China's Real Avatar Mountains

Travel Onion · 1:54

In Hunan, China, more than 3,000 sandstone pillars rise straight out of the mist — and they inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar (the park even renamed one pillar "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" in 2010). They were carved not by volcanoes but by millions of years of water. Among them: a glass elevator climbing 326m up a cliff (the tallest outdoor lift on Earth), a 430m glass bridge 300m above a canyon, and Heaven's Gate — a natural arch reached by 999 steps. Save this for your list. Follow for more places worth the trip. 📍 PLAN YOUR VISIT — ZHANGJIAJIE ✈️ Getting there: fly or high-speed rail to Zhangjiajie (DYG) → ~40 min to the forest park 📅 Best time: spring (Apr–Jun) or autumn (Sep–Nov); early morning after rain for the floating mist 🎯 Don't miss: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park / Yuanjiajie (the Avatar pillars + Bailong glass elevator) · the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge · Tianmen Mountain's Heaven's Gate