Natural Wonders | 3-Day Essence Tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park + Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve (Bailong Elevator + Hallelujah Mountain + West Sea Stone Forest)

Welcome to Zhangjiajie. Our guide will meet you at the airport exit and transfer you to the hotel in Wulingyuan Scenic Area for check-in. The whole journey is 35 kilometers and takes about 1 hour by car. After arriving at the hotel, you can arrange your time freely. Recommended free-time activities: Visit Xibu Old Street, where you can browse shops selling local Xiangxi folk culture souvenirs or specialty handicrafts, stroll along the old street to admire the local Tujia-style residential architecture, and explore the old street's food, tasting 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), South Korea (3h35m), etc., as well as many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc., making transportation extremely convenient. 2. By train: Zhangjiajie's rail connections are also well developed. You can take the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie from cities such as Changsha (2-4h), Fenghuang Ancient Town (1h), Beijing (11h), Shanghai (9h), Guilin (7h), Guangzhou (13h15m), etc. Extended 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, among others. 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 Bailong Elevator, known as the "World's No. 1 Elevator." This elevator once broke the Guinness World Record for the tallest outdoor elevator and is also the fastest and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. It takes only 66 seconds to take you smoothly from the foot of the mountain to the top, letting you experience the thrill and excitement of rising from a deep valley straight into the clouds in an instant. After reaching the mountaintop platform, you can take in the magnificent surrounding mountain scenery. Then hike into the real-life Pandora world of Yuanjiajie, the filming location of 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, such as Back Garden, Mihun Terrace, and No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven (a natural stone bridge and the landmark 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 visit. Afterward, take the sightseeing bus to [Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve], known as the "King of Peak Forests." Here you will first go to Dianjiang Terrace to overlook the spectacular scenery of the West Sea peak forest, then go 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 continue to visit 【Zhangjiajie National Forest Park】. After arriving at the scenic area, first take the cable car to Huangshizhai. Huangshizhai is also called Huangshizhai because the whole mountain looks like a brave male lion. It is the largest and most concentrated viewing platform in Zhangjiajie Forest Park. Here you can see the spectacular scene of three thousand strange peaks standing before your eyes, and you can also stroll along the large loop trail on the mountaintop to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery along the way. After lunch, take the cable car to visit Golden Whip Stream. Golden Whip Stream is known as "one of the most beautiful gorges in the world" and is named after the Golden Whip Rock, one of the ten great wonders of Zhangjiajie, which the route passes. Here you will walk among peaks and secluded valleys, accompanied by beautiful scenery such as green mountains and clear waters, getting close to nature and enjoying a peaceful and leisurely roaming time. If interested, you can also check in at landscapes such as Huaguo Mountain and Water Curtain Cave from the Chinese TV series Journey to the West. Tips 1. On the way while visiting Golden Whip Stream, you may encounter some mischievous monkeys. Please keep a certain distance and do not hold plastic bags, food, etc., to avoid having things snatched away or getting scratched. 2. When hiking at Golden Whip Stream, please try not to step on stones with moss or smooth stones to avoid slipping. After the tour, this wonderful 3-day in-depth Zhangjiajie tour will also come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you want to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.