# Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

> Source: [Zhangjiajie National Forest Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park)
> Clipped: 2026-07-06

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

National forest in Hunan, China


| Zhangjiajie National Forest Park | |
| --- | --- |
| Zhangjiajie Mountains | |
| [Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:China_edcp_relief_location_map.jpg "Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in China") Zhangjiajie National Forest Park  Location within China | |
| Location | [Zhangjiajie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie "Zhangjiajie"), [Hunan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunan "Hunan"), [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China") |
| Coordinates | [29°21′00″N 110°26′07″E / 29.3499204°N 110.435151°E / 29.3499204; 110.435151](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park&params=29.3499204_N_110.435151_E_region:CN_type:landmark) |
| Area | 4,810 hectares (11,900 acres) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | [Wulingyuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulingyuan "Wulingyuan") Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
| World Heritage site | 1992 |

**Zhangjiajie National Forest Park** ([Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language "Chinese language"): 湖南张家界国家森林公园; [pinyin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin "Pinyin"): *Húnán Zhāngjiājiè Guójiā Sēnlín Gōngyuán*; lit. 'Hunan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park') is a national forest park located in [Zhangjiajie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie "Zhangjiajie"), [Hunan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunan "Hunan") Province, [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China"). It is one of several national parks within the [Wulingyuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulingyuan "Wulingyuan") Scenic Area.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-unesco-wulingyuan-1)

## History

[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Wulingyuan_3.jpg/250px-Wulingyuan_3.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wulingyuan_3.jpg)

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

In 1982, the park was recognized as China's first national forest park with an area of 4,810 ha (11,900 acres).[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-trvnews-2) Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is part of a much larger 397.5 km2 (153.5 sq mi) [Wulingyuan Scenic Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulingyuan "Wulingyuan"). In 1992, Wulingyuan was officially recognized as a [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO "UNESCO") World Heritage Site.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-3) It was then approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources as Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest National Geopark (3,600 km2 (1,400 sq mi)) in 2001. In 2004, Zhangjiajie geopark was listed as a UNESCO [global geopark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Geoparks_Network "Global Geoparks Network").[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*][[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-4)

The most notable geographic features of the park are the [pillar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column "Column")-like formations that are seen throughout the park. Although resembling [karst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst "Karst") terrain, this area is not underlain by limestones and is not the product of chemical dissolution, which is characteristic of limestone karst. They are the result of many years of physical, rather than chemical, [erosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosion "Erosion"). Much of the weathering that forms these pillars is the result of expanding ice in the winter and the plants that grow on them. The weather is moist year-round, and as a result, the foliage is very dense. The weathered material is carried away primarily by streams. These formations are a distinct hallmark of the [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China") landscape, and can be found in many ancient [Chinese paintings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_painting "Chinese painting").[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*]

One of the park's [quartz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz "Quartz")-[sandstone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone "Sandstone") [pillars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillar_(landform) "Pillar (landform)"), the 1,080-metre (3,540 ft) [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*] Southern Sky Column, was officially renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" ([Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language "Chinese language"): 阿凡达-哈利路亚山; [pinyin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin "Pinyin"): *Āfándá hālìlùyà shān*) in honor of the movie [*Avatar*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film) "Avatar (2009 film)") in January 2010.[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-5) The film's director and production designers said that they drew inspiration for the floating rocks from mountains from around the world, but mainly from [Guilin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilin "Guilin"), [Huangshan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huangshan "Huangshan"), and [Zhangjiajie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie "Zhangjiajie") in Hunan province.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-1o9speak-6)

## Structures

[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Zhangjiajie_mountina_elevator.jpg/250px-Zhangjiajie_mountina_elevator.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zhangjiajie_mountina_elevator.jpg)

Bailong Elevator

The [Bailong Elevator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailong_Elevator "Bailong Elevator"), literally "hundred dragons sky lift", was opened to the public in 2002. At 326 m (1,070 ft), it is the world's tallest outdoor lift. It can transport visitors to the top from its foot in less than two minutes. The structure is composed of three separate glass elevators, each of which can carry up to 50 people at a time.[[7]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-7)

In August 2016, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon opened the [Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_Glass_Bridge "Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge"), the longest (430 m (1,410 ft)) and highest (300 m (980 ft)) pedestrian glass bridge in the world.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-8) Thirteen days after opening, the bridge was closed due to the sheer number of visitors.[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-9) On 30 September 2016, the bridge reopened after adjustments to its logistics and safety measures for handling a large number of tourists.[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-10)

[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Zhangjiajie%2C_National_park_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg/250px-Zhangjiajie%2C_National_park_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zhangjiajie,_National_park_-_panoramio_(1).jpg)

Tianzi Mountain Cable Car

There are three [gondola lift](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondola_lift "Gondola lift") systems within the park. The Tianzi Mountain Cable Car,[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-11) Yangjiajie cable car and Huangshizhai cable car.[[12]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-12)

There is also a monorail to take visitors up the Ten-Mile Gallery.[[13]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-13)[[14]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-14)

Another feature of the national park is the karst caves scattered throughout the area. In April and May of 2025, footage of the caves filled with garbage was published online, leading to a widespread cleaning operation in those caves.[[15]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_note-15)

## See also

* [Global Geoparks Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Geoparks_Network "Global Geoparks Network")
* [List of national geoparks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_geoparks "List of national geoparks")
* [Tianmen Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianmen_Mountain "Tianmen Mountain"), a feature within the nearby Tianmen Mountain National Park.
* [Guilin Scenic Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilin_Scenic_Area "Guilin Scenic Area")

## References

1. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-unesco-wulingyuan_1-0) ["Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area"](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/640). *Unesco World Heritage Centre*. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
2. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-trvnews_2-0) ["Zhangjiajie Scenic Spot"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080709020725/http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/hunan/zhangjiajie/zhangjiajie.htm). www.travelchinaguide.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/hunan/zhangjiajie/zhangjiajie.htm) on 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
3. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-3) ["A Brief Account of Zhangjiajie"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081201125119/http://www.zhangjiajie.com.cn/english/jianjie.asp). www.zhangjiajie.com.cn. Archived from [the original](http://www.zhangjiajie.com.cn/english/jianjie.asp) on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
4. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-4) ["List of UNESCO Global Geoparks and Regional Networks"](https://www.unesco.org/en/iggp/geoparks). *[UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO "UNESCO")* (in English, Chinese, French, and Spanish). Retrieved 26 July 2024.
5. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-5) [""Avatar" inspires China province to rename mountain"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110606043905/http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-01/26/content_9375209.htm). *China Daily*. January 26, 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-01/26/content_9375209.htm) on June 6, 2011.
6. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-1o9speak_6-0) Anders, Charlie Jane (January 14, 2010). ["Avatar's Designers Speak: Floating Mountains, AMP Suits And The Dragon"](http://io9.com/5444960/avatars-designers-speak-floating-mountains-amp-suits-and-the-dragon).
7. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-7) [Construction in Scenic Spots: Protection or Destruction?](http://www.bjreview.com/Cover_Story_Series_2010/2010-09/06/content_296545.htm), *[Beijing Review](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Review "Beijing Review")*
8. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-8) [BBC News (2016-08-20). "Glass bridge: China opens world's highest and longest". BBC News. 20 August 2016.](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37127725)
9. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-9) ["World's longest glass bridge closes for maintenance two weeks after opening"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/03/worlds-longest-glass-bridge-closes-for-maintenance-two-weeks-after-opening). *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*. 2016-09-02.
10. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-10) ["World's longest and highest glass bridge reopens"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161111033818/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world/china-watch/technology/worlds-longest-highest-glass-bridge-reopens/). *The Telegraph*. Archived from [the original](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world/china-watch/technology/worlds-longest-highest-glass-bridge-reopens/) on November 11, 2016. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
11. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-11) ["Tianzi Mountain Cable Car"](https://www.zhangjiajietourguide.com/photo-p270-4787-tianzi-mountain-cable-car.html). Retrieved 23 July 2021.
12. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-12) ["New cable car in Yangjiajie"](https://www.synotrip.com/hunan-province/grace-yang/new-cable-car-yangjiajie). Retrieved 23 July 2021.
13. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-13) ["Zhangjiajie National Park Monorail China 湖南张家界国家森林公园"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZjDx6KvGq0). *[YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube "YouTube")*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6ZjDx6KvGq0) from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
14. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-14) ["The monorail train running along ten-mile gallery in Wulingyuan"](https://www.alamy.com/the-monorail-train-running-along-ten-mile-gallery-in-wulingyuan-image348675803.html). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
15. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park#cite_ref-15) Cripps, Fred He, Karla (2025-06-18). ["Viral videos prompt mass cleanup of caves near China's famed 'Avatar' mountains"](https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/travel/china-zhangjiajie-garbage-caves-avatar-intl-hnk). *CNN*. Retrieved 2025-06-18.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list "Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list"))

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Zhangjiajie National Forest Park](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zhangjiajie%20National%20Forest%20Park "commons:Category:Zhangjiajie National Forest Park").

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for ***[Wulingyuan](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Wulingyuan#Q3895620 "wikivoyage:Wulingyuan")***.

* [Avatar Hallelujah Mountain](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/avatar-hallelujah-mountain), the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie “Avatar.” [Atlas Obscura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Obscura "Atlas Obscura") article with photos.

| * [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:National_parks_of_China "Template:National parks of China") * [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:National_parks_of_China "Template talk:National parks of China") * [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:National_parks_of_China "Special:EditPage/Template:National parks of China")  [National parks of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_China "List of national parks of China") | |
| --- | --- |
| * [Beidaihe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beidaihe_District "Beidaihe District") * [Benxi Shuidong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benxi_Shuidong_National_Park "Benxi Shuidong National Park") * [Chengde Mountain Resort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengde_Mountain_Resort "Chengde Mountain Resort") * [Dian Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dian_Lake "Dian Lake") * [Dujiangyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dujiangyan "Dujiangyan") * [Fuxian Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuxian_Lake "Fuxian Lake") * [Hexigten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heshigten_Global_Geopark "Heshigten Global Geopark") * [Huangguoshu Waterfall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huangguoshu_Waterfall "Huangguoshu Waterfall") * [Huanglong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanglong_Scenic_and_Historic_Interest_Area "Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area") * [Jade Dragon Snow Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Dragon_Snow_Mountain "Jade Dragon Snow Mountain") * [Jinggang Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinggang_Mountains "Jinggang Mountains") * [Jiuzhaigou Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuzhaigou "Jiuzhaigou") * [Longmen Grottoes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longmen_Grottoes "Longmen Grottoes") * [Lushan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lushan_Quaternary_Glaciation_National_Geopark "Lushan Quaternary Glaciation National Geopark") * [Mount Cangyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Cangyan "Mount Cangyan") * [Mount Emei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Emei "Mount Emei") * [Mount Heng (Hunan)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Heng_(Hunan) "Mount Heng (Hunan)") * [Mount Heng (Shanxi)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Heng_(Shanxi) "Mount Heng (Shanxi)") * [Mount Hua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hua "Mount Hua") * [Huangshan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huangshan "Huangshan") * [Mount Jiuhua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Jiuhua "Mount Jiuhua") * [Mount Lao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lao "Mount Lao") * [Mount Li](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Li "Mount Li") * [Mount Lu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lu "Mount Lu") * [Mount Luofu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Luofu "Mount Luofu") * [Mount Mogan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mogan "Mount Mogan") * [Mount Putuo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Putuo "Mount Putuo") * [Mount Qingcheng](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Qingcheng "Mount Qingcheng") * [Mount Qingyuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Qingyuan "Mount Qingyuan") * [Mount Qiyun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Qiyun "Mount Qiyun") * [Mount Sanqing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sanqing "Mount Sanqing") * [Mount Song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Song "Mount Song") * [Mount Tai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tai "Mount Tai") * [Mount Tianzhu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tianzhu "Mount Tianzhu") * [Mount Wutai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Wutai "Mount Wutai") * [Pearl Shoal Waterfall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Shoal_Waterfall "Pearl Shoal Waterfall") * [Pudacuo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potatso_National_Park "Potatso National Park") * [Qianshan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qianshan_National_Park "Qianshan National Park") * [Qinghai Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qinghai_Lake "Qinghai Lake") * [Shilin (Stone Forest)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Forest "Stone Forest") * [Lake Tai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tai "Lake Tai") * [Wangwushan - Yuntaishan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuntai_Mountain_(Henan) "Yuntai Mountain (Henan)") * [Wudang Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wudang_Mountains "Wudang Mountains") * [Wulingyuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulingyuan "Wulingyuan") * [Wuyi Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuyi_Mountains "Wuyi Mountains") * [Xixi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xixi_National_Wetland_Park "Xixi National Wetland Park") * [Yuelu Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuelu_Mountain "Yuelu Mountain") * [Yun Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yun_Mountain "Yun Mountain") * [Zhangjiajie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park) | |
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