I walked China's most exhilarating glass bridge at Zhangjiajie

The Chinese national park that inspired Avatar is home to some of the country's most breathtaking, white-knuckle tourist attractions.

With a single step, I find myself suspended over the edge of a 1400m drop, with only a layer of glass between me and the dizzying abyss below. It is challenging to move one foot in front of the other. As I edge along the Tianmen Mountain skywalk, my attention is constantly drawn to the panoramic views of 99 Bend Road, a serpentine ribbon far below. There are more thrilling moments at Zhangjiajie in China’s Hunan Province than I can count, from my walk on a glass footpath at vertigo-inducing heights to riding the world’s longest cable car and highest outdoor elevator. Every turn is exhilarating, just waiting for the next scream of delight, or terror.

This is the ultimate playground for thrillseekers but it is equally famous for its dramatic landscapes of towering sandstone pillars, mist-shrouded mountains, and lush greenery that inspired the mythical realm of Pandora from James Cameron’s Avatar movies.

The Tongtian Road to Tianmen Mountain is known as the 99 Bend Road.

Zhangjiajie is an intriguing blend of ancient culture and modern marvels. I arrived on a high-speed train from Changsha, Central China’s third-largest city, zipping along at up to 220km/h over three hours.

The welcome was warm, with young women dressed in vibrant traditional Tujia and Miao ethnic costumes, their elaborate silver headpieces glittering like disco balls. The festivities continued with a lively drinking ceremony with toe-tapping music and infectious smiles. Imagine my surprise when ready for a soothing sip of tea, I discovered the liquid in the teapot was actually rice wine.

Zhangjiajie National Forest - also known as Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains.

I spent the next few hours exploring 72 Qilou, the 72-floor Tujia Stilted Building. In my pre-arrival imagination, it was a towering highrise. Nope! The 72 floors are spread over multiple levels, surrounding a shopping and dining precinct showcasing a rich ethnic heritage.

Then comes the pièce de résistance – a performance that could only be described as the Chinese equivalent of the Village People in a fever dream, complete with an “angel” on a trapeze wire showering the audience with bubbles.

The glass bridge at Zhangjiajie.

The next morning I was on a 70km bus ride to Yuanjiajie Scenic Spot in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Here, I test my courage on a cliffhanging glass walkway and view the Southern Sky Column, also known as Hallelujah Mountain, famous as inspiring one of Avatar’s floating, mist-shrouded islands.

Fearlessly, I board the 326m-tall Bailong Elevator, which snuggles into the cliffside in the forest park. Of course, the world’s tallest outdoor elevator has a glass window to enjoy the two-minute view.

The cableway from Zhangjiajie to Tianmen Mountain is the world's longest.

Each day in Zhangjiajie unrolls with a new adventure that threatens to eclipse the previous one. Taking the world’s longest passenger cableway from downtown Zhangjiajie to Tianmen Mountain provides around 40 minutes of stupendous views and deposits me on the doorstep of the Coiling Dragon, another cliffhanging glass skywalk. The walkway leads to Tianmen Cave, also known as Heaven’s Door, where 999 steep stairs lead to escalators off the mountain.

Stepping from safe mother Earth on to the Glass Bridge crossing China’s Grand Canyon was a bigger challenge than I expected, but I made it to the other side, even lounging on the glass for a selfie. Watching people bungee jumping from under the bridge introduced a new fear and non-life goal.

Kerry Heaney on the Zhangjiajie glass bridge.

It wouldn’t be China without a lazy Susan banquet, but some were a surprise. Eager to try the local delicacy of giant farmed salamander, I gobble up thin, silvery slivers of raw flesh artfully arranged on a platter, only to discover they are intended for the hot soup pot. But not every meal was as challenging, and for more simple tastes, there is always a fast-food outlet nearby.

Whether you’re navigating a glass walkway that tests your nerves or gawking at surreal landscapes, Zhangjiajie will keep you on your toes. This off-the-beaten-track destination for Western travellers will delight those looking to push their limits and immerse themselves in nature’s wonders.

The writer was a guest of Wendy Wu Tours.

Wooden tourist bridge at Tianmen Mountain National Park at Zhangjiajie.

How to travel to Zhangjiajie

Wendy Wu Tours offers several Zhangjiajie itineraries including Gems of China and Natural Treasures of China. Expect up to four to five hours of walking on some days. 

China Southern Airlines flies from Australia to Changsha via Guangzhou. 

Australian passport holders can now enjoy visa-free entry into China. 

Originally published as I walked China's most exhilarating glass bridge at Zhangjiajie