
Best Backpacking Destinations in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China
1. Tianmen Mountain
A natural wonder featuring a giant hole in the mountain and a glass-bottomed pathway for breathtaking views.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes with lush forests, towering cliffs, and unique cave formations.
- Adventure Activities: Includes cable car rides, a glass-bottomed walkway, and hiking trails for various skill levels.
- Uniqueness: Features the world's largest natural arch, Tianmen Cave, and a winding road that climbs more than 99 bends.
2. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Home to the famous Avatar Mountains with lush greenery and towering sandstone pillars.
- Natural Wonders: Showcases unique karst formations and diverse flora and fauna.
- Hiking Trails: Offers multiple hiking trails catering to various skill levels and interests.
- Avatar Connection: Inspired the floating mountains in the movie 'Avatar', offering a surreal experience for visitors.
3. Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
A scenic area with distinctive sandstone pillars and beautiful vistas, made famous by the movie 'Avatar'.
- Natural Beauty: Features unique karst formations, lush greenery, and diverse wildlife.
- Avatar Connection: Inspired the floating mountains in the movie 'Avatar', offering a surreal experience for visitors.
- Hiking Trails: Offers various hiking trails catering to different skill levels and interests.
4. Golden Whip Brook
A scenic valley with cascading waterfalls, lush vegetation, and steep cliffs.
- Natural Wonders: Features breathtaking waterfalls, dense forests, and unique rock formations.
- Adventure Activities: Offers hiking trails, rope walks, and bamboo rafting for a thrilling experience.
- Scenic Beauty: Boasts stunning vistas, especially during sunrise and sunset, making it an ideal spot for photography.
5. Moon Village (Yangjiajie)
A unique village with steep cliffs, hanging coffins, and stunning vistas, resembling a lunar landscape.
- Natural Beauty: Offers breathtaking landscapes with towering cliffs, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Culture and History: Features ancient coffin caves, Taoist temples, and the legend of the Hundred Bamboo Grove.
- Hiking Trails: Offers various hiking trails catering to different skill levels and interests.
6. Tianzi Mountain
A mountain with unique sandstone pillars offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
- Natural Beauty: Features stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Offers various hiking trails catering to different skill levels and interests.
- Panoramic Views: Provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, especially the sea of clouds.
7. Jade Screen Mountain (Jadanjiang Shan)
A mountain with verdant forests and distinctive rock formations resembling a jade screen.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Jade Screen View: Provides a unique view of the mountain resembling a jade screen, especially during sunrise and sunset.
8. Huangshi Village
A village offering breathtaking views of the sea of clouds and unique sandstone pillars.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Sea of Clouds: Provides breathtaking views of the sea of clouds, especially during sunrise and sunset.
9. Tianzishan Scenic Area
A scenic area with unique sandstone pillars, lush greenery, and stunning vistas.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Tianzi Peak View: Provides a unique view from Tianzi Peak, especially during sunrise and sunset.
10. Xibu National Forest Park
A forest park offering diverse flora and fauna, unique rock formations, and hiking trails.
- Natural Beauty: Features diverse flora and fauna, unique rock formations, and scenic beauty.
- Hiking Trails: Offers various hiking trails catering to different skill levels and interests.
- Biodiversity: Homes a rich variety of plant and animal species, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
11. Shidi Natural Reserve
A natural reserve featuring unique sandstone pillars, lush greenery, and diverse wildlife.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Biodiversity: Homes a rich variety of plant and animal species, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
12. Mile-Long Cave (Yaogu Cave)
A cave featuring stunning stalactites and stalagmites, underground rivers, and unique rock formations.
- Natural Wonders: Features breathtaking stalactites, stalagmites, underground rivers, and unique rock formations.
- Adventure Activities: Offers guided tours for exploring the cave and its wonders.
- Underground Beauty: Provides a unique opportunity to explore an underground world, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
13. Tianmen Fox Fairyland
A scenic area featuring unique rock formations, lush forests, and diverse wildlife.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Wildlife: Homes a rich variety of plant and animal species, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
14. Fodui Natural Reserve
A natural reserve featuring unique rock formations, lush greenery, and diverse wildlife.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Biodiversity: Homes a rich variety of plant and animal species, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
15. Shenzhou Valley (Mars Valley)
A scenic valley featuring unique rock formations, lush greenery, and stunning vistas.
- Natural Beauty: Offers stunning landscapes, lush forests, and unique rock formations.
- Hiking Trails: Features hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty and scenic beauty.
- Scenic Views: Provides breathtaking views, especially during sunrise and sunset.