[11.05] The Ups and Downs of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park · Reference Guide

Today's Route: 11.05 East Gate - Tianzi Mountain - Yangjiajie - Yuanjiajie - Ten-Mile Gallery - Golden Whip Stream (Originally planned for the second day, full route) 11.06 Yuanjiajie, didn’t see much so no further comments, refer to P15–P18, the area at the foot of the mountain is quite nice on rainy days, but not the mountain itself Today's Step Count: 34,000+ Key Tips First: 1️⃣ Arrive early if possible; good weather means you can see the sunlit mountain peaks and enjoy half a day with fewer crowds; 2️⃣ Yangjiajie is the most tiring, all stairs, all on foot, but worth it; 3️⃣ Ten-Mile Gallery can be skipped if short on time; 4️⃣ Golden Whip Stream is worth walking the entire length; the popular recommendation to enter from the South Gate and walk to the Journey to the West filming location and back is not worth it, as the best part hasn’t even started by then; Approximate Times + Some Notes: 7:40 Arrived at East Gate, walked to the boarding point, bus departed immediately; 8:30 Tianzi Mountain, almost no wait for the cable car; (Helong Park, Yubi Peak, Fairy Offering Flowers, Tianzi Pavilion, Warrior Taming Horses return) At this time, after visiting Warrior Taming Horses and heading back, we finally encountered many tour groups; before that, it was quiet and easy to take photos 9:18 Boarded the bus to Yangjiajie (Natural Great Wall, Tianbo Mansion) Highly recommended, few people and the mountain scenery is stunning, close-up views of the peak walls Around 12:00 Arrived at Yuanjiajie Visitor Center (rest and eat) Yuanjiajie was very crowded at noon, causing aesthetic fatigue, quickly passed various elderly tour groups and caught up on schedule Around 13:40 Got off the bus - headed to Bailong Elevator, basically no wait, from security check to elevator boarding took less than 10 minutes total 14:17 Arrived at Ten-Mile Gallery entrance, took the small train in, walked out; Waited 20 minutes for the small train due to a large company group, the longest wait in this park The small train is optional, but the adjacent trail is narrow, only wide enough for two people side by side, and uphill going inward After finishing Ten-Mile Gallery early and with rain forecasted for the next day, we added Golden Whip Stream 15:30 Arrived at Shui Rao Si Men Station, walked from east to west, along the way saw monkeys eating, baby monkeys playing, monkey friends wrestling and diving, and a big orange tortoiseshell cat seeking attention… Around 17:30 Arrived at South Gate, took the bus back to East Gate ⚠️ We walk quite fast~ A perfect day ended