13 Days Hunan In-Depth Exploration

Today you will take the flight to Changsha. Upon arrival, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel for checking in. The rest of the day you can have a rest at the hotel or enjoy your leisure time on your own.

Today is a good day, in the morning, you will take the high speed train to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, we will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for checking in. Then we will head to visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, which is a new discovery outside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Nowadays, it is very famous and popular because of the longest glass bridge (430m long and over 300m above the ground), walk on the bridge is indeed a challenge of your courage. 

After that, we will head to visit Yellow Dragon Cave, which is a typical karst landform, renowned for its vast three-dimensional cave space, rich cave landscapes, and a combination of water and land tourism routes, earning it the reputation of being a "wonder of karst caves in the world".

Start today's exploration to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and you will see one of the best attractions here -- Tianzi Mountain. Ascend the mountain by cable-car and at the top and you will be able to enjoy views of Warrior Taming Horse Rock and the Western Sea which are two of the most stunning mountain formations in the whole park and are really a pleasure to see. 

Then take shuttle bus to the top of Yuanjiajie area, which is now famous for Avatar shooting base. From here, you'll stand at the same level with the mid-age pillars, which is bigger than those on Tianzi mountain. Next, take the world's fastest elevator -- Bailong elevator down. Although 88 seconds seem like a fleeting moment, it takes you more than 300 meters straight up, giving you the sense of flying into the sky and entering a utopian paradise.

Another wonderful day in Zhangjiajie, today we will continue the trip to Yellow Stone Village. With an altitude of more than 1200 meters, this area, surrounded by knife like cliffs, is the best and largest viewing platform overlooking the sandstone peak forest landscape, but also the best choice to watch the sunrise.

Then pay a visit to one of the most beautiful valleys in the world - the Golden Whip Stream. The water in the stream is clear, the air pure and the site very well maintained. We will have a relaxing hiking along the stream. 

Special Arrangement: Charming Xiangxi Performance

The journey is still ongoing. Today's first destination is Tianmen mountain (literally means gateway to the heaven) in Zhangjiajie city. As the highest mountain (1548.6m) in Zhangjiajie area, Tianmen mountain owned the longest cable car (7455m) in the world, which takes half an hour for one-way riding. On the cable car, you can have a bird view of the 99 curves Tongtian road. Enjoy the breathless walking along the glass bottom skywalk against the cliff. Then take the elevator to reach the amazing Tianmen Cave, the natural mountain-penetrating karst cave with the highest elevation in the world. Hanging on the towering cliff, it is indeed a big feast of your eyes!

Then drive to enjoy Baofeng Lake, which is known as the "Classic of World Lakes". The Baofeng Lake Scenic Area integrates mountains and rivers, blending folk customs into one. It is particularly famous for its picturesque high gorge and flat lake scenery, the Baofeng Waterfall that "flies down three thousand feet", and the mysterious deep mountain ancient temple.

After that, we will head to visit the 72 Strange Buildings, which stands at a height of 109.9 meters and is divided into three major sections: Tiangong Qilou, Yanhuo Old Street, and 72 Qizhai Village. It is known as the "cultural landmark of Zhangjiajie" and the "new engine of night economy". Successfully declared the Guinness World Record for the tallest stilted building in the world in 2019.

Check out in the morning, we will drive to visit Red Stone Forest, which is the only red carbonate rock forest scenic area in the world formed during the Cambrian period. According to geological experts, the formation history of Hongshilin rocks is about 500 million years. The Hongshilin area, like the Zuolongxi Canyon, belongs to the Yangtze ancient sea in geological history. The seabed has deposited a large amount of carbonate material mixed with mud and sand. Through crustal movement, erosion, and dissolution, this beautiful geological wonder has been formed.

Then we go to the Furong Ancient Town, the original name Wang Village, is an ancient town with a history of more than 2,000 years, because of the magnificent waterfall shuttle, also known as “the millennium hanging on the waterfall”. The town is a typical image of a small border town in western Hunan. The green slab-stone and stilted buildings reflect the characteristics of Tujia folk house.

Today would be a relax day to appreciate the ancient city of Qianzhou, which has a long and rich history, belonging to the Five Creeks barbarian region. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, indigenous ancestors flourished and thrived here. After the Qin and Han dynasties, due to the convenience of water conservancy and boats, this place became an important commercial port and dock in Xiangxi. During the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the ancient city of Qianzhou became the political, economic, cultural, and military center of the Miao region.

Then we will head to visit Aizhai Village, it is a place that combines natural scenery, classic scenery, and spectacular scenes. Aizhai is a comprehensive cultural tourism area that integrates sightseeing, experience, science popularization, and leisure.

After that, we will visit Dehang Miao Village. Due to the steep terrain, towering cliffs, and overlapping peaks and forests, the Dejian Miao Village has formed many cliffs, stone cliffs, peak forests, waterfalls, and primitive forests. The village is crisscrossed by streams and rivers, with a spring like climate throughout the year. It has a pleasant climate and abundant resources of flora and fauna.

Finally, enjoy the Dehang Fantasy Realm, which features billions of years old basalt cliffs as the sky curtain and traditional Miao village buildings as the stage. After nightfall, a round of "water moon" with a diameter of 8 meters slowly rises in the center of the stage through digital media art, presenting a strange scene of three moons: "sky, water, and real scenery". The interweaving and fusion of real landscape and dramatic poetry meets people's expectations for "poetry and distance".

Get up early and start your journey! Today you will appreciate the history and minority culture of Fenghuang Ancient Town. As one of the most beautiful ancient towns in China (regarded by New Zealand writer Rewi Alley)---Fenghuang (literally means Phoenix) is an ancient town with a history of 300 years. It is famous for the stilted wooden buildings (Diaojiaolou) beside the river.

You will enjoy a peaceful boat-riding along the Tuojiang River, from where you can enjoy the Diaojiaolou from the best angle. In the evening. You will have your free time to paint the town red and buy some souvenirs if you like.

Today we will also pay a visit to Changtangang Reservoir. It is a multifunctional reservoir that integrates flood control, power generation, agricultural irrigation, tourism, human drinking, soil and water conservation, and aquaculture. It benefits hundreds of thousands of people along the Tuojiang River.

Your today's trip now kicks off! After breakfast, we will take the high speed train to Chenzhou. Upon arrival, we will pick you up and drive you to visit Gaoyi Ridge. The terrain of it is mainly dominated by mountains and forests, with pleasant scenery and a forest coverage rate of 95%. Gaojiaoling Mountain, water, springs, caves, villages, cliffs, and terraces are all complete, making it a virgin land of undeveloped Danxia landform. Its biggest feature is that the Danxia landform is surrounded by beautiful water puddles, red rocks, green water, and dangerous villages and streams, with natural ecology and breathtaking beauty.

Today is another day sightseeing in Chenzhou. We will first appreciate the beautiful scenery of misty Dongjiang Lake. From April to October each year, due to the temperature difference effect, layers of thin mist will rise on the surface of the Dongjiang River, covering the beautiful scenery like a fairyland.

Then we will walk into the fairy grassland to visit the famous Yangtianhu Grassland with Hobbit Castle. Unlike the flat plains of the northern grasslands, the Yangtian Lake grassland is intertwined with hills and plains, showcasing the beauty of both the south and the north. The total area is 40 square kilometers, a free and vast world, with mountains, lakes, windmills, cows and sheep playing the rhythm unique to the southern grasslands.

In the afternoon, we will take the high speed train back to Changsha.

Today we will have a full day sightseeing in Changsha. First, we will pay a visit to the famous Orange Isle. It is the largest sandbar among numerous alluvial sandbars in the lower reaches of the Xiang River, known as the "Number One Continent in China". It stretches from south to north, crossing the river center, facing the Yuelu Mountains to the west, and facing Changsha City to the east. It is surrounded by water on all sides and stretches for more than ten miles, with a narrow section about 40 meters horizontally and a wide section about 140 meters horizontally. Its shape is a long island. Orange Island has attractions of Mao Zedong Youth Artistic Statue.

Then, we will head to visit Yuelu Mountain, which is a famous cultural mountain integrating Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism with the essence of Chinese culture. It encompasses the cultural connotations of Yuelu Mountain, which were jointly developed by the great masters of Confucianism, eminent monks and Taoist priests, and literati in history. Following this is to stroll around Yuelu Academy, as one of the oldest academic institutions in the world, Yuelu Academy's ancient traditional academy architecture has been fully preserved to this day. Every group of courtyards, every stone tablet, every brick and tile, and every wind and lotus are shining with the humanistic spirit tempered by time.

After that, we will have some leisure time in Wenheyou, which is an 80s style leisure business district, all located within the building. In addition to many restaurants and main meals, there are also many unique scenes with lively photos, dilapidated old buildings, flashing neon lights, vintage posters, and vintage grocery stores. Today's tour will end in enjoying Changsha night view.

Today is another day in Changsha. We will first visit Hunan Museum to know more history of this province. Here you will see many treasures and cultural relics. Then, we will walk the Huangxing Road Pedestrian Street, which is one of the busiest areas in Changsha City. It is a comprehensive place that integrates multiple functions such as shopping, leisure, entertainment, catering, culture, and tourism.

Continue our tour to the Taiping Old Street, it is the most complete street in the ancient city of Changsha that retains the original layout of streets and alleys, and is a microcosm of "ancient Changsha"; Since the Warring States period, Changsha has been the core area of the ancient city and has remained unchanged for over 2000 years. Within the neighborhood, small green tiles, sloping roofs, white tile ridges, sealed fire walls, and wooden doors and windows are common features of residential buildings and shops in this area.

Then we will pay a visit to Changsha International Financial Center, also known as  "Changsha IFS", is a super high-rise urban complex that integrates large shopping and entertainment centers, high-end office buildings, hotel style apartments, and international platinum five-star hotels.

Last we will pay a visit to Tianxin Pavilion. It was first built in the late Ming Dynasty and was renovated during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. During the Anti-Japanese War, in 1938, the "Wenxi Fire" reduced the ancient city of Changsha to a wasteland, and the pavilion itself was completely destroyed, leaving only the solid Ming and Qing Dynasty city wall to silently weep. The Tianxin Pavilion we see today was rebuilt in 1984 on this historical site. It is not only a gate tower and landmark of the ancient Changsha city, but also a witness to the historical development and changes of Changsha.

Today in the morning, you will say farewell to Changsha and be transferred to the airport, take the flight back to your sweet home. It has been a great holiday and we look forward to seeing you another China tour!