Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Travel Guide
1. Zhangjiajie Travel Guide. 1. Zhangjiajie was originally called Qingyan Mountain, with peculiar landforms—"three thousand peaks and eight hundred streams," each peak like a sword or halberd. Lush primeval forests drape green between peaks and valleys; it is a famous national forest park. In Zhangjiajie's primeval forest, there are rare "living fossils": the dove tree, whose blossoms look like doves...
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.
I. Zhangjiajie Travel Guide
1. Zhangjiajie was originally called Qingyan Mountain. Its landforms are peculiar, with "three thousand peaks and eight hundred waters," and each peak is like a knife, sword, or halberd. The lush primeval forest sends forth green and drips emerald between the peaks and canyons, and it is a famous national forest park. In the primeval forest of Zhangjiajie, there are rare "living fossils": the dove tree, whose flowers bloom like doves; the cephaleotaxus, whose leaves are like halberds; the noble ginkgo; and the towering dawn redwood. In the high mountains, there is much rain in summer, and the air is fresh and cool. Whenever it clears after rain, among the columns of peak forest, mist rises and forms cloud gauze, winding around the mountainsides and floating over the treetops. When you are inside the Zhangjiajie Scenic Area, it is as if your body also flies along with the clouds and mist, and you feel transcendent, as if not in the human world.
2. Zhangjiajie tourism has four major ace scenic areas: (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Scenic Area, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, Yangjiajie Scenic Area), and nearby Laoshitian Tujia stilted houses.
II. Detailed itinerary arrangement:
Recommended conventional self-guided tour routes for Zhangjiajie are as follows:
Day One: The guide picks you up at the station for free, then take a bus from the designated place to Zhangjiajie Forest Park—a national AAAAA-level scenic area. Follow the world's most beautiful canyon, the Jinbian Stream highlight sightseeing route. Along the way are famous scenic spots such as Mother-Child Peak, Pig Bajie Carrying His Wife, Red Army Road, Jinbian Rock, Drunken Arhat, Master and Disciples Seeking Scriptures, Splitting the Mountain to Save the Mother, Longevity Spring, Wenxing Rock, Two Turtles Exploring the Stream, Scholar Hiding Books, Zicao Pool, and Meeting After a Thousand Miles. After reaching Meeting After a Thousand Miles, climb up Luancuan Slope to the Back Garden. If you do not want to climb the mountain, you can follow Jinbian Stream and have lunch at the Number One Bridge Under Heaven. In the afternoon, tour the core scenic area of Yuanjiajie: Hundred-Zhang Cliff Inscription, Sanguan Terrace, Number One Bridge Under Heaven, Five Women Going to Battle, Lianxin Bridge, Divine Turtle Asking Heaven, Lover's Valley, Small Cave Heaven, Worshipping Immortals Terrace, Mihun Terrace, and Back Garden. Overnight at a farmhouse inn inside the scenic area.
Day Two: In the morning, watch one of the four great wonders—sunrise (requires good weather). After breakfast, take a 30-minute eco-friendly bus to Daguantai, then tour Xianren Bridge (there is a poem: "Jade towers and jeweled pavilions are before your eyes; people say those who cross the bridge all become immortals."), Tianzi Seat, Divine Chicken Pecking (distant view of the panorama of the Ten-Mile Gallery), One Step Difficult, and other scenic spots. Then take the eco-friendly bus to the soul of Wuling—Yangjiajie. In the afternoon, tour the unique scenery of Yangjiajie: Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn, Wulong Village (the exterior filming location of Suppressing Bandits in Western Hunan), Three Ghost Gate Passes, Bandit Den, Tianbo Mansion, Four City Walls, view the farmhouse terraced fields, Wulang Worshipping Buddha, One Step to Heaven, and Sky Corridor. Overnight at a farmhouse inn inside the scenic area.
Day Three: After breakfast, take a 35-minute eco-friendly bus to the Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve: Shentang Bay, Jiangjiang Terrace, He Long Bronze Statue, Tianzi Viewing Terrace, Yunqing Rock, West Sea Stone Forest, Stone Boat Going to Sea, Painting Immortal Enraptured, Turtle King Fossil, Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers, Yubi Peak, Tianzi Pavilion, and Warrior Training Horses. You can hike down the mountain (requires abundant physical strength, about 2.5 hours). After going down the mountain, tour the Suoxiyu Nature Reserve: Ten-Mile Gallery, Monkey King Whistling Sentry, Longevity Star Welcoming Guests, Index Finger Peak, Husband and Wife Embracing Child, Xiang Wang Reading Books, Herb-Gathering Old Man, Dingtian Tower, Twilight Love, and Three Sisters Peak. Then take the eco-friendly bus out of the Wulingyuan ticket gate, ending the pleasant journey! Take a bus back to the urban area. Transfer to the station (train station or airport).
Two-day tour staying in the scenic area: 380 yuan per person all-inclusive price; includes the 248-yuan ticket and insurance, three main meals, one breakfast, one night's accommodation, bus fare within the scenic area, and guide fee;
Day One: Enter the mountains from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park; tour the Jinbian Stream sightseeing route scenic area: Pig Bajie Carrying His Wife, Guanyin Sending a Child, Jinbian Rock, Splitting the Mountain to Save the Mother, Master and Disciples Seeking Scriptures, Zicao Pool, Wenxing Rock, Candle Peak, Meeting After a Thousand Miles, climb Luancuan Slope, after lunch tour the (Yuanjiajie sightseeing route) scenic area: Back Garden, Mihun Terrace, Worshipping Immortals Terrace, Lover's Valley, Divine Turtle Asking Heaven, Name Card House, Five Women Going to Battle, Number One Bridge Under Heaven. Overnight at a farmhouse inn inside the scenic area.
Day Two: After breakfast, view the (Yangjiajie sightseeing route) scenic area: Wulong Village, Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn, Three Ghost Gate Passes, Tianbo Mansion, Bandit Den, Four City Walls, One Step to Heaven. In the afternoon, enjoy touring the (Tianzi Mountain sightseeing route) scenic area: Shentang Bay, Jiangjiang Terrace, Helong Park, view West Sea, Stone Boat Going to Sea, Turtle King Fossil, Yubi Peak, Fairy Presenting Flowers, Tianzi Pavilion. Then take the Tianzi Mountain cable car down the mountain and return to the city, ending the happy journey.
Day One: The guide picks you up at the station for free, then take a bus from the designated place to Zhangjiajie Forest Park—a national 5A-level scenic area. Follow the world's most beautiful canyon, the Jinbian Stream highlight sightseeing route. Along the way are famous scenic spots such as Mother-Child Peak, Pig Bajie Carrying His Wife, Red Army Road, Jinbian Rock, Drunken Arhat, Master and Disciples Seeking Scriptures, Splitting the Mountain to Save the Mother, Longevity Spring, Wenxing Rock, Two Turtles Exploring the Stream, Scholar Hiding Books, Zicao Pool, and Meeting After a Thousand Miles. After reaching Meeting After a Thousand Miles, climb up Luancuan Slope to the Back Garden. If you do not want to climb the mountain, you can follow Jinbian Stream and have lunch at the Number One Bridge Under Heaven. In the afternoon, tour the core scenic area of Yuanjiajie: Hundred-Zhang Cliff Inscription, Sanguan Terrace, Number One Bridge Under Heaven, Five Women Going to Battle, Lianxin Bridge, Divine Turtle Asking Heaven, Lover's Valley, Small Cave Heaven, Worshipping Immortals Terrace, Mihun Terrace, and Back Garden. Overnight at a farmhouse inn inside the scenic area.
Day Two: In the morning, watch one of the four great wonders—sunrise (requires good weather). After breakfast, take a 30-minute eco-friendly bus to Daguantai, then tour Xianren Bridge (there is a poem: "Jade towers and jeweled pavilions are before your eyes; people say those who cross the bridge all become immortals."), Tianzi Seat, Divine Chicken Pecking (distant view of the panorama of the Ten-Mile Gallery), One Step Difficult, and other scenic spots. Then take the eco-friendly bus to the soul of Wuling—Yangjiajie. Have lunch at the Wulong Village restaurant. In the afternoon, tour the unique scenery of Yangjiajie: Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn, Wulong Village (the exterior filming location of Suppressing Bandits in Western Hunan), Three Ghost Gate Passes, Bandit Den, Tianbo Mansion, Four City Walls, view the farmhouse terraced fields, Wulang Worshipping Buddha, One Step to Heaven, and Sky Corridor. Overnight at a farmhouse inn inside the scenic area.
Day Three: After breakfast, take a 35-minute eco-friendly bus to the Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve: Shentang Bay, Jiangjiang Terrace, He Long Bronze Statue, Tianzi Viewing Terrace, Yunqing Rock, West Sea Stone Forest, Stone Boat Going to Sea, Painting Immortal Enraptured, Turtle King Fossil, Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers, Yubi Peak, Tianzi Pavilion, and Warrior Training Horses. You can hike down the mountain!
Discounted price for students under 24 years old with student ID and ID card: travelers such as the disabled, military officers, and journalists should not forget to bring their credentials before going out, so they can enjoy discounted tickets.
1. No shopping stops throughout the trip, no incense burning, no group joining; play first and pay later, with no optional paid attractions inside the scenic area. One ticket covers the whole scenic area. 24-hour station pickup and drop-off!
2. Includes Zhangjiajie's most beautiful scenic spot—Yangjiajie Scenic Area [Wulong Village] (conventional tour groups do not go there)!
3. Includes the core of the World Natural Heritage — Yuanjiajie Scenic Area [No. 1 Bridge under Heaven], a scenic spot that regular tour groups charge extra for!
4. Stay in a [farmhouse inn] within Zhangjiajie Scenic Area, watch the sunrise, see the sunset, and enjoy the sea of clouds in close contact with nature. At the same time, you avoid the daily hassle of traveling back and forth to the scenic area
and the jolting bus rides! No forced shopping.
5. Within the scenic area, you can stay as long as you like, unrestricted by time or the two-day validity limit of the ticket for entering the mountain; stay ten days or eight months without needing to buy a second ticket.
III. Fenghuang Ancient Town Travel Guide
How to travel to Fenghuang on your own:
Most people choose to spend 61 yuan on a direct bus, because it's very convenient and saves the trouble of transferring; it takes four hours to get there. The schedule is decent, with only 4 departures a day: 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning, 12:30 and 15:30 in the afternoon. If your timing just misses these 4 departures, you can choose to take a train first to Jishou for 10 yuan, then transfer to Fenghuang for 15 yuan, totaling 25 yuan. There are more trains to Jishou in the afternoon, at 17:28, 18:30, and 17:30. The minibus from Jishou to Fenghuang roughly stops running around 8:30 in the evening.
Sightseeing in Fenghuang:
Fenghuang's eleven major attractions (Southern Great Wall, Qiliang Cave, Huangsiqiao Ancient Town, Tuojiang River boat ride, Shen Congwen's Former Residence, Xiong Xiling's Former Residence, Yang Family Ancestral Hall, East Gate Tower, Wanshou Palace, Chongde Hall, Ancient Town Museum) etc., with a through ticket at 228 yuan per person.
2. The eight major attractions within the town (Shen Congwen's Former Residence, Xiong Xiling's Former Residence, Yang Family Ancestral Hall, Tuojiang River boat ride, East Gate Tower, Hongqiao Art Museum, Wanshou Palace, Chongde Hall, Ancient Town Museum) with a through ticket at 148 yuan.
3. Karst cave wonder — Qiliang Cave (60 yuan). Take a minibus from Fenghuang Bus Station (2 yuan per person). For farther attractions such as the Southern Great Wall (45 yuan) and Huangsiqiao Ancient Town (20 yuan), you can also take a minibus. To go to the Southern Great Wall and Huangsiqiao Ancient Town, take the minibus to Alaying, 3-4 yuan to the Southern Great Wall (about 30 minutes); from the Southern Great Wall, take a minibus to Alaying for 2 yuan (20 minutes), then take a three-wheeled motorcycle (2 yuan) to reach Huangsiqiao Ancient Town.
4. You can choose to visit Miao villages. There are many Miao villages in Fenghuang; those currently developed include Tianlong Gorge, Leijiazhai Miao Village, Duluozhai, Laodong Miao Village, Yanbanyan Miao Village, Chaping Miao Village, Laojiazhai, and Shanjiang Miao Village.
IV. Eating and Accommodation in Fenghuang:
Overall, eating and staying in Fenghuang is truly good value for money: vegetarian dishes 3-6 yuan, meat dishes 6-15 yuan, tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) 1 yuan per bowl (more than 20 pieces!), canned mushroom stir-fried pork (10 yuan), blood cake duck (20-40 yuan), pickled fish and other dishes are relatively famous. Snacks include iced rice shrimp (1 yuan), liangfen (0.5-1 yuan), fried crayfish (1 yuan each), Miao-style pickles (1 yuan), etc., all very distinctive local flavors; in summer, you can also try the iced tangyuan here (0.5-1 yuan per bowl), sweet and sour and very delicious. The "Sangzhi Restaurant" on the old street is not to be missed. Although local tastes are on the heavy side, the prices are affordable, and because there are more and more tourists, they consider customers' tastes when cooking, with warm and thoughtful service.
Accommodation in Fenghuang: recommended stays: the stilted houses by the Tuojiang River called [[Linjiang Ju]] and [[Wangjia Inn]]; the owners are friendly, the prices are affordable, the rooms are clean, hygienic, and safe, and she even serves as a free tour guide; 24-hour station pick-up and drop-off;