How to Get to Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie sits in the northwest of Hunan Province, and the easiest way to reach it is by air or by high-speed rail. Most travellers arrive through Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG), which has direct flights from major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xi'an. The airport is about 5 km from the city centre, so a taxi or a pre-booked transfer takes around 15 minutes.

If you are already in China, the high-speed rail network is a comfortable option. Zhangjiajie West Railway Station handles high-speed services, while the older Zhangjiajie Railway Station serves conventional trains. High-speed trains connect Zhangjiajie with Changsha, the provincial capital, and from Changsha you can connect onward to most of the country. Many of our guests fly into Changsha first, spend a night there, then take the train to Zhangjiajie the next morning.

Getting from Changsha to Zhangjiajie

Changsha is the most common gateway for international travellers arriving in Hunan. Huanghua International Airport (CSX) receives flights from across Asia and beyond, and the high-speed train from Changsha to Zhangjiajie takes a few hours through the Hunan countryside. Buses also run between the two cities, but the train is faster and more reliable.

From Zhangjiajie city, the Wulingyuan Scenic Area and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are roughly 30 to 40 km away, depending on which entrance you use. Allow around 40 to 50 minutes by road. Tianmen Mountain is much closer to the city — the cable car station is right in the urban area, so you can be on the mountain within a short ride from most city hotels.

Arriving by air, rail or road

  • By air: Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG), around 5 km from the city centre, with direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xi'an.
  • By high-speed rail: Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, with connections to Changsha and onward to the wider national network.
  • By conventional rail: Zhangjiajie Railway Station, for slower overnight and regional services.
  • By road: Long-distance buses from Changsha and other Hunan cities; the Wulingyuan Scenic Area is around 30 to 40 km from Zhangjiajie city.

Airport and station transfers

We include airport transfers on our Zhangjiajie tours, so a driver meets you at the airport.