Zhangjiajie Huatian Hotel

Rooms and decor

The deluxe rooms run about 38 sqm, with a big glass window that looks straight out at the Tianmen Mountain cliffs. Wake up to mist drifting across the peak and it feels like the opening scene of a Chinese film. The king bed is soft, the linens are good quality, and the bathroom has a bathtub separate from the rain shower. There is a kettle, fridge, minibar and safe, and the Wi-Fi is fast and steady throughout. Reviewers especially liked opening the curtains in the morning to a full mountain view.

Food and amenities

The hotel has three restaurants — Cantonese, an international buffet and a spicy Hunan kitchen — plus a coffee shop, lobby bar, a gongfu-style tea room, a gym, a business centre and free parking. The breakfast buffet runs to fresh dim sum, fried noodles, Hunan stir-fried vegetables and seasonal fruit. Real guest scores on Trip.com sit at 9.4 from over 3,200 reviews, with rates from about $63 a night, which we think is fair for a hotel of this level in this city.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits on the corner of Yingbin and Dayong roads in central Yongding District, right at the Tianmen Mountain cable car station. You can cross the street from the lobby and join the cable car queue within 5 minutes. It is about 2km from Zhangjiajie train station and about 4km from Lotus Airport. The free airport shuttle means you do not have to drag your bags around looking for a taxi on arrival, and on cable car day you can be up at 7am in plenty of time for the first queue.

Things to know before booking

This is the highest starting price on our list, from about $63 a night. It is also a large hotel, so there are plenty of other guests around — not the quiet, intimate feel of the smaller stays further down the list. In high season rooms fill up fast, so book ahead.

Our take

Zhangjiajie Huatian Hotel suits families and couples who want the most upscale, best-placed hotel in town, especially on a first trip where you want everything easy — ride the cable car, walk back across the street, soak in the tub, order Hunan food in the hotel without going anywhere. We give it 9.2/10 and open the Zhangjiajie list with our number-one pick that delivers on location, mountain-view rooms, a free airport shuttle and full 5-star service.