2009 National Self-Drive Travel to Zhangjiajie: Routes and Tips
"Life is like a journey—what matters isn't the destination but the scenery along the way and the mood with which you take it in." Rolling mountains, bead-like flat basins, deep gorges, and high-altitude glaciers each fulfill our imagination of travel. Here we've prepared a travel guide for those eager to set out.
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.
"Life is like a journey; what matters is not the destination, but the scenery along the way and the mood with which you view it." Look at those continuous high mountains, bead-string-like flat basins, deeply cut gorges, and high-altitude glaciers—each one can satisfy our imagination of travel life. Here, the Life Home editor has specially prepared a Life Home travel guide for you who want to set out, enjoying the thrill of exploration while you play. Shoulder your pack and go experience the feeling of being on the road!
Highways are the main body of tourist transportation within Hunan Province. Hunan Province plans to build a highway network extending in all directions throughout the province within fifteen to twenty years. At present, several expressways have been opened, including Changzhu, Changtan, Changyong, Tanshao, Ningchang, Changchang, Leiyi, the Changsha ring line, and Changji, and the completed expressway mileage exceeds 1,500 kilometers; the expressways from Changde to Zhangjiajie (completed) and from Changde to Jishou have been built and can be reached in 2.5 hours.
At present, the Changzhang Expressway from the direction of Changsha to Zhangjiajie was opened to traffic on December 26, 2005. As a result, it now takes only about 3 hours from Changsha to Zhangjiajie, making transportation more convenient; the section from Zhangjiajie city to Wulingyuan is a high-grade highway, wide and in good condition.
The Zhangluo high-grade highway from Zhangjiajie city to Jishou city was completed in 2004. The road surface is flat, and a car can reach Jishou city in nearly 3 hours.
The highway from Jishou city to Fenghuang was also renovated in 2004 (1 hour from Jishou to Fenghuang).
With the continuous improvement of various sections of highway, road conditions in Zhangjiajie and the Xiangxi region have now greatly improved, and it is no longer the old 'Highway with Eighteen Bends'.
Driving routes to Zhangjiajie from across the country:
From Changsha to Zhangjiajie
Changsha—(Changchang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 3.5 hours' drive
From Wuhan to Zhangjiajie
1. Wuhan—(Hanyi Expressway)→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen County—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 8 hours' drive
2. Wuhan—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Yueyang—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Changsha—(Changchang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 7 hours
From Guangzhou to Zhangjiajie
(Jingzhu Expressway)→Changsha—(Changzhang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 12 hours
From Shanghai to Zhangjiajie
1. Shanghai—→Nanjing—→Hefei—→Qianshan—→Huangmei—→Huangshi—→Wuhan—→Jingzhou—→Gong'an—→Lixian County, Hunan—→Shimen—→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 15 hours
2. Shanghai—→Hangzhou—→Jinhua—→Quzhou—→Nanchang—→Zhuzhou—→Changsha—→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 15 hours
From Beijing to Zhangjiajie
Beijing—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Wuhan—(Hanyi Expressway)→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen County—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 16 hours
From Nanchang to Zhangjiajie
Nanchang—(National Highway 207)→Zhuzhou—(Expressway)→Changsha—(Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 9 hours
From Hefei to Zhangjiajie
1. Hefei—→Wuhan—→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 12 hours
2. Hefei—→Wuhan—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Yueyang—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Changsha—(Changchang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 11 hours
From Zhengzhou to Zhangjiajie
Zhengzhou—(Expressway)→Wuhan—(Expressway)→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 14 hours
From Jinan to Zhangjiajie
Jinan—→Handan—(Expressway)→Wuhan—→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 18 hours
From Chongqing to Zhangjiajie
Chongqing—→Fuling—→Wulong—→Pengshui—→Qianjiang—→Xianfeng—→Longshan, Hunan—→Yongshun—→Zhangjiajie, about 14 hours
From Guilin to Zhangjiajie
Guilin—(National Highway)→Quanzhou—(National Highway)→Yongzhou—(Expressway)→Hengyang—(Expressway)→Changsha—(Expressway)→Changde—(Expressway)→Zhangjiajie, about 10 hours
On the first day, the guide will meet the group at the expressway exit holding a sign. Visit the Forest Park, Golden Whip Stream, and scenic spots such as Guanyin Presenting a Child, Golden Whip Rock, Master and Disciple Seeking Scriptures, Longevity Spring, Two Turtles Exploring the Stream, Purple Grass Pool, and Meeting After a Thousand Miles. From the Meeting After a Thousand Miles spot, climb the mountain via the Luanchuan Slope or take the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie. In the afternoon, visit Yuanjiajie's Back Garden, Soul-Enchanting Terrace, and the World's No. 1 Bridge. Overnight stay in the scenic area.
The car can be parked at a hotel in Wulingyuan District
On the second morning, visit Tianzi Mountain's Daguantai, One Step That's Hard to Take, Divine Chicken Pecking (with a panoramic view of Ten-Mile Gallery), Immortal Bridge, and Tianzi Seat. In the afternoon, visit Yangjiajie's One Step to Heaven, Sky Corridor, Wulong Village, Three Passes, Tianbo Mansion, and Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn. Overnight stay in the scenic area
On the third morning, after visiting Shengtang Bay, Point General Terrace, He Long Park, Yunqing Rock, You in the Painting, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Presenting Flowers, you can take the Tianzi Mountain cable car down. Alternatively, you can walk down from Tianzi Pavilion via Wolong Ridge to Ten-Mile Gallery to visit the Herb-Collecting Old Man, Three Sisters Peak, Family Portrait, and Heaven-Reaching Tower. End your pleasant trip to Zhangjiajie!