7 Days Hunan Tour from Changsha to Zhangjiajie

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Changsha

   Welcome to Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province! Upon your arrival at Changsha Huanghua International Airport, your local driver greet you at the exit of the Arrival Hall. Then you will be transferred to your hotel in Changsha for check-in.

   The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city at your own pace. You are suggested to try some local snacks, visit nearby attractions, or just only take a stroll along the bustling streets. In addition, Changsha boasts a rich nightlife, so don't miss it.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Changsha

2. Day 2: Changsha City Tour
   Cultural Tour to Museum, Mao Zedong Sculpture & Ancient Academy

   After breakfast at your hotel, we'll start our Changsha city tour by visiting the Hunan Provincial Museum. The museum was officially opened to the public in 1974 after 23 years of construction. Here you will find almost all of the finest artifacts unearthed in Hunan Province, including bronzes, stoneware, textiles, paintings and calligraphy, pottery, and lacquer ware. The artifacts excavated from the Mawangdui Han Tombs are the highlight of the museum.

   

   Next, we head to Orange Island Park, also known as Orange Isle, the largest inland island in China. Here you will see the huge Mao Zedong sculpture, 83 meters long, 41 meters wide and 32 meters high. The sculpture is based on the image of Mao Zedong in 1925 (when he was 32 years old). Besides, you will also see beautiful gardens, city skyline, and a 100 meter high fountain (usually open on weekends and holidays).

   In the afternoon, we'll visit Yuelu Academy, one of the world's oldest institutions of learning. This prestigious academy has a history of more than 1,000 years and its traditional architecture has been preserved intact to this day. Your private guide will take you to visit the Lecture Hall, located at the center of the academy, which is the main teaching place and the place where major events are held, as well as the core part of the academy.

   After the tour, transfer you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Changsha

3. Day 3: Changsha to Zhangjiajie Tour
   Historical Tour of Shaoshan to Visit Chairman Mao's Villa, Residence, Ancestral Hall

   After breakfast, you will be transferred to Shaoshan, the hometown of Mao Zedong. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, your guide will take you first to visit the Water Dripping Cave, with a little stream running through it and lush vegetation. Building No.1, the villa where Chairman Mao used to live, is the main building here, which has now been converted into an exhibition hall, preserving his daily necessities and so on.

   

   Next, visit the Former Residence of Mao Zedong, which consists of 20 houses, 14 of which on the east side are the Mao family home. Here Mao Zedong was born and spent his childhood and teenage years. You will see photos of the Mao family and the farming tools they used, including flat-bearers, hoes and buckets. Then, you will be led to visit the Mao's Family Ancestral Hall, built in the mid-Qing Dynasty as a place for the Mao family to worship their ancestors and sages.

   

   After our Changsha tour in Shaoshan, we will drive about 4.5 hours to Zhangjiajie. Once we arrive in Zhangjiajie, check in and have a good rest.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

4. Day 4: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour
   Hike along the Serene Stream and Walk on a Thrilling Glass Bridge

   After breakfast at the hotel, be ready for an amazing Zhangjiajie day tour to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the first national forest park in China. Here you will take a cable car to reach Huangshi Village, the largest viewpoint in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Surrounded by green trees between the cliffs, the top of the village is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round.

   

   Then, head east to Jinbianxi, Golden Whip Stream, considered to be the most stunning view in the park. This is where the brook gets its name from the fact that it flows through the Jinbian Rock. The creek is lined with peaks, and along the way you will enjoy beautiful wild flowers and plants. The estimated visiting time is two and a half to three hours.

   After that, your tour guide will take you Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to experience the famous Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. Aka Yuntiandu Glass bridge, this glass-bottomed bridge spans the canyon, providing visitors with a thrilling experience and a better viewing angle. In addition, there is a bungee jump program in the middle of the bridge. If you are brave enough, you can try it (extra charge).

   After the exciting experience, we will take elevators and slide way down to the valley bottom to get a different perspective of the canyon's beauty.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

   

5. Day 5: Yuanjiajie & Tianzi Mountain Tour
   Marvel at Yuanjiajie for Its Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain

   Today’s Zhangjiajie tour takes you to Yuanjiajie, which is served as the inspiration for the "Hallelujah Mountains" in the movie "Avatar." In the scenic area, we'll start by experiencing the Bailong Elevator, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “highest outdoor elevator”. The elevator runs at a height of 326 meters and takes about 66 seconds to reach the top. Then, you will see the Hallelujah Mountain.

   Afterwards, take a sightseeing bus up to Tianzi Mountain, which is known as "an enlarged bonsai, a shrunken wonderland". Its high terrain provides visitors with a wide viewpoint from the south, east and west. Admire the wonders of this landscape - strange rocky peaks surrounded by clouds, such as pillars, towers, as well as a more than 20-kilometer-long, 1,000-meter-high huge rock wall. At the end of the tour, you will descend by cable car.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

   

6. Day 6: Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang Tour
   Explore Yellow Dragon Cave's Underground River and Unique Rock Formations

   In the morning, we’ll visit the fantastic Huanglongdong, Yellow Dragon Cave. It is praised as an “all-round champion karst cave” by domestic and foreign geological authorities because it boasts the most complete and beautiful cave landscape with the largest scale.

   Follow your guide to appreciate the pointing stalagmites. You will also take a boat to explore the deep underground river - 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 the cave visit, embark on a 3.5-hour private car ride to Fenghuang Ancient Town, also known as the Phoenix Ancient Town. A national historical and cultural city in China, Fenghuang Old Town is teem with ancient architectures of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is very popular for visitors to enjoy the charming night view of the Ancient Town.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Fenghuang

   

7. Day 7: Fenghuang to Zhangjiajie Departure
   A Boat Ride on the Tuojiang River with a Different Perspective

   In the morning, we'll take a boat ride on the Tuojiang River, and you will get a different perspective of Fenghuang Ancient Town. The boat ride will take you past traditional houses, ancient bridges, and some famous scenic spots like Former Residence of Shen Congwen, Rainbow Bridge, East Gate Tower, and Wanming Pagoda along the riverbank.

   You can admire local stilted buildings, walk the ancient alleyways... just relax yourself.

   

   After the tour, we'll drive back to Zhangjiajie. And your guide will escort you to the airport or train station for your onward journey or return home. Your 7-day Hunan tour ends here. Hope you had a good time with China Xian Tour and wish you all the best in the future.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A