Chongqing to Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Self-Drive Guide
Chongqing to Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Self-Drive Guide: Route Options from Chongqing. Southwest route: Chongqing → Fuling → Wulong → Pengshui → Qianjiang → Xianfeng → Longshan (Hunan) → Yongshun → Zhangjiajie, about 14 hours. From Shenzhen to Zhangjiajie by train, there is train N582. Departure time from Shenzhen is
This article is compiled from the original travel notes on the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com); it is a record of trips from earlier years. Time-sensitive information such as ticket prices, schedules, and accommodation prices is subject to the latest announcements from scenic areas and transportation authorities; the itinerary ideas and attraction introductions still have reference value.
Chongqing to Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Self-Drive Travel Guide — Route Options for Chongqing to Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Self-Drive Trip. From the Chongqing direction, southwest route: Chongqing → Fuling → Wulong → Pengshui → Qianjiang → Xianfeng → Longshan, Hunan → Yongshun → Zhangjiajie. About 14 hours.
From Shenzhen to Zhangjiajie by train, there is train N582. It departs Shenzhen at 11:05 AM and arrives in Zhangjiajie at 03:34 the next day. There are also direct flights from Shenzhen to Zhangjiajie. Friends driving their own cars can follow this route: From the Shenzhen and Changsha direction: Shenzhen → Guangzhou — expressway → Changsha — expressway → Changde — expressway → Zhangjiajie. About 12 hours (of which Changsha to Zhangjiajie is 3.5 hours). Nanchang — National Highway 207 → Zhuzhou — expressway → Changsha — expressway → Changde — Changzhang Expressway → Zhangjiajie. About 10 hours.
With independent travel, you can freely see many beautiful sights that tour groups don't show you, and you don't have to go to places you don't want to visit to buy tourism products at prices much higher than outside. You save a lot of both time and money. Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang, two scenic areas that have swept the world, are like a pair of twin sisters, closely linked. This is a paradise for those who love independent travel. For those of you unfamiliar with this place, let us provide you with a simple and affordable Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang independent travel route and a hand-drawn tour map of the Zhangjiajie scenic area. With these two things, you can venture into Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang on your own.
First, it's suggested to go to Zhangjiajie first, then to Fenghuang. The reason is that climbing Zhangjiajie is too tiring — Zhangjiajie Forest Park and the other four major scenic areas cover 264 square kilometers. It generally takes three days, and it's all walking. Of course, there are elevators, cable cars, and sightseeing trains you can take, but for independent travelers in the wild, one goes for economy, two for freedom, and three to see more things. There's really no need to save effort on that. So after climbing the mountains, go to the Tuo River in Fenghuang and soak your already sore and swollen legs, relax, and it's like a rest and recovery. Then head home, and it will feel easy.
In summer, when going from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang, you can choose to go rafting on the Mengdong River, then stop at Wangcun (Furong Town) (there's no need in winter). Wangcun got its name from the film "Hibiscus Town," directed by Xie Jin and starring Liu Xiaoqing and Jiang Wen. The streets are built along the river and paved with bluestone slabs. Although most of the houses have been renovated, it still has a bit of the flavor of a border town, and it's worth lingering for more than two hours. If you also want to go to the number one rafting in the world — Mengdong River rafting — then you can spend a day in Furong Town. Between Wangcun and the Mengdong River there is also a canyon — Zuolong Gorge. Those who like adventure can also go in and take a look.
Brief explanation of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area:
The Zhangjiajie Scenic Area and the Suoxiyu Nature Reserve are collectively known as the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The Zhangjiajie Scenic Area is further divided into four scenic zones (that is, the zones included in the 248 yuan ticket): Zhangjiajie Forest Park, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve. The Suoxiyu Nature Reserve includes the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area (ticket 80 yuan) and the Baofeng Lake Scenic Area (ticket 74 yuan).
For the Zhangjiajie scenic area, ordinary small-group tours are arranged as three-day trips. This kind of group can be formed with just two people, and you can go whenever you arrive — very convenient. Moreover, these travel agencies that put together small groups all have posts online, so you can contact them in advance. The cost is economical too — generally between 460 and 480, including five main meals, two breakfasts, two nights' accommodation, and the entrance ticket fee (248), but not including the elevator and cable car fees within the scenic area. No need to worry about being cheated. These travel agencies generally make contact through the internet and have a certain reputation; they do honest business to earn money.
Be sure to ask clearly whether the guide has arranged travel liability insurance and accidental injury insurance for the guests. Only in this way are your rights fully protected from the time you arrive in Zhangjiajie until you leave.
There are several ways to get from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang:
Bus:
There are two tourist buses per day directly from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang. The times are 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM, with a journey of about 4 hours. Alternatively, you can choose to go from Zhangjiajie to Jishou and then from Jishou to Fenghuang. From Zhangjiajie to Jishou, there is a bus every hour starting from 7:30 AM (tourist express bus), with the last one at 7:30 PM. From Jishou to Fenghuang, buses start at 7:00 AM every half hour, with the last one at 7:30 PM.
The following train services are available daily:
1. 7265 Ordinary Slow Zhangjiajie ---- Huaihua: arrives Zhangjiajie 09:08, arrives Jishou 11:10
2. 2011 Ordinary Express Zhangjiajie --- Nanning: arrives Zhangjiajie 17:34, arrives Jishou 19:40
3. 5380/5381 Ordinary Express Zhangjiajie - Hengyang: arrives Zhangjiajie 17:56, arrives Jishou 20:00
4. 2645 Ordinary Express Zhangjiajie -- Guiyang: arrives Zhangjiajie 19:20, arrives Jishou 21:20
5. N582/N583 Express Shenzhen West -- Huaihua: arrives Zhangjiajie 03:30, arrives Jishou 6:00
6. K267 Express Beijing West ----- Huaihua: arrives Zhangjiajie 10:30, arrives Jishou 12:30
7. 1473 Ordinary Express Xiangfan ----- Huaihua: arrives Zhangjiajie 18:22, arrives Jishou 20:20
L17/L20 Temporary Passenger Beijing West ------ Zunyi: arrives Zhangjiajie 20:37, arrives Jishou 22:40
In Fenghuang, your main focus is to enjoy the tranquility and ancient simplicity there. Don't rush — stroll slowly, look carefully, and quietly take it in. Once you get there, you can forget the exhaustion and excitement of Zhangjiajie. As for what to eat and what to do in Fenghuang, wait until you get there to look for it. If you learn too much beforehand, you'll lose the novelty and that sense of mystery. In a word, in Fenghuang don't worry about anything, don't learn too much about anything — everything will be personally experienced once you arrive at that mysterious place.
Food and accommodation in the Fenghuang ancient town area are much more expensive than in the new town area. In peak season, a riverside room in the ancient town area is 100 (with air conditioning), 80 by the upstream riverside (with air conditioning), and generally 60 elsewhere (with air conditioning). Also, toothbrushes and such all cost extra, and are super expensive. But food is very cheap. Remember not to eat at those places by the river. The street where Hongqiao meets the new town area is very cheap — a hundred yuan can let 8 people eat very well. Nowadays there are many stilted houses along the Fenghuang river, and the prices are quite affordable, generally just 40 yuan per room.
If you want to take a boat ride, you can go downstream and take a private boat from Shen Congwen's grave to Peach Blossom Island. The price is generally 10 to 20 yuan. Large tour groups must have bought the full Fenghuang Eight Scenes ticket, so they naturally take the tour company's boat on the middle section of the Tuo River in the ancient town area, and there's a girl by the river singing Miao songs. The so-called Fenghuang Eight Scenes actually aren't worth going in to see.
At night, the night view along the Tuo River is absolutely a must-see. Colorful lights flicker on both banks, and the riverside is full of visitors. Many people buy flower lanterns and release them in the river — I hear making a wish is very effective. There are two bridges in the river for pedestrians to cross; one is a stone pier bridge, always with many people coming and going.
In the early morning, the riverside is at its quietest. Be sure to go before the workers cleaning the docks by the river start work, around before six o'clock. At this time the ancient town is relatively quiet, and you can experience its only moment of tranquility.
During the day, you can choose to visit Laodong Miao Village and Wulong Mountain as a one-day tour, including round-trip transport and lunch, for 80 yuan (usually 88). The guides are generally very dedicated, but Wulong Mountain isn't much to look at, especially if you've just visited Zhangjiajie. Laodong Miao Village is the most authentic Miao village in Fenghuang, still preserving much original folk custom and architecture. Actually, it's just some houses built of stone slabs and mud bricks. The houses of the rich are stone; the poor use mud bricks. Don't set too high expectations for the so-called farmhouse meal. In the afternoon there is also a Miao folk custom performance, using an interactive format, with very lively interaction with tourists and a good atmosphere.
Other places aren't much to see. You can head home, leaving by train from Jishou or from Huaihua. Fenghuang has places to book train tickets.
Notes and Precautions
For independent travel, you must pay attention to the following points:
First, women had best travel with at least one companion. Prepare some necessary medicine for colds and sprains.
Second, have a certain level of physical fitness before the trip. Traveling independently, you're bound to walk more and encounter more trouble than with a group.
Third, make a fairly detailed plan, including train times. Look online and contact a good guide in Zhangjiajie or Fenghuang in advance. Dealing with reputable online guides is reassuring; the possibility of fraud is basically ruled out. The guides I met were all quite dedicated and would not mislead or manipulate tourists, sincerely planning routes for them. The fees were also very fair.
Fourth, don't trust the so-called wildcat guides and taxi drivers at the station. They will approach you and lure tourists to Zhangjiajie or Fenghuang at extremely low prices, then take you around to various expensive paid attractions along the way.
Fifth, when going to Miao villages in Fenghuang, be sure to choose a good place. There are too many routes recommending Miao villages there, making your eyes dazzle. You should boldly bargain. Ticket management there is very irregular.