Day 1 – Arrive Zangjiajie

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Zhangjiajie Airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area includes three main areas – Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and Suoxi Valley Natural Resource Reserve. Despite the official names many people refer to the whole area as Zhangjiajie which can be confusing, especially as the nearby city is also called Zhangjiajie.

Meals: No meals provided.

Day 2 – Zhangjiajie

Attractions: Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Bailong Elevator

Today you will enter Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve which is part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area and was listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004. Here the most notable geographic features are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park and are the result of many years of erosion. These formations are a common feature in many ancient Chinese paintings. There are over 3,000 of these pillars including Hallelujah Mountain which was made famous in the movie Avatar.

Today enjoy your tour in this amazing fairyland. You will begin by taking the cable car up to the top platform which is the best lookout to enjoy the spectacular scenery. After that you will travel to the No. 1 Natural Bridge and the Enchanted Stage before taking a tourism train tour to Ten-miles-Gallery for sightseeing of Herb Picking Old Man and the Three Sisters Peak.

You will finish the day’s tour by descending the Bailong Elevator which is said to be the world’s tallest full-exposure outdoor lift, tallest double-deck sightseeing elevator as well as the fastest passenger elevator with the biggest capacity. What is not mentioned in that list is the fact that the views from this elevator are absolutely breathtaking. An experience not to be missed.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 3 – Zhangjiajie

Attractions: Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Valley

Once again you will begin your day with a ride in a cable car, this time rising to 1,000 metres at Huangshi Village. Once on the top of the mountain you can walk around an easy three kilometre track which takes you from one amazing lookout after another. Some of these include Star Picking Platform, Golden Turtle in the Fog Sea, Five Finger Peak, Remaining Piers of the Heavenly Bridge, Flying Cloud Cave and Lover’s Peak. Afterwards you can choose to walk down the 3,800 steps or take the cable car again.

In the valley you will find one of the most beautiful walks in the world as the trail follows beside Golden Whip Creek. Here you will see the peaks from a different perspective as you look upwards to Golden Whip Rock, Mother and Child Peak and many more. The track is flat and smooth and you won’t notice the distance as you discover another magical panorama around every corner.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 4 – Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang

Attractions: Attractions: Rural Scenery, Fenghuang Ancient Town, Boating on Tuojiang River

Today you will drive for about 200 kilometres to the beautiful ancient town of Fenghuang. Enjoy typical Chinese rural scenery along the way.

Fenghuang is Chinese for ‘Phoenix’ and legend has it that many, many years ago two mythical phoenix birds were flying over southern China when they spotted a beautiful village built along a river. They flew nearer and hovered in the sky enjoying the scene. In honour of this occasion the town was renamed Fenghuang or Phoenix Town.

As you walk through the town you will feel that you have gone back in time with traditional wooden houses perched on stilts over the Tuojiang River. There are numerous flag stoned alleyways lined with shops to explore as well as a variety of river crossings ranging from simple stepping stones to the magnificent covered Hong Bridge. You will also have the opportunity to take a boat trip on the river to see the town from a different perspective.

The predominant ethnic minority is the Miao and you will see the local women wearing their traditional clothing while they sell their hand made jewellery and other local specialties. Enjoy bargaining to obtain unique souvenirs.

Fenghuang is a photographer’s paradise and at night it is especially spectacular with many lights illuminating the buildings. You will stay overnight in Fenghuang.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 5 – Depart Zhangjiajie

Today you will be driven back from Fenghuang in time to check in at Zhangjiajie Airport for your flight to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel