Hunan Discovery Tour
7-Day Changsha, Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang Ancient Town Private Tour
Hunan — the birthplace of Chairman Mao — may be little known by many people outside of China but it is waiting to be explored and appreciated. This tour includes the highlights of Changsha, amazing Zhangjiajie, and the beautiful Fenghuang Ancient Town.
With direct flights operating between LA and Changsha, it is easier to explore this mysterious and attractive land.
Highlights
- Step into the birthplace and the former residence of Mao Zedong and discover how he became the greatest man in modern China.
- Explore the highlights of the 'City of Snacks' — Changsha — and taste every snack yourself.
- Challenge yourself on the glass walkway that is situated 1,430 meters above the ground in Zhangjiajie.
- Experience the minority culture and taste the Tujia dishes in Fenghuang Ancient Town.
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98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
We had a wonderful time in Hunan. All sites we visited were spectacular. The Nature around Zhangjiajie is perhaps most beautiful on the Planet. The trip was prepared perfectly, and we were very lucky with the weather. Our personal guide, ToNy, was perfect: he is a very nice person, very responsive, with full head of ideas of making the trip nicer than in the itinerary. I would recommend him as a personal guide to everybody. more
May 2023,
Pawel from Warsaw
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Zhangjiajie magic
Our tour guide Tony was very friendly and enthusiastic about sharing his magical hometown. We really enjoyed our trip with him, and especially appreciated his ordering recommendations at lunch (which were all delicious), taking us to the ‘secret’ quiet spots, great photography skills and sharing facts about the local people and customs. We would recommend a trip to Zhangjiajie with China highlights and Tony to other travellers. more
Apr 2023,
Rhiannon E
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Spectacular landscapes
Our guide David from China Highlights was awesome and showed us the best spots and also some secret spots off the beaten track. He was always helpful with restaurant recommendations and make sure we have a pleasant stay. Thanks David. more
Mar 2023,
Steffen Wet
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CNY in Zhangjiajie
We are a family of four. My 10 year old twins really enjoyed the scenary and overall atmosphere in Zhangjiajie. David was very helpful and accomodating. He even took time to teach us how to make dumplings. more
Jan 2023,
Leticia D
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Great experience
We did a private tour to Zhangjiajie with China Highlights in July and had a great time! It was hot, but our tour guide Chris was awesome at making sure we went to the best places at the best times to avoid the heat and lines. He obviously knows the area inside and out! We got to see some amazing (and completely empty) parts of the park that didn’t seem to be on any other tourists radar - and they weee STUNNING. We’re so glad we did this tour! Thanks Chris!! more
Jul 2022,
clschomaker1
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Spectacular Scenery- great family trip!
Everything was so smooth and easy with them- they knew our flight had been changed (we traveled during a low season) even before we did! Everybody in our family enjoyed the stunning scenery and breathtaking/scary glass sky walks- recommend this trip for adults and families alike. Having a tour guide is best- we would have wasted a lot of time with logistics otherwise. Ann knew the best times and methods of getting around everywhere and made good recommendations on everything from food to timing. We especially appreciated that we never felt like we were being fleeced because we were tourists- nobody steering us toward overpriced junk souvenirs. We also especially enjoyed Ann’s sharing of local culture, stories, and songs (bonus: Ann has a beautiful singing voice!) more
Jun 2021,
christinajeanne
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A “Must Do” for nature lovers
It’s true what others have posted about the Chinese tourists literally pushing their way through for things, and huge queues. I’m an early riser, so I was shocked that Tony suggested we start at 10am most days; however, his logic was sound. All the Chinese tour busses are up and heading out at 730/8am and then in they are in the queues. If we had gone at that time, I would have been standing for hours for the elevator or cable cars instead of using the hotel gym or having a leisurely breakfast. more
May 2021,
MusicMandy
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DO NOT MISS Zhangjiajie
This has got to be the most beautiful place in China! It was an amazing trip! I was nervous to travel alone with two young children, but Ann made it so easy and fun! She is an excellent guide! She took us to some delicious restaurants. She even sang us some beautiful, traditional Chinese songs! more
Apr 2021,
lacallis
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Touring ZJJ with Tony !
Tony is an amazing guide! He speaks good English and is a local who shares his growing up experience in the forest and daily life with us. Thanks to his great grasp of time, we were able to tour Zhangjiajie with very little crowd and having a quiet enjoying private tour ? thank you for your friendship and see you next time! --gomell ,Singapore more
Jan 2020,
gomell
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The Most Spectacular part of our 17-day China trip
We had doubts about going to this location because generally... not big fans of landscapes and pictures and also we had quite a long whole day road to reach this place, but it turned out that it was totally worth it. These natural parks are truly amazing.We already had had high expectations about the main Zhangjiajie park and it didn't let us down at all - very unique peaks there. We were expecting this park to outshine other attractions in this area, but it came to our surprise that it didn't.For instance, Tianmen Mountain is absolutely amazing too. We understood it right after we got on the shuttle bus which goes to the top - take a look at the road itself - it is one of the most picturesque mountain road I've been to. You won't understand how huge the hole in the mountain is from the pictures - need to see it with your eyes. Also it is not only the hole itself which is beautiful there, but actually the park above the cave - and they have built some sort of scary and exciting hanging bridges on the rocks, which create even better views of the area. Also the cave near Zhangjiajie park felt like a highlight too - nor only it is absolutely huge naturally with a deep river inside, which you can move along by boat but also it is well overhauled inside with huge stairways and lights - looks like some sort of magical castle (strangely it didn't have many tourists and to us it was offered as optional - but we found it to be on par with the main parks and also a nice location to see for a change). Thanks to our lovely guide Carrie, who's got very nice and soft personality, which goes along with the mountains) She also was very kind to gift us postcards of the parks, which is good since no one prints photos anymore and now I've got something to put on the worktable. --punkloire,Moscow, Russia more
Nov 2019,
punkloire
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Amazing trip to Zhangjiajie with our guide Niki (Tan Qi)
We are halfway with our 27 days Journey to China and I think Zhangjiajie is over the top. Zhangjiajie is just amazing, from Tianzishan, the Hallelujah Mountains, Bailong Glass Elevator, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake and of course the majestic Tianmenshan. Mt. Tianmen is just amazing, from the Cable Car Ride, Glass Walkway and Heaven’s Gate. Our local guide Niki (Tan) made our 4 days in Zhangjiajie very memorable. She picked us up at the train station, was with us everyday and checked us in at the airport for our next destination, Shanghai. Niki navigated for us the complexities of going through the sites of Zhangjiajie National Park and Mt. Tianmen. She changed our itinerary as she saw fit, so we avoid the rush hour and the tons of group tours. Our queue for every site was shortened because of her efficiency. Her English is excellent and her knowledge of Zhangjiajie is vast. She comes from the minority group of Tujia. We were able to visit the highlights of Zhangjiajie because of Niki. She introduced us to Hunan Cuisine which is very delicious, we end up requesting for lunch everyday. Niki went out of her way to book us reservations to watch Charm (Xian Xi) about the culture and traditions of the minority groups of Zhangjiajie (Tuija, Bai, Miao and Han). Niki was always looking out for us, so we won’t have any problems. I highly recommend to book your Zhangjiajie trip with China Highlights and request for Niki as your guide if she’s available . You are lucky if you can find a person who speaks English, so having a local guide will make your trip more enjoyable and trouble free. --oesca, US more
Oct 2019,
oesca
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Ann can sing too
What a lovely time we had seeing the incredible national parks with our guide Ann. So personal and caring. She even entertained us with traditional songs. Can’t say enough good things about her. Terrific guide and person. --Robert D， U.S more
Oct 2019,
Robert D
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A must for aventurers! Zhangjiajie
A must for aventurers! ZhangjiajieWe spent 4 incredible days at the mountains, visited 3 different places. Each one more impressive and amazing than the previous one!! Amber was our tour guide, she was very friendly, helpful and took great pictures of us. I would definetly book my next trip with China Highligths, congratulations for your excellent customer service and the great tour guides --Bea Damm,Mexico more
Oct 2019,
Bea Damm
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What a great 3 day trip in and around Zhangjiajie with our wonderful guide Ann from China Highlights! Ann was informative, funny and very caring making our trip memorable in so many different ways. Our trip went without a hitch but for the fog and high mountain mist. Loved Tianmem Mt cable car, the spires from Zhangjiajie National Park where the scenery inspired the movie Avatar. Ps - Ann has a great voice and sings local traditional songs. --CristinaDug more
Oct 2019,
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Suggested Itinerary
Sheraton Changsha Hotel (5-star)
After a flight to Changsha, you will meet your guide and private driver at the airport, and then be transferred directly to your hotel.
Discover Changsha snacks in the evening:
Changsha is one of the "Top Snacks Cities" in China, so when you are in Changsha make sure you never waste your free time! Local snacks are available everywhere, and you can also go to the Fire Palace (火宫殿) to fulfill your appetite. Stinky bean curd, Maren crispy duck, and Deyuan steamed buns are highly recommended!
Sheraton Changsha Hotel (5-star)
Mawangdui contains three ancient tombs belonging to the family of Marquis Dai from the early Western Han Dynasty. The three tombs were all in excellent condition when they were unearthed between 1972 and 1974. The tombs contain more than 3,000 pieces of cultural relics, including silk books, silk paintings, other articles made from silk, bamboo slips used for writing before paper was invented, lacquerware, and more.
Yuelu Academy was one of the four ancient Chinese academies in the Song Dynasty, established in the Northern Song Dynasty (in 976 AD), and has a reputation for being a millennium academy that has witnessed 1,000 years of reform of the education system. It represents part of the history of Chinese education.
The Loving Youth Pavilion was built in 1792 during the Qing Dynasty. The beauty of this spot, with its blossoming peach trees, graceful willows, and flowing streams, has attracted many poets and artists.
Yuelu AcademyCrowne Plaza Zhangjiajie (5-star)
High speed train between Zhangjiajie and Changsha is on operation after Dec. 25th 2019. It takes about 3 hours. When arrive in Zhangjiajie West Station, your guide and driver will meet you and transfer to the Yellow Dragon Cavern first.
The Yellow Dragon Cave stretches a total length of 7.5 kilometers with four layers. It's home to an impressive collections of stalactites and stalagmites, illuminated in a variety of colored lights.
Prepare for early starts and time-saving adjustments:
To avoid waiting in long queues, your tour guide will suggest the best time to start the day, and might suggest you get up early or alter your attraction schedule. Please kindly understand and cooperate. You may want to take an early night's rest.
Yellow Dragon CaveCrowne Plaza Zhangjiajie (5-star)
Breakfast in Zhangjiajie's hotels is very basic, so your guide will prepare bread, coffee, and fruit for you.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in Wulingyuan Scenic Area, about 40 minutes' drive from the city. Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie are the most classic and popular sites in Zhangjiajie.
To save your time and energy, we will arrange the cable car (or elevator) trips to take you up and down the mountain. Take the cable car up Tianzi Mountain, and look through the glass walkway to see large areas of spiky sandstone peaks below that are thrusting up from the ground.
Have a simple lunch on the mountain. If you prefer, we can arrange for you to have lunch at a McDonald's on the mountain, and have a break in the air-conditioned building.
The namesake and inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar is located in Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, which you will visit in the afternoon after taking a shuttle bus from Tianzi Mountain.
Evening free time recommendation:
The Xibu Ancient Streets are a Tujia minority culture and tourist area about 2 kilometers from the hotels. They contain a local snack street, a folk culture souvenir street, and a bar street. Street barbecues are very popular in Zhangjiajie, so you could try sitting down and enjoying a barbecue and some local beer like a local!
Zhangjiajie National Forest ParkCrowne Plaza Zhangjiajie (5-star)
Baofeng Lake is in a basin created by the terrain in the middle of this mountainous area. A walk of about 20 minutes is needed before you reach the lake and take a wooden boat for a 30-minute boat ride. It is a leisurely experience as you float across the clear water, see the hills of various shapes, and enjoy entertainment by the local minority people as they sing their traditional songs.
Tianmen Mountain is regarded as the 'soul' of Zhangjiajie, being its highest mountain. The views include graceful ancient trees, karst hillocks, and long roads that are carved from the sides of the cliff. The cable car takes 30 minutes to get from the city center to the mountain top and is the longest cable car in the world.
Your heart will beat quickly at Tianmen Mountain on the world's longest cable car, the suspended glass walkway that is almost a mile (1,430 meters) above the ground, and the '99 Bends' mountain road.
Tianmen Cave (literally meaning 'Heaven's Gate Hole') is a 30-meter-high hole formed naturally in the mountain like a doorway. It is well-known for being glided through by a world-class stuntman in a wing suit. To reach the hole, you can climb for about half an hour up the 'Stairway to Heaven'.
Zhangjiajie is an amazing place for photography!
Using the photographic advice given by your professional tour guide, no matter who you are or what equipment you use, you can create a masterpiece.
Tianmen Mountain Sky WalkFenghuang Garden Hotel (5-star)
It takes about 5 hours to drive from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang, so it is better to start the day early. Although it's a long journey, you won't be bored on the way!
On the way to the Fenghuang Ancient Town, you will visit the Red Stone Forest National Geopark. It is an area comprised of the Red Stone Forest
Karst Landform Scenic Area, Gorge Scenic Area, underground rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and cave scenic spot.
In the Red Stone Forest National Geopark, you will see many strangely-shaped rocks everywhere. They are in different poses and totally natural. In the past, these rocks were called cornerstones, also known as "pagoda stones" or "the Chinese cornerstones".
Different from other ancient towns in China, Fenghuang Ancient Town is a secluded and tranquil town located on the bank of the river and surrounded by mountains. It is a good idea to stroll in this ancient town and visit some interesting shops and homes, and discover some interesting nooks. The ethnic handicrafts are really delicate and special in this region. At night, the town becomes more quiet and peaceful. Sitting in a bar and appreciating the sunset is wonderful.
Evening recommendation:
The night view of Fenghuang Ancient Town is beautiful and attracts many photographers. In your free time, it is recommended that you find a café beside the Tuo River, sit down, and enjoy the nighttime scenery!
Fenghuang Ancient TownYour tour guide will pick you up from your hotel, transfer you to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, and wave goodbye.
Onward Domestic Flights:
Zhangjiajie has direct flights to China's major cities, such as Changsha, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, and Guangzhou. We have good relationships with the air companies, and can get competitive flight prices, so feel free to let us know your next destination for a quote!
Trip Notes
Non-Stop Flights Between Los Angeles and Changsha:
Travelers from America will find it easier to get to Zhangjiajie than before as Hainan Airlines began non-stop flights on January 21st, 2016 between Los Angeles and Changsha.
Customizing the Tour — according to your needs
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extend or shorten it to suit your price, interest, and schedule.
You can extend it with an extra day to Fenghuang Ancient Town, where the daytime is picturesque and charming, and the night is lively; or with an extra day to the city of Changsha; or add one more day to discover more at the National Park (the entrance ticket is valid three days). If your time is limited, shortening by one day can also be arranged.
For a multi-city tour, we would recommend combining Zhangjiajie with Guilin (mountain and water scenery), Yangtze River cruise (relaxing cruise on the Yangtze River) or Guizhou (ethnic minority villages). Feel free to tell us your interest and idea.
Guiding Service
Your personal tour guide will accompany you throughout the tour, providing guiding service and local knowledge. He/she is ready and willing to help you solve problems while on the tour.
Accommodation
Star-rated hotels in Zhangjiajie might not be up to the standard of those in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Most hotels in Zhangjiajie opened over 10 years ago and have not undergone renovation, so the facilities might not be very new. For example, 4-star hotels in Zhangjiajie might only compare to economy standard hotels in cities like Shanghai. The hotels we use in the tour are carefully selected based on criteria like hotel environment, location, service, and previous customer feedback. Breakfast at a 4-star hotel at Zhangjiajie is very basic, and 5-star hotels breakfast is usually Chinese style mixed with some western choices. We suggest you bring your own toiletries and towel, and if you meet any problems in your hotel, our tour guide will help you arrange with the hotel to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
If you have other hotel choices or wish to book hotels by yourself, feel free to tell us your idea.
Food
Restaurant and cuisine choices are very limited in the national park. We will find the best available, but it is also suggested that you bring some snacks. Local villagers sell water and food like fruits and corn on the mountains, which are good to try while you climb the steps.
As for dinners (not included in the tour), you will have better and more choices while you are down the mountain. Feel free to ask your tour guide for recommendation of restaurants and dishes to try.
There are no vegetarian restaurants available in Zhangjiajie. For vegetarian travelers, please tell us your meal requirements in advance, so that we can make relevant arrangement for you.
How the Weather Affects the Scenery and What to Bring
It is foggy/rainy for over 200 days per year in Zhangjiajie, but the mists make Zhangjiajie mysterious. It might rain or be foggy (obscuring some of the view), but even then the scenery is beautiful.
A pair of comfortable walking shoes with good grip is a must.
Clothing: In summer, bring mosquito repellant, sunglasses, sun block and hat. Prepare an extra light coat for the cool early mornings and evenings. Bring warm clothes for winter, but you will get warmer climbing the mountains, so layers are recommended for flexibility.
Tour Price
Price includes:
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