Private Day Tour to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie 72 Wonders Building, also known as Zhangjiajie 72 Strange Building, is the world’s tallest stilted building and a new cultural landmark of Zhangjiajie. Blending time-honored Tujia and Miao ethnic craftsmanship with cutting-edge light and shadow technology, this urban attraction is renowned for its magnificent night views and vivid cultural performances, making it an unmissable stop for Zhangjiajie night tours. This 2026 ultimate guide covers all travel essentials: basic information, unmissable attractions, dazzling night shows, tailored itineraries, professional photography tips and practical travel precautions, helping you unlock the full charm of this “Potala Palace of the Tujia People”.
Overview
Zhangjiajie 72 Wonders Building (72 Qilou), a Guinness World Record holder for the world’s tallest stilted building (109.9 meters), is an iconic cultural landmark at No.1 Wulingshan Avenue, Yongding District of Zhangjiajie. Far more than an architectural marvel, it fuses authentic Tujia stilted building craftsmanship with modern 7D holographic technology, standing as a living museum of western Hunan ethnic culture, a paradise for local food lovers and a magical night-view wonderland.
The name “72 Wonders” derives from the ancient local legend of “72 Strange Buildings with 9 bows and 18 villages”, symbolizing countless magical landscapes in Chinese culture. With 36 stacked wooden stilted buildings, a hollow central archway forming a unique “double cave vision” with Tianmen Cave, and thousands of LED lights, it has become an unmissable stop for every traveler exploring Zhangjiajie in 2026, where every corner tells the romantic and wild stories of western Hunan.
Basic Travel Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Exact Location | Wuling Mountain Avenue, Yongding District (340m north of Shadi Avenue Intersection), Zhangjiajie |
| Opening Hours | Off-season (Nov-Mar): 10:30-23:00; Peak season (Apr-Oct): 10:00-23:30 Best visiting time: 19:00-22:30 (all lights on, full experience) |
| Ticket Prices (2026) | Day ticket (before 16:30): ¥20/person (sightseeing only) Night ticket (after 16:30): ¥88/person (includes light show & all performances) |
| Transportation | Bus: No.7/16/17 to Huangjiage Station Taxi/Ride-hailing: ¥10-20 (urban area), ¥20-30 (from West Railway Station) Self-driving: Free parking lot available at the scenic area |
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72 Wonders Building Gallery
Attractions & Unmissable Experiences
1 Architectural Wonder: Tujia Stilted Building Complex
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The 72 Wonders Building is the pinnacle of Tujia stilted building craftsmanship, with 36 wooden stilted buildings layered against the mountain, forming a magnificent 109.9-meter "air tower". The 38-meter-high hollow central archway is the core design highlight, which forms a breathtaking "double cave vision" with Tianmen Cave on Tianmen Mountain kilometers away – a perfect fusion of human architecture and natural landscape that makes it a unique landmark of Zhangjiajie.
Authentic Tujia stilted building details - hanging balconies & carved wooden windows
Must-visit Spots in the Complex:
- Wooden Plank Roads & Glass Viewing Platforms: Walk on the winding connecting paths, with the misty Wuling Mountains below your feet. Every step is a dialogue with Tujia traditional architecture, with well-preserved hanging balconies, upturned eaves and carved windows.
- Star-Picking Platform (Top Floor): At an altitude of 1180 meters, it is the best spot to overlook Zhangjiajie's urban night lights and the starry sky of Wuling Mountains, a romantic place for making wishes.
- 7th Floor Cliff Infinity Pool: Boasts a 270° unobstructed view of the surrounding mountains, the most popular photo spot in the scenic area with a 200% photo success rate.
2 Cultural Immersion: Tujia Ethnic Experience Zones
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Every floor of the 72 Wonders Building is embedded with the essence of Tujia culture, turning simple sightseeing into a deep ethnic cultural experience. The whole complex is divided into three core cultural zones: Tian Palace Wonder Building, Smoke and Fire Old Street and 72 Strange Village, each with unique cultural and food experiences.
Core Cultural Experience Zones
- 1st Floor - Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop: Watch and experience the making of Tujia brocade "Xilankapu", Miao silver smelting and western Hunan woodblock New Year paintings (¥30-50 per experience). Exquisite handcrafted souvenirs are available for purchase.
- 3rd Floor - Tujia Hanging Pot Feast Hall: Savor authentic Tujia family-style food, with cured meat, sour radish, wild mushrooms and local vegetables cooked in a hanging pot, rich and spicy with strong western Hunan flavors (¥68 per person on average).
- Smoke and Fire Old Street: Known as the "No.1 Food Street in Western Hunan", gathering more than 100 food stalls and traditional shops. Taste local delicacies like three-pot stir-fry, roasted bean skin, Tujia rice cake and sour rice wine.
- 72 Strange Village: A living museum of Tujia folk customs, where you can visit Tujia-style courtyards, watch folk art performances and interact with local Tujia people to learn about their daily life and traditions.
3 Night Feast: 7D Light Show & Cultural Performances
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7D Holographic Panoramic Light Show
The soul of the 72 Wonders Building's night tour! At 19:30 every day, more than 36,000 RGBW LED lights light up the entire building complex, presenting 72 exquisite themed light effects with the rhythm of Tujia folk music. Dynamic scrolls of Tujia epics, myths and folk customs are projected on the building walls, making the whole stilted building look like a "breathing colorful coat" floating in the night sky.
7D Holographic Light Show - the most stunning night view of Zhangjiajie
Free Cultural Performances (18:00-22:35, for night ticket holders)
| Performance | Time | Venue | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Festive Lantern Lighting | 18:10-22:00 (multiple sessions) | Yingbin Square | Tujia girls in traditional costumes light up the building with gongs and drums |
| Tujia Crying Marriage Song & Maogusi Dance | 19:00-19:15, 20:00-20:15 | Intangible Cultural Heritage Teahouse | Authentic Tujia folk customs with tourist interaction |
| Tujia Hand-Waving Dance | 19:30-19:45, 20:30-20:45 | Culture Square | Traditional group dance of Tujia people, tourists can join in |
| Bonfire Party | 21:00-22:00 | Bonfire Square | Tujia-style disco with folk songs & modern electronic music |
Note: The "Mysterious Xiangxi" stage play in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Teahouse requires a minimum tea consumption of ¥28 per person for entry.
Recommended Itineraries
1 Classic Route (3-4 Hours) - Casual Travelers
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Route: Main Entrance → Tian Palace Wonder Building (Main Tower & Glass Platform) → Smoke and Fire Old Street (Food & Souvenirs) → Bonfire Square (Bonfire Party & Hand-Waving Dance) → Star-Picking Platform (Night View) → Exit
Travel Features: This route focuses on the core attractions and the most popular experiences of the 72 Wonders Building, perfect for travelers with limited time or those who want a relaxed visit. It balances sightseeing, food and interactive activities, without rushing.
Key Tips: Arrive at the scenic area at 19:00 to catch the 19:30 7D light show, then go to the Smoke and Fire Old Street for snacks, and finally join the 21:00 bonfire party – the most classic night tour experience.
2 In-Depth Route (5-6 Hours) - Culture & Photography Lovers
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Route: Main Entrance → 72 Strange Village (Tujia Courtyards) → Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop (Handicraft Experience) → 7th Floor Cliff Infinity Pool (Sunset Photography) → Smoke and Fire Old Street (Dinner) → Starlight Corridor (Light Show Viewing) → Bonfire Square (Performance) → Star-Picking Platform (Starry Sky) → Exit
Travel Features: This route covers all cultural experiences, photography spots, food and performances of the scenic area, designed for culture lovers and photography enthusiasts. It allows you to fully immerse yourself in Tujia culture and capture the most beautiful moments of the 72 Wonders Building from day to night.
Key Tips: Arrive at the 7th Floor Cliff Infinity Pool 15 minutes before sunset for the best sunset photography; bring a tripod for starry sky shooting at the Star-Picking Platform; reserve 30 minutes for the intangible cultural heritage handicraft experience.
3 One-Day Combination Route (Landscape + Culture)
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This route combines Zhangjiajie's world-famous natural landscape with the ethnic cultural charm of the 72 Wonders Building, a perfect one-day itinerary for first-time visitors to Zhangjiajie.
- Morning (3-4 Hours): Visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (Glass Bridge) – admire the magnificent quartz sandstone peak forest and walk on the transparent glass bridge for a thrilling experience.
- Noon (1 Hour): Dine at Xibu Street near the canyon – taste authentic western Hunan three-pot stir-fry and Tujia sour radish (¥50 per person on average).
- Afternoon (2-3 Hours): Enter the 72 Wonders Building at 15:00 – visit the 72 Strange Village and Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop, take photos of the stilted building's architectural details in natural light.
- Evening & Night (4-5 Hours): Watch the sunset at the Cliff Infinity Pool → Enjoy the 7D light show → Dine at the Smoke and Fire Old Street → Join the bonfire party → Overlook the starry sky at the Star-Picking Platform.
Transport Tip: The distance between Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and 72 Wonders Building is about 30km, a 40-minute car ride; it is recommended to book a private car or a local tour for convenient transfer.
Photography Guide: Capture the Most Beautiful Moments
Best Photo Spots
- 7th Floor Cliff Infinity Pool: Shoot the gradient mountain scenery at 16:00 and the sunset-dyed building body in the evening; the 270° wide view is perfect for landscape and portrait photos.
- Top Floor Star-Picking Platform: The best spot for shooting the sunset and night view – 30 minutes before sunset, the pink-purple sky with the just-lit building lights creates a super romantic atmosphere.
- Starlight Corridor (Glass Corridor): Shoot the layered stilted buildings from a low angle or the "person walking in the painting" effect from a high angle; the light show reflection on the glass is a unique shooting element.
- Across the Street of the Scenic Area: The only spot to shoot the full panoramic view of the 72 Wonders Building, perfect for capturing the grandeur of the world's tallest stilted building.
- Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop: Wear Tujia traditional costumes to shoot the brocade weaving and silver smelting process – the photos are full of cultural connotations and memories.
Professional Photography Tips
- Bring small props like a paper umbrella (¥10) or bamboo hat (¥5) sold in the scenic area – they match the wooden texture of the stilted building and make photos more distinctive.
- Use a mobile fill light (warm light mode) for night shooting – avoid using a flash, which will destroy the natural light and shadow effect of the building body.
- For shooting the 7D light show, use the slow shutter speed mode (1-3 seconds) to capture the flowing light and shadow effect, making the photos more dynamic and dreamy.
- Arrive at all photo spots 15 minutes in advance – avoid the tourist peak and find the best shooting angle to ensure the shooting effect.
- For sunset and starry sky photography, bring a portable tripod – it can effectively avoid photo blurring caused by hand shaking and improve the photo quality.
Essential Travel Tips & Precautions
- Clothing & Shoes: There are many wooden plank roads and steps in the scenic area, so wear non-slip sports shoes to ensure safety; avoid high heels. The mountain wind in Zhangjiajie is cool at night, bring a thin coat even in summer. On rainy days, bring a raincoat instead of an umbrella (inconvenient for walking and shooting).
- Mosquito Repellent: The scenic area is located in the mountainous area of Wuling Mountains, with many mosquitoes especially in the evening and cliff areas; spray mosquito repellent before entering the scenic area.
- Respect Local Customs: Do not touch the tools of intangible cultural heritage inheritors at will when watching handicraft making; ask for permission before taking photos of local Tujia people to respect their culture and privacy.
- Avoid Crowds: The scenic area is crowded on weekends and national holidays; it is recommended to visit on working days or enter the park before 19:00 on holidays to avoid the crowd and have a better travel experience.
- Valuables Safety: The wind is strong on the glass viewing platform and cliff area; hold your mobile phone, camera and other valuables tightly to prevent them from being blown off by the wind. Free lockers are available at the entrance for storing valuables.
- Dining & Consumption: Taste local Tujia food in the Smoke and Fire Old Street, and choose stalls with clear price tags to avoid being overcharged; most shops and stalls accept Alipay/WeChat Pay, and carry a small amount of cash for emergency.
- Performance Schedule: The performance time may be adjusted according to the season, weather and tourist flow; check the latest schedule on the scenic area's official WeChat public account or the on-site announcement board.
- Nearby Accommodation: A variety of accommodation options are available near the scenic area: Budget homestay (¥80-150/night), mid-range chain hotel (¥200-400/night), high-end Tujia-style resort (¥500-1000/night), covering all travel budgets.
- Travel Time Control: Do not overpack your travel schedule; the recommended visiting time is 3-6 hours, which is enough to experience all the core highlights of the 72 Wonders Building without feeling tired.
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