Zhangjiajie National Forest Park National Day 2026: Tickets, Reservations, Opening Hours and Travel Tips

If you are planning to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park during China's National Day holiday from October 1 to 7, 2026, there is one thing to understand before anything else: this is not a destination where you should simply arrive and decide what to do at the entrance.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park uses a real-name, time-slot and entrance-station reservation system. During the National Day holiday, visitor flows, cable cars, the Bailong Elevator and sightseeing buses will also be managed according to capacity. If you arrive without the correct reservation, at the wrong entrance, or with the wrong direction for a cable-car ticket, you may not be able to enter or board.

The good news is that the system is actually helpful once you understand it. With a little planning, you can avoid the worst queues and spend more time looking at the sandstone peaks rather than waiting for them.

This guide brings together the official 2026 National Day travel notice, ticket information, transportation arrangements and practical advice for international visitors planning a trip to Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan.

The 2026 National Day holiday runs from October 1 to October 7. During these seven days, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park will open earlier than its normal schedule, with all five entrance stations opening at 6:30 am and closing at 5:00 pm.

The important phrase is “reservation first”. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has implemented time-slot and entrance-station reservations on a regular basis, not only during National Day. Both first-time and repeat entries by individual travelers and tour groups must be reserved in advance. Visitors without a reservation cannot enter.

This causes confusion for many first-time international visitors.

Zhangjiajie can refer to the prefecture-level city of Zhangjiajie, but tourists also casually use “Zhangjiajie” to describe the famous mountain landscape.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is one major part of the much larger Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. Wulingyuan also includes the Tianzi Mountain, Suoxi Valley and Yangjiajie areas.

UNESCO inscribed Wulingyuan on the World Heritage List in 1992. The World Heritage property covers about 26,400 hectares and is famous for more than 3,000 narrow quartz-sandstone pillars and peaks, many rising more than 200 meters above the surrounding landscape.

The Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark covers about 398 square kilometers and includes areas such as Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Jinbian Stream, Huangshi Village and Shili Gallery.

So when someone says “I am going to Zhangjiajie,” they may actually mean a trip through several different areas of Wulingyuan rather than a single small park.

This is the part you should deal with before thinking about your sightseeing route.

The park uses real-name, time-slot and entrance-station reservations. You need to select not only the date but also the entrance station and corresponding reservation period.

The official National Day notice recommends using the Zhangjiajie Tourism Assistant WeChat mini program to purchase tickets and make reservations in advance. Foreign visitors can use their passports for real-name ticketing and reservation.

If you are traveling with family or friends, prepare everyone's passport information before booking. Do not leave the reservation until the morning of your visit.

Can foreigners enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park with a passport?

Yes. The park's ticket information states that real-name purchases and reservations can be made using documents including a Chinese ID card, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, or passport.

Bring the original passport used for the reservation. The park uses real-name and facial-recognition entry procedures, so having the correct identity document with you is important.

During the 2026 National Day holiday, all five major entrance stations will open at 6:30 am and close at 5:00 pm. This applies to the East, South, West, North and Middle entrance stations.

For National Day, getting up early is not just about taking better photographs. It can fundamentally change how much time you spend waiting.

If your reservation allows it, an early entry is usually a more comfortable strategy than arriving at 9:30 or 10:00 am and joining the largest visitor wave of the day.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has four major vertical transportation systems commonly referred to as “Three Cable Cars and One Elevator”:

Tianzishan Cableway

Yangjiajie Cableway

Huangshizhai Cableway

Bailong Elevator

During National Day, the park will control the number of tickets sold for both combined and individual rides. Once the available quota is sold out, no more tickets are available.

There is another detail that is easy to miss: an upward ticket is for upward travel and a downward ticket is for downward travel. They cannot simply be used in either direction. The gate system checks the direction, and a ticket with the wrong direction will not pass the gate.

When booking, carefully check:

Date → cableway/elevator → number of rides → direction.

This matters particularly if you are building your own route rather than joining a guided tour.

The park's current ticket structure separates the main scenic-area admission from the vertical transportation operated by the “Three Cable Cars and One Elevator” system.

The listed prices do not include the optional RMB 3 insurance fee.

Single-trip cable car and elevator prices

Three Cable Cars and One Elevator combination tickets

These prices are useful for planning, but do not automatically mean that a combination ticket is the right choice for every traveler. If you only intend to use one cable car and the Bailong Elevator once, buying individual rides may make more sense.

Conversely, travelers staying in Wulingyuan for several days and moving between different mountain areas may find the multi-trip option more convenient.

One of the most useful pieces of advice in the 2026 National Day notice is also one of the easiest to overlook.

For self-driving visitors and tour groups, the park recommends considering the Yangjiajie entrance in the west or Tianzishan entrance in the north during October 1–7.

This does not mean the East Gate is “bad.” The East Gate at Wujiayu is an important entrance and is convenient for many visitors staying in Wulingyuan town.

It simply means you should not assume that everyone needs to enter through the same gate.

Your choice should depend on where you are staying, what you want to see first, and which transportation route you have reserved.

The park will publish real-time visitor-flow information on LED screens at major visitor gathering points, including entrance stations, cable cars and elevators, scenic spots, sightseeing-bus stations and area management offices.

This is useful because crowd avoidance in Zhangjiajie is not simply a matter of “go early.” The mountain geography creates bottlenecks.

When one cableway or sightseeing-bus station becomes congested, another part of the park may be relatively comfortable.

The park has prepared several hiking diversion routes to distribute visitors, including routes around Tianzi Pavilion, Moonrise Cliff, Nantianmen, Huangshizhai, Yangjiajie and the Back Garden area. Visitors can choose these routes according to their own physical condition and interests.

For experienced hikers, these routes can turn a frustrating queue into a much more interesting mountain walk. For families with young children or older travelers, however, it is better to choose based on physical ability rather than simply following a “less crowded” sign.

This is an important backup plan for National Day.

If the available reservation quota for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has been reached, do not waste the entire day repeatedly refreshing the booking page.

The official National Day notice recommends considering other attractions in the wider Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan area, including:

Huanglong Cave

Baofeng Lake

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon

Qixing Mountain

He Long Memorial Hall

Jiutian Fengluan

Maoyan River

These are not simply “second-choice attractions.” They can work very well as separate days in a longer Zhangjiajie trip, especially if the main forest park is crowded.

For a first-time visitor with limited time, however, it is still worth trying to secure the main park reservation first.

Do not try to cover every famous viewpoint in one day.

Zhangjiajie looks like one attraction on a map, but the landscape is spread across a large mountain area, and different viewpoints are connected by sightseeing buses, cableways, elevators and walking trails.

A more sensible approach is to divide the trip geographically.

The park's multi-day ticket and transportation system makes a longer visit particularly useful. You do not have to “finish Zhangjiajie” in one exhausting day.

From Zhangjiajie West Railway Station

After arriving at Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, travelers can take a city-to-scenic-area bus toward Wulingyuan or use a ride-hailing service or licensed taxi. The journey to Wulingyuan generally takes around 30–40 minutes, depending on traffic.

From Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport

From the airport, you can take a ride-hailing car, licensed taxi or public bus into central Zhangjiajie, then transfer at the central bus station for a service toward Wulingyuan.

From Zhangjiajie Railway Station

The railway station is close to the central bus station. From there, you can take a bus toward Wulingyuan.

Driving to Wulingyuan

If you are driving, the main approach points include the Wulingyuan transportation hub, Yangjiajie transportation hub and Zhangjiajie West transportation hub.

During National Day, however, driving directly into the scenic area is not necessarily the most convenient option. Traffic controls and restrictions around the entrances can make public transportation easier.

There is a useful transportation update for travelers arriving around the holiday.

The Yuyuan Tunnel reopened to traffic from 12:00 am on September 30, 2026, after safety-related construction work. Heavy and medium-heavy trucks are prohibited from entering, and vehicles passing through the tunnel are subject to a 30 km/h speed limit.

For visitors, the reopening is particularly relevant because the tunnel connects with the road network serving the southern side of Wulingyuan and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

During the National Day period, public transportation is encouraged. The Wulingyuan Bus Station–Zhangjiajie National Forest Park South Gate route is scheduled to be free for ordinary visitors during the holiday, although the notice states that this does not apply to organized tour groups.

If you are planning to drive your own car, do not assume that having a vehicle means you can drive freely to every scenic-area entrance.

During the holiday, resident and social vehicles are subject to traffic controls around the scenic-area ticket stations. Vehicles with special permits are also subject to specified restrictions, including an 8:00 am–8:00 pm restriction unless specifically authorized.

For most international visitors staying in Wulingyuan, a combination of hotel transfer, public transport, licensed taxi and the park's own sightseeing buses is likely to be simpler than trying to navigate the mountain area by rental car.

Zhangjiajie is beautiful, but it is still a mountain environment.

Do not climb over railings or barriers for photographs. The famous viewpoints can look deceptively safe in photographs, but the terrain drops sharply in many places.

When riding the park's sightseeing buses, hold the handrail and follow seat-belt instructions where provided.

Wild monkeys are common around some scenic areas. Do not tease them, feed them or attempt to take food away from them. Keep a reasonable distance.

Fire prevention is also taken seriously. Smoking, barbecuing and the use of open flames are prohibited in areas where fire restrictions apply. Visitors should not bring fire sources into the scenic area.

Overnight stays, camping and sleeping inside the scenic area are prohibited. Plan to leave the park before closing time.

Passport: Keep the original passport used for your reservation with you.

Comfortable shoes: Even with cable cars and elevators, you will walk a lot.

Light rain protection: Mountain weather can change quickly.

Water: Carry enough for your walking route, particularly if you choose a longer hiking section.

Phone power: A portable battery is useful because tickets, maps, payments and transportation information may all be on your phone.

Light luggage: A small backpack is much more practical than a large suitcase inside the mountain area.

Not necessarily.

If you are comfortable using Chinese travel apps, reading maps and following the park's transportation system, independent travel is entirely possible.

A local guide can nevertheless be useful if you want historical and geological explanations, are traveling with older family members, or want someone else to manage the route and transportation decisions during the busiest days of the holiday.

The important distinction is between paying for useful local knowledge and buying an unofficial “shortcut ticket.” During a peak holiday, be cautious of anyone outside the official system promising guaranteed entry, special access or unusually cheap tickets.

If you book a tour, hotel, transportation service or other travel product, keep the receipt, booking confirmation and service agreement.

Use a legitimate travel agency and avoid suspiciously cheap tour packages. If a dispute occurs, remain calm and keep evidence such as photographs, receipts, booking records and messages.

The official National Day notice lists the following complaint and assistance channels:

12345 — general government service hotline

12315 — consumer complaints

0744-5712345 — Zhangjiajie National Forest Park visitor service / complaint line

0744-5618331 — Wulingyuan cultural tourism complaint hotline

The landscape is not simply a collection of beautiful mountains.

Wulingyuan is internationally recognized for its unusual quartz-sandstone peak forest. UNESCO describes more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, with ravines, streams, waterfalls, caves and natural bridges distributed among them. The property was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992.

The Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark covers about 398 square kilometers and is recognized for its distinctive quartz-sandstone landforms. The name “Zhangjiajie landform” is now used internationally to describe this type of landscape.

This is why the mountains can look almost unreal in photographs. The peaks are unusually dense, steep and isolated, with forest growing directly on and between the rock pillars.

The landscape later became widely associated with the floating mountains seen in the movie Avatar. It is worth remembering, though, that the real attraction is more interesting than the movie comparison: the geological landscape existed for millions of years before Hollywood gave it a new nickname.

If you remember only a few things from this guide, make them these:

Reserve before you go. No reservation means no entry.

Choose the correct entrance station. Your reservation is linked to the designated entry point and time.

Bring your original passport. Zhangjiajie uses real-name and facial-recognition entry procedures.

Book cable cars and the Bailong Elevator carefully. Check both the date and travel direction.

Start early. During October 1–7, the park opens at 6:30 am.

Watch the real-time crowd information. Do not insist on following one route if another area is significantly less crowded.

Keep a backup plan. If the main park reaches its reservation limit, Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and other nearby attractions can fill the day.

Use legal transportation. Avoid unofficial vehicles and roadside “special ticket” offers.

Most importantly, do not try to defeat Zhangjiajie's crowds by rushing from one viewpoint to another. The mountain landscape is the reason you came. A well-timed route with fewer queues will usually give you a much better experience than trying to collect every famous viewpoint in a single day.

Is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park open during China's National Day holiday?

Yes. During October 1–7, 2026, the park is scheduled to open at 6:30 am and close at 5:00 pm.

Do I need to reserve Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in advance?

Yes. The park uses real-name, time-slot and entrance-station reservations. Visitors without a valid reservation cannot enter.

Can foreigners use a passport to book Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?

Yes. Passport holders can use their passports for real-name ticketing and reservation. Carry the original passport with you when visiting.

Which entrance is best for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?

There is no single entrance that is best for every traveler. Your choice should depend on your hotel, planned attractions and transportation arrangements. During the 2026 National Day holiday, the park specifically recommends that self-driving visitors and tour groups consider the Yangjiajie West Gate or Tianzishan North Gate to help distribute visitor flow.

What time does Zhangjiajie National Forest Park open during National Day?

From October 1 to 7, 2026, the five main entrance stations open at 6:30 am and close at 5:00 pm.

Can I buy a cable-car ticket and use it in either direction?

No. During National Day, upward and downward tickets are controlled separately. An upward ticket is for upward travel and a downward ticket is for downward travel. The gate system will reject a ticket used in the wrong direction.

What happens if Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is fully booked?

If the available reservation quota is reached, consider another date or visit attractions such as Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Qixing Mountain or Maoyan River instead.

Is Zhangjiajie worth visiting during National Day?

National Day is one of China's busiest travel periods, so visitors should expect crowds. However, Zhangjiajie can still be enjoyable if you reserve early, enter at an appropriate time, choose your entrance carefully and remain flexible about your route.

How many days should I spend in Zhangjiajie?

For a first visit, three to four days allows considerably more flexibility than trying to see the entire Wulingyuan area in one day. A longer stay is especially useful during National Day because it allows you to spread out your visits and react to crowd levels.