A Dream Come True: Zhangjiajie Day 2 at Avatar Hallelujah Mountain

The alarm clock came way too early on our second day, but a delicious buffet breakfast at our hotel made it a little easier to wake up. We knew we had a long and exciting day ahead of us, and the food was a perfect start. After breakfast, we boarded our bus and began an almost two-hour journey to our first stop.

 

• Jump to: Boat Ride • Quick Stop • Avatar Hallelujah Mountain • Bailong Elevator • Trails & Calm

An Optional Journey Through the Water

Upon arrival, we were presented with an optional tour. A 30-minute boat ride on a serene lake to see incredible rock formations. The tour had an additional fee, and while it wasn’t for everyone, as a nature lover, I knew I had to go. It was one of the best decisions I made all day. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. As we glided across the water, we passed by local fishermen in small boats, and I even saw a bird dive into the water to catch a fish—a truly amazing sight! At one point, we passed by some locals who were singing, and it made the whole experience feel even more special and magical.

 

A Quick Stop Before the Main Event

Before heading to the day’s main highlight, our tour itinerary included a stop at a latex shop. We’ve had some bad experiences with these kinds of “showcase” stops on past tours, where we were pressured to buy things. But as I’ve mentioned before (Zhangjiajie & Changsha: A Quick Teaser), our guide Francis was different. We weren’t forced to buy anything and were able to move on quickly without any hassle.

Entering a Living Painting: Avatar Hallelujah Mountain

At around 2:00 PM, the moment we had all been waiting for arrived. We were finally headed to the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain—the real-life inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The sheer scale of what the Chinese have built to make this place accessible is mind-blowing.

Riding the Bailong Elevator

When we got off the elevator, I thought we had reached the main attraction. But little did I know, the best was still to come! We hopped on another bus and rode for another 10 minutes, climbing even higher up the mountain. We followed a walking trail, and at the very end, an incredible view opened up before us. It was exactly like the photos and movies I had seen—a landscape of towering, pillar-like mountains jutting out of a misty forest. The view was so spectacular it felt unreal, and I had to stop and just take it all in.

Trails, Views, and a Moment of Calm

We spent almost three hours simply walking, taking pictures, and breathing in the atmosphere. The air felt so clean, and the views were so calming that I took some time to do a quick meditation and some breathwork. Standing in a place that felt straight out of a fantasy, surrounded by such immense beauty, all the stress from my everyday life seemed to just melt away. It was only my second day, but I already felt like I never wanted to go home.