day 0: Transit In Guangzhou, To ZhangJiaJie

• Landed in Zhangjiajie from Guangzhou, got picked up by the hotel, and went to WulingYuan town. The drive was about 50 minutes and cost me 150 Yuan. Slept at Tu Niu Hostel (Biao Zhi Men) (146 Yuan per night).

Day 1: Ascending Zhangjiajie National Park. Upper part exploration

• Woke up at 6:30 and went out at 7 AM. The hotel was right next to the gate, so it took me only 5 minutes to reach the gate. I bought a ticket (248 Yuan) and was on my way to the national park.
• I took a free bus that was outside the gate to the cable car area (first stop) and bought a one-way cable car ticket (64 Yuan) up to Tianzi Mountain. I walked around the area for several hours.
• At 12, I took a bus to the hostel where I planned to stay overnight on the mountain called Mango International Hostel (100 Yuan per night). I put all my things away and went out to explore the upper area more, including places like One Step to Heaven, Tianbo Mansion, and No.1 Natural Bridge.

Day 2: Walk of Zen, Descend the Mountain and explore the lower part.

• I stayed at the hotel for a night, woke up at 9, and started my way down the Golden Whip Stream trail. You can opt out of the walk and go with the Bailong elevator, but I do not recommend this as you will miss out on a lot of beautiful scenic spots.
• The walk took me 3 hours, and as I planned to visit the 10 Miles Gallery on the other side of the national park, I realized that the bus lines don't connect with each other. Turns out, if I want to see this, I will have to walk back the same trail and go in the other direction to reach this scenic spot. I decided to drop this area and went to the HuangShiZhai mountain instead.
• I took the cable car up, walked around the mountain for an hour (The Front Garden scenic spot here was breathtaking!), and then headed down.
• As I walked out of the gate of the national park, I saw a bus stationed at the entrance. I asked the driver by pointing out where I needed to go (Zhangjiajie city, where the airport is located). Fortunately, this bus would take me right where I wanted to go for 12 Yuan, which was way cheaper than taking a taxi.
• 45 minutes' drive, and I arrived at the Zhangjiajie railway station. I walked around a bit to observe the city and crashed at the hotel called Vide Hotel in front of the cable car station of the Tianmenshan mountain, where I will be heading next.

Day 3: Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie City

• The next morning, I went to the cable car station at 8:30, right when it just opened and got a cheap winter ticket to the national park.
• Unfortunately, since it was winter, the middle cable car station, which should have led me to the Tianmenshan Heaven's Gate (999 stairs through a huge hole in a mountain), was closed. So, I had to stop at the top station instead and spend my day there.
• I walked around every single area on the mountain, following a pretty thorough map and English signs, and ended my trip at around 5 PM.
• I went to the airport (30 Yuan taxi) and headed back home.

And that's the 3-day itinerary that will allow you to explore the most beautiful parts of the national park, as well as the Tianmen Mountain. Note that there were 3 attractions at the national park that I didn't get to see due to time constraints and getting lost a couple of times: the "Seven Stars Peak", "Fields in the Sky", and "10 Miles Gallery". You may be able to visit these attractions within a span of 2 days, but to be sure, allocate an additional day so you can walk around at a comfortable pace.