Comparison · China
Zhangjiajie vs Guilin: Which Should You Choose First?
Zhangjiajie's forest of sandstone peaks or Guilin's karst hills and night cruises: who each suits, airport transfers, days, budget and when to go.
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The short answer
Zhangjiajie is a mountain city in northwestern Hunan, China. It is famous for the Wulingyuan scenic area (a UNESCO World Heritage site), where thousands of sandstone pillars rise like a forest, and for Tianmen Mountain with its giant natural arch. You walk among cloud-wrapped peaks and ride lifts and cable cars to the clifftops.
Guilin is a city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region where karst peaks, rivers and lakes sit right in the city center. The downtown 'Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Elephant Hill' scenic area describes itself as an important part of the 'South China Karst' World Natural Heritage, and it includes Elephant Trunk Hill, the city's emblem.
Who it suits: Zhangjiajie is for travelers happy to tackle lots of stairs and climbs to spend several days on mountaintop viewpoints and valley trails. Guilin is for those who want lakeside walks in the city, hills and caves covered in old inscriptions, and an evening boat ride past the lights.
From the airport to the city
Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG) is about 6 km from the city. City buses (about 1-2 CNY) run toward the central bus station and the Tianmen Mountain cableway station, and an airport bus (about 10 CNY) runs to the city center; for Wulingyuan, change at a city bus station. Check routes and hours at the airport.
From Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL), take the airport bus to the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) stop, walk 51 m, then take bus 16 or 23 to Xiangshan Park stop. It takes about 2 hr 20 min to the Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Elephant Hill visitor center, including the transfer. Check the airport's official information for airport bus routes, timetables and fares.
- Zhangjiajie: city bus about 1-2 CNY, airport bus about 10 CNY (check official information for both)
- Zhangjiajie: use the official taxi rank and make sure the meter is on
- Guilin: airport bus + bus 16 or 23 to the visitor center, about 2 hr 20 min
- Guilin: taxi about 30 km, about 55 min by car, metered
How many days, and budget
The Zhangjiajie guide suggests 4 to 5 days: Tianmen Mountain on day one, the National Forest Park in Wulingyuan (Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain) on day two, back in on the same ticket for Golden Whip Stream and Huanglong Cave or the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge on day three, and a high-speed rail day trip to Fenghuang Ancient Town on day four.
The Guilin guide suggests 2 to 3 days: Elephant Trunk Hill, Rong and Shan lakes, the Seven Star Scenic Area and the night cruise on day one, then Fubo Hill, Diecai Hill, Mulong Lake and a daytime cruise on day two.
The Zhangjiajie guide gives daily amounts per person. In Guilin, Elephant Trunk Hill and Rong and Shan lakes are free, and most of your spending goes on cruises and entry fees.
- Zhangjiajie: about 300 CNY per day (guesthouse, local food, buses; tickets extra)
- Zhangjiajie: about 600-1,000 CNY per day (hotel, restaurants, tickets, cable cars)
- Zhangjiajie: about 1,500 CNY+ per day (upscale hotel, car with driver)
- Guilin: Elephant Trunk Hill is free with a real-name booking; Rong Lake and Shan Lake are free
- Guilin: night cruise adults CNY 210, daytime Four Lakes cruise CNY 80, Seven Star Scenic Area CNY 55 (CNY 100 with the cave), Mulong Lake CNY 55
What to do in Zhangjiajie: Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Tianmen Mountain
The National Forest Park in Wulingyuan is the heart of a visit. At Yuanjiajie you see sandstone pillars that look like floating mountains from the movies, plus a natural stone bridge, and Tianzi Mountain is a high plateau with endless views over the peak forest; on cloudy days the pillars rise above the clouds. The Bailong Elevator, built onto the cliff, whisks you up to Yuanjiajie, and eco-shuttle buses included with your ticket link the viewpoints (the elevator and cable cars need separate tickets).
Golden Whip Stream is a flat trail of just over 7 km along a stream between the peaks, so it pairs well with the mountaintop routes. From the city, a long cable car climbs Tianmen Mountain to the glass skywalk and the Tianmen Cave arch at the top of 999 steps, and on a rainy day Huanglong Cave, a vast limestone cave, is a good plan.
The National Forest Park uses real-name tickets booked with your passport that allow entry over several days; your original passport and face recognition are checked at the gate. Fog is common up top and some days the peaks are hidden, so keep your schedule flexible and bring a rain poncho and non-slip shoes.
What to do in Guilin: Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes
Elephant Trunk Hill, where the Taohua River meets the Li River, was named Guilin's city emblem in 1995. It has been free since January 31, 2022, but a real-name booking is required (one ticket per ID). Water-Moon Cave holds Tang and Song inscriptions.
The Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise takes about 80-90 minutes past illuminated Elephant Trunk, Fubo and Diecai hills. By day, take in the 360-degree view of the city from the top of Diecai Hill, the cliff inscriptions of Fubo Hill, half in the river, the Song-dynasty walls at Mulong Lake, and Seven Star Cave and Flower Bridge in the Seven Star Scenic Area. Wild monkeys roam the Seven Star Scenic Area, so don't tease them or take close-up photos.
If you are also thinking of the Li River cruise to Yangshuo, Reed Flute Cave or the Longji (Longsheng) rice terraces, check the official information on fares and operations before you go.
When to go
The Zhangjiajie guide says April-May and September-October are best for hiking and views. In winter, snow and ice can close parts of Tianmen Mountain, and the May Day (around May 1) and National Day (around October 1) holidays are very crowded.
For Guilin, normals from Guilin station for 1991–2020 (source: China Meteorological Administration submission · WMO normals collection (NOAA NCEI), rounded) show average highs of about 18-27°C in March to April and October to November, the good months to travel. Of these four months, October and November have less rain than March and April, and June is the wettest month of the year (449 mm). Cruise seats sell out on holidays such as National Day, so book 1-2 days ahead.
The months both guides recommend are April and October. The National Day holiday around October 1 is busy in both places, though, so plan ahead.
- Guilin March: high 18°C, low 11°C, 153 mm
- Guilin April: high 24°C, low 17°C, 227 mm
- Guilin October: high 26°C, low 18°C, 55 mm
- Guilin November: high 21°C, low 13°C, 82 mm
How to choose, or combine both
If you can give it 4 days or more and want to walk mountaintop viewpoints and valleys, choose Zhangjiajie. If you have 2 to 3 days and want to walk and cruise through karst scenery and night views in the city, choose Guilin.
If you plan to visit both cities on one trip, check the official information on how to travel between them and how long it takes before you go. Both cities have sights that need a real-name booking with your passport, so always carry it.
- Entry requirements (visas, etc.) change often; check official information before you go
- Some foreign apps and services may be restricted in China; sort out your connection (roaming, eSIM, etc.) and a Chinese map app before you travel
- Mobile payment is more common than cash; sign up and verify before you travel
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FAQ
Which is better for a first trip, Zhangjiajie or Guilin?
Choose Zhangjiajie to spend several days walking mountaintop viewpoints and valleys, and Guilin for karst scenery and night cruises in the city on a shorter trip.
How many days do I need?
The Zhangjiajie guide suggests 4 to 5 days, and the Guilin guide 2 to 3 days.
When is the best time to go?
April-May and September-October for Zhangjiajie, and March to April and October to November for Guilin. Both guides recommend April and October, but the National Day holiday around October 1 is crowded.
Is the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park ticket good for one day only?
No, the real-name ticket booked with your passport allows entry over several days; your original passport and face recognition are checked at the gate. Check official information for prices.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- Flower Bridge (Huaqiao), Seven Star Scenic Area · Zhangzhugang / CC BY-SA 3.0