"Five routes" refer to cross-region routes that allow tourists to experience Hunan in a multidimensional and profound way. These are routes of world heritage, ethnic culture, Red tourism, ecology and fitness as well as outdoor sports.
As the core engine of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area, Zhangjiajie holds the greatest international influence and is a leader in inbound tourism.
It has its unique competitiveness in developing inbound tourism. Professor Liu Zuoxiang from Changsha University of Science and Technology said that Zhangjiajie's quartz sandstone landforms create an unparalleled visual spectacle, forming the core advantage of its tourism brand value.
Zhangjiajie is an undisputed cultural tourism hub and visitor draw in the whole of western Hunan, said Liu.
It seems that the rapid growth in inbound tourism in Zhangjiajie in recent years validates Liu's assessment. In 2025, Zhangjiajie received 1.33 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of more than 30 percent, with total spending on inbound tourism reaching $746 million.
Zhangjiajie, combining the karst peak wonders with rich cultural heritage, is a globally renowned fairyland. The Southern Sky Column, the prototype for the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar, has become a must-visit landmark for foreign tourists. The flow of the Jinbian Stream and playful monkeys reveal a pristine natural charm; and the spectacular cave of Tianmen Mountain makes it a prime location for extreme sports like wingsuit flying.
Zhangjiajie has attracted tourists from more than 190 countries and regions. Particularly, large numbers of South Korean tourists flock to Zhangjiajie each year, making it the largest source country for inbound tourism in the area.
In recent years, to accelerate its development into a world-class tourism destination, Zhangjiajie has taken multiple measures for new cultural and tourism impetus.
Tian Hongman, deputy director of the Zhangjiajie bureau of culture, tourism, radio, television and sports, said that on the one hand, the city is activating the cultural tourism economy via industries, strengthening top-level design and enhancing business innovation.
