Brand-New Guide to Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Ancient Town
How to visit Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang spending the least money; choose suitable accommodation standards and the self-guided style you need; enjoy a free, in-depth, distinctive trip. Please take a look at our routes and complete guide. We hope to bring you joy and happiness! First is the independence of arranging your travel activities, including deciding the destination and itinerary.
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.
How to tour Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang spending the least money; choose suitable accommodation standards and the self-guided travel style you need; enjoy free, in-depth, and distinctive travel. Please take a look at our routes and comprehensive guide. We hope to bring you happiness and joy!
First is the autonomy in arranging tourism activities, including determining the destination and itinerary, choosing transportation methods and food and accommodation standards, and arranging sightseeing items—having personal autonomy and choice. At the same time, self-guided travel is also highly flexible; during the trip you can temporarily adjust or change the itinerary according to personal preferences.
The main purpose of travel is: "primarily recreational purposes such as leisure, vacation, entertainment, fitness, learning, exploration, and satisfying personal special interests."
I. [Zhangjiajie Travel Guide]
Zhangjiajie tourism has four major flagship scenic areas: (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Scenic Area, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, Yangjiajie Scenic Area). Undoubtedly ranking first is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Scenic Area (the tour routes already open to the public include the Huangshizhai Premium Tour Route and the Jinbian Stream Premium Tour Route), and Tianzi Mountain Scenic Nature Reserve (already open to the public are the Tianzi Mountain Tour Route, Yangjiajie Scenic Area Tour Route, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area Tour Route, and Shili Gallery Tour Route). Nearby there are also Huanglong Cave Scenic Area and Baofeng Lake Scenic Area, Tianmen Mountain Tourist Area, the Hundred-Mile Gallery—Maoyan River, and Jiutian Cave; a bit farther away are the World's Number One Rafting (Mengdong River), Furong Town, Fenghuang, and other such tourist attractions.
II. [Pre-Trip Preparation] Whenever you run into troublesome matters involving fraud or persistent pestering, never be weak or afraid, otherwise they will become even more brazen and unrestrained. The first thing you should do is refuse firmly and forcefully; they won't do anything to you. If this doesn't work, you can file a complaint with the relevant administrative department, and be assured that the department will stand up for justice for you. At the same time, this is also the thing they fear most and the most effective move for you. Below are the phone numbers of the relevant complaint departments for everyone; before your trip, you might as well write these numbers down for backup.
Zhangjiajie City Government Agencies Police Report Complaint Contact Numbers:
Zhangjiajie Municipal Party Committee 0744-8222658 Wulingyuan District People's Government 0744-5618010
Zhangjiajie Municipal People's Government 0744-8382201 Wulingyuan Scenic Area Management Bureau 0744-5618654
Zhangjiajie Municipal Tourism Bureau 0744-8380188 Wulingyuan District Tourism Bureau 0744-5618109
Zhangjiajie Travel Agency Industry Management Section 0744-8380185 Wulingyuan District Tourism Bureau Quality Supervision Office 0744-5618331
Zhangjiajie Municipal Tourism Bureau Quality Inspection Office 0744-8380193 Wulingyuan District Traffic Police Team 0744-5618323
Zhangjiajie Municipal Public Security Bureau 0744-8222151 Zhangjiajie Park Police Station 0744-5712381
Zhangjiajie Municipal Traffic Police Detachment 0744-8222837 Wulingyuan District Public Security Bureau 0744-5618327
Zhangjiajie Municipal Price Reporting 0744-12358 Zhangjiajie Tourism Magazine 0744-8380192
Zhangjiajie Railway Station Stationmaster's Office 0744-8512112 Zhangjiajie Daily 0744-8380709
Zhangjiajie Airport Office 0744-8238211 Zhangjiajie TV Station 0744-8350102
Transportation Management Complaint 0744-8220018 Industry and Commerce Administration 0744-8223013
Tourism Complaint 0744-8380139 Quality Supervision 0744-8223950
Consumer Rights Protection 0744-12315 Anti-Counterfeiting Complaint 0744-12365
Municipal Government Duty Office 0744-12345 Price Reporting 0744-12358
*Classic Backpacker Routes for Independent Travelers:
A1. Three-Day Tour Staying in the Scenic Area:
Day One: In the morning enter the (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour Route, Jinbian Stream Tour Route) Scenic Area: Zhu Bajie Carries His Bride, Guanyin Sends a Child, Golden Whip Rock, Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother, Master and Disciples Fetching Sutras, Zicao Pool, Wenxing Rock, Candle Peak, Meeting After a Thousand Miles, Climb Luancuan Slope. Stay in "Yuanjiajie Scenic Area."
Day Two: After breakfast, visit the (Yangjiajie Tour Route) Scenic Area: Wulong Village, Golden Rooster Announces Dawn, Three Ghost Gate Passes, Tianbo Mansion, Bandit's Lair, Four City Walls, One Step to Heaven. In the afternoon, tour the (Tianzi Mountain Tour Route) Scenic Area: Shentang Bay, Point-General Terrace, He Long Park, View the West Sea, Stone Boat Sets Sail, Turtle King Fossil, Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Presenting Flowers, Tianzi Pavilion. Stay in "Yuanjiajie Scenic Area."
Day Three: After breakfast, tour the (Yuanjiajie Tour Route) Scenic Area: Number One Bridge Under Heaven: Five Women Going to Battle, Business Card House, Divine Turtle Asks Heaven, Lovers' Valley, Worshipping Immortals Terrace, Soul-Enchanting Terrace, Back Garden. Water Surrounds Four Gates, Zhang Liang's Tomb, (Shili Gallery Tour Route) Scenic Area: Return from Wulingyuan to the city, ending the happy journey.
B2. Two-Day Tour Staying in the Scenic Area:
Day One: In the morning enter the (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, touring the Jinbian Stream Tour Route) Scenic Area: Zhu Bajie Carries His Bride, Guanyin Sends a Child, Golden Whip Rock, Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother, Master and Disciples Fetching Sutras, Zicao Pool, Wenxing Rock, Candle Peak, Meeting After a Thousand Miles, Climb Luancuan Slope. After lunch, tour the (Yuanjiajie Tour Route) Scenic Area: Back Garden, Soul-Enchanting Terrace, Worshipping Immortals Terrace, Lovers' Valley, Divine Turtle Asks Heaven, Business Card House, Five Women Going to Battle, Number One Bridge Under Heaven. Stay in "Yuanjiajie 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.
C3. Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang Four Days Three Nights:
Day 1: Itinerary content: Depart from Zhangjiajie city area, take a 40-minute air-conditioned tour bus directly from the Forest Park ticket gate into the scenic area (ticket 248 yuan included), hike through the "most beautiful canyon in the world"---Jinbian Stream Scenic Area (including Guanyin Sends a Child, Zhu Bajie Carries His Bride, Divine Eagle Guards the Whip, Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother, Journey to the West filming location, Longevity Spring, Meeting After a Thousand Miles, and other attractions). In the afternoon, visit the core of the World Natural Heritage---Yuanjiajie Scenic Area (including Number One Bridge Under Heaven, Nine Heavens Mystic Ladder, Qiankun Pillar, Heart-Linking Bridge, China-Korea Friendship Pavilion, Divine Turtle Asks Heaven, Soul-Enchanting Terrace, and other attractions). Stay in "Yuanjiajie Scenic Area."
Day 2
In the morning you can watch the sunrise, one of Zhangjiajie's four great wonders (requires good weather); tour the most beautiful place in Zhangjiajie Scenic Area, Yangjiajie Scenic Area (Tianbo Mansion, One Step to Heaven, Sky Corridor, Three Ghost Gate Passes, Yang Family Women Warriors, Echo Wall, Lovers' Peak, Five Finger Mountain, Tianbo Mansion, Fifth Son Worships Buddha, and other attractions), and Wulong Village, the most famous bandit's lair in greater Xiangxi. In the afternoon, visit Daguantai Scenic Area (Tianzi Seat, Immortal Bridge, Divine Chicken Pecking Food, One Step Hard to Walk), and view the panorama of Shili Gallery. In the evening, watch the sunset over Zhangjiajie's Tianzi Mountain—gorgeous rosy clouds. Stay in "Yuanjiajie Scenic Area."
Day 3
Tour the king of peak forests---Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area (Fairy Scattering Flowers, Imperial Brush Peak, He Long Park, Tianzi Pavilion, Yunqing Rock, and other attractions). After descending the mountain, tour Shili Gallery Scenic Area (Herb-Gathering Old Man, Three Sisters Peak, Conch Peak, Longevity Star Welcomes Guests, and others). In the afternoon, go to Fenghuang. Rush to stay in Fenghuang.
Day 4
Depart Fenghuang at 8:30 in the morning, take a bus to Wulong Mountain, Miao family market day, where Miao girls and boys pull sleeves and step on toes as a place to find a partner.
Tour Wulong Mountain, the most legendary mountain range in Xiangxi. Here is Niuguang Miao Village, which was robbed by bandits eighteen times over forty years; here is the site of the former bandit-suppression headquarters of the 47th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; here is Wulong Mountain's Camel Peak, which closely resembles Zhangjiajie's Sky-Supporting Stone Pillar; here is the Wuchao River Grand Canyon at the border connecting Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hunan provinces; this is the birthplace of the household-name "Story of Bandit Suppression at Wulong Mountain."
At noon, taste the farmhouse specialty meal that the Miao people use to entertain distinguished guests.
III. [Fenghuang Ancient Town Travel Guide]
How to get to Fenghuang from Zhangjiajie:
Most people choose to spend 61 yuan on a direct bus, because it is very convenient and saves a lot of trouble transferring; it takes four hours to arrive. However, there are relatively few departures, only two buses a day, at 8:30 in the morning and 14:30 in the afternoon. If your schedule just misses these two buses, you can choose to stay one night in the city or take a train first to Jishou and then transfer to Fenghuang. There are quite a few 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.
1. Fenghuang Sightseeing:
Fenghuang's top ten attractions (Southern Great Wall, Qiliang Cave, Huangsiqiao Ancient Town, Tuo River Boating, Shen Congwen's Former Residence, Xiong Xiling's Former Residence, Yang Family Ancestral Hall, East Gate Tower, Wanshou Palace, Chongde Hall) and others have a through ticket of 248 yuan/person.
2. Eight Great Sights in the City (Shen Congwen's Former Residence, Xiong Xiling's Former Residence, Yang Family Ancestral Hall, Tuo River Boating, East Gate Tower, Hongqiao Art Museum, Wanshou Palace, Chongde Hall through ticket 168 yuan), while the stilted houses on both banks of the Tuo River, Hongqiao, Wanming Pagoda, Jumping Rock, and North Gate Tower are free of charge. Taking a cruise from the North Gate Pier to Shen Congwen's grave, enjoying the Tuo River scenery along the way on the river, requires buying only the 98-yuan through ticket.
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. [Complete Guide to Fenghuang]
1. Getting Around Fenghuang
Fenghuang is divided into the New Town and the Old Town, and the main transport between them is by taxi, with a starting fare of 2 yuan. To get to various scenic spots such as Ala and Shanjiang, you can take a taxi to the bus station and then transfer to a minibus, with a minibus fare of about 5 yuan. Outside the bus station there are many minivans and cars available for charter.
Fenghuang county town is very small, so generally you don't need to take a vehicle; green taxis start at 2 yuan (probably the lowest in the whole country), and environmentally friendly battery-powered carts cost 1 yuan per person. Transport to scenic spots outside the town, such as Huangsiqiao Ancient Town, Mount Fanjing in Guizhou, Dehang in Jishou, and Duluo Village, is very inconvenient, so it is recommended to rent a car or join a one-day tour with a local travel company. West Gate Gorge Rafting (Fenghuang–Jishou or Jixin shuttle bus) is 25 kilometers away, Shanjiang Market Day (Fenghuang–Shanjiang or La'ershan rural shuttle bus) is 19 kilometers away, Qiliang Cave (Fenghuang–Jishou or Jixin shuttle bus) is 5 kilometers away, and the Southern Great Wall (Fenghuang–Ala shuttle bus) is 18 kilometers away; county routes pass directly by, and the fares are very low.
2. Accommodation in Fenghuang:
Except on holidays and weekends, accommodation in Fenghuang is generally not tight. Tour groups usually stay in hotels, while independent travelers mostly stay in family inns. Where you stay is a very important matter when traveling in Fenghuang; an unpleasant stay can affect a rare travel mood. This is especially true for poorly prepared tourists, who after arriving in Fenghuang make do with whatever lodging they find or are led around the ancient town by women soliciting guests
3. Food in Fenghuang:
The cooking style of Fenghuang people is characterized by lots of oil, lots of salt, and lots of seasonings; chefs feel uneasy if they don't add chili peppers when stir-frying. Therefore, particular guests must specially remind the owner and the chef.
Local main dishes are generally made as hot pots. Blood Cake Duck is Fenghuang's number-one famous dish; it is complicated to make and tastes quite good, the kind that makes you praise it with the first bite. Others include Miao fish hot pot and cured meat hot pot, which are distinctive. Meat dishes include braised pork, steamed pork with rice flour, stir-fried or stewed meat with qiongjun (zongjun—wild mushrooms from the mountainous areas of the south), and stir-fried meat with guanguanjun (scientific name: porcini; a specialty of La'ershan in Fenghuang, though a small number of people may have adverse reactions). Stir-fried cured meat with fern sprouts and wild scallions. Fenghuang's local side dishes are quite wonderful, with particularly distinctive flavors, such as tofu boiled in sour soup, pan-fried glutinous rice sour-and-spicy cakes, wild scallion and glutinous rice sour-and-spicy paste, wild scallion sour soup, and sour radish, with sourness as their characteristic feature;
Fast-food restaurants can be seen everywhere in the county town, with cheap prices; 3-5 yuan is enough for a meal. There are also uniquely flavored snacks such as malatang and rice noodles, as well as Miao-style sour fish and sour radish.
In the evening, on Yongfeng Bridge Pedestrian Street (the street in front of Hong Bridge), there are many night market stalls where you can eat stir-fried dishes; meat dishes are 5 yuan and vegetarian dishes are 2-3 yuan. A few people can eat for 20 or 30 yuan, and the taste is very good. It is recommended to eat there
Snacks: Fenghuang has many varieties of snacks, such as sour radish types (you often see girls in Fenghuang eating them with great relish), dengzhanwo, fried tonghao, haocai baba, and corn baba
4. Fenghuang's small bars are very lively and numerous, and the prices are fairly cheap. At night you can drink while enjoying the night view, chat with your friends about this trip to Xiangxi, and have some happy entertainment; that is truly pleasant conversation and laughter.
This place is a production area for kiwifruit and oranges. Kiwifruit is 1-1.5 yuan per jin (the cheapest is 0.5 yuan), and oranges are 0.8 yuan per jin. Eat to your heart's content.
(Nationwide) Train Number Departure Station Departure Time Arrival Time at Zhangjiajie Terminal Station Arrival Time
1473 Xiangfan 09:58 Zhangjiajie same day 18:20 Zhanjiang 11:20
1474 Zhanjiang 15:28 Zhangjiajie next day 09:30 0 Xiangfan 19:21
1645 Zhengzhou 17:20 Zhangjiajie next day 09:13 Guiyang 22:04
1646 Guiyang 11:09 Zhangjiajie same day 23:37 Zhengzhou 16:33
2011 Zhangjiajie 17:38 Nanning 07:36
2012 Nanning 17:50 Zhangjiajie next day 08:20
7265 Zhangjiajie 08:49 Huaihua 15:30
7266 Huaihua 07:14 Zhangjiajie same day 12:28 Lixian 16:48
7267 Lixian 17:20 Zhangjiajie same day 21:09 Zhangjiajie 21:09
K267 Beijing West 12:20 Zhangjiajie next day 10:25 Huaihua 14:05
K268 Huaihua 09:20 Zhangjiajie same day 12:42 Beijing West 10:39
K507 Beijing West 22:16 Zhangjiajie next day 20:27 Zunyi 11:24
K509/K508 Zunyi 21:19 Zhangjiajie next day 14:12 Beijing West 15:00
K533/K536 Shanghai South 11:58 Zhangjiajie next day 07:38 Huaihua 11:42
K534/K535 Huaihua 10:08 Zhangjiajie same day 13:24 Shanghai South 10:11
L303/L302 Shanghai South 18:44 Zhangjiajie next day 19:05 Huaihua 23:03
L304/L301 Zhangjiajie 15:15 Shanghai South 16:27
N566/N567 Changsha 22:56 Zhangjiajie next day 04:08 Jishou 06:40
N568/N565 Jishou 10:18 Zhangjiajie same day 12:03 Changsha 18:23
N569/N572 Changsha 20:18 Zhangjiajie next day 07:34
N571/N570 Zhangjiajie 19:01 Changsha 06:10
N581/N584 Tongren 10:32 Zhangjiajie same day 15:24 Shenzhen West 08:30
N582/N583 Shenzhen West 11:38 Zhangjiajie next day 03:21 Tongren 08:25
N590/N591 Guangzhou 19:56 Zhangjiajie next day 10:00
N592/N589 Zhangjiajie 17:10 Guangzhou 07:06
Nationwide Self-Driving Routes:
From Changsha to Zhangjiajie
Changsha—(Changchang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
The drive takes about 3.5 hours
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
The drive takes about 8 hours
2. Wuhan—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Yueyang—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Changsha—(Changchang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 7 hours
From Guangzhou to Zhangjiajie
(Jingzhu Expressway)→Changsha—(Changzhang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 12 hours
From East China
1. Shanghai—→Nanjing—→Hefei—→Qianshan—→Huangmei—→Huangshi—→Wuhan—→Jingzhou—→Gong'an—→Lixian County, Hunan—→Shimen—→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 15 hours
2. Shanghai—→Hangzhou—→Jinhua—→Quzhou—→Nanchang—→Zhuzhou—→Changsha—→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 15 hours
From Beijing
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
It takes about 16 hours
From Nanchang
Nanchang—(National Highway 207)→Zhuzhou—(Expressway)→Changsha—(Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 9 hours
From Hefei
1. Hefei—→Wuhan—→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—((National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 12 hours
2. Hefei—→Wuhan—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Yueyang—(Jingzhu Expressway)→Changsha—(Changchang Expressway)→Changde—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 11 hours
From Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou—(Expressway)→Wuhan—(Expressway)→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 14 hours
From Jinan
Jinan—→Handan—(Expressway)→Wuhan—→Jingzhou—(National Highway)→Gong'an—(National Highway)→Lixian County, Hunan—(Provincial Highway)→Shimen—(Provincial Highway)→Cili County—(Changzhang Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 18 hours
From Chongqing
Chongqing—→Fuling—→Wulong—→Pengshui—→Qianjiang—→Xianfeng—→Longshan, Hunan—→Yongshun—→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 14 hours
From Guilin
Guilin—(National Highway)→Quanzhou—(National Highway)→Yongzhou—(Expressway)→Hengyang—(Expressway)→Changsha—(Expressway)→Changde—(Expressway)→Zhangjiajie
It takes about 10 hours
Detailed Transportation Table Between Regions Within Hunan:
Section Areas Passed Through Driving Mileage Travel Time Road Conditions
Changsha--Zhangjiajie City, Changde City 320 km 3.5 hours Expressway
Changsha--Fenghuang Ancient Town, Zhangjiajie City, Jishou City 615 km 8 hours Expressway + National Highway + Provincial Highway
Changsha------Hengshan - 118 km 2.5 hours Expressway
Changsha------Shaoshan, Ningxiang County 89 km 1.5 hours National Highway + Provincial Highway
Changsha------Yueyang - 171 km 2 hours Expressway
Wuhan----Changsha - 360 km 4 hours Expressway
Guangzhou----Changsha - 700 km 7-8 hours Expressway 5
Jingzhou--Zhangjiajie City, Gong'an, Lixian, Shimen 320 km 5.5 hours National Highway + Provincial Highway
Huaihua--Zhangjiajie City, Fenghuang, Jishou 300 km 5.5 hours National Highway + Provincial Highway
Shaoshan----Zhangjiajie City, Changde, Cili 380 km 7-8 hours Expressway + Provincial Highway
Wulingyuan--Zhangjiajie City - 38 km 50 minutes Provincial Highway
Zhangjiajie City--Fenghuang City, Jishou City 238 km 4.5 hours Provincial Highway
Zhangjiajie City--Jishou City, within Yongshun County 186 km 3 hours Provincial Highway
Zhangjiajie City--Furong Town - 82 km 1.5 hours Provincial Highway
Jishou City--Fenghuang Ancient Town - 52 km 1.5 hours Provincial Highway