Fenghuang Ancient TownFenghuang and Zhangjiajie are just 230 kilometers (140 miles) apart and are easy to get in between. We recommend a private transfer, as a car takes just under 3½ hours and is much more convenient. You can also get from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang by either taking a bus or a combination of train and bus.
We recommend taking the bus as the second-best option, as there are no direct trains between the two and there are no trains to Fenghuang, so the train requires you to get a 1-hour long bus first regardless.
Fenghuang is 230 km south of Zhangjiajie but the actual distance traveled and time taken is longer than would be expected as it is a mountainous region.
Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang by Private Transfer / Taxi
Your private transfer driver will help with your luggage.You can easily get in between the two cities by private transfer arranged by China Highlights. Contact us here to arrange and get a quote as this will depend on your group size. The ride will take about 3.5 hours depending on the time of day, and we can arrange a door-to-door transit!
Catching a taxi should cost around 600 yuan for the same journey (with bargaining) if you can find a driver willing to take you. Prepare your Fenghuang hotel name and address in Chinese characters for the driver.
How to Get from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang by Bus
Zhangjiajie National Forest ParkYou can catch the bus from Zhangjiajie Bus Station at 8.30am, 9.30am, 12.30am, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, and 5.20pm. These takes about 4 hours and a ticket costs 80 RMB. We recommend getting an early bus to ensure you're on your way and avoid delays that sometimes build up in the bus route during the day.
You can get return bus rides from Fenghuang Bus Station, and the ride will take about 4 hours depending on traffic. The bus fare is 80 RMB, and buses depart at 8.30am, 9.30am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, and 5.20pm.
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How to Get from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang by Train and Bus
Zhangjiajie's famous glass bridgeZhangjiajie to Fenghuang by train is a little trickier, as you'll have to get the train from Zhangjiajie to Jishou and then get the bus to Fenghuang.
Trains from Zhangjiajie Railway Station take between 1 hour and 42 minutes and 3 hours and 40 minutes to get to Jishou Railway Station. There are trains throughout the day, and tickets cost between 3-16 USD. There are many of varying speeds throughout the day.
You can use the China Highlights train ticket service to instantly check ticket prices per seat category and times depending on the day you want to go, or to find out the latest availability.
From here you need to get the bus to Fenghuang Bus Station from Jishou West Bus Station (吉首东站), which is a short taxi ride away. These depart every 30 minutes between 7am and 7pm daily, and takes just an hour. This bus costs 25 RMB.
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Zhangjiajie Travel Tips
Tianmen Mountain cable carThe best time to go to Zhangjiajie is when there are no public holidays in China, as it gets really busy, and when the weather is best.
Between September and early November, the weather is comfortable. You can also go between April and June if you don't mind humidity and the occasional rain.
Chinese public holidays will lead to more expensive accommodation and flights (and sold out flights), these times are:
- China's summer holiday season (July and August)
- Labor Day (May 1–3)
- National Day (October 1–7)
- Spring Festival (late January or early to mid February)
We recommend you get to the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure, and 3 during peak times. There can be really long check-in and security lines during holidays and weekends.
We recommend getting to the train station at least 1 hour before departure, 1.5 hours during peak times or to be safe, 2 hours if you still need to collect your ticket.
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Touring Hunan: Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang
Zhangjiajie National Forest ParkZhangjiajie is really a once-in-a-lifetime destination. We've got plenty of Zhangjiajie tours depending on how much time you have and how active you want to be. We can take you around for four full days to explore everything these gorgeous mountains have to offer.
To see both Fenghuang and Zhangjiajie, check out our 7-day Hunan tour! This also includes a tour around the capital of the province, Changsha.
And of course, tours can be tailored to your needs. Please contact us here if you've got any special requests or requirements, or need help navigating your journey to Fenghuang from Zhangjiajie.
- Hunan Discovery Tour: It includes the highlights of Changsha, amazing Zhangjiajie, and the Fenghuang Ancient Town.
