Zhangjiajie, in northwest Hunan, is a forest of more than three thousand quartz-sandstone pillars soaring into the clouds. When mist rolls in it looks like another world - it was the inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar.
Core sights: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie and the Golden Whip Stream), Tianmen Mountain (Tianmen Cave, glass walkway), and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge).
Must-dos: the Hallelujah Mountain viewing platform at Yuanjiajie for sea-of-clouds panoramas; Tianmen Mountain 99-bend road plus the 745-metre glass walkway; and a Golden Whip Stream hike along crystal water among wild monkeys.
Getting there: 40 minutes from Zhangjiajie city to the park; stay in Wulingyuan town at the gate - the two-day ticket allows multiple entries.
Best seasons: April-June for the most mist, September-November for autumn colours. Rainy days give the peaks their most ethereal look, but trails get slippery.
