Lan Wandered

“Zhangjiajie is probably one of the most mesmerizing places I’ve seen so far featuring the surreal Avatar Mountain, unbelievable beauty of Tianmen Mountain to thrilling experience in the Grand Canyon Bridge Glass and amazing lady fox show highlighting the culture and tradition of China”.

Hey! Have you ever thought of visiting the real location of Avatar Mountain in the Hollywood blockbuster movie film? If yes, then this article will guide you on how to get to the real world of Pandora. You will be amazed to see the floating pillars in the Zhangjiajie Natural Forest. Moreover, you can also see it up close as you take the tallest outdoor elevator in the world. Want more! My favorite part is that, as you tour around Zhangjiajie, you will also see the mind-blowing view of Tianmen Mountain as you take on one of the longest cable cars in the world. Note that it is a 30-minute ride. Walk on the stunning glass bridge and admire the Grand Canyon, and lastly, be amazed by the Lady Fox show, which is watched and queued by locals and tourists around the world. Truly an amazing experience indeed! What are you waiting for? Visit and explore Zhangjiajie, China.

About Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Hunan, China. It is home to the National Forest Park, famously known today as the Avatar Mountain, and part of the Wulingyan Scenic Area, deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Wulingyuan Scenic Area consists of several key attractions that include Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hallelojah or the Avatar Mountains, Tianzi Mountain, and Yuanjiajie. Moreover, It is also the place where you can experience one of the longest and highest glass bridges in the world, located in the Grand Canyon of Zhangjiajie and the 30-minute journey ride to the cable car, which spans around 7455 meters and has an ascent of 1279 meters in Tianmen Mountain.

Is Visa Required in Traveling to Zhangjiajie, China?

Unfortunately, for Filipinos traveling to China, a visa is required. But don’t worry, acquiring a visa in China is not complicated, just prepare for all the requirements needed. I’ve read a lot of blogs about applying for an individual tourist visa for Filipinos in China, and it seems like it’s not difficult as compared to other countries. You just have to be present in the Philippines at least to process the visa.

Other Option: Good news! For someone who doesn’t have time or is an OFW like me and doesn’t want any hassle, joining a group tour with a travel agency in the Philippines is the best option. In this way, you can be assured that you can visit China through a group visa. You only need to submit a copy of a 6-month valid Passport to the Tour Agency, and they will process everything.

Note for first-time travelers abroad: Even though the group visa is already released, during the date of travel, please be prepared for additional documents to be asked in the immigration. Normally, if they see that you are a first-time traveler abroad, even if this is a group tour, they will still ask you many questions, like what is your job, show your COE (Certificate of Employment), what you will do in China (show the group tour itinerary), what is your relation to the group, are you traveling alone, and how much you bring (show a bank statement if available or a credit card statement). If you cannot show additional documents, you might go to the second interview, so prepare as many documents as you have to prove that you will return to the Philippines.

As for me, since I am an OFW and have many records of traveling abroad, The only thing that was asked of me was, if I am an OFW and if I have the OEC already. After that, my passport was stamped.

For other Nationalities, please check online for your visa eligibility in China.

How to get to Zhangjiajie, China from Manila?

Currently, there are no direct flights from the Philippines to Zhangjiajie. As of this writing, international flights are only available to the countries of Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea. However, with the city becoming known overseas, the tourist market is rapidly growing. Thus, improvements to transportation will probably take place as an increasing number of Filipino tourists will be visiting Zhangjiajie soon.

Meanwhile, your option is to book a flight first from Manila to major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Quanzhou, and then book a flight going to Zhangjiajie. So, it would be a connecting flight. I suggest, if you have more time, combining Zhangjiajie with the Beijing tour to visit the Great Wall of China.

In my case, since I booked a package tour from Manila, everything was already arranged. Our flight was from Manila to Quanzhou with a 2-and-a-half-hour flight, and then from Quanzhou to Changsha, our flight for about 1 and a half hours. Unfortunately, our tour agency was not able to find a direct flight from Quanzhou to Zhangjiajie on our chosen dates, hence, we traveled by their arranged tour bus from Changsha Airport to Zhangjiajie City for about 4 hours.

For DIY & Getting Around the City

If you are planning for DIY, you can check available flights from the mentioned cities and book a direct flight going to Zhangjiajie to lessen your travel time. Otherwise, you can also consider traveling by train or bus after arriving in the selected major cities. Once you arrive in Zhangjiajie, you can join and book a group tour to lessen your burden. As I observed, getting around each tourist destination is difficult as they are far from each other. You can check Get Your Guide or klook website for tour options.

For our group, we use the same bus from the day we arrived in China until we leave the country. The bus is comfortable and convenient, since you don’t need to book when traveling to a tourist destination.

My Experience

I never imagined I would be visiting Zhangjiajie, China. Honestly, it’s not even on my travel priority list, but a twist of fate is really astounding. By just watching TikTok videos and reels on Facebook, suddenly, Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain appeared on my wall. After that, my eyes and mind were blown away by its incredible natural beauty. Then, I became curious, so I read blogs to see more info & photos, which consequently convinced me that I needed to visit this place one day. However, since I am an OFW in Saudi Arabia, my situation is preventing me from planning this travel journey since I also need to apply for a visa, thus, I just take note of this when I return to the Philippines for vacation.

Surprisingly, I saw a travel and tour agency posting and offering a group visa included in the package tour at a reasonable price. So, I was like, wow! This place is really enticing me to go there. One problem I think I have is the expensive flight ticket from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, as well as filing for vacation leave. Unexpectedly, Saudia Airlines released a 50% off flight from Saudi Arabia to Manila at that time, so who am I to neglect this offer? Moreover, the schedule also falls on the dates offered by the agency and its holiday in Saudi, which makes it easier for me to file a short leave. It seems like the destiny is planning for itself. So, that’s it. I file a 4-day leave, book a flight to Manila, reserve a tour agency package, and then travel to the Philippines and to China. Overall, I have 7 days, including the holiday and weekend. It was short, but I managed to schedule it and return to Saudi Arabia safely. To be honest, my family didn’t know that I had returned to the Philippines. I did not bother them, since my stay in the Philippines is only a day before traveling to China. Anyway, I am used to traveling like this; I visited Armenia for 4 days as well as Georgia for 7 days; hence, I am not new to this setup. Most people learned that I visited another country once I posted it on social media. Actually, I am the type of person who doesn’t want to tell anyone until it’s not happening yet, I want to surprise them, and for me, it’s better that way to avoid any expectations.

There you go, I’m in Zhangjiajie, China. Upon arrival, at first, I found it like Baguio in the Philippines, but, as I go further, I’ve realized how wonderful this city/province is. The roads were clean and organized; there was no traffic, and on top of that, the landscape was amazing. Who would think I was in China? I never imagined China before like this. Zhangjiajie is just awesome! The mountains are stunning, and the structures are unbelievable. We visited mostly popular tourist attractions like Grand Canyon and Glass Bride, experienced the longest cable car ride in the world as we reached the top of Tianmen Mountain, took the highest elevator glass and saw up close the Avatar Mountain, and many more. Still, I cannot believe I experienced all of this. Now, I’m in love with the natural beauty of China, and probably you will see me again traveling to other parts of this country soon.

Places to visit and things to do in Zhangjiajie

Walk in the Glass Bridge & Admire the Grand Canyon of Zhangjiajie

Never miss the opportunity to walk on the glass bridge of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. It is one of the most exciting and thrilling activities and is considered the longest and highest glass bridge in the world. The glass bridge spans about 430 meters across the canyon and stands 300 meters above the ground.

Visit the small town in WulingYuan near Baofeng Lake and experience taking a boat around the lake!

Experience the Tianmen San Cable Car

Ride in one of the Longest Cable cars in the World, which takes 30 minutes journey. The cable car has a total length of around 7455 meters and an ascent of 1279 meters. This is probably one of the most fascinating experiences I have here in Zhangjiajie, just seeing the spectacular view of the mountains is mind-blowing.

Walk in the Tianmen Mountain Glass Way

This is another glass walkway to experience near the cliff of Tianmen Mountain. Don’t forget to wear the provided shoe rag/cotton cover before stepping on the glass walkway.

Wander in the Love Bridge

Oh, who would not adore this Love Bridge? It features a picturesque view of the city and mountains.

Take the escalator in Tianmen Cave

Taking the escalator is a must when going down the Tianmen cave. It is the only way to reach the cave, so get ready for the long escalator ride.

Tianmen Cave-known by many as the heaven gate mountain

Tianmen Cave is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Zhangjiajie. Once you are standing below the Cave view, you will feel like you are seeing the gate to heaven.

Amazed with the Tongtian Avenue

Below the Tianmen Cave is a view of the strange road, Tongtian Avenue. It is one of the picturesque views that you would probably see here. And if you like more thrills, I heard you can also use this road/route to travel up the Tianmen Mountain.

Ride in the Bailong Elevator

One of the amazing things to do in Zhangjiajie is to ride in the tallest outdoor elevator in the World. The elevator experience features the magnificent view of sandstone pillars and peak of Zhangjiajie National park.

Wander in the Zhangjiajie Forest Park

Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark is known for its more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, many of which rise over 200 meters. It is one of the popular destinations for hikers and mountain climbers.

Check out the Hallelujah Avatar Mountain

Inspired by the Blockbuster movie Avatar, this mountain pillar famous after the movie release, hence, become the signature of Zhangjiajie whenever people visit this place.

Watch the Fox Lady Show

Oh, who would not love the Lady Fox show. It is one of the most anticipated show in Zhangjiajie highlighting the culture and tradition of China. It is watched and queued by locals and tourists around the world.

72 Odd Building

One of the strange and colorful building you will find in Zhangjhiajie is the 72 Odd Building. From what our tour guide explained, this building is actually a combination of several hotels. At night time, you will find this building amazing as you see it with vibrant lights.                                  

Eat Local Food

Being on the group tour gives me an advantage in eating and selecting food, as the tour brought us to the famous local restaurants in Zhangjiajie, which mostly serves traditional Chinese food. To be honest, I am the type of traveler who never minds about the food I eat, as long as it is edible and within the budget.

When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie?

The best time to visit Zhangjiajie is probably early Autumn, from September to October. The weather during this period is cool and enjoyable. However, please note the National Holiday from October 1–7 to avoid crowds during your visit.

If you are interested in a foggy mountain vibe that looks mysterious, visit in the months of April to June. Just be aware of the higher chances of raining during this time, hence, bring an umbrella or raincoat. Holiday: Labor Day (May 1-3)

The summer holiday is a good season in Zhangjiajie from June to August; however, it is also the most popular month for tourists and locals’ flocks in the city; hence, expect a packed tourist during your visit.

If you are aiming for a snowy mountain vibe, visit during the winter, this time the tourist numbers are very low, and hotel prices are cheap. You can take photos alone without people in the background.

If you are curious, I visited this amazing place in September. So, all of these pictures you’ve seen in this blog were captured this month. The weather is perfect, it was slightly cool and sunny, and the sky is clear.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Joining a Group Tour from Philippines

Advantages:

• Number 1 advantage for me as an OFW is no need to think about processing of visa since it is a Group Visa.
• Itineraries are already prepared
• Good accommodation, mostly we stayed in 4-to-5-star hotels.
• We use the same bus for transportation, hence, not a hassle for us and totally convenient.
• Tour guide who speaks Chinese and English.
• Be able to eat at the recommended local restaurant that serves traditional Chinese food
• Best for families with older people

Disadvantages:

• You have no choice but to follow their itinerary
• Expect to spend more time on the product presentation of their partnered company. This is part of the itinerary once you pay. I believed, it is one of our comments during the tour.

Where to stay?

There are several hotels and resorts available in Zhangjiajei ranging in standard, medium up to luxury experiences. Plan ahead and reserve a hotel near the location of your specific destination. You can check booking.com or agoda.com for available hotel accommodations on your chosen dates. Otherwise, you can also check Airbnb if you are a group and would like to minimize your cost. If you are a solo traveler, a hostel option is available.

As for me, since I joined a group tour, all hotels are arranged by the tour agency. I don’t have any complaints about it because all the hotels we stayed in were between 4- and 5-star hotels, and it is really nice and comfortable.

Suggested 5 Days 4 Nights Itinerary in Zhangjiajie from Manila

Day 1: Flight from Manila to Quanzhou, Quanzhou to Zhangjiajie then check-in hotel

Day 2: Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon, Baofeng Lake

Day 3: Visit Tianmen Mountain (Cable Car, Glass skyway, love bridge, escalator, Tian men cave, Cable Car again in return), then watch Fox Lady show at night.

Day 4: Museum in the morning, Natural Forest Park, Elevator Glass, Hallelujah/Avatar Mountain

Day 5: Flight back to manila

As for me, since I joined a package tour, our itinerary was a little different since there was no direct flight to Zhangjiajie on that date. Hence, we don’t have a choice but to go with it, as it is part of their revised itinerary. Anyway, we were able to visit all the tourist attractions mentioned above. If you join a package tour, please note that there will be extra activity every morning, so you will not expect to spend more time at the tourist attraction. It’s like a product presentation (Jade, Chinese medicine, latex), and then after they ask you if you buy, it’s not forced, though. So be aware of that, just be patient and go along. What’s important for me at that time was that I was able to reach Zhangjiajie. So, you know, it’s a business, so they also needed a sponsor and partner. Maybe that’s also the reason why the tour is not so expensive. And it’s common to all the tours I’ve seen; it was not only for our group but for most of the tour; even with locals and other nationalities, they also go to these shops.

My budget for Traveling in Zhangjiajie

From the Philippines, I joined a group tour that included a group visa, hotel accommodation with breakfast/lunch/dinner, flight ticket with 20 KG baggage, transportation, a package tour with an itinerary, and an English-speaking tour leader and tour guide. The tour cost around 42,000 PHP. Please note that this cost already include all the package tour mentioned. Usually, others are optional, hence, you have a choice to not include in your package if you want to lessen your budget. But again, you will miss this attraction, so, my advice is to make use of your time while you are in Zhangjiajie, China and enjoy the scenery.

Overall Total-PHP 45,000, this includes delicacies and souvenirs.

For DIY (do it your own), consider the below prices of tickets in Zhangjiajie: Book only on the official websites or travel platforms.

• Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon Entrance Fee-219 CNY
• If Glass Bridge only- 141 CNY
• Tianmen Mountain Cable Car- 243 CNY
• Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk- 5 CNY
• Tianmen Cave Escalator- 32 CNY
• Zhangjiajie Entrance Fee- 248 CNY
• Bailong Elevator- 144 CNY (Up & Down)
• Tianzi Mountain Cable Car- 72 CNY (one way)
• Fox Lady Show Ticket- 238-688 CNY, depending on seat selection.
• Baofeng Lake- 96 CNY

Travel Guide & Tips

Here are some guides and tips you should consider when visiting to Zhangjiajie, China.

• Travel light, roll your clothes to fit all your belongings in your bag.
• If DIY, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance to cover health & accidents.
• Don’t forget to buy a SIM card with data for emergency purposes.
• If this is your first time in China and you don’t know how to speak Chinese, it is better to join a group tour with a local tour guide who can speak English. Note that most of the signboards and people in Zhangjiajie do not understand English.
• Don’t forget to exchange your PHP money for Chinese Yuan before your flight. This is one of my mistakes, as I did not exchange my money and only brought USD. I was thinking I could exchange it in the airport; unfortunately, there were no available Chinese yuan when I exchanged in NAIA 1 at that time, and when we arrived in China, I hadn’t found any. Fortunately, one in our group brought plenty of Chinese yuan, hence, exchange some of it with me.
• Credit Cards & Alipay Payments: Larger hotels and restaurants may accept credit cards and mobile payments like WeChat Pay or Alipay, but remember that most places only take cash.
• Avoid giving food to the monkey, if you do, many monkeys will come to you and will think that everything you have belongs to them, so they might get your personal things, so keep that in mind! Secure your belongings.
• If you are traveling solo and DIY, it is better to plan carefully your itinerary, starting with the first destination you wanted to experience until to the last location in order to visit everything within the schedule you set and reserve you bus/train ticket in case of using public transportation.
• If you are a foreigner, always keep your passport with you since it serves as a ticket for some tourist location, and most of the time it will be checked and needed in your tours.
• If you are joining a tour from Manila, bring USD also, since most of optional tours will be charged in USD by your tour agency.
• Do not forget to bring a power bank in case your phone has a low battery.
• Be a responsible traveler and keep each destination in Zhangjiajie clean.
• Take only memories, leave only footprints. 

Essential things to bring.

• Money in Cash (RMB/Chinese Yuan)
• Bring Snacks, Water and drinks and keep it in your bag whenever you’re travelling for emergency.
• Sunscreen for summer season
• Sun glass
• Cap for head sun protection
• Jacket applicable for winter or summer
• Power bank, otherwise, bring USB cables, most tour buses have USB for charging.
• lotion for mosquito protection

So, have you been to Zhangjiajie, China? Please share your thoughts, I would like to know your experience.

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