Zhangjiajie Forest Park Mini Group Day Tour

This morning, our guide will punctually show up at your hotel lobby at the time agreed with you the day before, and then accompany you to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park for a full-day sightseeing. Please note that our pick-up service will be limited to the area near the East Gate of the Park in Wulingyuan District or in downtown Zhangjiajie, and to facilitate your more convenient and earlier access to the scenic area, it is recommended that you book your hotel right around the East Gate, where there are as many as decent accommodation and dining options. And based on our rich field visit experience, the 4-star Expert Village Courtyard Hotel or 5-star Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel can be your top choices.

Welcome to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the first of its kind in China, which is renowned worldwide for its “three thousand strange peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters”. There is a saying that goes, “if you don’t visit Zhangjiajie once in your lifetime, it would be in vain even if you have seen all other mountains in the world”. After 380 millions of vicissitudes, unique peak pillars, peak walls, and peak forests have been formed here for you to admire. Being in this World Natural Heritage site, you can truly understand why it is regarded as an original version of Chinese landscape painting, and a martial arts wonderland depicted by famous Chinese novelist Jin Yong.

After checking in at the East Gate, take the shuttle bus for about 20 minutes to the lower station of the Bailong Elevator, which has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the world’s highest outdoor sightseeing lift. During the approximately 66-second ascent to the summit, dozens of 100-plus-meter-high (328-plus-foot-high) stone peaks on the opposite side, which resemble a troop of mighty heavenly generals and soldiers, will first startle your jaw. The lush vegetation on their tops looks just like warriors’ helmets, with a strong visual impact. This is one of the well-known sights in the park, the Divine Soldiers Party.

Out of the elevator, continue to take the shuttle bus for 5 minutes to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. The imposing mountains in the ‘Pandora Planet’ in the sci-fi blockbuster ‘Avatar’ are mainly inspired by those in Yuanjiajie, especially the individual Qiankun Pillar with a height of 1,074 meters (3,524 feet), which is the real prototype of the mysterious floating Hallelujah Mountain in the film. It has since become a hot spot for visitors to pose for a photo because of the movie’s wild influence, and why not leave your precious moments here? After that, the guide will also take you to overlook the full view of the maze-like karst peaks at the Enchanting Platform and witness a natural stone bridge with the largest vertical drop, the No.1 Bridge under Heaven.

Lunch today is not included. It is suggested that you have a sumptuous breakfast at your hotel in the morning and pack some energy-boosting snacks. A few restaurants that offer simple local dishes can also be found in Yuanjiajie, and if you need, our guide will be happy to give you some recommendations.

After lunch, a 10-minute eco-friendly bus ride will transfer you to Yangjiajie Scenic Area. It is said that the Yang families were ordered to come here to suppress the uprising during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127) and settled down ever since, hence the name. People come to this niche place mainly to catch a glimpse of the iconic Natural Great Wall. Composed of dozens of densely clustered quartz sandstone peaks, this geological wonder bears resemblance to the ancient Great Wall, showcasing the overwhelming momentum of nature. With us, prepare to be shocked by this ‘major new discovery of Zhangjiajie geomorphology’.

Afterward, it takes about 30 minutes to reach the Helong Park in Tianzi Mountain by eco-bus. Here, the most eye-catching will be a huge bronze statue of He Long, a great founding marshal of the People’s Republic of China, holding a pipe and gazing at the distant peak forest. After being led to the observation platform with the widest view, appreciate the legendary Imperial Brush Peaks named for their appearance under the commentary of our guide. Opposite it, you’ll spot the Fairy Dispersing Flowers, a stone peak about 100 meters (328 feet) high, like a graceful girl, wearing a crown and a long dress, and holding a basket, as if she is sprinkling the petals to the world. Then, explore the Tianzi Pavilion, where a variety of cultural relics about Tujia culture are displayed. Finally, take the cable car down the mountain for about 10 minutes.

At the end of this Zhangjiajie day tour in a mini group, our guide will send you back to your hotel. For more fascinating views here, like Tianmen Mountain or Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, stay one more night and contact our travel consultant to introduce you to our other mini group tours. Or interested in distinctive ethnic ancient towns around Zhangjiajie? Find us online at any time to customize more private Zhangjiajie tours for you.

Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
If there is any dish that can represent Zhangjiajie, it must be the Tujia stewpot. Walking through the streets and alleys of Zhangjiajie, you can see restaurants with the sign of "Tujia Stewpot" everywhere, which right shows how popular it is. You are advised to try the Cute Mr. Li Tujia Stewpot, a top-ranked eatery in the local area. It has 5 branches, among which there are ones near the East Gate of the park and the main scenic spots in the downtown area like Tianmen Mountain Cableway Station and 72 Tujia Stilted Buildings, making it convenient for you to reach. Perhaps when your stewpot, in which meat like pork and beef are freely combined with vegetables like potatoes and tofu for braising, is served on the table, the domineering aroma can overshadow all other dishes.
Average cost per person: CNY 50 (USD 7)
Address: No.264, Weiyang Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie