Wuhan in Hubei Province is located 533 kilometers (or 331 miles) from Zhangjiajie, and Yichang, also in Hubei and located just to the east of Wuhan, is a little closer at 380 kilometers (or 236 miles).
How to get to Zhangjiajie from Wuhan by train
The Yangtze River Bridge in WuhanThere is a daily direct bullet train from Wuhan to Zhangjiajie, which goes from Wuchang Railway Station into Zhangjiajie West Railway Station. It leaves at 15:28 and arrives in Zhangjiajie at 20:20, taking around 5 hours.
You can use the China Highlights train ticket service to instantly check ticket prices per seat category, or to find out the latest availability. Tickets for this journey by train start from approximately 70 USD.
If you are unable to secure a ticket for the bullet train, you can try to take the fast train Z295 departing Wuchang Railway Station at 22:27 and arrives at Zhangjiajie West Railway Station at 05:15. The journey takes about 7 hours. The ticket cost starts from approximately 20 USD.
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How to get to Zhangjiajie from Wuhan by bus
Zhangjiajie National Forest ParkA bus departs daily from Wuhan Hongji Bus Station at 08:50 bound for Zhangjiajie Bus Station. The driving distance is around 550km. The journey typically lasts about 7 hours, costing approximately CNY200 (≈USD30).
Tickets can be purchased directly at the bus station. It is recommended that you book your ticket at least one day in advance to secure your seat.
How to get to Zhangjiajie from Yichang by train or bus
The Three Gorges Dam is usually the last stop on a Yangtze cruise before Yichang.There is no train from Yichang to Zhangjiajie. You are suggested to make a transit in Wuhan.
From Yichang to Wuhan, the trains take about 2.5 hours with frequent departures every half an hour. The train arrives at either Wuhan Railway Station or Hankou Railway Station.
The bullet train from Wuhan to Zhangjiajie departs from Wuhan Railway Station at 15:28. When booking the train from Yichang to Wuhan, it is better to choose the train that arrives at Wuhan Railway Station before 14:00.
If you happen to arrive at Hankou Railway Station, you will need to take a taxi to Wuhan Railway Station. The journey takes around 1 hour.
If you do not want to deal with the hassle of train transfers, you can choose to take the bus from Yichang to Zhangjiajie. There is a daily bus that departs from Yichang Bus Station at 09:30 to Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station. The bus ride takes about 6 hours and costs around CNY 150 (approximately 20 USD).
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How to get to Zhangjiajie from Wuhan/Yichang by air
Because the cities are relatively close, there are no direct flights. Taking flight is not recommended because it takes a long time, and there is a lot more chance for a delay compared to taking the train.
Zhangjiajie Travel Tips
Hallelujah Mountain, named after the floating outcrops of Pandora, is usually the most crowded spot in Zhangjiajie.The best time to go to both Zhangjiajie and Wuhan/Yichang is when there are no public holidays in China, as it gets really busy, and when the weather is best.
Between September and early November, the weather is comfortable. You can also go between April and June if you don't mind humidity and the occasional rain, but beware that Wuhan is extremely hot in the summer.
Chinese public holidays will lead to more expensive accommodation and flights (and sold out flights and trains), these times are:
- China's summer holiday season (July and August)
- Labor Day (May 1–3)
- National Day (October 1–7)
- Spring Festival (late January or early to mid February)
We recommend you get to the airport at least 2½ hours before departure, and 3 during peak times. There can be really long check-in and security lines during holidays and weekends.
We recommend getting to the train station at least 1 hour being departure, 1½ hours during peak times or to be safe, 2 hours if you still need to collect your ticket.
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Touring Zhangjiajie and Wuhan/Yichang
Wuhan's stunning Yellow Crane TowerWe can create your ideal journey including Wuhan or Yichang, a Yangtze cruise, and Zhangjiajie.
Zhangjiajie is really a once-in-a-lifetime destination. We've got plenty of Zhangjiajie tours depending on how much time you have and how active you want to be. We can take you around for four full days to explore everything these gorgeous mountains have to offer, or take you on a one-day tour of the glass bridge and Baofeng lake.
If you are also interested in cities like Yichang and Wuhan on the Yangtze, you may want to consider one of our Yangtze cruise tours, which can be extended to Zhangjiajie.
Recommended Zhangjiajie Extended Tours:
- Beijing – Xi'an – Zhangjiajie – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai
- Essence of Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie Tour
- Beijing – Xi'an – Zhangjiajie – Yangtze River – Shanghai
And of course, tours can be tailored to your needs. For a tailor-made itinerary, please contact us here.