Wulingyuan township
Zhangjiajie, China
The main gateway town to the national park, with the bulk of hotels and restaurants.
Places in Wulingyuan township
- Sanxiaguo hot pot restaurants Restaurants serving Sanxiaguo hot pot, combining meats and vegetables in a rich, spicy broth typical of the region.
- Tujia-style restaurants Restaurants serving Tujia-style steamed pork seasoned with traditional spices, reflecting the local ethnic minority culture.
- Wulingyuan township tea houses Local tea houses offering a rest stop between park excursions.
- Wulingyuan township bars Casual local bars in the gateway township, popular with visiting hikers.
Practical notes for Zhangjiajie
- Best time to visit
- April to June and September to November offer clear skies for viewing the peaks, avoiding both winter fog and summer humidity.
- Getting around
- A combination of cable cars, the Bailong Elevator, and shuttle buses is used to move around the vast Zhangjiajie National Forest Park; a car is useful for reaching nearby Fenghuang Ancient Town.
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese. English is limited outside hotels.
- Timezone
- CST (UTC+8)
- Current trends
- The park's glass bridges and skywalks continue to draw social-media-driven visitation, while nearby Fenghuang Ancient Town has become an increasingly popular pairing for travellers wanting Miao and Tujia ethnic culture alongside the natural scenery.
Other neighborhoods in Zhangjiajie
- Yuanjiajie — Home to the famous 'Avatar Mountains,' the most photographed cluster of sandstone pillars in the park.
- Tianzi Mountain — An area offering sweeping panoramic views over the park's pillar forest.
Read the full Zhangjiajie guide