6 Day Best Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang-Changsha Experience Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Zhangjiajie Arrival (No meal )

   Upon your arrival at Zhangjiajie airport / train station, our local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to downtown hotel for check-in. Free and easy on your arrangement for rest of the day.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Area

2. Day 2: Zhangjiajie
   Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yellow Stone Village, Golden Whip Stream, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge ( B, L )

   Today, you’ll start your adventure with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It’s the first national forest park in China and was included in World Natural Heritage List in 1992 for the queer forest of quartz sandstone peaks. You will see the pillars rise hundreds of meters into the sky, stroll along tranquil valleys and feel rejuvenated by the fresh air.

   

   Then, head to Yellow Stone Village. With an altitude of more than 1200 meters, it’s the largest and best observation deck to overlook the quartz sandstone peak forest. You can hear the story of Zhang Liang being saved by Huang Shi from your guide while you are walking, and you may come across the cute monkeys on the way.

   After that, move on to Golden Whip Stream, one of the most beautiful sites in Zhangjiajie. The stream winds its way through the hills and valleys and got its name because of passing by the Golden Whip Rock. Just listen to the murmurs of the stream, stroll along the valley and stop to watch the fish swimming in the crystal clear water.

   After the relaxing hiking, take the sightseeing bus to exit the forest park and drive around 40 minutes to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Move on to challenge yourself at the longest and highest Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in the world with a length of 430 meters. You can have a panoramic view of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon while walking on the transparent glass floor. You may be scared to step on the bridge at first, but once you take the first step, you will enjoy the magnificent view of flying waterfalls, lush forests, running streams.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Area

   

3. Day 3: Zhangjiajie
   Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Hallelujah Mountain, Bailong Elevator (B, L )

   Today’s first stop is Tianzi Mountain. There is a saying that you will not want to see any other mountains after visiting Tianzi Mountain. One of the spectacular sights is the sea of clouds after rain if you are lucky. You will witness rugged rocks and a forest of stone peaks which looks like a group of warriors listening to orders.

   

   After that, continue to explore Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in the super famous movie Avatar. You also can experience Bailong Elevator, the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world. You will be amazed by the speed of the elevator, only 1 minute and 58 seconds up to Yuanjiajie. When you step out of the elevator, a magical landscape painting will unfold in front of you. The massive quartz-sandstone pillars are just towering over you or next to you.

   Finish all the activities, transfer to Zhangjiajie downtown area for overnight.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Area

   

4. Day 4: Zhangjiajie - Fenghuang Ancient Town by Private Van
   Yellow Dragon Cave ( B, L )

   In the morning, follow your guide to explore the fantastic Yellow Dragon Cave. The cave is praised as “all-round champion” by domestic and foreign geological authorities because it boasts the most complete and beautiful cave landscape with the largest scale. You will appreciate the pointing stalagmites, take a boat to explore the deep underground river (the river is rich with second-class state-protected giant salamanders and translucent glass fish), and see the great stone fall and interesting stone monkeys of various shapes.

   After that, drive around 5 hours to Fenghuang Ancient Town and check in in local hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Fenghuang Ancient Town

   

5. Day 5: Fenghuang Ancient Town - Changsha by Private Van
   Fenghuang Ancient Town, Tuojiang River, Wanming Pagoda, Hongqiao Wind and Rain Bridge, Tuojiang Jumping Rock ( B, L )

   Today you will have an in-depth visit of Fenghuang Ancient Town.

   Fenghuang Ancient Town was built in 1704 during Kangxi Era of the Qing Dynasty. After 300 years, the town now is a famous national cultural and historical city and enjoys equal fame with Lijiang Ancient City in Yunnan and Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi. It was once praised by New Zealand writer Rewi Alley as the most beautiful town in China.

   You will take a boat ride on Tuojiang River, the mother river of the ancient town. You can watch the typical Diaojiao buildings on the bank. Diaojiao building is the traditional dwelling of minorities such as Miao, Zhuang, Buyi, Dong, Shui and Tujia. The houses are hanging in the air and supported by wooden pillars. Then make a stop to admire Wanming Pagoda. Its name is very meaningful. Wan means “ten thousand” and ming means “name” in Chinese, which represents that the pagoda was funded by many kind person. Next we will cruise down to Hongqiao Wind and Rain Bridge. The attics on the bridge were ruined in the Cultural Revolution and later restored according to the original design. It is over 600 years old now. We can ascend to the second floor to have a panoramic view of the ancient town. Then we will visit Tuojiang Jumping Rock. This ancient bridge could be dated back to the Tang Dynasty. It is 100 meters long and there are 15 stone piers on which are thick wooden board and tied with iron chains from the bottom of the river. We will walk on it and take beautiful pictures.

   After the relaxing cruise, you will say good bye to Fenghuang and head to Changsha city. The driving lasts around 5-6 hours, you can rest on the van or enjoy the view on the way.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Changsha

   

6. Day 6: Changsha Departure
   Hunan Museum, Orange Island Park, Yuelu Academy ( B, L )

   AM: Today you will visit the highlight sites in Changsha city. The first scenic spot is Hunan Museum. Hunan Museum with its name alone might be hardly impressive after your visit to the museums in cities like Beijing and Xian. However, the legendary exhibition housed in this Museum must be remarkable during your whole China tour: the female Corpse unearthed in the Mawangdui Han Tomb, a record-breaking discovery in world’s embalming. It’s an awe-inspiring miracle in the history of archaeology that her body is unprecedented for more than 2000 years! Moreover, there are about 180 thousand cultural relics collected in Hunan Museum, including bronzes, chinaware, calligraphies and paintings, artwares and so on. It’s definitely a “wow-moment” during today’s trip.

   Next, continue your visit to Orange Island Park, which is a beautiful alluvial shoal standing in the center of Xiangjiang River. It’s popular as people enjoy the fascinating sights around there, but it’s Chairman Mao Zedong, the great founder of the People’s Republic of China and his famous poem the first reason that makes it rising to fame. Chairman Mao depicted splendid scene of Orange Island Park and Xiangjiang River in his poem, attracting endless visitors to pilgrimage.

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

   PM: Afterwards, come to Yuelu Academy, which lies at the foot of scenic Yuelu Mountain, alongside the Xiangjiang River. Housed in the campus of Hunan University, Yuelu Academy is one of the “Four Great Academies” in China with its birth dating back to 976 AD, Song Dynasty and later surviving in the successive Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty and until today. It’s not a dead place of relics, it’s a live spring feeding numerous students and scholars with their great thoughts. Although experiencing the change of dynasties and chaos of wars, Yuelu Academy has always managed its survival and kept teaching and researching, which tells the profound history of Chinese education and provides precious evidences for today’s study.

   After all the activities, you will be dropped off at Changsha airport / train station for departure.

   Accommodation: N/A