🏛️ 5A National Attractions
Last verified 26 Jul 2025
Zhangjiajie Municipality boasts 2 national-top-tier 5A scenic areas—one a UNESCO quartz-sandstone wonderland, the other a cable-car ride to a Heaven-Gate cliff.
1 Quick Metrics
Total 5A sites
2
Wulingyuan & Tianmen Mountain
UNESCO share
1 / 2 (Wulingyuan)
World heritage sites
Ticket range
¥0 ( Tianmen Temple plateau only with combo ) – ¥ 299 peak (Wulingyuan 4-day pass + eco-bus)
Variable by package type
Real-name booking
Required for both sites via "张家界一机游" mini-program
Passport/ID mandatory
City transfer time
Zhangjiajie West HSR ⇢ Wulingyuan 40 min bus • ⇢ Tianmen cableway 3 min walk
From city center
2 Why It Matters
Avatar pinnacles IRL —Wulingyuan's 3 000+ quartz-sandstone columns inspired James Cameron's Hallelujah Mountains.
World-class cable rides —the Tianmen cableway climbs 1 279 m over 7.2 km, China's longest one-section aerial tram.
Year-round crowd control —both sites cap entries (Wulingyuan 38 000, Tianmen 25 000) making advance e-booking non-negotiable.
3 Pro Tips
1
Book sunrise batches —choose Wulingyuan eco-bus slot 05 : 30 (Apr–Oct) for sea-of-cloud shots at Tianzi Mountain.
2
Skywalk traffic —Tianmen's western glass skywalk (60 m) opens 08 : 30; arrive first hour before condensation slicks the glass.
3
Avatar elevator —Yuanjiajie's Bailong outdoor lift (¥72 return) shaves 2 h hike—but queues 40 min after 10 : 00.
4
Luggage rules —Tianmen cableway forbids cases > 20 kg; use free depot at lower station.
5
Rain-plan —sandstone peaks look mystical in light fog; heavy rain halts cliff-edge skywalks—check real-time notice in app.
4 The Full 5A List
🏔️
Wulingyuan District (40 min bus)
Wulingyuan Scenic & Historic Interest Area / 武陵源风景名胜区
UNESCO World Heritage · 264 km² quartz pillars • Core ticket ¥ 228 (4-day) inc. eco-bus • Highlights: Zhangjiajie Nat'l Forest Park, Yuanjiajie "Avatar" deck, Tianzi peaks, Yangjiajie ladders.
🚡
Yongding District, city center
Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area / 天门山国家森林公园
7.2 km cableway from downtown • 999-step Heaven-Gate arch • 99-bend cliff road bus • West & east glass skywalks • Combo (cable + bus + escalator) ¥ 275 weekdays / ¥ 295 peak.