Landscapes for the sake of which James Cameron drew Pandora's floating mountains in "Avatar" — a real place in China's Hunan province: thousands of quartzite pillar remnants, a glass walkway over an abyss on Tianmen Mountain and the world's longest cable car. The route is short and dense, without city megacities — only nature and one ancient river town at the end.
The logic of the route: two days inside Zhangjiajie National Park itself (where "Avatar" was filmed) give time to climb to the viewpoints without hurry, the third day is the neighboring Tianmen Mountain with another cable car and the glass path, the fourth is the transfer to the ancient town of Fenghuang on the river with houses on stilts, and the flight is from Zhangjiajie airport, to which we return by a separate transfer.
Route map
Click a day or a point of interestDay-by-day route
Arrival and Check-in
The small Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport is about 40 minutes from the city. Check in and a gentle acclimatization: the next two days will be packed, so it’s worth conserving your energy today.
Lichzhou River Embankment
An evening stroll along the river that runs through the city — the illumination of bridges and the embankment at night creates a peaceful atmosphere before active days in the mountains.
First Glimpse of the National Park
Even from the city, on a clear day, you can see the first silhouettes of the quartz sandstone pillars characteristic of the region— it sets the scene for tomorrow among thousands of similar formations.
1 / 2 Bailong Lift to the Top
The world’s highest outdoor elevator (326 meters) whisks you from the base directly to the park's viewing platforms in just a few minutes, instead of a multi-hour hike. During peak season, queues can stretch for an hour – if timed entry is available, book it in advance.
“Avatar” Mountain (South Pillar of Heaven)
This quartzite pillar is widely believed to have inspired James Cameron’s floating mountains of Pandora—the surrounding landscape of thousands of similar pillars, immersed in morning mist, truly looks otherworldly.
The “First in the World” Bridge
A natural stone arch at a height of about 350 meters, connecting two peaks – one of the viewpoints with the most intense sensation of altitude throughout the park. Not for those afraid of heights—the bridge offers a view straight down into the chasm between the pillars.
1 / 2 The World’s Longest Cable Car
A single ticket costs 278 ¥ and includes the cable car (7,455 meters one way, with an elevation difference of 1,279 meters) and a shuttle bus around the area. The ascent takes about 30 minutes and is impressive in itself – clouds below, the “99 Turns” winding road beneath your feet.
Glass Walkway Over the Cliff
A transparent section of the path at a height of several hundred meters — paid separately, costing 5 ¥ per of the three sections. It’s impressive, but not for everyone: some visitors experience a real fear of heights right on the transparent floor; there's an ordinary opaque walkway nearby as an alternative.
Heavenly Gates
A natural arch in the rock approximately 130 meters high, accessible by a staircase of 999 steps — according to legend, this number symbolizes the highest point of heaven in Chinese numerology. One of China’s most recognizable natural landmarks.
Moving to Phoenix Town
About a 2.5–3 hour bus ride from Zhangjiajie — an ancient town on the Tuo River, built with diaojiaolou houses on wooden stilts directly above the water, preserved almost unchanged since the Ming Dynasty.
A Stroll Along the River
Stone bridges, ferry crossings, narrow streets lined with craft shops – the pace here is completely different from the mountains of previous days. A great place to just wander without a set plan.
Evening Lighting on the Tuo River
As the sun sets, the stilt houses and bridges are illuminated, reflecting in the water — one of the most atmospheric evenings of the entire trip, especially from a boat that you can rent directly on the embankment.
The Return Journey
From Fenghuang to Zhangjiajie Airport it’s about 3 hours by car, so factor that time into your flight schedule with a buffer.
Route Summary
5 days among landscapes that inspired “Avatar” — from quartzite pillars and the glass walkway over an abyss to a quiet ancient town on a river at the end. Practical lessons learned from this trip are in the postscript below.
Off the Beaten Path Notes
A 4-day ticket to Zhangjiajie National Park – buy it immediately, even if your plan is for 2 days. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable—cloud cover and fog can obscure viewpoints all day long, and then an extra reserve day within the ticket’s validity saves the trip. We were lucky with the weather, but our hotel neighbors lost a whole day to fog without being able to reschedule their ticket.
The Tianmen Glass Walkway – Not For Everyone
A transparent section of walkway at a height of several hundred meters above a chasm—5 ¥ for each of the three sections. It looks impressive on video, but some members of our group had a real panic attack due to fear of heights right there—if someone in your company is afraid of heights, discuss beforehand that this is an optional part of the program and can be bypassed via the regular path nearby.
Bailong Elevator – Book Your Time Slot in Advance
The world’s tallest outdoor elevator (326 meters) takes you directly to viewpoints within the national park—the queue during peak season can stretch for an hour or more. Some operators sell tickets with a fixed entry time—if that option is available, take it instead of waiting in line.
Fenghuang in the Evening – A Completely Different Pace
After two busy days in the mountains, the ancient town on the Tuo River feels like a complete change of pace: a leisurely stroll along the stilt houses, boats, evening lighting over the water. A good finale before returning to the airport—the itinerary deliberately leaves this day relaxed.
Actual Budget
For two people, excluding international flights: accommodation – around 19,000 ₽ for the entire route, transport (local buses and taxis) – 9,000 ₽, food – 11,000 ₽, entrance tickets (national park, Tianmen) – 21,000 ₽. Total approximately 84,000 ₽—the tickets turned out to be more expensive than the initial estimate due to the glass walkway and Bailong elevator.
What’s Next
If you want more cities and less hiking in the mountains – the “Imperial China” route with Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. A general overview of China, visas, and budget—on the country page.
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