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