Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Table of Contents
Introduction to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
According to the Ink Voyages team, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is the most entertaining of the three natural areas in Zhangjiajie.
If you would like to learn more, you can also find our articles on the other two here:
In a way, you can think of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon area as a successful mix between a natural park and an amusement park. And if you decide to visit it, we strongly recommend choosing Line B — approximately 3.5 km long, with a total duration of around 3.5 hours — as this is the route that includes the famous and vertiginous Glass Bridge.
We have included a map below to help you find your way around. As you can see, there are two routes available, but in our opinion, it is the Glass Bridge that truly represents the spirit of the Grand Canyon.
It is also worth noting that, even for those who suffer from vertigo, the bridge features opaque strips along the sides that conceal the breathtaking drop over which it is built. This means that everyone can try walking on the glass — with the magical sensation of floating above the void — for as long as they feel comfortable.
That said, let’s now take you along Line B! Follow our journey as we explore this beautiful park. The route starts at the Tourist Center and immediately heads towards the Glass Bridge itself. Before stepping onto the bridge, you will be provided with shoe covers free of charge.
And before setting foot on the glass bridge, remember to explore our catalogue of tailor-made private journeys in China, to inspire your next adventures.
The Glass Bridge – Yuntiandu Glass Bridge
The famous Yuntiandu Glass Bridge, whose name literally means “crossing among the clouds”, is a suspension bridge 430 metres long and approximately 6 metres wide, built around 300 metres above the bottom of the canyon. Opened in 2016, it quickly became one of Zhangjiajie’s most iconic landmarks and, at the time of its opening, was the world’s longest and highest pedestrian bridge with a glass floor.
In 2018, the bridge also received the Arthur Haydn Award at the 35th edition of the International Bridge Conference, one of the most prestigious international awards in the field of bridge engineering. The award is commonly referred to as the “Nobel Prize of bridges”, and Yuntiandu was recognised for its innovative character and the originality of its integration of architecture, engineering and landscape.
Via Ferrata, Bungee Jumping and Rock Climbing
For the bravest visitors, right before and on the bridge itself, there are two highly adrenaline-filled experiences to try… in case walking across the glass isn’t thrilling enough.
The first is a via ferrata, featuring an ascent of approximately 360 metres and a descent of around 356 metres. The route makes full use of the canyon’s imposing rock formations, allowing adventure lovers to conquer the sheer cliff faces and experience the unique sensation of being suspended above the precipice. The route is equipped with steel cables, footholds and supports fixed directly to the rock, and does not require professional climbing experience.
If you are interested in adventurous trekking, you can watch our episode on Baoshan Stone Village, where we take on a truly spectacular hike. You can also check out the trekking section dedicated to Nanshan, which we filmed in Chongqing.
The second — reserved for the bravest of the brave — is bungee jumping from the platform located beneath the bridge, which you can catch a glimpse of as you cross it. It involves a jump into the void from around 260 metres above the bottom of the canyon, directly from the platform suspended beneath the bridge. It is one of the highest commercial bungee jumps in the world: the jump itself lasts only a few seconds, but the free fall is more than enough to deliver an adrenaline rush that is difficult to forget.
On the other side of the bridge, the adventure continues with the opportunity to try rock climbing on a dedicated wall approximately 15 metres high, with several routes of varying difficulty. The activity is supervised by specialised staff, and safety equipment is provided on site.
Virtual Reality, Zip Line, Glass Slides and Elevators
As you continue along the walkway, you will reach a platform where you will have to make a crucial decision! Take the scenic route, or choose the adventurous one.
But while you make up your mind, you can take some time to try a virtual reality experience: through an immersive 3D experience, you can simulate a 360° hot-air balloon flight over the Grand Canyon, virtually flying over the Glass Bridge and the surrounding mountains.
And if you want to experience virtual reality without the need for sensors or headsets of any kind… you can read our article on Chongqing, the magical 8D city of China.
The time has finally come to choose how to reach the canyon! In fact, there are two possible directions within Line B: if you want to proceed in the most adventurous way possible, then a breathtaking zip line awaits you. This high-altitude zip line is approximately 358 metres long, with a vertical drop of around 302 metres: for a few minutes, you will cross the canyon suspended above the void. Will you manage to keep your eyes open? Our guest, Nicla, tried the way of the brave!
Alternatively, you can opt for a comfortable descent by panoramic elevator. This is the first of three elevators that can progressively take you down towards the canyon: the Sightseeing Elevator, the Treasure Hunt Elevator and the Sculpture Elevator. The three elevators allow you to gradually overcome the difference in elevation between the upper part of the route and the lower part of the canyon, avoiding the long descent on foot. If you prefer to avoid the adrenaline rushes (or you have already had enough along the way), this is the right choice.
Alternatively, both after the zip line and after the second elevator, you can try two truly fun glass slides. More precisely, after exiting the Treasure Hunt Elevator — if you decide not to continue with the Sculpture Elevator — you can slide down the King Wu’s Slope Slide. At the end of the zip line, meanwhile, you can take the exhilarating A Strip of Sky Slide, another slide that allows you to quickly reach the section leading towards the bottom of the canyon.
Rainbow Lake and Shenquan Lake
At this point, the adrenaline-filled experiences are over — but your exploration of the Grand Canyon is about to reach its most scenic point. You have now arrived at Rainbow Lake, where you can board a boat from the pier that will take you through jade-coloured waters to the beginning of a beautiful scenic walk.
To be honest, this boat ride is very short, covering only a few hundred metres that can alternatively be walked. It is nevertheless a pleasant and relaxing experience before the hike.
The walk will take you along the river for approximately 3 km, surrounded by lush vegetation. Along the way, you will encounter rocky cliffs, streams, waterfalls and some particularly scenic sections of the canyon.
One of the most interesting spots you will encounter along the route is the Bandits’ Cave, a large karst cave that was used in the past as a shelter and outpost by groups of bandits. Its position, hidden among the rocky walls and naturally easy to defend, made it a strategic refuge.
Once you have completed this relaxing walk, you can board the boat that will take you to Shenquan Lake and the exit of the canyon, heading back towards the same Tourist Center from which you began your exploration.
In the typical style of Chinese “attractions”, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon offers a very well-organised scenic area that combines natural discovery and adventure within a safe and reliable environment.
Compared with Zhangjiajie’s other natural areas, based on the Ink Voyages team’s own experience, the Grand Canyon is perhaps the least visited, but in our opinion it remains an excellent opportunity to have fun amidst spectacular scenery.
As a recap, we also share here below a table with the detailed costs for this scenic area:
| Tour Activity | Regular Ticket Price | Normal Discounted Ticket Price | Special Discounted Ticket Price | Package Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | ¥91 | ¥50 | ¥25 | — |
| Glass Sky Walk | ¥125 | ¥125 | ¥63 | — |
| Grand Canyon & Glass Sky Walk | ¥216 | ¥175 | ¥88 | — |
| Sightseeing Elevator | ¥30 | ¥30 | ¥15 | Free Tour Items |
| Sculpture Elevator | ¥20 | ¥20 | ¥10 | — |
| Treasure Hunt Elevator | ¥30 | ¥30 | ¥15 | ¥120 |
| MR Flying Cinema | ¥50 | ¥50 | — | — |
| Zip Line | ¥50 | ¥50 | — | — |
| Hillside King Wu Slide Way | ¥30 | ¥30 | — | — |
| Sky Strip Slide Way | ¥50 | ¥50 | — | — |
| Rainbow Lake Cruise (round trip) | ¥20 | ¥20 | — | — |
| Rock Climbing – Manual Protection | ¥48 | ¥48 | — | — |
| Railway Climbing (Via Ferrata) – Railway Climbing | ¥138 | ¥138 | — | — |
| Railway Climbing (Via Ferrata) – Down Path | ¥138 | ¥138 | — | — |
| 260M Bungee on Glass Bridge | ¥2,998 | ¥1,998 | ¥998* / ¥1,500** | — |
And now all that remains is to set off: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon awaits! And if you also want to visit the famous Avatar Mountains, you can read the article we dedicated to Wulingyuan here.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you are planning your next trip to China. For inspiration, in the meantime, you can take a look at our catalogue of private journeys.
Leave a Reply