Zhangjiajie City (Yongding 永定) & Tianmen Mountain (天门山) — The Arrival, Transport & Cable-Car Base 2026

Q: Where are Zhangjiajie city (Yongding) and Tianmen Mountain, and how do they differ from the Avatar park?

Zhangjiajie city is Yongding (永定) district, the urban centre that holds Hehua International Airport (DYG), the Zhangjiajie West high-speed-rail station (张家界西站) and the central Zhangjiajie station (张家界站) — and the Tianmen Mountain cable-car base is right here in town, only about 1 km from the central railway station. The strange Avatar-style sandstone pillars are at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park / Wulingyuan, about 33 km to the northeast, roughly an hour by road. Most people therefore split their stay: sleep near Wulingyuan for the pillar park, and stay in the city for Tianmen or the night before flying out.

Q: How much is a Tianmen Mountain ticket, and does it include the cable car?

An adult ticket is about ¥285-288 (~฿1,425-1,440) as of late 2025, and it already includes the round-trip cable car and the in-park shuttle buses. Seniors aged 65+ and students get reduced rates. The ticket is valid for one day and you choose a timed entry slot when you book. The cliff glass walkways add a small shoe-cover charge of about ¥5 (~฿25) per section. Prices change with the season, and it is worth booking ahead because per-slot quotas are limited — check the latest price and status before you go.

The neighbourhood

What Zhangjiajie city (Yongding) is — and why it makes a good transport base

Picture landing at Hehua airport, taking a 15-20 minute DiDi into a central hotel, dropping your bags and stepping back out — and there is the sheer cliff of Tianmen Mountain rising right beside the city, with a cable car climbing from the heart of town to the summit. That is the appeal of Zhangjiajie city, or Yongding (永定) district, which gathers the DYG airport, the rail stations and the Tianmen cable-car base in one place — the arrival-and-departure point for almost every trip.

What defines the city is how close everything to do with getting around is — Hehua airport (DYG) is only about 5-10 km from the centre, the Zhangjiajie West high-speed-rail station (张家界西站) is a hub where the train from Changsha arrives in about 1.5 hours and the Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang high-speed line begins, and the central Zhangjiajie station (张家界站) sits about 1 km from the Tianmen Mountain cable-car base, walkable from town. By the Lishui River in the evening, the new Dayong Ancient City (大庸古城) lights its red lanterns and stages a Tujia culture show.

If you have ever had a trip where the sights and the transport sit on opposite sides of a region, eating your day in transit — Zhangjiajie has one thing to understand from the start: the city and the Avatar pillar park are not the same place. The Avatar-style sandstone pillars are at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park / Wulingyuan, about 33 km away, roughly an hour by road. So most people split their stay — sleep near Wulingyuan for the pillar park, then come back to the city for Tianmen or the night before flying out. That is why we point you here for your first and last nights.

Tianmen Mountain rising above Zhangjiajie city — a flat-topped mountain with sheer cliffs and a cable car climbing from the city centre — Tianmen Mountain rises right beside Zhangjiajie city — the cable-car base is in town, lifting off from the centre opposite the railway station

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Airport

Hehua (DYG)

~5-10 km from the centre · DiDi ~15-20 min

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High-speed rail

Zhangjiajie West (张家界西站)

Changsha ~1.5 h · start of the Fenghuang line

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Central station

Zhangjiajie (张家界站)

Near the Tianmen cable-car base, ~1 km

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In-town highlight

Tianmen Mountain (天门山)

World's longest cableway · lifts off in the city

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Old town by night

Dayong Ancient City (大庸古城)

On the Lishui River · Tujia show · red lanterns

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Getting around

No metro

Taxi + DiDi + bus · Wulingyuan ~1 h

Who the city is for

The atmosphere — a practical base: settle in on night one, relax before your flight on the last

You don't come to Zhangjiajie city mainly for the looks of the city itself, but because it is practical — close to the airport and the rail, and a strong base for a Tianmen Mountain day.

The appeal of Zhangjiajie city is that it fits the start and end of a trip just right. It isn't large or a place you'd walk all day, but there is enough to do for a day or so — ride the Tianmen Mountain cable car up to Heaven's Gate and the glass walkways, then come down at dusk to stroll Dayong Ancient City by the river and eat fiery Tujia and Hunan food, and the next morning move on or fly home with no fuss. The city suits travellers who want to set up near the transport rather than linger for days.

1

Travellers arriving and about to fly home

Arrival / departure base · near airport · near rail

Sleep in the city on your first night off the plane or the train, to settle and recover before the Forest Park, and on your last night before flying out, so you aren't dragging bags from Wulingyuan at dawn to catch a flight. For the detailed way in from the airport, read getting in from Zhangjiajie airport.
2

Travellers here for Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen day · cable car in town · Heaven's Gate

The Tianmen cable-car base is right in the city, a few minutes on foot or by DiDi, so on the day you go up the mountain it makes sense to be in the city to join an early queue ahead of the crowds. Read the routes and highlights in the complete Tianmen Mountain guide.
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Travellers who want a riverside old town and Tujia food

Dayong Ancient City · Tujia food · night lights

In the evening, Dayong Ancient City lights its red lanterns by the river, with a Tujia culture show and local restaurants — a nice walk to wind down after the mountain. For what to try, see the complete Zhangjiajie food guide.
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Travellers continuing by rail to Fenghuang or beyond

Onward by rail · Fenghuang · Changsha

The Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang high-speed line leaves from Zhangjiajie West, and Changsha is only about 1.5 hours away. If you are continuing to the old town of Fenghuang, staying in the city the night before you set off is the easiest option. For ideas around the region, see day trips from Zhangjiajie.

What to see and do

The key sights in town and on Tianmen — up by cable car from the city centre

🚡 Tianmen Mountain + the world's longest cableway (天门山)

A flat-topped mountain that rises right beside the city, reached by the world's longest passenger cableway, about 7.5 km (~7,455 m), which lifts off from the lower station in the city centre opposite the railway station and floats over town and the 99-bend road up to the summit. An adult ticket is currently about ¥285-288 (~฿1,425-1,440), which already includes the round-trip cable car and the in-park shuttle buses; allow half a day to a full day. Key 2026 note: the upper cable-car section (mid-station to summit) has been closed for major maintenance since 6 November 2025 and was still under repair in mid-2026 — during this time the cable car runs only to the mid-station and you continue by shuttle bus, so reconfirm the cable-car status with your ticket seller first. Read the full detail in the Tianmen Mountain guide.

Heaven's Gate cave (天门洞) on Tianmen Mountain — a giant natural arch punched through the cliff, with 999 steps leading up to it — Heaven's Gate — a giant natural arch through the cliff, about 131 m high, with the 999 steps climbing up to its mouth

🚪 Heaven's Gate cave (天门洞) + the 999 steps

Heaven's Gate is a giant natural arch punched clean through the middle of the cliff, about 131 m high and roughly 57 m wide — the source of the name "Heaven's Gate", since it looks like a doorway opening through the mountain into the sky. Below it runs a steep stone staircase, the "Stairway to Heaven" of 999 steps — the number nine signifies eternity in Chinese culture. If you don't fancy climbing all 999, there are escalators inside the mountain to take you up instead (a separate charge). This is the iconic shot travellers come to Zhangjiajie to capture.

🪟 The cliff glass skywalks (鬼谷栈道)

The summit of Tianmen Mountain has clear glass walkways along the cliff face that jut out from the rock so you can look straight down into the chasm below, including the Guigu plank walk (鬼谷栈道) and other coiled cliff paths that ring the top. They are a nerve test, but the view is well worth it. You have to put on shoe covers before you step on (a small charge of about ¥5 / ~฿25 per section). If you are afraid of heights, you can take the normal paths and skip the glass stretches — but if you want the thrill, this is the highlight of the day.

A cliff glass skywalk on Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie — a clear glass floor jutting from the rock face over the chasm below — A cliff glass walkway on the Tianmen summit — a clear floor jutting from the rock face, looking straight down into the chasm

🛣️ The 99-bend road — Tongtian Avenue (通天大道)

A road that switchbacks up the mountain in 99 hairpin bends, climbing toward the mouth of Heaven's Gate. Its name, "Tongtian Avenue", means "the road to heaven", and it is at its most photogenic shot from the cable car, where you see the ribbon of road snaking up the cliff in layers. Normally you ride up it on the park's mountain shuttle buses (included in the ticket); while the upper cable-car section is closed for maintenance, this bus road plays a bigger role in getting you up and down.

The 99-bend Tongtian Avenue (通天大道) on Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie — a switchback road climbing the cliff to Heaven's Gate — The 99-bend road (Tongtian Avenue) — a ribbon of switchbacks climbing the cliff toward Heaven's Gate, best seen from the cable car

🏮 Dayong Ancient City (大庸古城)

A rebuilt old town on the Lishui River (澧水) in the city, looking across the water to Tianmen Mountain. It is an evening stroll that lights its red lanterns after 19:00, with buildings in the styles of the Tujia, Miao and other ethnic groups, and a big culture show called "Meet Dayong / Fantasy Dayong City" (a separate show ticket of about ¥258). It opens roughly 08:00-21:00 — a good place to wind down after the mountain and get a feel for the Tujia culture that this area belongs to. If you skip the show, you can still walk and photograph the riverside after dark.

Food and drink

Eating in the city — fiery Tujia and Hunan flavours

The food in Zhangjiajie city is Tujia and Hunan — spicy, sour and smoky over wood — eaten all around Dayong Ancient City and the streets near the cable-car base.

🥘 Tujia three-layer pot (土家三下锅)

The city's signature dish is sanxiaguo (三下锅), the Tujia "three-layer pot" — a braised pot of three kinds of meat stir-fried with spices, dried chillies and pickles, fiery in the Hunan style and eaten with hot steamed rice. On a cool day up the mountain it tastes even better. Local places are scattered around the city and near Dayong Ancient City, and prices are easy on the wallet. More at the complete Zhangjiajie food guide.

🌶️ Local dishes and evening snacks

Beyond the three-layer pot there is mountain smoked bacon (腊肉), deep-fried stinky tofu, Hunan-style hotpot and a run of street snacks around Dayong Ancient City after dark. The Tujia lean sour and spicy; if you don't handle heat well, ask the cook to ease off the chilli. There are local sweets and teas to try after a meal too, and eating by the river under the red lanterns is part of the city's appeal at night.

Where to stay

Staying in Zhangjiajie city — what you get and what the trade-offs are

This is a base close to the airport, the rail stations and the Tianmen cable-car base — with hotels at several price points to suit your budget and your plan.

The strongest argument for basing yourself in the city is that you get a location close to the transport and the cable-car base at the same time. Settle in on night one off the plane, ride up Tianmen early the next day, and sleep near the airport on your last night before flying out. Many of the hotels sit around the cable-car base and the central railway station, within walking distance of restaurants and Dayong Ancient City.

One thing worth knowing: if the main goal of your trip is the Avatar pillar park, the city is about an hour from the Forest Park, so on your park days it is better to sleep near Wulingyuan to get an early start into the park, and only come back to the city for your Tianmen day or before flying home. That is the "split stay" most Zhangjiajie travellers use.

10 Top-Rated Hotels in Zhangjiajie

Both the city and Wulingyuan, ranked by real guest scores — compare before you decide

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6 Luxury Hotels in Zhangjiajie

Upper-tier options in the city and in the Forest Park — for a trip that should feel special

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How to get from the airport into the city

Getting in from Hehua airport (DYG) and on to Wulingyuan, with prices and times

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Or read the individual hotel reviews near the Tianmen cable-car base in the city:

Wyndham Garden Tianmen Mountain (温德姆花园酒店)

5-star hotel near the Tianmen cable-car base · central location · easy for transport

Read review →

Huatian Hotel Tianmen Mountain (华天大酒店)

5-star city hotel near the cable-car base and the railway station · good for first or last night

Read review →

More hotels in the city, at every level

Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, the Cloud Youth Hostel and more, near the cable-car base

See all →

Getting around

Getting around Zhangjiajie city

Zhangjiajie has no metro. You get around the city by taxi, by hailing a DiDi, or by city bus (paid by scanning Alipay or WeChat). The good thing about the city is that the airport, the rail stations and the Tianmen cable-car base are all close together.

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From the airport (DYG)

~5-10 km into town

DiDi/taxi ~15-20 min · very close to the city

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High-speed rail

Zhangjiajie West (西站)

Changsha ~1.5 h · the Fenghuang line starts here

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Central station

Zhangjiajie (张家界站)

Near the Tianmen cable-car base, ~1 km

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DiDi / taxi

Easy to hail across town

The default in the city · pay through the app

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To Wulingyuan

~33 km · ~1 h

Intercity bus/chartered car · many hotels arrange pickup

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Map apps

Amap / Apple Maps

Use instead of Google · drop a pin so DiDi finds you

Getting-around tip: because Zhangjiajie has no metro, think in geography, not a transit map — in the city, walking plus DiDi is enough, while Wulingyuan (~33 km, ~1 h) means an intercity bus or a chartered car. Allow about an hour between the city and the Forest Park, and pay every fare by scanning Alipay or WeChat. See getting in from Zhangjiajie airport and the Alipay / WeChat payment guide.

How to plan it

Planning your trip around the city — a Tianmen day + the split-stay plan

⏱️ A Tianmen Mountain day (a full day in the city)

08:00 — Start with noodles or a Tujia breakfast in the city, then walk to the Tianmen cable-car base.
08:45 — Join the morning cable-car queue and float over town and the 99-bend road up the mountain (check the upper section's status first).
10:00 — Walk the cliff glass skywalks and the summit paths for the chasm views.
12:00 — Come down to Heaven's Gate and climb the 999 steps (or take the in-mountain escalators).
14:00 — Come down off the mountain back into the city, rest and have a late lunch.
18:30 — Stroll Dayong Ancient City by the river, see the red lanterns and have dinner (catch the show if you like).

🗺️ The split-stay plan (city + Wulingyuan)

The way most people handle Zhangjiajie is to split the stay by zone — because the city and the Avatar pillar park are about an hour apart:
Night 1 — Arrive at the airport/rail, sleep in the city to settle in, and see Tianmen Mountain or Dayong Ancient City.
Nights 2-3 — Move to stay near Wulingyuan and go into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park for the Avatar pillars, Tianzi Mountain, the Golden Whip Stream and the Bailong Elevator.
Last night — Come back to the city before flying out, or continue by train to Fenghuang.
See the full list at Zhangjiajie's top attractions · trips around the region at day trips from Zhangjiajie · and plan the whole trip with the complete Zhangjiajie city guide.

Frequently asked

FAQ · Zhangjiajie City & Tianmen Mountain

Where are Zhangjiajie city (Yongding) and Tianmen Mountain, and how do they differ from the Avatar park?

Zhangjiajie city is Yongding (永定) district, the urban centre that holds Hehua International Airport (DYG), the Zhangjiajie West high-speed-rail station (张家界西站) and the central Zhangjiajie station (张家界站) — and the Tianmen Mountain cable-car base is right here in town, only about 1 km from the central railway station. The strange Avatar-style sandstone pillars are at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park / Wulingyuan, about 33 km to the northeast, roughly an hour by road. Most people therefore split their stay. See all Zhangjiajie attractions.

Is Zhangjiajie city a good place to stay, and who is it for?

It is best for your first night on arrival and your last night before flying home, because it is close to the airport and the rail stations, and it is also a strong base for a Tianmen Mountain day since the cable-car base is in the centre, a few minutes on foot or by DiDi. The city has hotels at several price points near the cable-car base, from the 5-star Wyndham Garden and Huatian down to the Hampton by Hilton and budget hostels. The thing to know is that if your main goal is the Avatar pillar park, the city is about an hour from the Forest Park, so stay near Wulingyuan on your park days. See the options at 10 top-rated hotels in Zhangjiajie.

How much is a Tianmen Mountain ticket, and does it include the cable car?

An adult ticket is about ¥285-288 (~฿1,425-1,440) as of late 2025, and it already includes the round-trip cable car and the in-park shuttle buses. Seniors aged 65+ and students get reduced rates. The ticket is valid for one day and you choose a timed entry slot when you book. The cliff glass walkways add a small shoe-cover charge of about ¥5 (~฿25) per section. Prices change with the season, and it is worth booking ahead because per-slot quotas are limited — check the latest price and status before you go. Full detail in the Tianmen Mountain guide.

Is the Tianmen Mountain cable car really closed for maintenance in 2026, and what should you check before going?

Since 6 November 2025 the upper section of the cableway (from the mid-station to the summit) has been closed for major maintenance, expected to take about one to two years, and it was still under repair in mid-2026. During this time the cable car runs only from the lower station to the mid-station (about 10 minutes, down from 28), and you continue by shuttle bus up the 99-bend road plus the in-mountain escalators. Routes A and B add a bus leg, while route C is unchanged. Before you go, reconfirm the cable-car status with your ticket seller or the official channel, because the reopening date for the upper section has not been firmly announced.

How do you get around Zhangjiajie city — is there a metro?

Zhangjiajie has no metro or subway. You get around the city by taxi, by hailing a DiDi, or by city bus (paid by scanning Alipay or WeChat). Hehua International Airport (DYG) is only about 5-10 km from the centre, roughly 15-20 minutes by taxi or DiDi. The Zhangjiajie West high-speed-rail station (张家界西站) is the high-speed hub (Changsha ~1.5 h, and the Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang high-speed line runs from here), while the central Zhangjiajie station is near the Tianmen cable-car base. Use Amap or Apple Maps instead of Google, and allow about an hour between the city and Wulingyuan. See getting in from Zhangjiajie airport.

Zhangjiajie City Guide

Hotels, attractions, transport and everything you need before you go to Zhangjiajie

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Tianmen Mountain Guide

The world's longest cableway, Heaven's Gate, the 999 steps and the cliff glass skywalks

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Zhangjiajie's Top Attractions

The whole region's highlights — the Avatar pillars, Tianmen, the glass bridge and Wulingyuan

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