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I Climbed China's DEADLY Sky Ladder 🇨🇳 + Avatar Mountains!!
Zhangjiajie Sky Ladder Climb and Avatar Mountain Tips in the Fog
I climbed China's terrifying 168-metre Sky Ladder in Zhangjiajie... with ZERO visibility! This incredible via ferrata on Qixing Mountain is one of the most frightening things I've ever done, and nothing could have prepared me for climbing into the clouds.
But there's more to Zhangjiajie than...
I climbed China's terrifying 168-metre Sky Ladder in Zhangjiajie... with ZERO visibility! This incredible via ferrata on Qixing Mountain is one of the most frightening things I've ever done, and nothing could have prepared me for climbing into the clouds.
But there's more to Zhangjiajie than adrenaline-fuelled adventures! We're also exploring the breathtaking Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to the towering sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in James Cameron's Avatar.
From a heart-stopping climb to some of China's most extraordinary scenery, this is one unforgettable adventure in Zhangjiajie, China!
Would you attempt the Sky Ladder? Let me know in the comments!
00:00 Climbing China's 168m Sky Ladder in Zero Visibility
01:18 Harnessing Up for the Via Ferrata
02:32 Meet My Travel Buddy Larry
03:41 My Arms Are Cooked
04:21 Ascending to the Ladder to Heaven
05:15 My Mom's Worst Nightmare
06:34 This Is Messing With My Mind
08:02 We Did It! What to Eat Before You Climb
09:17 Why Travelling China Has Been So Easy
10:26 Day Two: Avatar Mountains in the Rain
11:26 A Magical Fairy Tale in the Fog
13:17 Monkey Alert!
13:55 Bailong Elevator + Skipping Queues with VIP Passes
16:41 Mountain-Top Snack Taste Test
17:16 Avatar Mountain + Hallelujah Mountain
19:59 It Lives Up to the Hype + Next Week
Phoebe climbs the 168 m Sky Ladder, a via ferrata on Qixing Mountain in Zhangjiajie, with almost no visibility because the mountain is lost in cloud. She shows the harness gear, the very short safety briefing and how exhausting the climb is, then finishes in about two and a half hours. On day two she walks Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in rain and fog, meets a monkey, rides the Bailong Elevator with queue-skipping VIP passes, tries a mountain-top snack and visits the Avatar Mountain and Hallelujah Mountain viewpoints, noting crowds and the weather.
I climbed China's terrifying 168-metre Sky Ladder in Zhangjiajie... with ZERO visibility! This incredible via ferrata on Qixing Mountain is one of the most frightening things I've ever done, and nothing could have prepared me for climbing into the clouds.
But there's more to Zhangjiajie than adrenaline-fuelled adventures! We're also exploring the breathtaking Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to the towering sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in James Cameron's Avatar.
From a heart-stopping climb to some of China's most extraordinary scenery, this is one unforgettable adventure in Zhangjiajie, China!
Would you attempt the Sky Ladder? Let me know in the comments!
00:00 Climbing China's 168m Sky Ladder in Zero Visibility
01:18 Harnessing Up for the Via Ferrata
02:32 Meet My Travel Buddy Larry
03:41 My Arms Are Cooked
04:21 Ascending to the Ladder to Heaven
05:15 My Mom's Worst Nightmare
06:34 This Is Messing With My Mind
08:02 We Did It! What to Eat Before You Climb
09:17 Why Travelling China Has Been So Easy
10:26 Day Two: Avatar Mountains in the Rain
11:26 A Magical Fairy Tale in the Fog
13:17 Monkey Alert!
13:55 Bailong Elevator + Skipping Queues with VIP Passes
16:41 Mountain-Top Snack Taste Test
17:16 Avatar Mountain + Hallelujah Mountain
19:59 It Lives Up to the Hype + Next Week
Phoebe, a travel vlogger, climbs the Sky Ladder in Zhangjiajie, a 168 m long via ferrata suspended along the side of a mountain more than 1,000 m above sea level, while the summit is hidden in cloud. She explains how a via ferrata works with a harness and a giant carabiner, says the training lasted about 60 seconds, and introduces her travel buddy Larry, a videographer from Australia. After a first section that leaves her arms exhausted, she tackles the ladder to heaven and says it is one of the craziest things she has done, with no visibility, shaking and an abyss of nothingness around. They finish in about two and a half hours, and she advises being hydrated and well fed. On day two they enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in rain and fog, which she finds like a magical fairy tale. A monkey takes some food and she says she is anti-monkey. In late September the Bailong Elevator area feels busy, and in summer queues are said to take 4 or 5 hours, so VIP passes that skip queues are praised. She tries a sea salt and scallion bread for 15 yuan and finds it mild. At the Avatar Mountain, called Yuanjiajie, the guide explains the quartz sandstone landform, once an ocean 150 million years ago, and the Soul Lost Stage. They also see the Hallelujah Mountain from the middle of an iron bridge, and Phoebe says the place lives up to the hype before teasing the Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain for next week.
Phoebe climbs the 168 m Sky Ladder, a via ferrata on Qixing Mountain in Zhangjiajie, with almost no visibility because the mountain is lost in cloud. She shows the harness gear, the very short safety briefing and how exhausting the climb is, then finishes in about two and a half hours. On day two she walks Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in rain and fog, meets a monkey, rides the Bailong Elevator with queue-skipping VIP passes, tries a mountain-top snack and visits the Avatar Mountain and Hallelujah Mountain viewpoints, noting crowds and the weather.
A foggy 168 m Sky Ladder via ferrata climb in Zhangjiajie, then a rainy day at the Avatar Mountains with tips on queues and snacks.
Zhangjiajie Sky Ladder Climb and Avatar Mountain Tips in the Fog
1:19 On a via ferrata you get harnessed up from head to toe and clip a giant carabiner to a safety system, keeping two points of contact as you climb up the mountain toward the stairway to heaven.
2:20 The safety training is very quick, about 60 seconds of instructions, and then you are let loose on the course without much structure, so listen carefully to what the staff tell you before you start.
4:05 Overcast weather is not all bad on the climb, because with the sun out it would be unbelievably hot. You cannot predict the weather, so if it is your only day, just do it and make the most of it.
8:18 Before you climb, make sure you are properly hydrated and have eaten enough. Phoebe finished the climb starving and covered in sweat, and she says she did not eat enough that day.
14:08 In late September the Bailong Elevator area already feels busy. Summer is apparently nuts, extremely hot with queues of 4 or 5 hours, so come in summer only if you want clear views.
14:51 Because there are long queues for everything, VIP passes let you skip the queues, saving hours. Phoebe says it is essential, otherwise queuing for the elevator for a long time kills the momentum of the day.
16:12 Street food is sold even at the top of the mountains in the middle of China, but Phoebe recommends packing your own snacks because she does not know how fresh the food up there is.
16:42 A sea salt and scallion bread cost 15 yuan. It was warm and carby but did not have a big flavour, and she would have liked a bit of chili in it.
18:37 Everyone gets funneled into the main viewing area, which has so many people. Move away along the side paths to other viewpoints for a much more peaceful view of the sandstone mountains.
19:22 The middle of the iron bridge is the best location to see the Hallelujah Mountain, a pillar that inspired the floating mountain in the movie, though the guide notes it is extremely crowded there.
1:19 On a via ferrata you get harnessed up from head to toe and clip a giant carabiner to a safety system, keeping two points of contact as you climb up the mountain toward the stairway to heaven.
2:20 The safety training is very quick, about 60 seconds of instructions, and then you are let loose on the course without much structure, so listen carefully to what the staff tell you before you start.
4:05 Overcast weather is not all bad on the climb, because with the sun out it would be unbelievably hot. You cannot predict the weather, so if it is your only day, just do it and make the most of it.
8:18 Before you climb, make sure you are properly hydrated and have eaten enough. Phoebe finished the climb starving and covered in sweat, and she says she did not eat enough that day.
14:08 In late September the Bailong Elevator area already feels busy. Summer is apparently nuts, extremely hot with queues of 4 or 5 hours, so come in summer only if you want clear views.
14:51 Because there are long queues for everything, VIP passes let you skip the queues, saving hours. Phoebe says it is essential, otherwise queuing for the elevator for a long time kills the momentum of the day.
16:12 Street food is sold even at the top of the mountains in the middle of China, but Phoebe recommends packing your own snacks because she does not know how fresh the food up there is.
16:42 A sea salt and scallion bread cost 15 yuan. It was warm and carby but did not have a big flavour, and she would have liked a bit of chili in it.
18:37 Everyone gets funneled into the main viewing area, which has so many people. Move away along the side paths to other viewpoints for a much more peaceful view of the sandstone mountains.
19:22 The middle of the iron bridge is the best location to see the Hallelujah Mountain, a pillar that inspired the floating mountain in the movie, though the guide notes it is extremely crowded there.
0:15 Climbing the Sky Ladder in zero visibility
1:18 Harnessing up for the via ferrata
2:32 Meeting travel buddy Larry
3:41 Arms exhausted after the first section
4:21 Ascending the ladder to heaven
5:15 At the stairway to heaven
6:34 Terrifying wobbly climb into the clouds
8:02 Finished: eating before you climb
10:26 Day two: Avatar Mountains in rain
11:26 Fairy tale scenery in the fog
13:17 Monkey alert
13:55 Bailong Elevator and skipping queues
16:41 Mountain-top snack taste test
17:16 Avatar Mountain and Hallelujah Mountain
19:59 It lives up to the hype
0:15 Climbing the Sky Ladder in zero visibility
1:18 Harnessing up for the via ferrata
2:32 Meeting travel buddy Larry
3:41 Arms exhausted after the first section
4:21 Ascending the ladder to heaven
5:15 At the stairway to heaven
6:34 Terrifying wobbly climb into the clouds
8:02 Finished: eating before you climb
10:26 Day two: Avatar Mountains in rain
11:26 Fairy tale scenery in the fog
13:17 Monkey alert
13:55 Bailong Elevator and skipping queues
16:41 Mountain-top snack taste test
17:16 Avatar Mountain and Hallelujah Mountain
19:59 It lives up to the hype
How long is the Sky Ladder in Zhangjiajie?
Phoebe says the Sky Ladder is 168 m long and suspended along the side of a mountain more than 1,000 m above sea level. It is a via ferrata, so you climb in a harness clipped to a safety system.
How long does the via ferrata climb take?
Staff tell the group they need to finish in 3 hours. Phoebe and her friend finished in about 2 hour and a half, and she says it is physically exhausting for the arms.
How much training do you get before the Sky Ladder?
Phoebe says the training session is quick, about 60 seconds of what to do, and then you are let loose on the course without much structure.
Is it a good idea to visit Zhangjiajie in late September?
Phoebe visited in late September with overcast, rainy and foggy weather, and she finds the fog magical. She says it is busy but a way better outcome than summer, when it is extremely hot and queues are apparently 4 or 5 hours.
Do you need to queue at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?
Yes, there are long queues for everything, including the Bailong Elevator. Phoebe had VIP passes that let her skip the queues and says they saved hours.
Which mountain inspired the floating mountains in Avatar?
The guide says the Avatar Mountain, with the Chinese name Yuanjiajie, inspired the floating mountain in the movie. The Hallelujah Mountain, a pillar seen best from the middle of an iron bridge, also inspired the movie.
What are the Avatar mountains made of?
The guide explains they are a quartz sandstone landform, and that 150 million years ago the area was an ocean.
Can you eat on top of the mountain at Zhangjiajie?
Yes, there is street food everywhere, but Phoebe recommends packing your own snacks because she does not know how fresh it is. A sea salt and scallion bread cost 15 yuan.
Are there monkeys in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?
Phoebe met a monkey about 15 m away that ran off with some food after a worker walked towards it. She calls herself anti-monkey and keeps her distance.
