South Gate — Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

The South Gate is the Forest Park gate, with the start of Golden Whip Stream right at the entrance. The stream runs about 7.5 km to Shuiraosimen, flat with almost no climbing, taking about 2–3 hours — good for hikers and for the “Golden Whip Stream → Yuanjiajie → Tianzishan” loop. Direct city–scenic buses run from Zhangjiajie West Station in about 30–50 minutes. Private cars park outside the gate and switch to the park shuttle.

The South Gate is the Forest Park gate. From Zhangjiajie West Station there is a direct city–scenic bus that runs to the South Gate in about 30–50 minutes — one of the few gates of the five that a scheduled bus reaches directly. By car, leave the expressway at the Zhangjiajie West toll gate and follow the signs into the Forest Park area; there is a car park at the gate.\nGolden Whip Stream starts just inside the South Gate — a few steps in and you are down at the water. The stream runs about 7.5 km all the way to Shuiraosimen, flat with almost no climbing, usually taking 2–3 hours, with the water and the peak forest alongside the whole way. It is the easiest stretch of walking of the five entrances.\nAt Shuiraosimen you decide where to go next: change to the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie, or take the park shuttle to Tianzishan, linking “Golden Whip Stream – Yuanjiajie – Tianzishan” into a loop so you barely double back in a day. Shuttle buses link the areas inside the park, while cableways and the Bailong Elevator are auxiliary transport and ticketed separately from park admission — budget for both.\nRegular K/T/Z trains stop at Zhangjiajie Station, right next to the Central Bus Station, with frequent departures to the gates and no fixed timetable to wait for. Children aged 13 and under travel free, including in-park transport tickets, which makes a gentle route like Golden Whip Stream the lightest option with kids. Private cars cannot enter the park — park outside the gate and switch to the park shuttle. If you want to spend half a day walking, the South Gate is the most direct start; there is no need to bus to another gate and come back.