Panoramic Zhangjiajie | In-Depth 5-Day Tour of Zhangjiajie + Tianzi Mountain + Grand Canyon + Tianmen Mountain + Fenghuang Ancient Town (Glass Bridge + Avatar Mountain + Tianmen Cave)

Welcome to Zhangjiajie. Our guide will meet you at the airport exit and transfer you to your hotel in Wulingyuan Scenic Area for check-in. The journey is 35 kilometers and takes about 1 hour. After arriving at the hotel, you are free to arrange your own time. Suggestions for free time: Visit Xibu Old Street, where you can browse shops selling local Xiangxi folk culture souvenirs or distinctive handicrafts, stroll along the old street to admire the local Tujia-style residential architecture, and explore the street's food scene, tasting local Hunan specialties such as frog cakes and Tujia fried rice. Suggested ways to get here 1. By plane: Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG) has many direct international routes, such as Malaysia (4h55m) and South Korea (3h35m), as well as many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, making transportation extremely convenient. 2. By train: Zhangjiajie's rail connections are also well developed. You can take high-speed trains to Zhangjiajie from cities such as Changsha (2-4h), Fenghuang Ancient Town (1h), Beijing (11h), Shanghai (9h), Guilin (7h), and Guangzhou (13h15m). Extra trivia Wulingyuan Scenic Area: Wulingyuan Scenic Area is hailed as one of China's top ten tourist destinations. It is not only a World Natural Heritage Site but also one of China's first World Geoparks. It consists of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, and Suoxiyu Nature Reserve. Our itinerary mainly covers the most popular and representative Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.

After breakfast, you will head to visit China's first national forest park - [Zhangjiajie National Forest Park]. First, you will take the scenic area shuttle bus to the Bailong Elevator, known as the "World's No. 1 Lift." This elevator once broke the Guinness World Record for the highest outdoor elevator, and it is also the fastest and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. It takes only 66 seconds to deliver you smoothly from the foot of the mountain to the top, letting you experience in an instant the thrill and excitement of rising from a deep valley straight into the clouds. After reaching the mountaintop platform, you can take in the magnificent surrounding mountain scenery, then hike into the real-life Pandora world - Yuanjiajie. This is the filming location of the movie "Avatar" and also the site of the real-life Hallelujah Mountain (originally named South Heaven Pillar). Here, you can tour along the trails, visiting major attractions in sequence such as the Back Garden, Mihun Terrace, and the No. 1 Bridge under Heaven (a natural stone bridge and the signature attraction of Yuanjiajie). You can also immerse yourself in Zhangjiajie's fantastical peaks as you walk, and gain a deeper understanding of Zhangjiajie's geological and landform features during the tour. Afterward, take the shuttle bus to visit [Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve], known as the "King of Peak Forests." Here, you will first go to Jiangtai to overlook the spectacular scenery of the West Sea peak forest, then head to the representative of the king of peak forests - Yubi Peak, to admire rows of upright peaks resembling writing brushes. Finally, hike to Helong Park to see the bronze statues of Marshal He Long and his warhorse, and along the way visit the nearby Tianzi Pavilion, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire national forest park. After the tour, return to the hotel to rest.

After breakfast, you will drive about 56 kilometers, approximately 1.5 hours, to visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, hailed as "one of the most beautiful canyons in the world," and experience the world's longest and highest fully transparent glass bridge — the Yuntian Ferry Glass Bridge. This is the world's first cable-stayed glass suspension bridge with large-variable spatial cables, about 375 meters long and paved with 99 panes of fully transparent glass. From a distance, the glass bridge is as thin as a cicada's wing, "invisible" against the mountains, water, and sky. The bridge deck is about 300 meters above the canyon floor. Walking on the bridge, you can take in the magnificent scenery of the entire grand canyon and look down at the deep canyon below, which is very thrilling and breathtaking. In addition, there is the world's highest bungee jumping platform in the middle of the bridge. If you are brave enough, you can give it a try — it is very exciting and unforgettable (bungee jumping fee is at your own expense). Afterwards, head to Baofeng Lake, whose surface is like a mirror. Baofeng Lake lies surrounded by mountains, with clear emerald-green water reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding peaks, like an exquisite ink-wash painting. You can take a quaint pleasure boat through the landscape, immersively enjoying the beauty of the surrounding lake and mountains and enjoying a leisurely, peaceful time. After the tour, return to downtown Zhangjiajie, about 35 kilometers away, approximately 1 hour by car.

This morning, you will visit the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. About 8 kilometers from the center of Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain is the most sacred mountain in western Hunan and a peak suitable for visitors of all ages. You will take a cable car directly to the summit (about 30 minutes), enjoying a panoramic view of the 99-bend winding mountain road and the magnificent surrounding scenery along the way. Upon reaching the summit, you will embark on two exciting and thrilling cliffside walkway hikes. First, you will walk the fully transparent glass skywalk, 1.6 meters wide and 60 meters long. Walking on it feels like strolling above the clouds, with majestic mountain scenery beside you and a bottomless valley below, making it extremely thrilling. Next, you will walk the 1,600-meter-long Guigu Cliffside Walkway. Clinging to the cliffs like a giant dragon, it offers sweeping views of the mountains as you walk, making the experience both thrilling and spectacular. Afterward, you will visit Tianmen Temple, one of only five Buddhist temples in the world that preserve a Buddha's sarira. You may also go to Yunmeng Immortal Summit, the highest point of the Tianmen Mountain scenic area, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surroundings. Then, you will take an escalator to Tianmen Cave, the most unmissable attraction in the Tianmen Mountain scenic area and the world's highest natural karst cave that pierces through a mountain. After sightseeing, you can choose to walk down the steep 999 steps or take the elevator directly to the cable car station, then ride the cable car down the mountain. Afterward, you will travel by car (about 3.5 hours) or high-speed rail (1 hour) to Fenghuang Ancient Town. Fenghuang Ancient Town is one of the most beautiful ancient towns in China, famous for its quaint ancient town appearance, diverse folk culture, and beautiful scenery. The ancient town nestles against the mountains and by the water, with the Tuo River flowing through it. Its bluestone-paved streets, stilted houses along the Tuo River, numerous ancient buildings, and rich Miao ethnic customs together create a unique western Hunan charm. Upon arriving at the ancient town, you can take a boat along the Tuo River and immerse yourself in the scenery along the banks. When night falls, the night view of the ancient town is also superb. You can stroll through the ancient town and admire the brightly lit night scenery, seek out and taste local specialty snacks, or experience the town's distinctive bars.

This morning, you can freely explore [Fenghuang Ancient Town], either wandering through its streets and alleys or sitting in a small shop by the river with a drink while enjoying this ancient town. You can also leisurely visit the famous buildings in the ancient town, such as Shen Congwen's Former Residence, the ancient city tower, the stilted houses, and Hong Bridge. After the visit, this wonderful 5-day panoramic tour of Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient Town will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tibet, or Yunnan, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.