Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
张家界国家森林公园 · Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China
3,000 stone peaks rising from the ground — the model for Avatar's floating mountains.
Know before you go
- Don't carve on or litter in the protected peak forest
- at bridal laments and other folk performances, don't heckle or interrupt.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
China's first national forest park (1982), its quartz-sandstone pillar landscape is unique in the world. The Hallelujah Mountains in the film Avatar are thought to be modelled on it, and in 2010 the park's 'Southern Sky Column' (also called the Qiankun Pillar) was renamed 'Hallelujah Mountain'. Tujia bridal laments, the baishou dance and maogusi rituals are the cultural backdrop of this landscape, which became a natural World Heritage Site in 1992 (as Wulingyuan).
Local customs
- The Tujia are warm and martial and celebrate 'Gannian', one day before the Han Spring Festival
- the baishou (hand-waving) dance is a group dance of worship and harvest celebration. Kudzu-root starch, Tujia cured pork and sanxiaguo are local flavours.
Religion & beliefs
- The Tujia mostly revere ancestors and nature spirits, and the baishou hall is a place of worship
- respect the performers at folk shows and don't climb on stage.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
China: don't get physical in a dispute
- Walk away from an argument and call the police if needed
- Pushing, shoving or fighting
Whoever starts it, taking part in a fight can bring a fine or detention, and the injured party usually demands compensation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
China: carry your original passport
- Foreign visitors should carry their original passport
- Carrying only a copy or photo of your passport
Police make random ID checks and do not accept printouts; if you cannot show your passport, you may be fined or detained.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't carve on or litter in the protected peak forest
- at bridal laments and other folk performances, don't heckle or interrupt.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals love drinking vine tea and eating cured pork
- Zhangjiajie people are proud of being 'Avatar's home'.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Allow 2–3 days
- tickets are valid for several days (check the official website). Note that Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain are different sites, so don't mix up your plans
- the Bailong Elevator and the Ten-Mile Gallery train save effort
- the peaks are most beautiful in mist after rain clears.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Sanxiaguo (three-ingredient pot)
- Chicken stewed with rock-ear fungus
- Tujia braised pork
Sanxiaguo ('three in a pot' — Tujia cured pork, sausage and tripe), rock-ear mushroom chicken stew, Tujia steamed pork belly, kudzu-root starch, vine tea (a local drink)
| Where to eat | Restaurants in Wulingyuan town, Xibu Street, and the Nanzhuangping area in the city |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Pace yourself when Tujia hosts sing toasting songs |
| Typical price per person | CNY 50–90 |
| Tips | Food inside the scenic area is scarce and expensive, so stay and eat in Wulingyuan town; sanxiaguo comes dry or as a soup pot — state your spice level first. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Popolon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
Kuruman from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0
.jpg?width=640)
xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
.jpg?width=640)
xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
More in China
Also nearby
The Li River, Guilin
'The river is a blue silk ribbon, the hills are jade hairpins': fishing lights are the last memory of fishing life on the Li River.
Jiuzhaigou
A 'fairy-tale world' of emerald lakes and terraced waterfalls, a highland paradise of Tibetan and Qiang culture.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
'After the Five Sacred Mountains, you'll never want to see another mountain' — the origin of Eastern landscape aesthetics.