5 Days to Zhangjiajie, Furong & Fenghuang

After your guide and driver meet you at your hotel lobby, let’s proceed directly to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. What you should be aware of ahead of time is that, as Zhangjiajie is one of China’s most popular tourist destinations, wait times at hot spots like the Bailong Elevator and Glass Bridge may sometimes exceed one hour, especially during major holidays and peak season from May to November. We appreciate your patience and understanding. If you want to minimize wait times, please speak with our consultant in advance about upgrading to a VIP-access service. 

Upon entering, your expert guide will navigate the most efficient routes to ensure you see the very best of the park. Let’s first soar up the cliffside via the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor sightseeing lift, which whisks you to the summit within 2 minutes. From its glass cabin, you’ll see how the towering rock pillars gradually descend beneath your feet. Some view this modern engineering feat as intrusive to the natural landscape, but actually, it is a win for sustainability. Before its construction, visitors had to stay overnight on the mountain, leading to the construction of hotels, restaurants, and other facilities that increased waste and pollution. The Bailong Elevator enables visitors to “see the top, stay at the foot”, greatly reducing the summit infrastructure and preserving the pristine setting of this World Heritage Site. Stepping out of the elevator, enter the surreal world of Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, renowned for its thousands of freestanding sandstone pillars. Here, stand before the Qiankun Column, the undisputed star of the park, long revered by locals as a divine pillar that stabilizes heaven and earth. After the release of the film “Avatar”, it rose as one of the hottest buzzwords among tourists as the real-world inspiration for the legendary Hallelujah Mountain.After a lunch break, take an eco-friendly shuttle of the park to Yangjiajie Scenic Area, where rows of rock walls rise from the valley like a series of Natural Great Walls. Over eons, wind and rain have carved away the softer strata. Thanks to the armor-like quartz-sandstone cap layers, these solid walls have watched over this land for nearly 400 million years, which is much older than the man‑made Great Wall in Beijing. Afterward, head to Tianzi Mountain, where peculiarly shaped peaks and pillars will inspire your imagination. Try to sketch the contours of these rock formations, and you’ll find some resembling frozen soldiers. Legend says that a local chieftain once led a rebellion here; after being defeated, he and his followers leaped from the cliffs of Tianzi Mountain. It is believed that these stone pillars are the eternal spirits of those fallen warriors. Enjoy the breathtaking Imperial Brush Peaks and Flower Fairy Peak draped in the warm hues of the setting sun before descending the mountain by cable car. Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After meeting your guide and driver, we’ll set off for the must-see Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, home to the world’s longest Glass Bridge. As you stand on its transparent surface, the blood will rush to your head as you look down at the 300-meter-deep (984-foot) canyon. Walk carefully across it, and you can’t help but hold your breath and hear your heartbeat. Rest assured, this thrill is built on absolute safety. Its panels are made of aircraft-grade glass, strong enough to support 12 adults per square meter and resistant even to the strike of a sledgehammer. Even in the extreme event of a crack, the glass is designed to fracture in a spider-web pattern, maintaining its structural integrity without shattering. For adrenaline junkies, bungee jumping is available here at an additional cost on the spot and reservations are required. Whether you choose to take the leap or simply watch the daring participants from the safety of the bridge, the atmosphere is electric.

After lunch, let’s enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park again for a serene hike along the Golden Whip Stream. Towering cliffs rise on both sides as the trail winds beside the flowing water, shaded by a dense canopy overhead, where you might even glimpse wild monkeys in the treetops. You’ll pass the iconic Golden Whip Rock, distinguishable by its two sheer, flat faces meeting at a near‑perfect right angle. When struck by the late‑afternoon sun, the rock takes on a golden glow, hence its evocative name. At the end of the day, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. 

► FYI: Your ticket to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is valid for four consecutive days. Should you wish to extend your visit to Yellow Stone Stronghold or other spots in the park, we would be happy to customize your itinerary accordingly.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

As the peaks begin to shine under the sunrise, your guide and driver will offer you a smooth ride to Tianmen Mountain. Precipitous as it is, the mountain is hardly climbable on foot; instead, we’ll utilize the round-trip cable car and multi-level transmountain escalators to help you conquer the summit with ease. You won’t want to miss the mountain’s centerpiece, the Heaven’s Gate Cave. It is said that long ago, a deity was so enchanted by the mountain’s fairy‑tale scenery that he decided to practice meditation here. To bridge the mortal world and the celestial realm, he used a magical axe to cleave this mystical gateway. Standing under the huge opening and watching sunlight filter through mist, you’ll feel the smallness of humans. Ascend the summit, and the cliffside Glass Skywalk here will add a thrilling touch to your natural tour. When the mist rises around you, it feels like walking on the clouds. In the afternoon, hop on your private car to travel south, and stop by the 2,000-year-old Furong Ancient Town, for a glimpse into ancient Tujia ethnic culture. The traditional stilted house is one of its most striking signatures. These wooden structures rise from the cliff above the cascading Furong Waterfall, earning the old town the poetic nickname “the Millennium Town Hanging over the Waterfall”. These elevated houses not only ensure a reliable water supply for the residents but also provide natural protection. Their lower floors are suspended above the ground, which can improve ventilation, reduce dampness, and keep out insects and snakes. Leaving Furong, another 1.5-hour drive will convoy you to Fenghuang Ancient Town. 

★ Handpicked Hotel in Fenghuang Ancient Town 

Since lodgings inside the old town tend to be timeworn and noisy, we’ll arrange your hotel with better facilities outside to ensure your comfort and convenience. Our 5-star hotel offers a private walkway that leads directly into the ancient town in just a 5-minute walk, while the 4-star option provides regular shuttle service, and its upper-floor rooms boast panoramic views over the town. 

► Romantic Night View of Fenghuang (at your own expense)：
After check-in, you can make your own way to the old town for dinner and night view, and your guide will be glad to offer recommendations. As night falls, the banks of the Tuojiang River gradually light up. The exotic riverside stilted houses and the multi-eave gate towers decorated with red lanterns are reflected in the sparkling river, like a super-long panoramic painting. Nanhua Gate Bridge and Rainbow Bridge are the best places for superb night views.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

On your final morning, your guide and driver will accompany you to experience the beauty of Fenghuang Ancient Town. After breakfast, enjoy a boat tour along the Tuojiang River that flows slowly along the old city walls and traditional wooden stilted houses. As water plants sway in the gentle waves and morning mist rises from the calm river, you’ll feel like entering a fairyland.

After disembarking, a leisurely wander along ancient alleys will lead you through the town’s most iconic sights. Walk on the Jumping Rock Bridge, a row of rocks across the Tuojiang River, to take beautiful photos. Climb the thousand-year-old Rainbow Bridge to enjoy views of the entire old town from the second floor. Check out the Palace of Longevity to admire exquisite traditional Chinese architecture. Under the 7-story ancient Wanming Pagoda, you can listen to the crisp sound of copper wind chimes hanging on its hexagonal eaves. If time permits, explore more attractions according to your interests, including the former residences of local celebrities and ancestral halls of ancient notable families.

If you’re lucky to encounter a grand festival, you’ll see locals in colorful ethnic costumes - Tujia people wearing round hats made of twined cloth, and Miao girls wearing intricate silver headwear, flocking to the streets to sing and dance in a lively atmosphere.

► Departure Note:
In the afternoon, your guide and the driver will escort you on a 3-hour drive back to Zhangjiajie, arriving at either the airport or the train station depending on your schedule. This marks the end of your 5 days Fenghuang tour from Zhangjiajie. To allow sufficient time for check‑in and boarding, we recommend booking flights or trains departing after 7:00 PM. Should you wish to extend your China tour to other popular cities, such as Chongqing, Chengdu, and Guilin, please feel free to contact our travel consultants for more details.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch