The Bailong Elevator ('Hundred-Dragon Elevator') is a UNESCO World Records-listed 326m vertical lift built into the cliff face of Wulingyuan in 2002 — the world's tallest fully-exposed outdoor elevator. It connects the canyon floor (Golden Whip Stream area) to the summit plateau (Yuanjiajie / Avatar Mountain area) in 88 seconds via three glass-walled cars carrying up to 50 passengers each. Without it, the climb takes 3-4 hours of stairs. Ticket ¥72 one way / ¥144 round-trip, NOT included in the Wulingyuan combo ticket. Queues run 30-60 min on busy days. The Yuanjiajie exit puts you 200m from the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain viewpoint.
Address
Bailong Elevator, Shuirao Simen, Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie
张家界市武陵源区水绕四门
Highlights
- 326m vertical runWorld's tallest outdoor elevator
- 88-second rideExpress car skips intermediate levels
- Glass wallsCliff view during ascent (when not in fog)
What Chinese travelers actually do here
Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.
- ▸The elevator was nearly demolished in 2007 after UNESCO criticized it as 'visual pollution' on the Wulingyuan World Heritage site. Local government pushed back and now markets it as a 'world record' — but the controversy explains why no second elevator has been built despite massive demand.
- ▸Three glass-walled cars run in sequence with ~50 passengers each. The MIDDLE car is the empty fastest one, but lines split chaotically — watch for the staff direction at the queue split and you can shave 5-10 min by picking the right line.
- ▸Cash-only ticket window is a 5-min walk from the elevator entrance, easy to miss. Do NOT join the queue without a ticket — you'll be turned around at the front. Buy ticket FIRST, then queue.
- ▸The summit exit (Yuanjiajie side) is 200m from the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain viewpoint, which is the photo most people are heading to anyway. Walk left from the exit, not right.
- ▸On foggy days the glass walls show nothing — pure white. Save the elevator for clear weather; in heavy fog, the experience is just an 88-second ride in a white box.
- ▸WeChat-Pay tickets work; download the WeChat app before arriving in Zhangjiajie if you don't have Alipay set up. Most foreigners fail at this step and have to scramble to find an ATM.
For foreign visitors
- English service: partial english
- Cards accepted: cash_only
- Booking / entry: not needed
- Best time: Early morning or after 4 PM to avoid worst queues
- Wi-Fi: none
- Transit access: need taxi
Photos
What travelers say (9 reviews)
Watch creators visit Bailong Elevator
Each clip is timestamped to the moment the creator arrives at this stop.
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Videos
Frequently asked questions about Bailong Elevator
- Is the Bailong Elevator ticket included in the Wulingyuan combo pass?
- No — it's a SEPARATE ¥72 one-way (or ¥144 round-trip) charge on top of the Wulingyuan park entry. Many foreigners assume their 4-day combo ticket covers everything inside the gates and discover the surcharge at the elevator base station. Pay in cash or Alipay/WeChat Pay; foreign cards are not accepted at the ticket window.
- Should I take the elevator UP or DOWN?
- Up. The elevator's job is climbing 326m of cliff in 88 seconds — taking it down wastes the engineering. Pair it with hiking down via Yuanjiajie's stone staircase trail (90 min) or descending via the Yangjiajie cable car for a different view. Most park itineraries are designed assuming you ride up to start the day at the summit.
- How long are the queues at Bailong Elevator?
- 30-60 min on normal days, 90-120 min during Chinese Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Saturdays April-October. Tickets are timed entry but inside the timed slot you still queue. Arrive at 7 AM opening to be on the first car, or wait until after 4 PM when downhill traffic dominates and upward queues collapse. Avoid 9-11 AM, which is when tour groups arrive.
- Is the elevator safe? Has there been an accident?
- Yes, safe — 20+ years of operation without major incident. The cars are double-cable suspension with independent emergency brakes. Most foreign anxiety comes from the glass-walled exposure, not the engineering. If you have severe vertigo, stand in the back-center position where the cliff face is least visible. The ride is 88 seconds and the glass is one-way — outside passengers cannot see in.
- Can I skip the elevator and just hike up?
- Yes — the original stone staircase from Golden Whip Stream to Yuanjiajie summit takes 2.5-3 hours of continuous climbing (3,800 steps). Strong hikers in cool weather (Oct-Apr) prefer it for the workout and to skip the queues. In summer humidity (Jul-Aug) the stairs become punishing; take the elevator.
