Introductions
New route alert! Traveling from Xi’an’s ancient capital to Zhangjiajie’s stunning landscapes is now possible by high-speed rail. With limited direct options, smart transfers in Chongqing provide excellent alternatives to reach the “Avatar Mountains” efficiently.
Direct High-Speed Rail Service
- 1 daily direct train: G3763
- Schedule:
- Departure: Xi'an North 08:02
- Arrival: Zhangjiajie West (Zhangjiajiexi) 17:37
- Duration: 9 hours 35 minutes
- Second Class: ¥661
- First Class: ¥1060
- Business Class: ¥2110
Check Live Train Schedule
| Xi'an to Zhangjiajie Train | Zhangjiajie to Xi'an Train | Chongqing to Zhangjiajie Train |
| Search on: https://www.trip.com/trains/china/ | ||
 | Chongqing to Zhangjiajie, Chengdu to Zhangjiajie, Changsha to Zhangjiajie, Xian to Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang to Zhangjiajie, Furongzhen to Zhangjiajie, Guilin to Zhangjiajie |
 | Hotels close to Wulingyuan Forest Park, Hotels close to Tianmenshan Park |
 | Zhangjiajie Park (Wulingyuan etrance ticket, Cableway, Bailong elevator), Tianmenshan Park (entrace ticket, Cableway, Line A, Line B package) |
 | Flights to or from Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport |
Chongqing Rail Transit:
- Chonqging Metro official website (English version): https://www.cqmetro.cn/indexEng.html
Recommended Alternative: Transfer in Chongqing
For more flexibility and shorter travel time, transfer at Chongqing stations:
- Total journey time: 6-7 hours (vs. 9.5 hours direct)
- Optimal transfer point: Chongqing East Station (Chongqingdong has 16 daily trains to Zhangjiajie)
- Frequency advantage: 30+ daily Xi’an-Chongqing trains + 24 daily Chongqing-Zhangjiajie trains
Step-by-Step Transfer Options:
- Xi’an North → Chongqing Stations (All Options)
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Frequency: 30+ daily trains
- Best option: Transfer to Chongqing East Station
- Metro transfer: Line 6 connects Chongqing West/North to Chongqing East
- Transfer time: 40-60 minutes between stations
- Then: 16 daily trains to Zhangjiajie (2 hours, ¥222)
- From Chongqing West: 4 daily trains to Zhangjiajie (2.5 hours, ¥240)
- From Chongqing North: 3 daily trains to Zhangjiajie (3 hours, ¥237)
Xi'an North Station Guide
- Location: Weiyang District, northern Xi’an
- Metro Access: Line 2 (direct to Bell Tower/City Wall), Line 4, Line 14
- Key feature: World’s largest ancient city wall nearby
Chongqing Transfer Stations
- Chongqing East (Best for Zhangjiajie transfers):
- Metro: Line 6 (transfer at Liujiaping)
- To downtown: 40 minutes
- Metro: Lines 5/Ring Line
- To Chongqing East: 50 minutes via metro
- Metro: Lines 3/4/10/Ring Line
- To Chongqing East: 40 minutes via metro
Must-See Attractions
In Xi'an:
- Terracotta Army: 8,000 life-sized warriors (metro Line 9)
- Ancient City Wall: Bike atop Ming Dynasty fortifications
- Muslim Quarter: Culinary adventure with persimmon cakes and lamb skewers
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Buddhist monument with light shows
In Zhangjiajie:
- Zhangjiajie National Park: Hike among floating “Avatar” mountains
- Tianmen Mountain: Glass skywalk and 999-step staircase
- Bailong Elevator: World’s tallest outdoor lift (326m)
- Yellow Dragon Cave: Illuminated karst cavern system
Trusted Online Ticket Agents:
Option 1: Trip.com is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc
Option 2: China Highlights is a reliable online agency for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.
