Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, located in the Cili county of Zhangjiajie, is close to the renowned Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is a landform museum of Zhangjiajie, integrating mountains, rivers, and caves. People can enjoy all kinds of scenery of the Karst landform. In the valley, visitors can see monkeys jumping and birds singing, and the reflection of green and steep mountains in the clear water. The density of vegetation here also changes with the seasons, which looks like a charming landscape painting.
A top highlight of this area is the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, which is ranked as the highest and longest glass bridge in the world, and also a major reason for many visitors traveling to Zhangjiajie.
Fast Facts of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
- Location:Sanguansi Tujia Township, Cili County, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China. Adjacent to the Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area.
- Highlights:Glass Bridge, deep gorges, waterfalls, streams, lush vegetation, etc.
- Best Time to Visit:All year round, summer and autumn are especially recommended.
- Visiting Time Needed for Reference:3-4 hours
- Opening Hours:8:00-16:00
- Tickets:CNY 128/person for Glass Bridge; CNY 94/person for the Grand Canyon; CNY 219/person for both Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge.
What to See and Do
Challenge Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
The most renowned scenic spot here is the glass bridge, which is the highest and longest glass bridge in the world. This glass bridge, built on the cliffs of both sides of the Grand Canyon, spans over the canyon 430 meters long, 6 meters wide, and a relative height of about 400 meters. The bridge floor is paved with transparent glass and the whole project didn’t use a steel bracket, so people can appreciate the breath-taking scenery through the floor when they stand on it.
Nokeri Slideway
Spanning about 600 meters over Yixiantian, Southern Red Flag Canal, and the walkway at the valley bottom, Nuokeli Slide offers the thrill of speed and a panoramic view of the natural beauty. The slide will take only 3-5 minutes to get down the mountains. Compared to walking down, the slide not only saves time and energy but also add much fun to your journey.
Natural & Historical Landscapes in the Valley
There is a quiet and clear brook flowing in the valley, along the side of it is a wooden tour path for visitors to walk. Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon not only has the traditional beautiful natural scenery, but also gathers the historical and cultural landscape such as the ancient battlefield called “thousand people’s graves” and the bandit cave reflecting the historical characteristics of western Hunan. The valley is rich in vegetation and clear streams, which just like a paradise for visitors to relax.
A Strip of Sky & Sky Ladder Plank Road
A Strip of Sky and Sky Ladder Plank Road both are popular scenic spots of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Located at the entrance of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon tour path, A Strip of Sky is a cliff wall of canyon. It looks like a gate of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to welcome everyone. Although the “gate” is very high, it is very narrow and small, so visitors may walk slowly and with care.
Visitor can walk down to the bottom of the canyon by a walking path which is more than 700 meters long and with about 300 meters of vertical elevation difference. The slope of “the Sky Ladder Plank Road” is very steep and the wooden plank is very narrow. The plank road looks like a ladder helping people to get to paradise. Walking along it for about 3 minutes, visitors can get a panoramic view of A Strip of Sky.
Recommended Routes to Visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Route A (Grand Canyon Only): need about 2 hours
- Start from the visitor center;
- Follow the signs to the Grand Canyon entrance;
- A Strip of Sky;
- Admire natural attractions along the way, including Shenshui Creek, Rainbow Lake, Momo Cave, etc.;
- Boat ride on Holy Spring Lake, complete the visit.
Route B (Glass Bridge + Grand Canyon): need about 3-4 hours
- Start from the visitor center;
- Head to the Glass Bridge, walk on the bridge and enjoy the panoramic view of the canyon;
- East Bridge Experience Center;
- Rock Climb;
- Thrilling experience on Glass Walkway;
- Choose one path based on your preferences: Path 1: Aixiangfei VR (爱享飞VR), High Altitude Zipline, Yixiantian Slideway. Path 2: Aixiangfei VR (爱享飞VR), Sightseeing Elevator, Treasure Elevator, Sculpture Elevator or Wu Wang Slope Slide
- Rainbow Plaza, admire natural attractions along the way, including Shenshui Creek, Rainbow Lake, Momo Cave, etc.;
- Shenquan Lake Boat Ride, exit the canyon
Route B1 (Glass Bridge + Grand Canyon): about 4 hours
Route B1 covers similar attractions and activities with route B, but runs in reverse.
Information about Tickets
Prices of tickets:
| Admission Fee(Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon+Glass Bridge) | CNY 219 |
| Admission Fee only for Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon | CNY 94 |
- Opening time: 8:00-16:00
Prices of other charge in the scenic area:
| Slide way | CNY22 |
| Cable car to Glass Bridge | CNY 35 |
| Rope line | CNY 30 |
When is the Best Time to Visit?
It’s like spring all year around due to its unique mid-subtropical humid monsoon climate, so four seasons here are all suitable for sightseeing. But the best time to visit is April to October, especially April and October, because natural scenery is most beautiful in these two months.
Tips: Visitors had better avoid the official holiday in China, because many Chinese citizens choose to travel on official holidays to ease the pressure of their work. As a result, many Chinese tourist attractions are overcrowded and traffic jams are common. Therefore, visiting China at this time will bring tourists a less pleasant travel experience.
Official Holidays in China
| Chinese New Year | Around January or February |
| Winter vacation | January-February |
| Labor Day | May1st -3rd |
| Summer vacation(for students) | July-August31st |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Around mid-September |
| National Day | October 1st-7th |
How to get to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon?
From the downtown
- Visitors can take bus to Wenya Hot Spring at Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, which can directly reach to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
- Visitors can also take bus to Wulingyuan Station, and then take bus bound to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon or Cili county.
