6 Days Zhangjiajie Tour with Antique Furong & Fenghuang Ancient Towns
Time-efficient Transfer, Sky-high Adventure, and Xiangxi Culture Discovery
Time-efficient Transfer, Sky-high Adventure, and Xiangxi Culture Discovery
Embark on an adventure that covers the essence of nature's grandeur, historical richness, and cultural diversity! Within 6 days, you will explore three captivating destinations - Zhangjiajie, Furong Ancient Town, and Fenghuang Ancient Town, each of which offers a glimpse into the unique Hunan.
Natural adventure begins in Zhangjiajie. You will walk through the longest and highest Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, marvel at magnificent sandstone pillars and peaks in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and step into the surreal Pandora world in the famous film Avatar. Continue your adrenaline-pumping tour in Tianmen Mountain, it will be challenging to hike up but rewarding with breathtaking vistas. The next stop is Furong Ancient Town which is a charming settlement hanging on the waterfall. And then drive to Fenghuang Ancient Town - the most beautiful town in China with a stunning nightscape. You can soak into colorful Xiangxi (Western Hunan) culture in the two ancient towns!
Throughout the tour, our worry-free tour package will take care of details including accommodation, guide commentary, transfer, etc., ensuring that every step of your journey is filled with wonder and discovery. Whether you're an intrepid adventurer, a nature enthusiast, or a cultural connoisseur, this adventure tour promises an unforgettable exploration of one of China's most captivating regions.
Day 1 Zhangjiajie Arrival
Pick-up in Zhangjiajie, and Transfer to Wulingyuan Town for Accommodation
Welcome to Zhangjiajie! Upon your arrival, our local tour guide will meet you with a sign on which says your name at the arrival hall in the airport or train station. Then our guide and driver will transfer you directly to your hotel in Wulingyuan downtown in Zhangjiajie by our comfortable private car (non-smoking), and the guide will help you check in. The rest of today is on your own to explore this fabulous city in China.
Arrival Ideas: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport 6 kilometers from city downtown serves flights between major domestic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Qingdao, etc. and some international cities like Bangkok, Osaka, etc. Besides, you can also take a normal train to Zhangjiajie Railway Station from many destinations, like Changsha (4.5-5.5 hours), Yichang (4.5-5 hours), Tongren (about 7 hours), Wuhan (10 hours), Xian (15 hours), Shanghai (20 hours), Beijing (23 hours), and so on.
Zhangjiajie City View
Day 2 Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon - Yellow Dragon Cave (B, L)
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge - Grand Canyon Hiking - Yellow Dragon Cave
After breakfast, prepare for an exhilarating day. Begin with a 40-minute drive to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, where you'll experience a mix of adrenaline and serenity. Step onto the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, a marvel of engineering and the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge. Spanning 430 meters and suspended 400 meters above the valley floor, it offers a breathtaking view that makes you feel like you're walking on air. After conquering your fears, walk a distance to the Lookout Deck, take a moment to appreciate the panoramic view of the area.
Next, descend into the valley on foot or via transportation facilities (kindly share your preferences with your tour guide, as services like elevators, slide ways, and zip lines may come with extra fees). At the lush valley, explore Rainbow Square, Momo Cave, and Shenquan Lake, where you can enjoy the cool shade of the forest, a tranquil boating experience on the emerald lakes, and the vibrant colors of the local flora. The valley tour features some gentle paths, with the entire walk taking approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
After lunch, make your way to the Yellow Dragon Cave, a geological masterpiece located about 20 kilometers away. This cave, acclaimed by UNESCO experts as one of the world's most beautiful, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and geological wonders. One of the highlights of the Yellow Dragon Cave is the boat tour through its water cave section. As you glide gently through the subterranean waterways, you'll be surrounded by the soothing sounds of trickling water and the sight of glistening stalactites reflecting off the water's surface. After getting off the boat, a climb of hundreds of steps and a walk of some distance will lead you to the cave's famous Dragon Palace, where the stalactites create a scene straight out of a fairy tale. The entire exploration of the boat experience and karst caves takes about 1.5~2 hours.
(A heads-up: Venturing through the Yellow Dargon Cave entails a significant amount of steps of up-and-downs, which is not friendly for individuals who have difficulty moving around or for seniors with less physical endurance. Should you opt to take the Yellow Dragon Cave off your tour, please tell your travel consultant beforehand to make the necessary arrangements!)
After sightseeing, be driven back to your hotel for a good sleep, rejuvenated by the day's adventures.
Day 3 Yuanjiajie & Tianzi Mountain (B, L)
Bailong Elevator - Yuanjiajie (Avatar Mountain) - Tianzi Mountain; Drive to Zhangjiajie Downtown
On this day, after breakfast, visit Wulingyuan to get more highlights. First take a sightseeing bus to experience Bailong Elevator, the fastest elevator and also the tallest outdoor elevator in the world. Enjoy the 1.5 minutes to be shot from the valley bottom up to the pillar peak. And then, hike amongst the multiple erupting stone columns at Yuanjiajie Scenic Area and open the mysterious “Pandora World”. During the exciting hike, get good preparation to have an enviable look at the South Sky Pillar of around 150 meters high, the authentic prototype inspiring the “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”; enjoy the best scenery at Enchanting Platform with tens and hundreds of beautiful stone peaks similar to a lot of nutritious bamboo shoots towering from the ground; also, closely watch the peculiar First Bridge of the World that is naturally made with an only 5-meter long stone platform linking the two peaks together to form the rare world wonder.
Then, take the sightseeing bus to visit Tianzi Mountain. Walk to He Long Park there, which is the best viewing deck to admire very closely the incredible and magnificent view of odd stone peaks standing one after another. The most appealing pictures of the four wonders of Tianzi Mountain are photographed there, including the mists and clouds, moonlight, rays of sunshine and winter snow. Also, step a little further to Tianzi Pavilion nearby to enjoy the marvelous view and terrific sightseeing of the Xihai Peak Forest from another angle of view. After that, take the cool Tianzi Mountain Cable Car down with groups of rockery hills passing by outside your glass window, and then take the sightseeing bus to exit Wulingyuan Park.
After the exciting scenic visit, our guide and driver will escort you to Zhangjiajie downtown area for accommodation.
Day 4 Tianmen Mountain & Drive to Furong Ancient Town (B, L)
Tianmen Cable Car - Tianmen Temple - Glass Skywalk - Ghost Valley Plank Road - Tianmen Cave - Avenue toward Heaven; Drive to Furongzhen
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. On this day, you will make a great trip to Tianmen Mountain, another magnificent national forest park in Zhangjiajie City.
First transfer to take the Tianmen Mountain Cable Car and ascend from Zhangjiajie downtown up to the peak of Tianmen Mountain of over 1,400 meters above the sea. Travel by the about 7,455 meters long cableway that is so far the longest one in the whole world and have a shocking look at the wandering Avenue toward Heaven from the glass. Then, take the Forest Sightseeing Cable Car to visit Tianmen Temple originated from Tang Dynasty on the mountain peak, which is one of the only world 5 Buddhist temples preserving the Buddha body relics. Walk around the temple cluster to appreciate the featured Qing Dynasty styled Buddhist structure with verdant forest surrounding by.
And then, hold your breath to take two scary walks on the cliff path circling the mountain body. One is the 60-meter long and 1.6-meter wide Glass Skywalk with transparent glass material 1430 meters above the bottomless valley, which makes you feel walking in the air on sunny days and fairyland on misty and cloudy days, while another must be the 1600-meter long Ghost-Valley Plank Road hanging on the cliff. Just step on and test!
After that, take the escalator from the peak down to Tianmen Cave to see the giant hole on the mountain. Formed by natural pressing and collapsing into 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide and 60 meters deep, this cave is really a rare wonder of the world. Next, walk downstairs along the super steep 999 steps with the highest inclination up to 45°, which is the only access to Tianmen Cave from the foot of the mountain for a lot of prayers worshiping there. Lastly, walk several minutes to take a cable car to descend the mountain.
Travel tips: For safety reasons, the Ghost-Valley Plank Road and Tianmen Cave may be closed in winter if there are heavy snows, freezing weather or regular maintenance. Your travel consultant and tour guide will adjust your itinerary accordingly.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort to Furong Ancient Town which is about 80 kilometers from Zhangjiajie, taking 1.5 hours to drive. This evening is free to discover on your own, you can find a restaurant which has a waterfall view to enjoy your dinner.
Accommodate in a local guest house in the ancient town.
Day 5 Furong Ancient Town & Drive to Fenghuang Ancient Town (B, L)
Furong Ancient Town; Drive to Fenghuang Ancient Town
Wake up leisurely in the peaceful morning of Furong Ancient Town. After breakfast, you will explore the best highlights of Furong Ancient Town.
Furong Ancient Town has a history of more than 2000 years, where the traditional Tujia architecture is still well-preserved. It is well known for the Furong Waterfall passing through the town and the well-preserved Tujia Stilted buildings situated on cliffs above the waterfall. Walk on Wuli Street of flagstone roads to visit the Folk Museum, where many local original machines, objects, and tools show the long and rich history of the Tujia people. The precious historical relics of the Tujia minority - Xizhou Bronze Pillar symbolizing peace is also worth a visit, where you may hear some interesting stories about the past Tusi King (official of ethnic monority originally established in Yuan Dynasty).
In the afternoon, your guide and driver will escort you to Fenghuang Ancient Town (Phoenix Ancient Town) - a treasure trove of Xiangxi culture, about 120 kilometers from Furong Ancient Town, taking 1.5 to 2 hours to drive. Upon arrival, your guide will help you check into your hotel. The rest time is free for you to explore this captivating town. When night falls, every old house is illuminated with yellow light, and the whole atmosphere becomes festive, colorful, and amazing. It's relaxing to wander around this ancient town and appreciate the fabulous night view.
Day 6 Fenghuang Ancient Town & Drive Back to Zhangjiajie for Departure (B, L)
Tuojiang River boat experience, Former Residence of Shen Congwen, Rainbow Bridge; Flight / Train off Zhangjiajie
This morning, you’ll have a nice tour of Fenghuang Ancient Town. With over 300 years of history, it is located on the western edge of Hunan Province and next to Guizhou Province. Praised as the most beautiful tiny town in China, it sets an example of what villages were like before the start of modernization. In the town, dozens of lanes are paved with stones that run between the wooden houses built on stilts. Generations of local people have stepped on the lanes and worn them down bit by bit.
Fenghuang Ancient Town offers a different day view which would bring you back to ancient times. Have a slow walk and feel the calmness of this beautiful place. Take a small boat ride on the Tuojiang River passing through the most essential part of the old town (from Beimen Pier to Longevity Palace) to imagine what life was going on in the past. Visit Former Residence of Shen Congwen to listen to the beautiful novel of “Border Town” which is Shen Congwen's masterpiece for its brilliant portrayal of Chinese rural life before the Communist Revolution. Enjoy a more memorable time to have a look at the landmark of the ancient town - Rainbow Bridge and explore East Gate Tower, Wanming Pagoda, etc.
In the afternoon, drive back to Zhangjiajie City and escort you to airport or train station to next destination. Service ends!
Other Departure Option: It is also available to leave Fenghuang Ancient City directly by taking a high-speed train to Changsha (2~2.5 hours),Guangzhou (5 hours), Zhengzhou (6 hours), Wuhan (4 hours), Beijing (9.5 hours), etc.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. It will drop greatly if your group has 4 or more members.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, month and date. There may be huge price increasing during public Chinese holidays, school summer vacations, tourism peak seasons or some special dates. (China Public Holiday 2024 Schedule Released)
3. Other factors that may change the final tour price include group size, hotel class, tour activities, fluctuation of currency exchange rate, etc.
4. This price is based on exchange rate USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final price will be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of agreement with our quotation.
5. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025.
6. This price is not the final price until the Confirmation Letter is sent.
7. The items included and excluded in this price are for reference only. The final services included, please refer to the confirmation letter sent to you by the travel consultant.
Good morning, Tracy.
We have completed our travel in China. Thank you very much for arranging this wonderful tour for us.
You amended the itinerary 3 times according to our needs. One of the changes in the itinerary was your suggestion to add the Xingyi Fenglin Buyi Scenic Area which was an excellent recommendation. All of us enjoyed this beautiful environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city as well as away from the regular tourist crowds.
I understand that you wish me to provide our reviews and feedback. Here they are:
Tracy is efficient and very patient with us. Tour was very well arranged. Everything is good.
The following is what I intend to post on tripadvisor. My user name in tripadvisor is Hing2013:
“CHINA DISCOVERY - AMAZING 13-DAY PRIVATE TOUR Our group of 8 seniors have just finished a wonderful 13-day private tour to Guizhou and Guilin arranged by Tracy. From the first email, Tracy had shown her willingness to help. She had been courteous and efficient. All my requests were attended promptly. Sceneries in both Guizhou and Guilin are spectacular. Everything was well arranged. The guides and drivers in both Guizhou and Guilin were caring. Guilin guide Kenny was particularly knowledgeable. It was a wonderful and memorable trip and we all enjoyed the tour. We will book with China Discovery again and have no hesitation to recommend China Discovery to anyone who is interested in traveling in China.”
Have a good day!
Lena
Hi Jack,
We had a great time on our trip thanks.
The trip went very well (apart from a rainy day in Pingyao), with no hitches.
Guides were all excellent, and took us to some great restaurants! All drivers were good as well - all punctual and drove safely.
Hotels were excellent, with the Beijing and Pingyao hotels standing out.
We had a great time and are sorry that it's over so quickly!
Many thanks.
Steve
Dear Jack,
We would like to thank you for the trip arrangement. It was very good and we had a wonderful time. Jessica, our guide, was very helpful and knowledgeable, and she took great care of us.
Thanks.
Warmest regards.
Sok Yong
Hi Jack,
The tour was excellent and so were the guides (Michelle and Cecilia) and driver (Mr Wei). Both Michelle and Cecilia were knowledgeable and helpful and made our trip a memorable one.
Regards,
Lawrence
Hi Leo,
Thanks for everything. I really enjoyed the Yunnan trip. Highly appreciated your tourist guides’ professional services. I will recommend your company to my friends. I definitely will come back again.
Ka
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Zhangjiajie City View
Mr. Pasquale from Italy - Yellow Dragon Cave, Zhangjiajie
Susa's Group from Germany - Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Mr. Pasquale from Italy - Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
Tianzi Mountain-202405-Mazurek's Group from Poland
Yuanjiajie-202403-Lenise's Group from Brasil
Bailong Elevator, Taken from Kong Zhong Tian Yuan Scenic Area
Tianmen Cave, Tianmen Mountain-202309-Manolis' Group from Greece
Tianmen Mountain Temple Inner
Tianmen Mountain Tongtian Avenue
Guigu Cliffside Path, Tianmen Mountain-202403-Lenise's Group from Brasil
Xizhou Copper Pillar Park, Furong Ancient Town
Tusi King's Bridge, Furong Ancient Town
Stone Street, Furong Ancient Town
Furong Waterfall, Furong Ancient Town
Fenghuang Ancient Town - Helen from Australia
Mrs.Tracey's Group from USA - Fenghuang Ancient Town
The big draw of Zhangjiajie and the main place to appreciate the spectacular quartz sandstone peaks and AVATAR mountains is Wulingyuan Scenic Area. This scenic area include four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Stream), Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie. Travelers usually spend about two days exploring this vast area - one day to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and the other day to Yuanjiajie & Tianzi Mountain.
To travel further with amazing and thrilling experience, many travelers would like to spend one more day to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge; and if you want to travel in a relaxing way, you can only go and challenge Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge over the Grand Canyon, and take an enjoyable visit to Baofeng Lake with boat experience passing through the incredible peaks or explore Yellow Dragon Cave underground.
Besides the Wulingyuan exploration, many travelers choose to spend one day in Zhangjiajie downtown area for a visit to Tianmen Mountain. To sum up, Zhangjiajie is a great destination well worth your time for 3 to 5 days visiting. You can combine some of them based on your likes, or tell us your needs to us and our travel consultants are glad to help you design your Zhangjiajie trip.
It is suitable to visit Zhangjiajie at any time in a year. The best traveling seasons are Spring and Autumn with best comfortable weather. In Spring during March to May, all flowers there are blooming among the most verdant green mountain range, and the fresh air with singing of birds help to create your great traveling mood. In Autumn from October to November, foliage at Zhangjiajie turn into yellow and orange to dye the scenic are very beautiful, which is great for nice photography. In Summer, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has lower temperature to be a good summer resort to go, and it is good to walk along the streams and dense forest, however, since there a frequent rains usually during summer, you are suggested to prepare raincoats. Furthermore in winter, it is a good time to avoid crowds, besides, many places including the national forest park are covered by snow to change the attraction into a pure beautiful lady, which is awesome for a photography tour.
Convenient flights and trains are available in Zhangjiajie City. Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, with 10 minutes’ driving distance to the downtown, has good air connection with 42 domestic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, etc. and international cities including Bangkok, Osaka, etc. Besides, Zhangjiajie Railway Station is also frequently used for reaching the city, which is rightly at the city downtown. It serves trains from Changsha (4.5-5.5 hours), Yichang (4.5-5 hours), Tongren (about 7 hours), Wuhan (10 hours), Xian (15 hours), Shanghai (20 hours), Beijing (23 hours), etc.
Zhangjiajie offers various luxury hotels and budget hostels and boutique accommodation for your stay during the trip.
● Stay in Wulingyuan Town: For your several days discovering Wulingyuan Scenic Area including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, etc., we suggest you arrange the hotel at Wulingyuan Town, which needs only 10 minutes to Wujiayu Ticket Station and 20 minutes to Forest Park Ticket Station by car.
● Stay in Zhangjiajie Downtown Area: For your arrival day especially by a late flight/train or if you plan to visit Tianmen Mountain, it is suggested to stay in Zhangjiajie City downtown.
For spring and autumn, light sweaters, long shirts and long pants are suggested. Temperature in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is about 5-10°C lower than that in the city area, and the temperatures varies a lot from day to night. In summer, shirts and shorts are enough, besides, it is advised to prepare light coats for lower temperature in early morning and at night. In winter, it is a little cold in Zhangjiajie, and down jackets, sweaters, warm pants and socks, scarves, gloves, etc. are better to keep warm. Remember to wear comfortable shoes or sneakers, because you will have a lot of steps to walk around those natural scenic spots. Since it often rains in Zhangjiajie, you are highly suggested to bring your raincoats or umbrellas. Besides, bring sunblock, sunglasses and hat to protect your skin and eyes.
Reputed as the Most Beautiful Tiny Town in China, Fenghuang Ancient Town has more than 400 years’ history situated in the southwest of Zhangjiajie, about 200 km away. It is a good idea to spend one day transferring to this old town to have a taste of Xiangxi culture.
Besides, Mount Fanjing is about 330 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie. You can extend for one or two days to visit this fantastic nature reserve with bizarre rock formations and dominating summit of stones all-above-the-clouds.
If you have other destinations to combine into your Zhangjiajie tour, just feel free to tell us your ideas and likes, and our professional travel consultants are here glad to customize the tour for you.
Zhangjiajie / Fenghuang / Zhangjiajie
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