Our visit to Zhangjiajie National Park, home to the Avatar Mountains, was unforgettable. We had heard that it was more than worth the 23 hour train trip from Beijing, but we never expected it to be as beautiful as it was. Despite the fog, rain, and humidity, we were able to see all the places on our list. Our adventurous natures avoided the cable cars and outdoor elevator, so we ended up hiking around 13,000 stairs in all. Even though it seemed miserable at the time, in retrospect I wouldn’t do it any other way. We saw hundreds of monkeys, incredible views, and lost ourselves in the towering jungle and mountains. Leif and I decided it was our absolute favorite place we visited in China…and that’s saying something.

If you have any questions or want advice on visiting Zhangjiajie, feel free to contact me. I’m happy to send you my “How-To: Zhangjiajie”.