Travel to Pandora to find the floating Hallelujah Mountains — and enjoy an ice-blended treat while you're at it.

▲ Capture it from the right angle, and the Hallelujah Mountain will appear to be “floating.” (Photo / Reporter Chen Ruizhong. The following photos are by the same photographer.)

Reported by Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Zhangjiajie

In the Pandora of the movie *Avatar*, every mountain floats in the air like a balloon. These iconic floating mountains were actually filmed in Zhangjiajie’s Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. The “Southern Sky Column” in Yuanjiajie was renamed “Hallelujah Mountain” in homage to the film, giving visitors an even more immersive *Avatar*-like experience.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park spans a vast area of 4,810 hectares and includes multiple distinct scenic zones such as Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Jinbianxi, and Tianzi Mountain. Each area has its own unique charm, but the real stars of the show are undoubtedly the towering stone pillars.

▲ These towering stone pillars are the hallmark of Zhangjiajie’s unique “quartz sandstone peak forest and gorge landform.”

Due to geological forces, Zhangjiajie features not just “mountain peaks” but also “pillar-like mountains.” Each massive stone pillar rises straight up like a newly sprouted bamboo shoot, forming the distinctive “quartz sandstone peak forest and gorge landform.” On sunny days, visitors can admire the golden and milky-white stone pillars set against the blue sky and lush forests. When shrouded in mist, the layered peaks hidden among the clouds create an incredibly romantic scene.

Towering like a solitary column among the surrounding peaks, Hallelujah Mountain stands 1,074 meters above sea level with a vertical height of about 150 meters. Its uniquely shaped top and pillar body, which looks as if it were carved by an axe, exude a majestic presence that commands the sky and earth — no wonder it was once known by the imposing titles of “Southern Sky Column” and “Qiankun Column.”

▲ Originally called the “Southern Sky Column,” Hallelujah Mountain stands approximately 150 meters tall.

Local guides reveal that the *Avatar* film crew once shot scenes in Zhangjiajie and used the “Southern Sky Column” as the basis for designing the floating mountains, preserving its upper silhouette as a key design element. If you observe it from different angles, you can still imagine the Hallelujah Mountain seemingly hovering in midair.

Aside from Hallelujah Mountain, Yuanjiajie also features attractions like the Heavenly Turtle Asking the Sky and the Bewitching Platform. The area’s Bailong Elevator has a vertical height of 335 meters and can carry 50 passengers at a time. It holds three world records: the highest, fastest, and most heavily loaded sightseeing elevator — earning it the title “The World’s No.1 Elevator.” Riding it offers stunning vertical views of the pillars, making it a must-do experience for many visitors to Yuanjiajie.

▲ The “No.1 Natural Bridge” is a naturally formed arch bridge with a 350-meter-high cliff below.

Another remarkable wonder in Yuanjiajie is the “No.1 Natural Bridge.” Originally where two mountain peaks met, years of weathering and erosion turned the connection into a natural stone bridge. The bridge is about 3 meters wide, 4–5 meters thick, and spans roughly 50 meters, with a sheer cliff about 350 meters below — a true testament to nature’s incredible craftsmanship.

▲ Even in the “world of *Avatar*,” you can enjoy ice-blended treats and sundaes.

But perhaps the most surprising thing for young travelers isn’t the natural wonders — it’s the fact that there’s actually a McDonald’s in the Yuanjiajie scenic area. With the growth of tourism, Zhangjiajie has built a full-service McDonald’s atop Tianzi Mountain. Meanwhile, a smaller branch in Yuanjiajie specializes in treats like ice-blends, sundaes, and drinks. According to visitors who have bought them on-site, Zhangjiajie’s two McDonald’s outlets are the only ones in the world built on UNESCO World Heritage sites. And being able to enjoy an ice-blended dessert while soaking in the views of “Pandora” is truly one of the most unique travel experiences in Zhangjiajie.