China · Hunan · Attractions
Zhangjiajie tickets & the 4-day pass, explained
The "Avatar" mountains of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are sold as one 4-day pass, bound to your passport, booked up to 30 days ahead — with your entry gate and time slot fixed for day 1. The system is generous once you understand it, and unforgiving of two classic mistakes: turning up at the wrong gate, and assuming the famous lifts are included. Both are avoidable.
| Official channel | Official WeChat mini-program (search 张家界一机游, "Zhangjiajie One-Stop Tour"); authorised platforms also sell the pass |
|---|---|
| Booking window | Reservations open up to 30 days ahead |
| Ticket | 4-day pass, valid 4 consecutive days from your booked first day; eco-bus inside the park included |
| Documents | Passport for every visitor — the pass is bound to your passport |
| Entry | At your reserved gate and time slot on day 1; re-entry on days 2–4 needs a quick free re-booking of gate and slot (mini-program or park machines) |
| Not included | Cableways, the Bailong Elevator and the sightseeing mini-train — paid separately inside the park |
The park caps daily entries and rations them by gate and time slot. In the May–October season and on holidays, prime morning slots at the popular East Gate (Wulingyuan) go first. Book as soon as your dates are fixed — with a 30-day window, there is no reason to leave this one late.
- Decide your entry gate before booking: East Gate (Wulingyuan) suits most hotels and first-timers; the South Gate is closest to Zhangjiajie city.
- In the official mini-program (or your chosen platform), pick your first day and entry time slot.
- Enter every visitor's passport details exactly as printed. Children under 14 still need an entry voucher booked against a document.
- Pay, and save the booking record. Your pass is now bound to your passport — there is no paper ticket.
- On day 1, enter through your reserved gate in your slot. On days 2–4, make a fresh (free) appointment for that day's gate and slot before you go.
Pitfalls
- Wrong gate. Day-1 entry is tied to the gate and time slot you booked. Turning up at a different gate can mean being sent across town.
- The lifts cost extra. Your pass covers park entry and the eco-buses — not the lifts. Budget separately for the Bailong Elevator and cableways; queues are longest mid-morning, so ride early or late.
- Three different sights. The pass is for this park (Wulingyuan). Tianmen Mountain (the "stairway to heaven" and glass skywalk, near Zhangjiajie city) and the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge are separate sights with separate tickets.
- Fog. Mountain weather changes fast and fog can erase the views. Build one spare day into your stay if you can.
The full China walkthroughs, in one PDF
This page is the Zhangjiajie chapter. The complete China Travel Ticket Guide (13 pages) adds the Forbidden City, the Panda Base and 12306 with the same step-by-step detail, plus the combined booking timeline and full FAQ.
Get the China Travel Ticket Guide on Ko-fiZhangjiajie FAQ
Does the 4-day pass include Tianmen Mountain?
No. The pass covers Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (the Wulingyuan scenic area) only. Tianmen Mountain — the cable car from the city, the cliff walkways and the 999 steps — is a separate sight with its own ticket and its own booking, as is the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge.
Do I need to book again for days 2, 3 and 4?
Your pass stays valid for 4 consecutive days, but each day's entry needs a gate and time-slot appointment. Re-booking for days 2–4 is free and quick, in the mini-program or at machines in the park — do it the evening before, not at the gate.
What if fog ruins a day?
That is exactly what the 4-day pass is for: with several days in hand, most visitors get at least one clear morning. Check the forecast each evening and put your biggest viewpoints — Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain — on the clearest day.
More China ticket guides
- Forbidden City tickets with a foreign passport
- Chengdu Panda Base tickets — book the morning session
- China train tickets on 12306 with a foreign passport
- The China tickets hub — all four systems and the booking timeline
Still stuck? That's what the concierge is for
If a booking defeats you — a verification that will not pass, a sold-out date you cannot move — the Full Trip Ticket Concierge builds your whole Japan & China ticket plan in writing: exact release minutes, channels, seats, trains and backups, delivered within 72 hours of your request form.
See the concierge on Ko-fi Get the full PDF guideBooking rules change frequently — always confirm on the official channel before you book. Prices are deliberately not quoted here; check the official channel for current figures. This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Last updated: October 20, 2026.