China Part 2: Zhangjiajie — The Real-Life Avatar Mountains

Jun 2
9 min read

This is Part 2 of our 22-day China adventure: Zhangjiajie (8th-12th October).

After recovering from salmonella poisoning in Chongqing, we were ready for what I'd been looking forward to most: the Avatar mountains!

If you've seen Avatar and found yourself wondering where on earth James Cameron dreamed up those floating Hallelujah Mountains, the answer is right here. The towering sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie are widely credited as the real-life inspiration for the film, and once you're standing among them it's impossible to argue otherwise. In 2010, one of the peaks was even officially renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" in honour of the connection. Seeing these formations in person feels less like visiting a place and more like stepping inside a film set, except no CGI artist could ever do them justice.

Zhangjiajie (8th-12th October): The Real-Life Avatar Mountains

After an unforgettable time in Chongqing, we flew to Zhangjiajie and took a bus to our next stay: YOLO Resort, nestled within the national park!

This was our home for the next four nights (a rare opportunity, as many visitors only spend a day here). The accommodation was surrounded by lush tea fields, with an outdoor canopy area perfect for watching the sunsets paint the sky behind the towering sandstone peaks!

And the best part? There were two puppies and two cats at the resort that we absolutely loved and played with! They became our daily companions, greeting us every morning and evening. Pure joy!

In Zhangjiajie we learnt something new about China that absolutely blew our minds: Your ticket to get in is your FACE!

Yep! You scan your face at the entrance. The system already knows you've booked because you have to give your passport details when purchasing tickets. You just walk up, look at the camera, and BAM! You're in! Whether thats attractions, amusement parks, airport or even vending machines.

This facial recognition technology is everywhere in China! We even found vending machines where you just scan your face, choose your item, and it takes payment directly from your bank details. No card, no phone, no cash. Just your face!

The Chinese know EVERYTHING!

Day One (9th October): A Hike Through the Floating Mountains & First Drone Flight

With cameras in hand, we set off to explore the first section of Zhangjiajie National Park!

It was surreal to finally stand among the very landscapes that inspired the floating mountains of Avatar! The towering quartz-sandstone pillars, some stretching over 1,000 metres high, were shrouded in mist, making it easy to see why they sparked James Cameron's imagination.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park became China's first national forest park in 1982 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992! The park covers over 11,900 acres and is home to over 3,000 sandstone pillars!

Determined to capture the best views, we followed our map (and questionable instincts!), taking the long way around. Hundreds of steps later (legs burning, sweat dripping), we found ourselves at breathtaking viewpoints, each more awe-inspiring than the last. The scale of this place is impossible to truly capture in a single frame!

This was also the first time I built up the confidence to fly my drone since we'd started travelling!

I'd been nervous about flying in a foreign country (uncertain about the regulations, the risk of crashing into a remote location, or attracting too much attention). But standing on the edge of these towering cliffs, I knew I couldn't pass up the chance to see this landscape from the air.

The moment I lifted off, the nerves faded. As the drone soared between the jagged peaks, the perspective was unlike anything I had ever shot before! Watching the mist swirl through the mountains, revealing hidden valleys and rock formations unreachable by foot, was absolutely worth it. Seeing this world from above gave me a whole new appreciation for its scale and beauty!

Day Two (10th October): 40,000+ Steps & Monkey Encounters

Our second day started with a moment that genuinely made us feel uncomfortable at first, and then completely humbled us. Some older local men offered to carry us up a steep section of the mountain in traditional bamboo sedan chairs. The chair itself is exactly what it sounds like: two long bamboo poles with a seat fixed between them, lifted by two men at either end. We hesitated. These weren't young lads, these were older men, and the idea of being carried up a mountain by them felt wrong. We tried to decline, but they insisted with a pride that made it clear this wasn't charity, this was their trade, their craft, and they were very good at it. The sedan chair tradition in China dates back around 4,000 years, and it became a proper way of getting around during the Song Dynasty. For mountain areas like Zhangjiajie, it's been a livelihood for generations of local men. So we got in. And my goodness, watching them navigate that steep incline without breaking stride, barely even flinching under our weight, was genuinely one of the most impressive things I've ever witnessed. Not young. Absolutely indestructible. Using this service isn't something to feel guilty about either, it directly supports local families and keeps a centuries-old tradition alive. Tip well. Trust me!

As we reached new heights, the scenery only became more dramatic. We took a cable car, floating above the endless peaks, feeling weightless as the world stretched out below us.

The real adventure, however, began on the trails!

And when I say trails, I mean 40,000+ steps of pure madness! Not flat walks either. Up and down stairs, sometimes no path at all, downhill scrambles, uphill climbs that left our legs screaming. We were sweating, panting, having to stop every 10 minutes just to catch our breath!

But here's the thing: every viewpoint we found around a corner took our breath away MORE than the walking did! Each turn revealed something more spectacular than the last. The exhaustion was worth it. Every. Single. Step!

As we made our way along the trails, one thing we kept noticing was the red ribbons tied to almost every tree lining the paths. At first glance it looked decorative, but there's a beautiful meaning behind it. In Chinese culture, red symbolises good luck and joy, and each ribbon represents a wish, written on the ribbon and tied to a tree in the hope it will come true. The tradition is rooted in Taoist and Buddhist beliefs, and the higher you tie your ribbon, the more happiness it's said to bring you. Walking through thousands of other people's hopes and dreams tied to the trees around you? That hit differently!

Zhangjiajie is home to a thriving population of wild macaques, and they have absolutely NO fear of tourists! Camera in hand, I watched as they leaped from trees, playfully chased each other, and (unsurprisingly) eyed up our snacks. It was a balancing act (capturing close-up shots while ensuring my gear didn't become their latest treasure!).

Day Three (11th October): Confidence, Chaos & a Very Beepy Drone

I'd been flying my drone all day and, honestly, I was feeling confident about it. Weaving my DJI drone between the towering sandstone pillars, capturing footage I could only have dreamed of, it was one of those sessions where everything just flows. So naturally, I pushed my luck.

I spotted a temple and decided to orbit it for a sweeping cinematic shot. I checked my height, checked my distance, everything looked good on screen. I started the orbit, eyes glued to the controller, absolutely buzzing about the footage coming through, and then the screen went haywire. The feed cut. The drone was falling.

It had clipped a tree. One of those ones that's just slightly taller than everything around it, invisible until it's too late. And here's the thing about my DJI drone, it has obstacle detection on the front and back, but absolutely nothing on the sides. Orbiting puts you at exactly the angle where it's completely blind. Completely my fault. Completely avoidable in hindsight!

It hit the ground somewhere up in the mountains and wouldn't respond to take-off commands. I was full blown panicking. Not even two months into a four-month trip and I'd destroyed my drone. Darkon, bless him, was the calm to my chaos. He talked me down and reminded me about the GPS function, where the drone sends its location signal and you can trigger it to beep so you can find it. We spent a good ten minutes up in the mountains, ears straining, hunting for a faint beeping sound behind buildings and through trees, away from the crowds.

And then we heard it.

Two broken propellers. That's it. In China, finding a replacement for DJI parts is about as hard as finding a dumpling, they're everywhere. Within no time I had replacements sorted and the drone was back in action. I thanked my lucky stars, I thanked Darkon, and then I took a very long deep breath. Aaaaaand relax. (I do have the footage of the crash, by the way. Every glorious, gut-wrenching second of it!)

Day Four (11th October): The World's Tallest Elevator & KFC at the Summit!

One of Zhangjiajie's most famous landmarks is the Bailong Elevator, a glass lift built into the side of a cliff!

At 326 metres high, it's the tallest outdoor elevator in the world! Stepping inside was a test of nerves. As someone with a mild fear of elevators (the thought of getting stuck is always there!), this was a thrilling yet slightly nerve-wracking experience.

But as we shot upwards, the view was worth it! A sheer drop revealing layers upon layers of misty peaks.

At the top, we expected more jaw-dropping scenery, but what we didn't expect was a KFC!

Perched absurdly high up in the mountains, it was the first fast food chain we'd seen in weeks! Somehow, standing at what felt like the top of the world, we found ourselves eating fried chicken. Proof that no matter how remote you go, KFC will always find a way!

That evening, we returned to our accommodation to watch the sunset behind the mountains, cameras in hand, capturing the golden glow as it faded into the horizon.

Day Four (12th October): Tianmen Mountain & The Never-Ending Escalators

For our final day, we visited Tianmen Mountain, home to the longest cable car ride in the world!

Stretching 7,455 metres (over 7.4km) and taking around 30 minutes, this cable car ascends from the city and winds through cliffs, valleys, and mist-covered peaks. Suspended high above the landscape, it was a journey in itself! Each turn revealed a new dramatic view, making it impossible to put my camera down.

At the top, we explored the walkways clinging to the cliffside, where glass-bottomed sections allowed us to peer straight down the sheer drop below. It was both thrilling and slightly unsettling but offered an incredible perspective of the landscape!

To reach the famous Heaven's Gate (a naturally formed archway in the mountain), we had to take what felt like endless escalators!

And when I say endless, I mean it! This system of over 7 escalators winds its way through the mountain before finally opening up to a staircase leading to the arch. We opted to walk down, which seemed like a great idea at first... until we saw people struggling, legs shaking from exhaustion!

As night fell, we stayed for the light display projected onto the cliffs. A mesmerizing end to an adventure filled with unreal landscapes and unforgettable moments!

Back at our accommodation, exhausted but content, we packed up for our next journey, already excited for whatever lay ahead.

Final Thoughts on Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie is a photographer's dream! A place where every turn offers a new perspective, where mist and light create an ever-changing canvas. From the thrill of flying my drone through the peaks to the unexpected moments with locals and wildlife, this was a place that challenged me both physically and creatively.

If you ever get the chance to visit, don't just spend a day. Immerse yourself in the landscape, and you might just feel like you've stepped into another world!

A Photographer's Reflection: Zhangjiajie

The 40,000+ steps, the sweat, the exhaustion, it was all worth it! Every viewpoint took our breath away more than the walking did.

And the puppies and cats at our accommodation? Pure joy!

If you ever get the chance to visit, don't just spend a day. Immerse yourself in the landscape, and you might just feel like you've stepped into another world!