Inbound tourist arrivals to Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, have surged dramatically in recent years, rising from 31,000 in 2020 to 1.8306 million in 2024—a 59-fold increase. Visitors now come from 183 countries and regions.
This information was disclosed at the Zhangjiajie City-specific session of Hunan's “the 14th Five-Year Plan” Progress Briefing Series held in Changsha on the 28th. Over the past five years, Zhangjiajie—renowned for its spectacular peaks and pristine landscapes—has dedicated itself to becoming a benchmark city for inbound tourism, elevating its status from a “hidden wonderland of karst peaks” to a “global stage.” In 2024, the city saw its tourist arrivals and total tourism expenditure increase by 88.62% and 104.35%, respectively, compared to 2020.
To date, Zhangjiajie City has established 19 international passenger routes connecting to destinations such as Daegu in South Korea, Hanoi in Vietnam, and Bangkok in Thailaof global extreme sports enthusiasts to experience the thrill, compete, and exchange skills. The Zhangjiajie Lantern Festival has become a carnival where hundreds of thousands of Chinese and foreign tourists experience folk activities like the Maogusi dance.
To better serve inbound tourists, Zhangjiajie has innovatively launched the “Hui Wallet” service for internationnd. In 2024, Zhangjiajie Port handled 563,000 inbound and outbound passengers, solidifying its position as the top non-provincial capital city in central and western China. Foreign travelers accounted for 95% of the total passenger volume, ranking first among China's airport ports in terms of foreign passenger proportion.
Extreme sports events like the Wingsuit Flying World Championships and the Huangshizhai Highline Competition have successively taken root in Zhangjiajie, attracting large numbers al travelers, with over 2,000 key merchants now accepting foreign credit cards via POS machines. The city has issued licenses to 1,187 multilingual tour guides, ensuring comprehensive English, Chinese, and Korean signage coverage across 39 scenic areas.
Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao
Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang
Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong
