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If you’re spending a few days in Zhangjiajie, you’ve probably come across the famous 72 Wonder Tower (also called 72 Qilou). While most people visit Zhangjiajie for Tianmen Mountain and the Avatar Mountains, this colourful building has become one of the city’s most popular evening attractions.
So, is it actually worth paying to go inside the area, or is seeing it from the outside enough?
After visiting myself, I’d definitely recommend getting a ticket. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Is the 72 Wonder Tower worth visiting?
In my opinion, yes.
While you can see parts of the building from outside, you don’t actually get to see all of it unless you buy a ticket.
Once inside, you’ll find a lively area with beautifully lit streets, food stalls, restaurants, souvenir shops and regular performances taking place throughout the evening. The atmosphere is completely different from simply looking at the building from the outside.
You can’t actually enter the tower itself, but you can walk around it, explore the different levels and admire the impressive architecture from much better angles than you can outside the entrance.
For me, the atmosphere alone made the ticket worth it.
How much does it cost to visit the 72 Wonder Tower?
Ticket prices depend on what time you visit.
| Entry time | Price |
|---|---|
| Before 4:30 pm | €6.23 (around ¥48) |
| After 4:30 pm | €11.43 (around ¥88) |
The attraction is open until 10:30 pm.
I booked my ticket through Trip.com, which I found to be the easiest option. One thing I really liked is that you don’t have to choose a specific date or time slot. The tickets are valid for 60 days and can be cancelled if your plans change.
In general, I book all my attraction tickets, flights, hotels, or trains in China via Trip.com. The prices seem to be the cheapest, and I really like that by booking hotel stays and giving reviews I can collect points that give me discounts on my new bookings.
Visit at night, not during the day
If I could only give one piece of advice, it would be this: visit after dark.
The entire attraction is designed around its evening atmosphere.
During the day, it’s simply a large traditional-style building. Pretty, but nothing particularly special.
Once the sun goes down, everything lights up with colourful lanterns and lights, creating one of the prettiest evening spots in Zhangjiajie. There are also various live performances happening throughout the complex, making it feel much more lively.
I’d personally aim to arrive between 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm, when it’s fully dark, and the lights look their best.
What is there to do inside?
Although many people think you’re paying to enter the building itself, that’s actually not the case.
Instead, you’re entering the themed area surrounding the tower.
Inside you’ll find:
- Beautiful illuminated streets
- Food stalls serving local snacks
- Restaurants
- Souvenir shops
- Regular live performances
- Plenty of photo opportunities from different angles
Even if you don’t plan on eating, it’s a lovely place to wander around for an hour or so.
I had no idea what to expect inside, but it was just a cool and fun atmosphere, and I was positively surprised.
How long do you need at the 72 Wonder Tower in Zhangjiajie?
You can either just make a quick stop here or take some more time to wander through the streets, sit down for some food, or watch some of the performances. I would recommend 1-2 hours.
How to get there
If you’re staying near the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, as I did at Thousand Hotel, the journey is very easy.
A Didi takes around 20 minutes and costs approximately ¥18 (2.34 EUR) each way, making it a very affordable evening trip.
If you’re staying in Wulingyuan near Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, it’s maybe about a 25-minute taxi away, but you can easily stop here on your way back after visiting Tianmen Mountain, as you’ll pass the attraction on the route back towards Wulingyuan.
How to include it in your itinerary
I’d combine it with a visit to Tianmen Mountain.
Spend the day exploring Tianmen Mountain, head back to your hotel for a short break, then visit the 72 Wonder Tower in the evening once everything is lit up.
If you’re travelling between Zhangjiajie city and Wulingyuan, it’s also an easy stop if you’re already passing through the area.
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Where to stay
I stayed at Thousand Hotel, which is located close to the Tianmen Mountain Cableway. It made visiting both Tianmen Mountain and the 72 Wonder Tower very convenient, with only a short taxi ride to the evening attraction.
If you’re planning to spend time exploring Zhangjiajie city rather than only visiting the national park, I’d definitely recommend staying in this area.
Final thoughts: Is the 72 Wonder Tower worth it?
Yes, I definitely think so. It’s such a magical place at night!
If you only look at the tower from outside, you’ll miss most of what makes this attraction special. The real experience is wandering through the beautifully lit streets, watching the performances, trying the local food, and enjoying the lively evening atmosphere. But without paying the entry fee, you also won’t be able to see the complete building.
It’s not somewhere I’d recommend visiting during the day, but after dark it’s one of my favourite things to do in Zhangjiajie city. Book your ticket!
If you’re already planning to visit Tianmen Mountain, adding the 72 Wonder Tower afterwards makes for the perfect evening and is well worth the small entrance fee.
Let me know if you have any questions
