6-day 5-night Private Tour：Zhangjiajie+Changsha

Detailed Itinerary

• Day1 Arrive at Zhangjiajie - Night Tour of the 72 Wonderful Towers

  Full day: Welcome to the beautiful and magical Zhangjiajie for sightseeing. Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie, your tour guide will pick you up at the station and take you to your hotel for check-in
  .  If you arrive early, you can try local snacks at the Nanmenkou Food Street in Zhangjiajie city.
    Take a night tour of the popular Zhangjiajie attraction, the Seventy-Two Wonderful Towers ( approximately a 20-minute drive, entrance fee included) . Explore the Zhangjiajie landscape and visit the Seventy-Two Wonderful Towers! Experience the immersive, traditional Chinese-themed attractions, immerse yourself in the authentic flavor of Xiangxi. Explore unique bars, take in trendy travel photography, discover intangible cultural heritage workshops, and discover the Eight Wonderful Towers. Hear the intangible cultural heritage stories of the Nine Masters and Eighteen Craftsmen—how could life be more fulfilling ?

  
  

• Day2 Tianmen Mountain-Charming Xiangxi

  Morning: Visit Tianmenshan National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie's second National Forest Park ( approximately a 10-minute drive), known as the world's most beautiful hanging garden and celestial wonderland . Tianmenshan , with its unique karst topography, forms a picturesque pristine hanging garden, home to numerous natural and man-made wonders, earning it the title of a new legend in beautiful Zhangjiajie. Experience the thrill of soaring through the clouds aboard the world's longest cableway ( 7.5 kilometers , 28 minutes one-way ) , offering panoramic views of the cliffs, canyons, and Tongtian Avenue. The 28- minute cableway journey takes you to the summit. Enjoy a scenic walk on the Glass Plank Walk, also known as the "Eastern Sky Road" ( shoe covers included) , offering panoramic views of Zhangjiajie's cityscape . Afterward , take the world's longest mountain escalator through the Davidia involucrata garden to Tianmen Cave , the world's highest natural cave, 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep. Resembling a gateway to heaven, it's said to be the "Gateway to the Immortal Realm," and when shrouded in mist, it resembles a fairyland. Take the Tianmen Mountain Escalator down the mountain, or take the 999 - step ladder down to Tianmen Cave Square. Then take the cable car and transfer to an eco-friendly bus down the mountain.Afternoon: Check in to Wulingyuan Hotel and rest (approximately 40 minutes’ drive).

  Evening : Enjoy the folk opera " Charming Xiangxi " ( included in regular seat tickets, approximately 90 minutes) , directed by Feng Xiaogang and composed by musician Liu Huan. This opera seamlessly combines Xiangxi folk music and dance with sound, light, and electricity, presenting a spectacular audio-visual feast .

  
  

• Day3 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park full day

  Morning : After breakfast, travel by bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park ( approximately 10 minutes) , China's first national forest park. Transfer to the scenic area's eco-friendly shuttle to the Bailong Elevator ( entrance fee included) , known as the "World's Highest Elevator" (326 meters high). Entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for "the world's highest single-pass, fastest, and heaviest-load, fully exposed, outdoor, double-deck sightseeing elevator." As the elevator ascends, stunning views of towering peaks rise from the ground. Afterward, visit the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area , where you'll see Hallelujah Mountain , a filming location for the movie "Avatar," and explore the breathtaking " Mihun Terrace " and other viewing platforms . Afterward, travel by bus to Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area (approximately 40 minutes).Afternoon : After lunch, visit Tianzi Mountain, renowned for its precipitous peaks and sea of clouds, a core area of the forest park. Reaching an altitude of 1,262 meters, over 3,000 rocky peaks rise from the ground, forming a spectacular "sea of peaks and forests . " Key attractions include Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Scattering Flowers, Xihai Stone Forest, and He Long Park . Afterwards, take the Tianzi Mountain Cableway ( ticket included) down the mountain to the Ten - Li Gallery , a 5.8-kilometer canyon trail flanked by towering peaks and gurgling streams, resembling a slowly unfolding landscape painting. Along the way, admire scenic spots such as Heavenly Dog Watching the Moon, Reading to the King, Dusk Love, Longevity Star Welcoming Guests, Herb-Gathering Old Man, and Three Sisters Peak . Upon conclusion of the tour, check in to the hotel for rest.

  
  

• Day4 Golden Whip Stream - Afternoon Train to Changsha

  Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Golden Whip Stream ( approximately 40 minutes) . Enjoy scenic beauty and numerous attractions along the way. Hailed as "one of the most beautiful canyons in the world," it boasts a reputation for "flowing continuously even in a thousand years of drought, and emerald green even in ten thousand years of continuous rain." Renowned writer Shen Congwen praised it as "the young lady of Zhangjiajie," while renowned painter Wu Guanzhong hailed it as "a fairytale world." It was also a filming location for the 1986 version of "Journey to the West."Afternoon: Take the train to Changsha, and check into the hotel to rest after being picked up by a dedicated person.Evening: We recommend a nighttime stroll through Pozi Street , a bustling 640-meter-long street. As night falls and the neon lights flicker, it transforms into Changsha's "late-night dining destination. " Check out classic black stinky tofu , sugar-coated baba , and Cha Yan Yue Se (tea sizzle). Fire Palace is also a great spot. Set in front of the carved and painted ancient stage, order a Hunan three-piece set of chopped pepper fish head, stinky tofu, and sugar-coated baba, while the high-pitched strains of Hunan opera drift by, transporting you back to the prosperous days of the Ming and Qing dynasties. After a delicious meal, enjoy a stroll along the Xiangjiang River, where you'll occasionally encounter the dazzling lights of Du Fu's Riverside Pavilion and experience the unique charm of Changsha at night.

  
  

• Day5 Hunan Museum-Yuelu Academy-Aiwan Pavilion-Orange Island

  Morning: Visit the Hunan Museum ( approximately 30 minutes by car) , the largest comprehensive history and art museum in Hunan Province. The Mawangdui Han Tomb is particularly renowned . Its immersive exhibition halls recreate scenes of Han Dynasty life, creating a sense of time travel through millennia. The museum boasts a rich collection of artifacts , including thin, cicada-wing-like Zen robes, exquisitely crafted and showcasing the advanced textile technology of ancient times. The remains of Lady Xin Zhui, also well-preserved after millennia, are a true archaeological marvel.Afternoon: Visit Yuelu Academy, a millennium-old institution of learning . Nestled at the foot of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha , Yuelu Academy is one of the four great academies of ancient China . A major center of the Huxiang School of Thought, it was the site of discussions between Zhu Xi and Zhang Zai, pioneering the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas among academies. Historically, many notable figures, including Wang Fuzhi, Zeng Guofan, and Zuo Zongtang, studied here. Afterward , visit Aiwan Pavilion . Built in the 57th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Aiwan Pavilion was originally named Hongye Pavilion, but later renamed after Du Mu's poem, "Stop my car and sit to enjoy the maple forest in the evening, the frosted leaves redder than February flowers." Aiwan Pavilion is not only a beautiful natural landscape but also a site of revolutionary activity in modern China.
  Stroll to Orange Island ( round-trip train ride included) for a reunion with youth . Take a sightseeing train across Orange Island and watch the Xiangjiang River flow northward. Highlight the statue of young Mao Zedong. The massive statue stands majestically in the morning light. Snap a photo here and experience the heroic spirit of "pointing the way to the mountains and rivers." Enjoy the romance of the river breeze along the way and immerse yourself in the poetic mood of "standing alone in the cold autumn".

  
  

• Day6 Changsha-Warm Home

  Morning : Sleep until you wake up naturally, and then be dropped off at the station/airport according to the schedule, ending your pleasant trip.