Unveiling the Top 10 Filming Locations of Avatar in Zhangjiajie

When the fantastical light and shadow of Pandora once again illuminate the silver screen, Avatar 3 will reignite our yearning for a magical world. The inspiration for this dreamlike planet on screen lies hidden amidst the peaks and seas of clouds of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Every stone peak, every cloud, and every stream here perfectly captures the mystery and grandeur of Pandora. Today, we unveil the ten filming locations of Avatar, inviting you to step from the screen into reality and embark on a fantastical journey across the silver screen.

Each of these ten locations possesses its own unique charm. Their distinctive Zhangjiajie landforms are masterpieces of nature’s artistry and served as the real-life blueprint for the fantastical scenes of the Avatar series. Every location contains classic imagery of Pandora, making them excellent material for filming.

Top 10 Filming Locations of Avatar in Zhangjiajie

1. Qiankun Pillar

One of the filming locations for *Avatar*, Qiankun Pillar  , at an altitude of 1074 meters and a vertical height of approximately 150 meters, is a typical representative of the club-shaped peak forest landform in Zhangjiajie. This solitary peak rises majestically, appearing and disappearing amidst the sea of ​​clouds, offering expansive views and displaying its magnificent grandeur. It is the real-life prototype for the “floating mountains” in *Avatar*! Its breathtaking appearance, suspended above the sea of ​​clouds, perfectly replicates the floating wonderland of Pandora, becoming the real-world basis for the film’s core fantasy scenes.

2. Imperial Brush Peak

The second filming location for *Avatar* – Imperial Brush Peak: The “face of Zhangjiajie’s” landscape, it has been featured on postage stamps multiple times. Several hundred-meter-high stone peaks point straight to the sky, their jagged shapes resembling a row of inverted imperial brushes, echoing the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” formation opposite, creating a stunning composition of “landscape and beauty.” It is the core inspiration for the curved rocks in *Avatar*! Its unique arrangement of peaks provided a key blueprint for the design of the fantastical scenery in the film, showcasing the fusion of nature and fantasy.

3. Fairy Scattering Flowers

The third filming location for *Avatar* – Fairy Scattering Flowers: Located diagonally opposite Imperial Brush Peak, it echoes the peak, forming a perfect composition of “landscape and beauty.” The stone peak stands gracefully amidst the clouds, like a beautiful maiden holding a flower basket and smiling. It was the prototype for the concept design of *Avatar*! Its fresh and lively temperament leaps off the page, standing out among the surrounding mountains.

4. Cloudy Green Rock

Yunqingyan, the fourth filming location for *Avatar*, is a vast natural stone platform offering a superb vantage point overlooking the peaks of Tianzi Mountain. Standing on the platform and looking ahead, countless stone peaks rise abruptly from the ground like swords and halberds, densely arranged in the valley, creating a magnificent and imposing sight. When the sea of ​​clouds surges, it feels as if one is above the Pandora’s cloud sea. It served as the prototype for the concept design of *Avatar*! Its magnificent panorama of peaks and clouds provided a real-world template for the breathtaking aerial views of Pandora.

5. Star-Picking Platform

The fifth filming location for *Avatar* – Star-Picking Platform: The highest observation deck in Huangshizhai, a perfect spot to witness the Zhangjiajie Fangshan Plateau landform. Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, connected only by a winding stone path, it is formed by two sandstone formations stacked at the end of a mountain ridge. Offering unobstructed views of distant and nearby mountains, it feels as if you could reach out and touch the stars of Pandora when the moon is high in the sky. It was the prototype for the concept design of *Avatar*! Its solitary peak shape and the details of its vegetation cover were incorporated into the initial design of Pandora, giving the fantastical world in the film a “realistic skeleton.”

6. Nine-Layered Celestial Pavilion

The sixth filming location for *Avatar* – the Nine-Layered Celestial Pavilion: Across the verdant valley, a towering cliff rises, its surface revealing countless pavilions, towers, and courtyards nestled among ancient pines and cypresses. When shrouded in mist and clouds, the pavilions appear and disappear, resembling the mythical “Nine-Layered Celestial Pavilion.” This is the landscape that inspired the *Avatar* poster! The poster’s atmosphere, enveloped in mist and clouds, is a perfect recreation of reality, creating a visually striking experience that is both fantastical and real.

7. Tianqiao Remains

The seventh filming location for *Avatar* – the Sky Bridge Remnants: A group of sandstone peaks, over 200 meters high, formed by differential weathering over 300 million years, nestled in a deep valley. Six towering peaks stand in a row, majestic and imposing, their apexes forming an arc, resembling a bridge pier. It’s like an unfinished work by the gods, or a time bridge connecting the real world and Pandora. It’s the real-life inspiration for the film *Avatar*! The backdrop for the protagonists climbing the floating mountains is based on the Sky Bridge Remnants.

8. Water Surrounds Four Gates

The eighth filming location for *Avatar* – Shuiraosimen: The confluence of four streams – Golden Whip Stream, Yuanyang Stream, Longwei Stream, and Suoxi Stream. Here, mountains wind and water meander, surrounded by towering peaks and lush bamboo groves, creating a tranquil basin. The scenery is expansive and refreshing, with a secluded and profound atmosphere. It served as the prototype for the concept design of *Avatar*! Its secluded environment, surrounded by mountains and water, perfectly replicates the habitat deep within the Pandora forest, becoming the real-world blueprint for the secret scenes in the film.

9. Generals lined up

The ninth filming location for *Avatar* – A Marching Army: The Best Interpretation of Zhangjiajie’s Landform. Dozens of uniquely shaped peaks stand majestically, arranged in an orderly fashion on the earth, resembling a group of soldiers ready for battle, their imposing presence guarding the real Pandora. It is the prototype for the concept design of *Avatar*! Its orderly and solemn array adds a touch of protection and grandeur to the planet Pandora.

10. Xiang Wang Guanshu

The tenth filming location for *Avatar* – Xiang Wang Guan Shu (Xiang Wang Reading a Book): Located in the Ten-Mile Gallery, a massive stone peak resembles a seated human figure, holding a book in both hands, as if engrossed in reading millions of years of geological legends. Its lifelike form is a real-life reference for the film *Avatar*! Its unique anthropomorphic peak shape inspired the humanistic design of the fantastical landscape in the posters, making Pandora even more narrative.

Recommended Itinerary

These ten filming locations are not isolated entities, but rather a complete “Pandora map” composed of mountains, forests, canyons, and streams. To ensure your exploration is both easy and in-depth, we have carefully planned two routes based on the geographical distribution and scenic features of the locations, seamlessly transforming the cinematic fantasy into an accessible and tangible journey through nature: