Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Wulingyuan: Map & Bus

Written and updated by Ruqin
October 19, 2026

Zhangjiajie West Railway Station is the main high-speed rail gateway for many visitors. However, it is not beside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. If your hotel is near the park’s East Gate, you still need to travel to Wulingyuan after leaving the station.

The most economical option is the direct passenger coach or minibus to Wulingyuan. A taxi or Didi is easier with several suitcases, young children, senior travelers or a late-evening arrival.

Do not depend on a fixed timetable copied from an old post. Departure times, ticket procedures and the final evening service can change. Check the transport signs and passenger-service counter when you arrive.

First, Check the Station Name

Zhangjiajie has two railway stations that travelers often confuse.

Zhangjiajiexi Railway Station ( Zhangjiajie West Railway Station 张家界西站) handles the main high-speed rail services. It lies about 10 km north-west of central Zhangjiajie; about 27km south of Wulingyuan East Gate.

Arriving at Zhangjiajiexi Railway Station ( Zhangjiajie West Railway Station 张家界西站)

Here “Xi” means “West”, so Zhangjiajiexi West Railway Station.

Zhangjiajie Railway Station (张家界站) is the older station near the central city and the lower Tianmen Mountain cableway area. It is a different transport hub.

Before arranging a hotel pickup, send the property the Chinese station name shown on your ticket. Simply writing “Zhangjiajie train station” can lead to an expensive misunderstanding.

Your Transfer Options at a Glance

Option	Best for	Approximate journey	Main drawback
Direct coach or minibus	Budget travelers arriving during the day	30–50 minutes	Departures and ticket procedures may vary
Didi	Travelers with mobile data and a working payment method	30–40 minutes	Pickup point and price can change
Official taxi	Late arrivals or travelers without a ride-hailing app	30–30 minutes	Confirm the destination and fare method
Hotel transfer	Families, groups and late check-ins	40–50 minutes	Usually costs more and needs advance booking
Overnight in Zhangjiajie city	Very late arrivals or a next-day Tianmen Mountain visit	Depends on hotel	Adds a hotel change before visiting the park

These times are planning estimates, not guarantees. Rain, roadworks, holidays and traffic around Wulingyuan can lengthen the journey.

Taking a Bus from Zhangjiajie West Station to Wulingyuan

There are now two practical bus services from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Wulingyuan:

Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Wulingyuan Bus Transfer Map

The direct coach to Wulingyuan Bus Station (武陵源汽车站)
The City–Scenic Area Bus to Wulingyuan East Gate (武陵源东门)

Both normally cost ¥13 per person. However, they leave from different places, use different ticketing systems and finish at different stops.

Service	Direct coach 高铁汽车站直达大巴	City–Scenic Area Bus 城景巴士专线
Final stop	Wulingyuan Bus Station	Wulingyuan East Gate
Typical journey	30–40 minutes	40–50 minutes
Stops	Almost nonstop	Stops at several attractions
Typical frequency	About every 10 minutes	Every 5–15 minutes
Ticketing	Self-service machine at the station	“Xiangyuexing” WeChat account
Best for	Speed, luggage and central Wulingyuan	East Gate hotels and stops along the route

Operating times and intervals can change with the season and passenger demand. Check the current information when you arrive.

Option 1: Direct Coach to Wulingyuan Bus Station

The direct coach (高铁汽车站直达大巴) is the simplest choice if you want to reach Wulingyuan quickly.

After leaving Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, turn right. You do not need to cross the road. The coach waiting area is about a one-minute walk from the station exit.

The journey covers approximately 26.6 kilometres and normally takes 30–40 minutes. The coach uses the direct road to Wulingyuan Bus Station and makes few, if any, intermediate stops.

Services generally begin at about 6:00 a.m. The final departure is usually between 7:00 and 7:20 p.m. Coaches normally leave around every ten minutes, with additional services sometimes added during busy periods.

Buy the ¥13 ticket from a self-service machine in the station transport area. Advance booking is not normally necessary. You can buy a ticket after arriving and take the next available coach.

This option suits travelers who are carrying several bags, want the shortest journey or are staying in central Wulingyuan rather than directly beside the East Gate.

Getting from Wulingyuan Bus Station to the East Gate

The direct coach finishes at Wulingyuan Bus Station, not at the national forest park entrance.

Wulingyuan East Gate, also known as the Landmark Gate or 标志门, is approximately 1.3 kilometres west of the bus station. Many first-time visitors choose hotels around this entrance because it is convenient for early park entry.

With light luggage, you can walk there in about 15–20 minutes. A taxi should cost around the starting fare, although traffic and local pricing may affect the total.

Local Bus 1 or Bus 2 also connects the bus station area with Wulingyuan East Gate. The fare is normally ¥1. Check the direction with the driver before boarding:

请问这辆车去武陵源东门吗？
Does this bus go to Wulingyuan East Gate?

If you have large suitcases, children or a senior traveler in the group, a short taxi or Didi will usually be easier than walking.

Option 2: City–Scenic Area Bus to Wulingyuan East Gate

The City–Scenic Area Bus (城景巴士专线) provides a direct alternative to Wulingyuan East Gate. This official tourism-and-transport service uses new-energy buses, generally equipped with USB charging ports.

After leaving Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, use the underground passage to cross to the other side of the station square. Board at the designated stop along Wulingshan Avenue (武陵山大道).

Unlike the direct coach, this service stops at several visitor areas along the route. These may include 72 Wonder Tower (七十二奇楼) and Charming Xiangxi (魅力湘西) before the bus reaches Wulingyuan East Gate.

The journey normally takes around 40–50 minutes. Buses generally operate every 5–15 minutes, although the dispatch system adjusts services according to passenger numbers.

The first service usually leaves at about 6:20 a.m. The final bus is normally around 7:30 p.m., slightly later than the direct coach.

Tickets cost ¥13 and can be booked through the Xiangyuexing (湘悦行) WeChat official account. The system also provides vehicle information. Passengers may be able to board at designated stops along the route, but international visitors will usually find the Zhangjiajie West Station stop easier to identify.

Choose this service if your hotel is near the East Gate or you want to get off at one of the intermediate visitor areas. It removes the need to transfer at Wulingyuan Bus Station.

Which Bus Should You Choose?

Take the direct coach if speed matters, you have heavy luggage or your hotel is close to Wulingyuan Bus Station. Its boarding point is also easier to reach because it is beside the railway-station exit.

Take the City–Scenic Area Bus if your hotel is near Wulingyuan East Gate. Although the journey takes slightly longer, it saves the final walk, local bus ride or taxi transfer from Wulingyuan Bus Station.

During busy periods, the direct coach may wait until enough passengers have boarded. Queues can also become longer after several trains arrive close together. In that situation, the City–Scenic Area Bus may provide a quicker alternative.

The City–Scenic Area Bus operator may also offer bookable, point-to-point services to hotels along the Wulingyuan route. Confirm the current service area, booking method and price through Xiangyuexing before relying on this option.

Whichever service you choose, save your hotel’s Chinese name, address and telephone number. Also check the current last departure, especially if your train reaches Zhangjiajie West after 6:30 p.m.

Taking a Taxi or Didi

A taxi or app-based car is the easiest way to travel directly from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to your hotel in Wulingyuan. It is particularly practical after the buses stop running, when you have several suitcases or when two to four people can share the fare.

Regular taxis and ride-hailing cars remain available after 8:00 p.m. Didi and Amap, known in China as Gaode (高德地图), provide an estimated fare before you confirm the journey. This makes them more predictable than negotiating with an unlicensed driver outside the station.

Estimated Distances, Times and Fares

Journey	Distance	Normal journey	Daytime estimate	After 10:00 p.m.
Zhangjiajie West Station → Wulingyuan East Gate	30–32 km	35–40 minutes	¥80–110	¥90–120
Zhangjiajie West Station → central Wulingyuan	28–30 km	30–35 minutes	¥75–100	¥85–110
Wulingyuan East Gate → central Wulingyuan	1.5–2 km	5–10 minutes	About ¥5–7	About ¥7 or more

These figures are useful for planning, but they are not fixed quotations. Traffic, rain, vehicle type, app demand and your hotel’s exact position can change the final fare and travel time.

Local taxis may add a regulated night-service surcharge between approximately 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The nighttime fare can therefore be around 30% higher than the standard daytime meter. Confirm that the meter is running and ask for a receipt if needed.

Where to Find Taxis and Ride-Hailing Cars at Zhangjiajie West Station

Taxis and app-based cars use separate pickup areas at Zhangjiajie West Railway Station. Both are on the underground level within the station transport complex, so you do not need to walk around the station square looking for a vehicle.

After leaving the train-arrival area, follow the signs for Underground Parking / Taxi (地下停车场／出租车). Take the lift or escalator down one level. The walk from the station exit should take no more than two minutes.

Official Taxi Pickup Area

The official taxi queue is on the right-hand side of the underground passenger pickup area. It has a dedicated lane for licensed street taxis.

Join the passenger queue at the marked boarding point. Taxis enter in order, and staff normally manage the line. The driver should use the meter.

This area was upgraded in early 2026. Lighting, traffic flow and directional signs were improved, making the taxi rank easier to find and use.

Before getting in, show the driver your hotel’s Chinese address. You can also say:

请打表，谢谢。
Please use the meter. Thank you.

Didi and Other Ride-Hailing Pickup Area

The pickup zone for Didi, Gaode and other app-based cars is on the left-hand side of the same underground level. It is physically separated from the official taxi queue.

Order your car shortly before leaving the station. Drivers can enter the designated ride-hailing area and wait at the assigned pickup point. Electronic displays may show arriving vehicle information, helping passengers locate the correct car.

Follow the blue signs marked:

网约车候客区
Ride-Hailing Pickup Area

Do not wait in the taxi queue for a Didi. Likewise, a regular taxi will not normally collect passengers from the ride-hailing zone.

Compare the registration number, vehicle model and driver information in the app before entering the car. If the station area is busy, send the driver a message confirming your numbered pickup point.

A Practical Arrival Tip

The underground taxi and ride-hailing areas continue operating after the public buses to Wulingyuan have finished for the evening. Licensed vehicles are generally available after 8:00 p.m., making this the most dependable option for a late arrival.

There is no need to follow people offering informal rides near the station exit. Go directly downstairs and use the official taxi queue or a recognized ride-hailing platform. This provides a recorded journey, clearer pricing and a direct transfer to your hotel.

Advice for Families and Senior Travelers

The public coach is not necessarily difficult, but it involves more transitions. You must find the departure area, buy the correct ticket, load luggage and arrange the final journey to the hotel.

For an active couple with one suitcase, that may be straightforward. For a family carrying several bags or a senior traveler who needs frequent rests, door-to-door transport can be worth the additional cost.

Tell the hotel what assistance is required. “We have senior travelers” is less useful than explaining that one person cannot climb steps, walk far with luggage or enter a high vehicle without support.

Do not pack medication, passports or valuables in luggage placed below a coach. Keep those items in a small bag with you.

Returning to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station

The same planning problem appears in reverse. A hotel near the East Gate is convenient for the park, but it is not beside the high-speed railway station.

Ask your hotel one day ahead about the current bus departure point or a private transfer. Do not wait until checkout to investigate.

Under normal conditions, I would leave Wulingyuan at least two to two and a half hours before the train. This includes the road journey, possible waiting time and the security and identification checks at the station.

Allow more time during holidays, heavy rain or when traveling with someone who walks slowly. Chinese railway stations generally stop boarding before the printed departure time, so arriving at the platform area at the last minute is risky.

Check that the return vehicle is going to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station (张家界西站), not the older Zhangjiajie Railway Station.

Useful Chinese for the Transfer

English	Chinese
Zhangjiajie West Railway Station	张家界西站
Wulingyuan Bus Station	武陵源汽车站
Wulingyuan East Gate	武陵源东门
Landmark Gate	标志门
Is there a bus to Wulingyuan?	请问有去武陵源的车吗？
When is the next departure?	下一班几点发车？
Is this the final bus?	这是最后一班车吗？
How much is the fare?	车票多少钱？
Please take me to this hotel	请送我到这家酒店
Please use the meter	请打表

Keep the Chinese text on your phone. Showing it to staff is usually quicker than trying to pronounce an unfamiliar destination in a noisy transport hall.

Ruqin’s Practical Advice

Take the direct coach or City-Scenic Area Bus if you arrive during the day, travel lightly and do not mind a short final transfer in Wulingyuan. It is the sensible budget choice.

Use a taxi, Didi or hotel transfer after an evening arrival, when carrying several suitcases or when anyone in the group has limited mobility. Confirm the hotel’s Chinese address before starting the journey.

Most importantly, distinguish Zhangjiajie West Railway Station from the older city station. That one detail prevents many arrival-day problems.

Zhangjiajie Luggage Storage: A Practical Travel Guide
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: East Gate Route Map & Travel Tips
Where to Stay in Zhangjiajie: City or Wulingyuan?
Zhangjiajie in Rain and Fog: How to Plan Your Visit
Zhangjiajie for Senior Travelers: An Easier Two-Day Park Route
Zhangjiajie With or Without a Guide: A Practical Comparison