When the off-season ticket prices take effect
From December 1, 2020, Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area implements off-season ticket prices. The combined ticket price is adjusted from 224 yuan/person in peak season to 144 yuan/person in off-season (including the scenic area shuttle bus), and after purchase visitors can enter the scenic area for four consecutive days.
The off-season ticket prices apply from: December 1, 2020 — February 28, 2021. That is to say, the entire winter across the year-end follows the off-season standard, including the New Year's Day and Spring Festival holidays.
How the core scenic area ticket prices are calculated
Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park), including the scenic area shuttle bus, excluding the various cableways, elevators, sightseeing trams and other transport within the scenic area. Cableways, elevators and sightseeing trams require separate tickets purchased inside the park.
- Peak season full-price combined ticket for scenic area and shuttle bus (March to November each year): 224 yuan/ticket, 3 yuan insurance purchased voluntarily; peak season discounted combined ticket for scenic area and shuttle bus 113 yuan/ticket, 3 yuan insurance purchased voluntarily.
- Off-season full-price combined ticket for scenic area and shuttle bus (December each year to February of the following year): 144 yuan/ticket, 3 yuan insurance purchased voluntarily; off-season discounted combined ticket for scenic area and shuttle bus 72 yuan/ticket, 3 yuan insurance purchased voluntarily.
- Annual pass price 298 yuan/year, 3 yuan insurance purchased voluntarily, the annual pass includes the shuttle bus.
For visitors, the most direct change is the lower cost of entering the mountains in winter: the full-price combined ticket drops from 224 yuan to 144 yuan, and the discounted combined ticket drops from 113 yuan to 72 yuan, while the four-day validity rule remains unchanged. The 3 yuan insurance is purchased voluntarily and is not mandatory.
Price breakdown and policy basis
According to the Hunan Provincial Development and Reform Commission's "Notice on Matters Related to Ticket Prices of Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area" (Xiang Fa Gai Jia Fei Gui [2020] No. 722) document, from November 1, 2020, the ticket prices of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area are broken down as follows:
- Admission ticket peak season (March to November each year) 165 yuan/person, off-season (December each year to February of the following year) 84 yuan/person, shuttle bus fare 60 yuan/person, the shuttle bus fare does not differ between peak and off-season, and the admission ticket and shuttle bus are valid for four consecutive days.
- Price discounts are offered to visitors purchasing group tickets through travel agencies or buying tickets online in advance.
- The single admission ticket of Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area is free for children under 14 years old (not including 14 years old), seniors aged 65 and above (including 65 years old), people with disabilities, active-duty military personnel, and retired military cadres, upon presentation of valid identification; a half-price discount is offered to minors aged 14 (including 14 years old) to 18 (not including 18 years old), seniors aged 60 (including 60 years old) to 65 (not including 65 years old), and full-time undergraduate students and below upon presentation of valid identification; the shuttle bus within the scenic area is free for children under 1.2 meters who do not occupy a seat, and a half-price discount applies to other ticket discount recipients.
- The scenic area may carry out discount promotions in the form of annual passes, all-inclusive tickets and combined tickets, and the promotional prices shall be lower than the sum of the various ticket prices; the shuttle bus may, on the basis of being sold separately, be promoted together with the core scenic area admission ticket through annual passes, all-inclusive tickets and combined tickets, and the promotional prices shall be lower than the sum of the two ticket prices.
- This policy is implemented strictly in accordance with the Hunan Provincial Development and Reform Commission's "Notice on Matters Related to Ticket Prices of Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area" (Xiang Fa Gai Jia Fei Gui [2020] No. 722) document.
Understanding the breakdown is key: the admission ticket and the shuttle bus are two separate prices, and the combined ticket sells the two together. So when you see the numbers 165, 84, 60, 144 and 224, first clarify whether they refer to the single admission ticket, the shuttle bus, or the combined ticket.
Practical tips
- The scenic area implements time-slotted, station-by-station real-name reservations; every entry within the four-day period requires an advance reservation and entry on time, so book your entry time slot before you travel.
- For first-time visitors and those bringing elderly people or children, the East Gate (Wulingyuan Landmark Gate) is recommended; just outside the gate is Wulingyuan town, convenient for dining, accommodation and transfers; if you want to hike Jinbian Stream, choose the South Gate.
- Within the park, shuttle buses link the various zones, while the Bailong Elevator, Tianzi Mountain Cableway and others are auxiliary transport requiring separate tickets; try to arrange your itinerary to "go up by elevator, come down by cableway" to avoid backtracking.
- In winter the mountain top is cold and the trails may be icy, so bring non-slip shoes and a jacket; cableways and elevators may be temporarily suspended due to strong winds or ice, subject to the scenic area's announcements.
- Private cars cannot be driven into the scenic area and must be parked in the car park outside the ticket station, then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus to enter.
Current standards in effect
From January 1, 2025, Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area cancels the peak and off-season distinction, with a unified admission ticket of 165 yuan/person, valid for 4 consecutive days. Transport within the scenic area (shuttle bus, etc.) is 71 yuan, personal accident insurance 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: 165 yuan is only the price of the admission ticket itself, excluding scenic area transport and insurance, so there is no need to be puzzled by the three numbers 165, 236 and 239 — they refer to different scopes.