Peaks and Clouds Fantasy | 7-Day Essence Tour of Zhangjiajie + Fenghuang Ancient Town + Guizhou Fanjing Mountain

Welcome to Zhangjiajie. Our driver will greet you at the airport exit and take you to your hotel in Wulingyuan Scenic Area for check-in. The journey is about 35 kilometers and takes approximately 1 hour. After arriving at the hotel, you can arrange your time freely. 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 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). Fun facts 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 visit China's first national forest park, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. First, you will take the scenic 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 is also the fastest and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. It takes only 118 seconds to smoothly transport 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 of Yuanjiajie, the filming location of the movie Avatar and the site of the real Hallelujah Mountain (originally named South Heaven Pillar). Here, you can walk along the trails and visit major attractions in sequence, including the Back Garden, Mihun Terrace, and the No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven (a natural stone bridge and the iconic attraction of Yuanjiajie). You can also immersively admire Zhangjiajie's fantastical peaks as you walk and gain a deeper understanding of Zhangjiajie's geological and landform features. Afterwards, 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 proceed 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 on the way visit the nearby Tianzi Pavilion, where you can take in the panorama of the entire national forest park. After the tour, return to the hotel and rest. Note: If you travel to Zhangjiajie during peak season, your guide may consider changing the itinerary to avoid large crowds.

After breakfast, you will drive about 56 kilometers, about 1.5 hours, to [Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon], praised 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 pieces of fully transparent glass. From a distance, the glass bridge is as thin as a cicada's wing, "invisible" in the landscape and sky. The bridge deck is about 300 meters above the valley floor. Walking on the bridge, you can take in the magnificent scenery of the entire grand canyon and also look down at the deep grand canyon below, which is very thrilling and exciting. In addition, in the middle of the bridge there is also the world's highest bungee jumping platform. If you are brave enough, you can try it, very exciting and unforgettable (bungee jumping fee is at your own expense). Afterward, head to [Baofeng Lake], whose surface is like a mirror. Baofeng Lake sits surrounded by mountains. The lake water is emerald green and clear, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding mountains, like an exquisite ink painting. You can take an antique-style boat through the mountains and waters, immersively enjoy the beauty of the surrounding lake and mountain scenery, and enjoy a leisurely and peaceful time. After the tour, return to Zhangjiajie city (about 35 kilometers, about 1 hour by car) and check in at the hotel for rest.

This morning, you will visit [Tianmen Mountain National Park]. Tianmen Mountain is about 8 km from downtown Zhangjiajie. It is the foremost 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), enjoying a panoramic view of the 99-bend winding mountain road and the surrounding magnificent mountain scenery along the way. After reaching the summit, you will begin two exciting and thrilling boardwalk 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, extremely thrilling. Then visit the 1,600-meter-long Guigu Plank Road. The entire walkway clings to the cliff like a giant dragon, and while walking you can overlook the mountains, a process both thrilling and spectacular. Afterwards, visit Tianmen Temple, one of only five Buddhist temples in the world preserving a Buddha relic, and you can also go to Yunmeng Immortal Summit, the highest point in Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, to overlook the surrounding panorama. Then, 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 down the steep 999 steps or take the elevator directly to the cable car station, then take the cable car down the mountain. After visiting Tianmen Mountain, drive (about 3.5 hours) or take high-speed rail (1 hour) to Fenghuang Ancient Town. If time permits, do not miss the night view of Fenghuang Ancient Town. When night falls, the ancient town's night view is superb. You can stroll through the ancient town and enjoy the brightly lit night scenery, look for and taste local snacks, or experience the town's distinctive bars.

This morning, you can freely explore 【Fenghuang Ancient Town】, either walking through its streets and alleys, or sitting in a small shop by the river, enjoying a drink while taking in this ancient town. You can also leisurely visit the famous buildings within the ancient town, such as Shen Congwen's Former Residence, the ancient city tower, the stilted houses, and the Rainbow Bridge. 【Fenghuang Ancient Town】 is one of China's most beautiful ancient towns, famous for its quaint ancient town scenery, diverse folk culture, and beautiful landscapes. The ancient town nestles against mountains and by water, with the Tuo River flowing through it. The bluestone streets, stilted houses along the Tuo River, numerous ancient buildings, and rich Miao customs together create a unique Xiangxi charm. After the tour, take a 2-hour drive to the foot of Fanjing Mountain to check in at our carefully selected hotel in Jiangkou County.

After breakfast, the guide and driver will escort you from the hotel to Fanjing Mountain. Today you will have a full day to explore this "pure land" at leisure. Fanjing Mountain is China's fifth major Buddhist mountain, ranking alongside Wutai Mountain and Emei Mountain. In the Ming Dynasty it was imperially designated as the bodhimanda of Maitreya Bodhisattva, and it has the reputation of being "the foremost among all famous mountains under heaven," with incense offerings continuing for a thousand years. Its geological age exceeds 1 billion years, and it is home to living Jurassic fossils such as dove trees and tree ferns, the only habitat of the Guizhou golden monkey, and unique geological wonders. It is a rare global "double miracle of geography and humanity" and was inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List in 2018. Recommended route for today's visit to Fanjing Mountain: Fanjing Mountain sightseeing bus → cable car → Mushroom Stone → Red Cloud Golden Summit → Cheng'en Temple → cable car → sightseeing bus → return to the hotel at the foot of the mountain. The climb takes about 4 to 5 hours, including the sightseeing bus and cable car. First, you will take a sightseeing bus uphill for about 30 minutes, then continue uphill by cable car for about 20 minutes. Looking down from the mountain, the distant skyline is clearly visible, and ever-changing clouds occasionally envelop the cable car. When encountering mist and clouds, you may also glimpse the wonder of a "sea of forest and waves of clouds." After getting off the cable car, you will hike along the winding forest boardwalk. After about 40 minutes on foot, you will reach the landmark wonder of Fanjing Mountain, Mushroom Stone. This is a giant rock shaped like a mushroom that has stood firm despite a billion years of weathering and erosion. You can take photos with it and capture the elegance of this geological miracle. Optional attraction: Walk about 10 minutes to Old Golden Summit (altitude about 2,493 meters) to overlook the magnificent panorama of Fanjing Mountain. Next, descend along the stone steps, pass through Pudu Square, and continue forward for about 1.5 hours to reach the iconic attraction of Fanjing Mountain, Red Cloud Golden Summit. Its altitude is about 2,336 meters, and it is named because it is often surrounded by auspicious red clouds. Its homophone suggests "good fortune golden summit," symbolizing auspiciousness. The top of the Golden Summit is split into two by a natural fissure called "Golden Knife Gorge," connected in the middle by the Immortal Bridge, with temples built on each side, respectively enshrining Shakyamuni Buddha and Maitreya Buddha. It has the reputation of a "Buddhist realm reaching to heaven." At dawn and dusk, clouds and mist swirl around it, and under sunlight, wonders such as seas of clouds and Buddha's halo often appear, like a fairyland suspended in the sky. To reach the summit, you need to climb nearly vertical steps using both hands and feet, experiencing the thrill and awe of a "city in the sky." After reaching the top, first pay respects to Shakyamuni Buddha to pray for blessings in this life; then cross the stone bridge and pay respects to Maitreya Buddha to pray for blessings in the next life. Tip: At sunrise, the eastern sky glows with rosy light piercing through layers of clouds and mist, allowing you to capture the magnificent scene of "ten thousand rays of red clouds." After visiting the must-see attractions of Fanjing Mountain, descend and return to Pudu Square. If you are lucky, you can photograph the reflection of Red Cloud Golden Summit from the viewing platform. If time permits, you can visit Cheng'en Temple near Pudu Square. This is a Buddhist temple imperially built and named by Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty during the Wanli era. During the Ming and Qing dynasties it was a royal site for imperial sacrifices and was honored as an "ancient Buddhist bodhimanda." After the thrilling hike, you can relax here and enjoy the amazing natural scenery. After the Fanjing Mountain hiking trip, take the cable car and sightseeing bus back the same way. Our driver will escort you back to your hotel in Jiangkou County to rest. Tips 1. Due to crowding, please avoid visiting Fanjing Mountain on weekends and major Chinese holidays (such as Spring Festival, National Day, and May Day). 2. The mountain path to the Golden Summit is narrow and one-way only, so please be careful. 3. When hiking, it is recommended to bring snacks such as biscuits, bread, and chocolate to replenish energy.

After breakfast, our driver will escort you to Tongren Airport/Train Station for your next destination. Suggested departure options Fanjing Mountain is about 78 kilometers from Tongren City, Guizhou. Tongren has one airport (Tongren Fenghuang Airport, TEN) and two train stations (Tongren Station and Tongren South Station), connecting to major cities in China. You can fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Xishuangbanna, and other places, or take the high-speed rail to Guiyang, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Changsha, and other places. If you want to extend your Guizhou journey: consider exploring Kaili (the capital of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture), Huangguoshu Waterfall (the largest waterfall in China and even Asia), Xiaoqikong Scenic Area (praised as the "green gem on Earth's belt"), or Guiyang (the vibrant capital of Guizhou Province). Please consult your travel advisor about your preferences.