Stunning Zhangjiajie | Classic 3-Day Tour of Zhangjiajie + Tianzi Mountain + Tianmen Mountain (Bailong Elevator + Avatar Mountain + Tianmen Cave)

Welcome to Zhangjiajie. Our guide will meet you at the airport exit and take you to the hotel in Wulingyuan Scenic Area for check-in. The total distance is 35 kilometers, and the drive 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 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, 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 a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie from cities such as Changsha (2-4h), Fenghuang Ancient Town (1h), Beijing (11h), Shanghai (9h), Guilin (7h), and Guangzhou (13h15m). 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. Our itinerary mainly visits the most popular and representative Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.

After breakfast, you will head to China's first national forest park — Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. First, you will take the shuttle bus to the Bailong Elevator, known as the "World's No. 1 Lift." This elevator once broke the Guinness World Record for the tallest outdoor elevator, and it is also the fastest and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. In just 66 seconds, it will smoothly carry you 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 — Yuanjiajie, which 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 stroll along the trails and visit major attractions in turn, including 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 along the way. Afterwards, take the shuttle bus to visit 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 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 visit the nearby Tianzi Pavilion along the way, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire national forest park. After the tour, return to the hotel to rest.

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. With this, your wonderful 3-day Zhangjiajie tour comes to an end. Our guide will escort you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you wish to extend your trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tibet, or Yunnan, you may also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.