If you’re planning a trip to Zhangjiajie, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is where to stay in Zhangjiajie. While you might just search for hotels in “Zhangjiajie”, there are actually two main areas where most visitors stay: Zhangjiajie City and Wulingyuan.
When I was planning my trip, I noticed that Wulingyuan seemed to be the area recommended most often, mainly because it’s right next to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. However, I ended up staying in Zhangjiajie City instead, close to the Tianmen Mountain Cable Car, which actually worked really well for my itinerary.
After spending time in both areas, I don’t think there’s one obvious choice. I liked Wulingyuan more as a town, but Zhangjiajie City can be much more convenient depending on what you’re planning to do.
So, which one should you choose? It mostly comes down to how many days you have and whether you’re prioritising Tianmen Mountain or Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
In this guide, I’ll compare both areas, including travel times to the main attractions, and share where I’d personally stay if I returned to Zhangjiajie.
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Quick answer
Stay in Zhangjiajie City if you:
- Mainly want to visit Tianmen Mountain
- Want to stay closer to the Sky Ladder (Via Ferrata)
Stay in Wulingyuan if you:
- Plan to spend multiple days exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Want to visit the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
- Prefer a smaller and more scenic town
Distance to the main attractions
The table below gives you a rough idea of travel times from both areas. These are approximate distances and driving times by Didi and can vary depending on traffic, but they’re a useful comparison when deciding where to stay.
| Location | From Zhangjiajie City (Thousand Hotel area) | From Wulingyuan Town Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Zhangjiajie West Railway Station | 8 km • 15–20 min | 32 km • 45–55 min |
| Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport | 6 km • 10–15 min | 36 km • 50–60 min |
| Tianmen Mountain Cable Car | 0.7 km • 5-10 min walk | 34 km • 50–60 min |
| Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (East Gate) | 32 km • 45–50 min | 2 km • 5–10 min |
| Sky Ladder (Via Ferrata meeting point) | 16 km • 20–25 min | 42 km • 55–65 min |
| Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge | 58 km • 65–75 min | 28 km • 35–40 min |
| Huanglong Cave | 34 km • 45–50 min | 8 km • 10–15 min |
| 72 Wonder Tower Building | 7 km • 15 min | 36 km • 55–60 min |
| Charming Xiangxi Show | 35 km • 45–50 min | 2 km • 5 min |
No matter where you decide to stay, you’ll most likely arrive at either Zhangjiajie West Railway Station or Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport.
Unlike many larger cities in China, Zhangjiajie doesn’t have a metro system, so you’ll mainly be relying on buses or taxis to get around. I found Didi to be the easiest option, especially when arriving with luggage. You can book a ride directly through Alipay, and rides are generally very affordable.
For example, the journey from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Zhangjiajie City takes around 20 minutes by Didi. If you’re staying in Wulingyuan, the journey is longer, around 45 minutes.
I highly recommend setting up Alipay as well as other apps you’ll use in China before your trip. I used it throughout my trip to pay for Didi rides, public transport and almost everything else. You can read my complete guide to the best apps for China here.
Advantages of staying in Zhangjiajie City
You’re close to Tianmen Mountain
If Tianmen Mountain is one of the main reasons you’re visiting Zhangjiajie, staying in the city is incredibly convenient. The cable car station is in the city, so you can take a short taxi ride or, depending on your hotel, even walk there. I stayed at Thousand Hotel, and it was an 8-minute walk to the station.
This is especially helpful if you’ve booked an early entry slot.
Better if you’re doing the Sky Ladder
If you’re planning to tackle the famous Sky Ladder (Via Ferrata), Zhangjiajie City is definitely the better base. The meeting point is much closer than it is from Wulingyuan, saving you around 45 minutes each way.
Easier when arriving or leaving
The airport and railway station are both located close to the city centre, making arrival and departure much easier. If you’re only staying one or two nights, this can save a little travel time, but it’s not a big difference.
More accommodation options
Since Zhangjiajie City is much larger, you’ll find more hotels across all price ranges, from budget accommodation to luxury hotels.
Downsides of staying in Zhangjiajie City
Personally, I didn’t find Zhangjiajie City particularly interesting. Apart from the cable car station and hotels, there isn’t much to see within walking distance.
Even the famous 72 Wonder Tower Building, one of the city’s most popular evening attractions, still requires a taxi ride from most hotels near Tianmen Mountain.
If your main goal is exploring nature, you’ll also spend around 45 to 50 minutes travelling to the National Forest Park every day.
Advantages of staying in Wulingyuan
Perfect for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
This is by far the biggest advantage.
The East Gate of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is only a few minutes away, making it incredibly easy to get there early before the crowds arrive.
Since park tickets are valid for four consecutive days, staying nearby makes a lot of sense if you want to explore different parts of the park over multiple days.
Closer to the Grand Canyon and Yellow Dragon Cave
The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge and Yellow Dragon Cave are both much closer to Wulingyuan than Zhangjiajie City, meaning you’ll spend less time sitting in a taxi, but it still requires a bit of travel time.
A much nicer town
This was probably the biggest surprise for me.
Before visiting Zhangjiajie, I expected to prefer staying in the city. However, after spending time in both places, I actually think I’d choose Wulingyuan if I came back.
The town feels much smaller and more relaxed, with a river running through the centre, plenty of restaurants within walking distance and a really pleasant atmosphere in the evenings. I genuinely enjoyed walking around there.
Downsides of staying in Wulingyuan
The biggest downside is that Tianmen Mountain is around 45 minutes away by Didi.
If you’re only visiting Zhangjiajie for a day or two and your main priority is Tianmen Mountain or the Sky Ladder, you’ll spend quite a bit more time travelling.
It’s also further from both the airport and the railway station.
So, where should you stay?
There isn’t one correct answer; it completely depends on your itinerary. If you are planning to visit both Tianmen Mountain and the Avatar Mountains, you will need to travel either way, so it really doesn’t matter much.
Personally, although I stayed in Zhangjiajie City, I think I’d choose Wulingyuan if I visited again. I simply enjoyed the atmosphere much more, and being so close to the National Forest Park would make exploring the area much easier.
That said, if your itinerary mainly focuses on Tianmen Mountain and the Sky Ladder, I’d absolutely stay in Zhangjiajie City instead.
Getting around Zhangjiajie
Whichever area you choose, you’ll almost certainly take a few Didi rides during your trip.
Fortunately, they’re very affordable and incredibly easy to book through Alipay. I found Didi to be one of the easiest ways to get around Zhangjiajie, and I wouldn’t worry too much about staying in the “wrong” place. It really comes down to where you want to spend the majority of your time. But since most people visit both the National Park and Tianmen Mountain, either area makes just as much sense.
Best things to do in and around Zhangjiajie
Once you’ve decided where to stay, these are the attractions I would prioritise:
- Tianmen Mountain – Take one of the world’s longest cable cars, walk along the glass skywalks and visit Tianmen Cave.
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar Mountains) – Home to the famous sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar.
- Sky Ladder (Via Ferrata) – One of the most unique adventure activities in Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge – Walk across one of the world’s highest glass bridges and explore the stunning canyon below.
- 72 Wonder Tower Building – One of the most impressive places to visit in the evening, especially once it’s fully lit up.
- Huanglong Cave – One of the largest limestone cave systems in China.
- Charming Xiangxi Show – A popular evening performance showcasing the traditions and culture of the local ethnic minorities.
If you are also visiting Chongqing, then also check out the best things to do in Chongqing and how to get from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie! And
Final thoughts
If you’ve only read one piece of advice from this guide, let it be this: don’t automatically book Wulingyuan just because everyone else tells you to.
Instead, think about what you actually want to do.
If your trip revolves around Tianmen Mountain and the Sky Ladder, Zhangjiajie City is the obvious choice.
If you’re planning to spend several days exploring the Avatar Mountains, visiting the Grand Canyon and enjoying a quieter town in the evenings, I’d personally recommend staying in Wulingyuan.
Either way, Zhangjiajie is an incredible destination, and thanks to affordable Didi rides, getting between the two areas is much easier than it might seem.
Let me know if you have any questions
