Bailong Elevator: Ride the World’s Tallest Elevator in China
Photo by depositphotos.com
If you’re a fan of breathtaking mountain scenery but you’re not keen on hiking, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China should be at the top of your travel list because it is home to a roomy glass elevator—known as the Bailong Elevator—that zooms to the top of a towering quartz sandstone cliff and offers riders a panoramic view of rocky pillars that are often shrouded in mist.
The mountains of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are so striking that they inspired some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the nature-centric Avatar films. In 1999, the beauty of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park prompted developers to build an alpine elevator that would offer visitors a sweeping view of the park’s forests, mountains peaks, and stately rock formations.
After the Bailong Elevator started operating in 2002, critics claimed that the lift was too invasive, attracted too many people, and caused irreparable damage to the mountains of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. After only being open for a few months, the Bailong Elevator closed to address safety concerns.
Despite a vocal chorus of critics, the Bailong Elevator has become increasingly popular since it reopened in 2003. Visitors can ascend over 1,000 feet in one minute and 32 seconds. Bailong Elevator enthusiasts claim that the lift has actually helped to preserve Zhangjiajie National Forest Park because visitors who ride the lift are more likely to observe the park’s beauty from a distance instead of wandering into pristine areas.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is also home to the world’s lengthiest and highest glass bridge. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge offers a panoramic view of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Visitors must check large backpacks and wear shoe coverings—which are provided free of charge by park officials—before traversing the bridge. The dazzling view from the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is worth stowing your belongings and covering your shoes.
If you’re obsessed with traveling to spots that are mentioned in Guinness World Records, a trip to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is an absolute must. You can take a thrilling ride on the world’s tallest elevator and an exhilarating walk across the world’s longest glass bridge in the same day. World records aside, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is home to beautiful vistas that have inspired poets, filmmakers, and painters for centuries. No trip to China is complete without spending a few days appreciating the mystical beauty of the mountains of the Hunan Province.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Bailong Elevator, Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China (OSM attraction feature; not a ticket-counter coordinate)
- Coordinates
- 29.35118, 110.46117
- Access
- Bailong Elevator is inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park/Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Park admission is required; some park ticket options include the internal eco-shuttle, and the elevator ride is a separately priced lift. Follow the park’s designated shuttle route to the elevator area and check the current park notice before setting out: the geopark has published temporary road and equipment-maintenance interruptions, including a March 2026 reduced-capacity period. Park access rules and same-day service can change.
- Admission
- The elevator is separate from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park admission. A 2026 Zhangjiajie park-price notice lists CN¥65 for one way and CN¥130 for a round trip, with optional CN¥3 insurance extra. Some current English-language travel references still list CN¥72 for a peak-season one-way ride, so published fares conflict. Check the price in the official ticket channel or at the station before purchase; confirm any concession eligibility there.
- Time needed
- The ride takes roughly 1–2 minutes. Qunar gives a half-hour sightseeing estimate for the elevator stop; treat that as a planning estimate only, because queues and internal shuttle travel can add time, and it does not cover the wider Wulingyuan visit.
- Best season
- No official source reviewed names a best season for riding the elevator. Published schedules divide the year into peak and low seasons, but weather and maintenance can interrupt service; choose dates for the wider park visit and confirm lift operation shortly beforehand.
- Opening hours
- Published schedules conflict. The 2026 Zhangjiajie visitor guide lists 07:00–19:00 from March 1–November 30 and 08:00–17:00 from December 1–February 28; Advantour lists different peak/shoulder-season hours and possible holiday extensions. The official geopark posts temporary maintenance notices rather than a single dependable daily timetable. Confirm the current day’s operating hours and service with the park before setting out (visitor consultation: 0744-5712345).
- Location checked
- 2026-10-10
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-10
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