Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Zhangjiajie Arrival

   Welcome to Zhangjiajie! When arrive to Zhangjiajie Airport, the local driver will greet at the exit of arrival hall by holding a name sign and transfer to your hotel. Before getting off the plane, please double check your belongings to ensure you have collect all your stuff. The rest of the day is for your own arrangement. You can freely explore the city by yourself. If you need any suggestions on your free time, we will be very happy to help you.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie

2. Day 2: Zhangjiajie
   Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie (B+L)

   After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby and start today’s tour with 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 lunch, we will go to explore Yuanjiajie, the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in the super famous movie Avatar. You 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. At the end of the tour, your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel for a good rest.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie

   

3. Day 3: Zhangjiajie
   Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, Yellow Dragon Cave (B+L)

   In the morning, meet your guide and driver at your hotel lobby. Today we will start the adventure with 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 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.

   

   Next, we will have lunch and then 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 the time in the mesmerizing underground palace, we will drive back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie

   

4. Day 4: Zhangjiajie
   Tianmen Mountain, Junsheng Sandstone Painting Gallery (B+L)

   Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast. Today we will explore Tianmen Mountain and Junsheng Sandstone Painting Exhibition Center. Tianmen Mountain is famous for Tianmen Cave (which means a gate to the heaven in Chinese). You will take the 7,455-meter-long cable car up to the top of Tianmen Mountain for 28 minutes, appreciating the amazing scenery and taking photos of the coiling road of 99 turns on the way. Then you will explore the mountain, walk on the thrilling glass skywalk hanging on the cliff and visit Tianmen Mountain Temple which was built in the Tang Dynasty and became the center of Buddhism activities in western Hunan. Next get to Tianmen Cave, a natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world. From ancient to modern times, numerous people from emperors to normal people come here to pray for blessings. You can conquer the 999 steps to Tianmen Cave and enjoy the wonderful scenery from above.

   After saying goodbye to the mountain, we will go back to downtown to have lunch and continue the tour to Junsheng Sandstone Painting Gallery where we will see a special kind of painting. The gallery was founded by famous artist Junsheng Li in 2001. This Tujia minority man created sandstone painting in his twenties accidently. He was helping his girlfriend renovate her house then, and he saw tillers spread colorful pebbles on walls and thought the walls look very beautiful. This made him very exciting. He started working on pasting picture which gradually developed into sandstone painting. All materials used are natural such as sand, stone and plants, and his paintings win the reputation of ”green painting” and ”environmental protection painting”. We will wander around the gallery to understand the process of making a sandstone painting and appreciate the artist’s works. The tour will end with drop-off at your hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangjiajie

    

   

5. Day 5: Zhangjiajie – Fenghuang Ancient Town by Car
   Fenghuang Ancient Town, Former Residence of Shen Congwen, Yang Ancestral Memorial, East Gate Tower (B+L)

   We will check out in the morning and drive for about 4 hours to Fenghuang Ancient Town. Upon arrival, we will have lunch firstly and then start exploration. 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.

   In the afternoon, 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 tour, your guide will lead you to your hotel. The town is very beautiful at night. You can stroll around the town when all lights are on.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Fenghuang Ancient Town

   

6. Day 6: Fenghuang Ancient Town Departure
   Tuojiang River, Wanming Pagoda, Hongqiao Wind and Rain Bridge, Tuojiang Jumping Rock (B+L)

   Morning time is free on your own disposal. Please enjoy your leisure time at the peaceful old town. After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye. Your guide and driver will transfer you to Tongren Fenghuang Airport to catch your departure flight. Our service will end here. Wish you a pleasant journey.