Little-Known Tips for Visiting Zhangjiajie in 2010: Independent Travel Guide
Most travelers come to Zhangjiajie not only to admire its magical natural scenery, but even more to seek a sense of joy and relaxation. Living all day amid the hustle and bustle of the city and toiling away at tedious work, the moment you set off on your journey, your mood may already be completely set free. But when traveling away from home, you inevitably come into contact with different people and situations—some good, some bad; some beautiful, some ugly; some kind, some…
Most travelers come to Zhangjiajie not only to admire its magical natural scenery, but even more to seek a sense of joy and relaxation. Living all day amid the hustle and bustle of the city and toiling away at tedious work, the moment you set off on your journey, your mood may already be completely set free. But when traveling away from home, you inevitably come into contact with different people and situations—some good, some bad; some beautiful, some ugly; some kind, some wicked. Of course, being cheated or ripped off is, I think, what everyone least wants to see. Although the tourism market is constantly being regulated and efforts to crack down on illegal businesses are being strengthened, some lawbreakers, driven by their own interests, pass off inferior goods as fine ones and mix the fake with the genuine. Their methods are ever-changing, making it impossible for the unprepared to guard against them, and those who fall victim are left to regret it too late.
Having said all this, it doesn't mean Zhangjiajie has reached a point where people are deterred from coming. Overall, Zhangjiajie's tourism market is still well regulated. As long as you pay a little attention, book a guide in advance, ignore provocations, stand firm, don't covet small gains, and keep yourself clean, these problems can be completely avoided. That is why more and more backpackers choose independent travel. Objectively speaking, the scenery of Zhangjiajie is more enjoyable than that of Guilin and Huangshan, and the reception facilities are quite complete, with a relatively mature tourism market. Both joining a tour group and traveling independently are feasible.
Joining a tour group from your departure city can save you a lot of trouble, such as food, accommodation, and transportation, but it definitely doesn't mean all you have to do is have fun. Relatively speaking, after joining a group, many optional paid activities and mandatory shopping stops are unavoidable. Moreover, if guests don't contribute, the guide may not be pleasant to deal with—there's no way around this, because all mature scenic areas nationwide, under competitive pressure, local tour operators take groups at cost or even at a loss, and the remuneration of local operators and guides basically all comes from the guide's secondary income generation. Also, joining a tour group is very restrictive; every spot is just a quick glance. In addition, when a tourist joins a tour group, the contract is signed with the originating travel agency, but the execution is carried out by the destination travel agency and destination guide. Many discrepancies inevitably arise in between, and after arriving at the destination, travelers who want to take other trips outside the contract cannot do so. Changing the contract is also very troublesome. It is precisely these many restrictions of joining tour groups that have led to the current boom in independent travel, because independent travel has no restrictions, is completely free and unconstrained. As long as you choose your destination well and contact a local independent guide or hotel, you can easily arrange everything.
Tips:
1. You can bargain wherever you pay, especially for meals, accommodation, and chartered vehicles; generally you can get the price down to 70–80% of the original.
2. Most scenic spot ticket offices can store luggage for 2 RMB, and it generally won't be lost.
3. Be careful to ride only the dedicated vehicles of legitimate tour groups, and check the porter's credentials. Generally the guide will handle this for you.
4. Do not cook outdoors or light campfires inside the scenic area.
Featured cuisine:
Zhangjiajie's Tujia cuisine has strong ethnic characteristics while also blending the essence of Hunan cuisine. Spiciness is a hallmark of Hunan food, and Tujia cuisine is no exception. Besides spiciness, the Tujia people are especially fond of smoked, sour, and pickled foods, with a unique flavor.
Travel tips:
1. China Unicom mobile service is available in Zhangjiajie scenic area; there are IC card public telephone booths in the scenic area; mobile phone signal in the scenic area is fairly strong, and communication is relatively normal.
2. At present, the most usable card in Zhangjiajie may be the ICBC Peony Card. Other usable bank cards include the CCB Dragon Card, Postal Savings Card, and Bank of China Great Wall Card, etc.; Bank of China can freely exchange foreign currency into RMB.
3. Except for a few four-star hotels such as Xianglong International Hotel, most hotels and guesthouses currently do not have dedicated internet cafe rooms for online access; there are more than 300 private internet cafes in the city area that provide internet service.
5. The weather in the mountains is changeable, so it's best to prepare an umbrella or raincoat. In summer, be sure to bring sunscreen with SPF 40, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, a sun hat, and some tissues and disinfecting wet wipes are also essential; wear sports shoes with patterned soles for slip resistance; bring extra film, as it's too expensive to buy locally; also prepare some simple medicines such as band-aids, anti-inflammatory tablets, and anti-diarrhea tablets.
6. The mountains are rich in oxygen and also have many old fallen branches and leaves, so please do not smoke inside the scenic area.
Rafting gear and safety
The suitable time for rafting is from April to October.
In recent years, rafting has become increasingly popular, almost comparable to skiing in winter. However, because most tourists lack rafting experience and fail to prepare well before departure, they only discover what they're missing when they arrive at the rafting site, putting themselves in a passive position. Good rafting preparation should at least include the following.
Bring an extra set of clothes. Rafting will inevitably get you "wet," and it's very uncomfortable to have no dry clothes to change into after coming ashore. Do not wear leather shoes for rafting; flat slippers, plastic sandals, and sports shoes are all fine. In bad weather the water is cold, and in good weather the sun is strong on the water, so pay attention to keeping warm and protecting yourself from the sun. It's best not to use very expensive clothing, shoes, or hats for rafting.
Do not make dangerous moves on the water. Generally speaking, rafting sections are relatively safe. As long as tourists do not arbitrarily get off the raft on their own, do not roughhouse with each other, and do not actively grab floating objects in the water or plants, rocks, and stones on the banks, the raft will not capsize. Even if it does "capsize," it's okay—just hold your breath and be careful not to choke on water, because life jackets can keep even the heaviest person afloat, and the "rafting guides" who always watch out for tourists' safety—the water staff—will immediately come to your side.
Bring only drinking water onto the raft. Mobile phones, pagers, ID documents, and cash... do not bring anything that fears water onto the water. In fact, except for a bottle of water (you'll get thirsty after rafting for a while), it's best not to bring anything else onto the water. Stories of cameras and watches falling into the water have happened at every scenic spot.
For tourist attractions and routes, please see