When the "single-ticket system" takes effect
On December 1, 2023, Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park) held a signing ceremony for the "single-ticket system." According to the signed agreement, starting from December 21, 2023, Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park) implements the "single-ticket system," providing domestic and overseas visitors with a more convenient and comfortable tourism consumption environment.
For visitors, the most direct change is this: in the past, going up and down the mountain required buying separate tickets for cableways, elevators and other transport; now, according to their own itinerary, visitors can choose a "ticket + transport" combination in one go, making fewer trips to the windows and standing in one less queue.
What the "single-ticket system" includes
The "single-ticket system" is made up of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area admission ticket (including the shuttle bus) combined with tickets for the four major transport options known as the "three cableways and one elevator" (Tianzi Mountain Cableway, Huangshizhai Cableway, Yangjiajie Cableway, Bailong Elevator). It should be noted that, while retaining the existing mechanism for buying each ticket separately, the policy adds three combination ticket types, allowing visitors to choose for themselves according to their touring itinerary and spend reasonably.
In other words, the option of buying the admission ticket separately and the cableway and elevator tickets separately is still retained; the combination tickets are simply one more choice, not a mandatory package.
How to choose among the three combination ticket types
- Full-journey combined ticket: Wulingyuan Scenic Area (including shuttle bus) + "three cableways and one elevator"; within four days you may enter and exit the scenic area and choose any of the transport options at will; total price 518 yuan, saving 50 yuan compared with buying separately.
- "Three cableways and one elevator" four-ride combined ticket: within four days you may choose any four single rides on the "three cableways and one elevator"; total price 238 yuan, saving 40 yuan compared with buying separately.
- "Three cableways and one elevator" multi-ride combined ticket: within four days you may choose unlimited rides on the "three cableways and one elevator"; total price 298 yuan, saving at least 45 yuan compared with buying separately.
To put it simply: if your itinerary is tight and you only go up and down the mountain once or twice, look at the four-ride combined ticket; if you plan to walk several areas in depth and repeatedly transfer between cableways and the elevator, look at the multi-ride combined ticket; if you want to settle both the admission ticket and transport in one go, look at the full-journey combined ticket. All three tickets use a four-day period, matching the multi-day validity rhythm of the scenic area admission ticket.
Why the "single-ticket system" is being introduced
Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park) is a mountain-type scenic area, with long routes and a wide expanse, and many internal transport options belonging to different companies. In the past, visitors entering the scenic area had to buy cableway, elevator and other transport tickets again when going up and down the mountain, which increased personal time costs and affected the touring experience.
After the "single-ticket system" is implemented, ticket sales by the different operating entities throughout the scenic area are resource-integrated, reducing each company's own operating costs, avoiding disorderly market competition, and bringing everyone together to jointly develop the market and improve service quality.
To truly let the "single-ticket system" deliver greater market benefits, brand benefits and service benefits, the Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area and National Forest Park Administration took the lead in establishing a joint management and operations center, focusing on the promotional theme "Zhangjiajie landforms — three thousand wondrous peaks unrivaled under heaven," with government and enterprises joining forces to strengthen the brand and expand the market, and guiding the optimization and upgrading of the ticket sales systems for each transport option. At the same time, service excellence competitions are continuously carried out, "iron-fisted tourism governance" is deepened, management levels and window service quality in the scenic area are constantly improved, visitors' experience and satisfaction are effectively enhanced, and the high-quality development of cultural tourism in Zhangjiajie and the building of a world-class tourism destination are effectively advanced.
Practical tips
- The scenic area operates a real-name reservation system by time slot and station; each entry during the four-day ticket period requires an advance reservation and entry on time, so book your time slot before setting out.
- For first-time visitors and those bringing elderly people or children, entering through the East Gate (Wulingyuan Landmark Gate) is recommended; just outside the gate is Wulingyuan town, convenient for dining, lodging and transfers; if you want to hike Jinbian Stream, choose the South Gate.
- The combination tickets are designed on a four-day cycle; if your itinerary is only one day, first work out how many times you will ride the cableways and elevator, then decide between the four-ride and multi-ride tickets — there is no need to blindly go for the fullest option.
- Inside the park, shuttle buses link the various areas, with cableways and the Bailong Elevator as auxiliary transport; passenger flow at transfer points concentrates in the first hour or two after opening, so try to enter the park early.
- Private cars cannot be driven into the scenic area and must be parked in the car park outside the ticket gate; transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus to enter.
Current operating standard
From January 1, 2025, the Wulingyuan core scenic area cancels the peak and off-peak difference, with a uniform admission ticket of 165 yuan per person, valid for 4 consecutive days. Transport within the scenic area (shuttle bus, etc.) is 71 yuan, and personal accident insurance is 3 yuan, totaling 239 yuan for the three items. This site treats the 3 yuan insurance as complimentary, so visitors actually pay 236 yuan. It should be noted that 165 yuan is only the price of the admission ticket itself and does not include scenic area transport and insurance, so there is no need to be puzzled on seeing the three figures 165, 236 and 239 — they refer to different scopes.