Golden Whip Stream Scenic Area and Tujia Folk Custom Park. In the afternoon, drive to Fenghuang Ancient Town
Morning:
Stroll through "China's most beautiful grand canyon"—Golden Whip Stream Scenic Area: Golden Whip Stream is 7.5 km long and takes about 2.5 hours to walk. It is a naturally formed beautiful stream named after Golden Whip Rock. The valley is lush with vegetation, and the stream is clear in all four seasons, earning it the names "landscape gallery" and "earthly paradise." Along the way, visit famous sights such as Golden Whip Rock, Divine Eagle Guarding the Whip, Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother, Drunken Arhat, Wenxing Rock, Purple Grass Pool, Meeting After a Thousand Miles, Water Winding Around Four Gates, Guanyin Bringing a Child, Master and Disciples Seeking Scriptures, Longevity Spring, Candle Peak, Two Turtles Exploring the Stream, and Scholar's Book Collection. After lunch, return to Zhangjiajie city.
Afternoon:
Visit Tujia Folk Custom Park (complimentary item; no refund or reduction if not visited), a nationally protected key cultural relic site and a holy place in the hearts of the Tujia people. In the park, you can enjoy the intoxicating Tujia gate-blocking wine, observe mysterious Tujia ancestor worship activities, Tujia historical relic displays, and Tujia folk customs demonstrations. Most buildings in the park are made of wood and stone, with carved beams and painted rafters, golden and splendid, with upturned eaves and exquisite elegance. Representative structures include the Tusi Castle, Hand-Waving Hall, Tujia Mountain Village, and Houwang Palace. Especially the Chongtian Tower, built against the mountain, is magnificent: 48 meters high, with nine levels and twelve stories, winding paths and ingenious design. It has won two Guinness World Records for "Nine Heavens" and "Thousand-Person Maogusi," and is rich in Tujia garden art.
At about 15:30, drive via the Zhanghua Expressway to Aizhai Bridge Scenic Area (complimentary item; no refund or reduction if not visited). Visit Tianwen Platform, suspended above the canyon, where Qu Yuan composed the great poetic works "Nine Songs" and "Heavenly Questions" (if time permits, you may also visit Observation Deck No. 2 and Jidou Miao Village). Then transfer to the scenic area shuttle to tour the Aizhai Highway Wonder, the most perilous pass on the Hunan-Sichuan Highway. This six-kilometer section, built during the War of Resistance Against Japan, is unsurpassed nationwide for its dangerous terrain and ingenious engineering. Along the way, see the Memorial Tower for Workers Who Died Building the Aizhai Tianxian Section of the Hunan-Sichuan Highway, China's first highway overpass, the bronze statue of the Pioneer Road Opener, and the "most awesome traffic police in history" duty platform. Then return to the viewing platform to admire up close Aizhai Bridge, which created "four world firsts." Afterward, drive to Fenghuang.
At night, enjoy the night view of the Tuo River. As thousands of lights along both banks of the Tuo River are lit one by one, the whole area glows with color, placing you in a splendid golden scene. Step into a bar in Fenghuang Ancient Town and experience its lively yet romantic atmosphere. You can also choose a lotus lantern, make your best wish, and place them together into the long Tuo River...
Meal standard:
Breakfast: √ Lunch: √ Dinner: None
Accommodation:
Fenghuang