Meet Xiangxi | Classic 5-Day Tour of Zhangjiajie + Tianmen Mountain + Fenghuang Ancient Town + Furong Town

Welcome to Zhangjiajie. Our guide will meet you at the airport exit and escort 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 can arrange your time freely. Suggestions for free time: Visit Xibu Old Street, where you can browse shops selling local western Hunan folk culture souvenirs or distinctive handicrafts, stroll along the old street to admire local Tujia-style residential architecture, and explore the street's food, tasting local Hunan specialties such as frog cakes and Tujia fried rice. Suggested ways to arrive 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 rail to Zhangjiajie from cities such as Changsha (2-4h), Fenghuang Ancient Town (1h), Beijing (11h), Shanghai (9h), Guilin (7h), and Guangzhou (13h15m). Extended knowledge Wulingyuan Scenic Area: Wulingyuan Scenic Area is praised 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 scenic areas such as Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, and Suoxiyu Nature Reserve. Our itinerary mainly visits the most popular and representative Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.

After breakfast, you will 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 Elevator." This elevator once broke the Guinness World Record for the highest outdoor elevator and is also the fastest and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. It takes only 66 seconds to transport you smoothly from the foot of the mountain to the summit, letting you experience the shock and excitement of rising from a deep valley straight to the clouds in an instant. After reaching the summit platform, you can take in a panoramic view of the surrounding magnificent mountains. Then hike into the real-life Pandora world - Yuanjiajie. This is a filming location for the movie Avatar and the site of the real-life Hallelujah Mountain (originally named South Heaven Pillar). Here, you can walk along the trails and visit major attractions one by one, including the Back Garden, Mihun Terrace, and the No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven (a natural stone bridge and the signature attraction of Yuanjiajie). As you walk, you can also immersively admire Zhangjiajie's fantastical peaks and learn more about Zhangjiajie's geological and landform features. Afterward, take the shuttle bus to [Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve], known as the "King of Peak Forests." Here, you will first go to Jiangjiang Terrace to overlook the spectacular scenery of the West Sea peak forest, then head to Yubi Peak, the representative of the king of peak forests, to admire rows of upright peaks resembling writing brushes. Finally, hike to Helong Park to visit 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 visit, return to the hotel to rest.

After breakfast, you will drive about 56 kilometers, about 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 Yuntiandu Glass Bridge. This is the world's first cable-stayed large-variable spatial cable glass suspension bridge, with a total length of about 375 meters, paved with 99 panes of fully transparent glass. From a distance, the glass bridge looks as thin as a cicada's wing, "invisible" amid the mountains, waters, and sky. The bridge deck is about 300 meters above the bottom of the canyon. Walking on the bridge, you can take in the magnificent scenery of the entire grand canyon and look down at the deep canyon beneath your feet, which is very thrilling and exciting. In addition, in the middle of the bridge there is the world's highest bungee jumping platform. If you are brave enough, you can try it - very thrilling and unforgettable (the bungee jumping fee is at your own expense). Afterward, head to visit the mirror-like [Baofeng Lake]. Baofeng Lake sits surrounded by mountains, with clear emerald-green water reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding peaks, like an exquisite ink painting. You can take a quaint sightseeing boat through the landscape, immerse yourself in the beauty of the surrounding lake and mountains, and enjoy a leisurely, peaceful time. After the tour, return to downtown Zhangjiajie, about 35 kilometers away, about 1 hour by car.

This morning, you will visit Tianmen Mountain National Park. Tianmen Mountain is about 8 kilometers from downtown Zhangjiajie. It is the first sacred mountain of western Hunan and a mountain suitable for visitors of all ages. You will take the cable car directly to the summit (about 30 minutes). On the cable car, you can take in the 99-bend winding mountain road and the magnificent surrounding mountain scenery along the way. After reaching the summit, you will begin two exciting cliff walkway hikes. First, visit 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 deep, bottomless valley below — very thrilling. Afterwards, walk the 1,600-meter Guigu Cliff Path. The entire walkway clings to the cliff face like a giant dragon, and as you walk you can overlook the mountains — both thrilling and spectacular. Then visit Tianmen Temple, one of only five Buddhist temples in the world preserving Buddha's sarira, and you can also go to Yunmeng Immortal Summit, the highest point in Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, where you can overlook the surrounding panorama. Next, take the escalator to Tianmen Cave, the most unmissable attraction in Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area and the world's highest natural mountain-piercing cave. After sightseeing, you can choose to hike along the steep 999 steps or take the elevator directly to the cable car station, then take the cable car down the mountain. Afterwards, take a 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 simple ancient town style, diverse folk culture, and beautiful scenery. The ancient town nestles against the mountains and beside the water, with the Tuo River running through it. The bluestone streets, the stilted houses along the Tuo River, numerous ancient buildings, and rich Miao ethnic flavor together create a unique western Hunan charm. After arriving in the ancient town, you can take a pleasure boat along the Tuo River and immersively enjoy the scenery along the banks of the ancient town. 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 snacks, or experience the town's distinctive bars.

This morning, you will explore in depth Fenghuang Ancient Town, which gained international fame thanks to the famous literary work Border Town. First, you will visit the Former Residence of Shen Congwen, a renowned Chinese writer and the author of Border Town. The residence preserves original manuscripts and other personal belongings. Strolling through it, you can gain a deeper understanding of the story between this literary master and the ancient town, and admire the simple and elegant architecture of a traditional southern Chinese courtyard home. Then head to the nearby East Gate Tower, where you can stand atop the tower and overlook the ancient town and the Tuo River. Next, visit the Hong Bridge, a landmark attraction of Fenghuang Ancient Town. Built over the Tuo River, it is the best spot for photographing the reflections of the densely packed stilted houses on both banks in the water. In addition, along both sides of the Hong Bridge are various teahouses and shops selling local specialty handicrafts. You can browse them, look at exquisite goods with strong local characteristics, and watch local Miao silversmiths and batik artisans at work. Afterward, return to Zhangjiajie, with a brief stop along the way to visit Furong Town. Furong Town is a thousand-year-old town hanging above a waterfall. A majestic waterfall cascades through the town, complementing the town's quaint stilted houses and the surrounding verdant scenery, creating a picturesque scene. Upon arriving at Furong Town, first visit the Xizhou Bronze Pillar Garden, a group of sculptures depicting the scene of the ancient Chu king and the local "Tuwang" signing a peace treaty. Here, following your guide's commentary, you can gain an in-depth understanding of the historical events of the local Tujia people in olden times. Then come to the Tuwang Bridge, a typical Tujia stilted building structure with upturned eaves and a majestic appearance, one of the most popular photo spots for visitors. Afterward, visit the Youyang Palace within the Tuwang Palace, once the summer retreat of the local chieftain. Finally, go to the Waterfall Viewing Platform, where you can witness the largest and most spectacular waterfall in western Hunan and its magnificent rushing cascade, and take the best travel photos. After the tour, continue back to Zhangjiajie. Our guide will escort you to the airport or train station for your next destination.