Why we built this route
The Avatar peaks are the headline, but western Hunan has a second act most tours never show you: Fenghuang. After the mountains we take you two hours south to a riverside ancient town that glows with lanterns at night, a place our local team loves as much as the peaks. Seven days lets the trip breathe: photography mornings in Zhangjiajie, a Tujia or Miao village meal, and slow evenings by the Tuojiang River. This is the route we send couples and photographers on.
A one-week private Hunan route combining Zhangjiajie’s Avatar Mountains, Fenghuang Ancient Town’s riverside lanterns, and Furong Town’s waterfall village — with photography-friendly pacing, no shopping stops, and a local team based right here.
Quick Facts
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Best for | First-time visitors who want nature plus culture, couples, families, photography |
| Main sights | Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, Furong Town, Fenghuang Ancient Town |
| Travel style | Private guide, private transfer options, flexible pacing |
| Can customize | Hotels, guide coverage, Glass Bridge or Baofeng Lake, Hanfu & Miao photoshoot, relaxed pace |
Best For
- Photography and culture lovers — three distinct visual worlds in one week
- Couples and families who want a scenic, unrushed private route
- Travellers with one week in China or Hunan
- Guests who prefer fewer long-distance city transfers
- Visitors who want Zhangjiajie mountains plus two ancient towns — not just one
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Zhangjiajie
Private airport or high-speed-rail pickup and transfer to your hotel near Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie city. If your arrival time allows, take a gentle evening walk or sample some Tujia-style street food. Rest early – the mountain days start tomorrow.
Day 2: Forest Park – Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and the Ten-Mile Gallery
A full day in the upper realm of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Wulingyuan). Ride the Bailong Elevator – the world’s tallest outdoor sightseeing lift – up to Yuanjiajie for the Avatar “Hallelujah” floating mountains, the No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven and the Back Garden. Continue to Yangjiajie (the “Natural Great Wall”, One Step to Heaven and the Sky Corridor) and Tianzi Mountain, famed for its sea of sandstone peaks and the Imperial Pen Peak. Finish in the valley along the Ten-Mile Gallery, walking or riding the little sightseeing train beneath the towering rock pillars. Your private guide paces the day around your group’s walking ability.
Day 3: Huangshizhai, Golden Whip Stream and the Charming Xiangxi Show
Ride the cable car up to Huangshizhai (or hike, if you prefer) – the largest clifftop viewing platform in the park, with sweeping peak panoramas from the Six-Wonder Pavilion. In the afternoon, walk the gentle Golden Whip Stream, the park’s loveliest valley trail and a “Journey to the West” filming location, following the clear water past Golden Whip Rock. In the evening, enjoy the Charming Xiangxi show – a vivid performance of Tujia and Miao song, dance and wedding customs.
Day 4: Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, Baofeng Lake and the 72 Wonder Towers
Morning at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge – the glass-bottomed bridge spanning the canyon – then a serene boat cruise on Baofeng Lake, cradled high among the karst peaks. In the late afternoon we transfer back to Zhangjiajie city, and after dinner visit the 72 Wonder Towers (Qishi’er Qilou): a 109.9-metre Tujia stilt-house complex – a Guinness-record “world’s tallest stilt-house-style building” – that lights up after dark with a 7D holographic show across more than 36,000 colour-changing lights. Overnight in Zhangjiajie city.
Day 5: Tianmen Mountain – Heaven’s Gate and Cliff Walk, then Furong Town
Morning on Tianmen Mountain: ascend by one of the world’s longest mountain cableways to the mid-mountain station, then continue by scenic shuttle road and step-free tunnel escalators up to Heaven’s Gate, the cliff-hugging glass skywalk and the Guigu cliff path above the 99-bend road. After lunch, a private transfer west to Furong Town, a 2,000-year-old Tujia town built above a thundering waterfall. Arrive by late afternoon and watch the falls light up from a riverside restaurant; almost no group tours stay here overnight.
Day 6: Furong Town Morning, Dehang Miao Village and Fenghuang Ancient Town
Explore Furong Town’s old stone lanes, wooden stilt houses and the daytime waterfall viewpoint. En route to Fenghuang, stop at Dehang Miao Village, set among dramatic karst valleys, for a glimpse of authentic Miao life. Arrive in Fenghuang Ancient Town in the afternoon and check into a riverside hotel. As dusk falls and the lanterns light up along the Tuo River, enjoy your complimentary Hanfu & Miao costume photoshoot among the stilt houses, the Rainbow Bridge and the old city wall.
Day 7: Fenghuang Morning Culture and Departure
Walk the quiet lanes of Fenghuang before the day-trippers arrive, then visit Shen Congwen’s Former Residence and the Wanshou Palace, and drift down the Tuo River on your included boat ride past the stilt houses and ancient city wall. Private transfer to Tongren, Zhangjiajie or Changsha for your flight or train onward.
Why This Route Is Different
Most Zhangjiajie tours end at Tianmen Mountain and call it done. This route adds Furong Town (waterfall village) and Fenghuang Ancient Town (riverside lanterns) — two stops that turn a mountain trip into a photography-and-culture journey. And because we are based in Zhangjiajie, we know the transfer timing, the best viewpoints, and which local restaurants and photo spots the group buses skip.
Why Not a Group Tour for This Route?
- Furong Town is often skipped or rushed — most group tours treat it as a 90-minute photo stop. A private tour lets you stay overnight and see the waterfall lit up.
- Fenghuang at night is the whole point — but group tours often arrive mid-morning and leave by 4pm, missing the lantern-lit riverside entirely.
- Photography timing matters — your guide can adjust for golden hour, evening lanterns, and morning mist, instead of following a fixed bus schedule.
- No shopping detours — our route is built around sightseeing and local experiences, not commission stops.
What’s Usually Included
- Private itinerary planning and on-the-go adjustments
- Private English-speaking local guide on all sightseeing days
- Private vehicle and driver, with all transfers between Zhangjiajie, Furong Town and Fenghuang
- Hotels for every night at your chosen star level, with daily breakfast
- All attraction tickets, cable cars and the Glass Bridge on your itinerary
- Complimentary cinematic drone aerial video
- Complimentary Hanfu & Miao costume photoshoot in Fenghuang
- A private evening boat ride on the Tuojiang River in Fenghuang
- Local coordination and 24/7 support throughout
What’s Usually Not Included
- International and domestic flights (including your flight into Zhangjiajie), China visa, and travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners, except any welcome or special meals noted in your itinerary
- Personal expenses, tips, and optional add-ons
Hotel Level & Price Guide
All our tours are private and customized – final pricing depends on your travel dates, group size, hotel preference and included services. The table below gives a practical per-person reference (USD) for a 7-day Zhangjiajie, Furong Town and Fenghuang private tour with 2 travellers sharing a room.
| Hotel Level | Example Hotels | Guide Price (USD pp) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort 4-Star | 4-star and quality boutique stays along the route (Zhangjiajie, Furong Town, Fenghuang) | from $980 | Most travellers – good balance of quality and value |
| Luxury 5-Star | 5-star and boutique-luxury hotels in every destination, including Anai Xizhou Ji in Furong Town and Sulv Lianhua Resort in Fenghuang | from $1,280 | Couples, seniors and travellers who prefer premium comfort |
What affects the final price? Travel season, number of travellers, hotel star level, guide coverage days, private vehicle type, domestic flights or trains, and attraction tickets (including cable cars and the glass bridge). Send your travel month and preferences – we will return a clear quote, not a vague range.
How booking works
- Ask us anything – free. Tell us your dates and what you would love to see. No account, no card, no commitment.
- We send a route and a price – within 2 hours, 8:00-20:00 Beijing time. A real person (usually Tian) replies with a day-by-day route and an honest number.
- You pay a 10-20% deposit. Bank transfer to the licensed operator’s corporate account – the account name matches the company on licence L-HUN-304201. Fully refunded if you cancel 30 or more days before departure.
- You pay the balance in China. After you arrive, after we meet, after the itinerary is signed. Not before.
Tour FAQ
Can I add Furong Town to a shorter Zhangjiajie trip?
Yes — a 5-day Zhangjiajie tour can include Furong Town as a day trip, but we recommend staying overnight to see the waterfall lit up. For the full experience including Fenghuang, 7 days is ideal.
Is this route suitable for seniors?
Yes. We can reduce walking distance in Zhangjiajie, use cable cars and elevators, choose hotels with elevators, and add more rest stops. The Furong Town and Fenghuang portions are gentle walking at your own pace.
How do I get the final price?
Send your travel month, group size, hotel preference and must-see places. We will suggest a practical route and a clear quote — not a vague range.
What our guests say
Real guests, real words – translated from their original Chinese and Cantonese reviews. We never invent a review.
“We experienced Zhangjiajie in drizzle, mist and sunshine – and loved every minute. Special thanks to our guide A-Jing: professional, attentive, and he timed everything so well that whenever we were tired, he had already built in a rest stop. We will absolutely be telling our friends to visit.”
“An absolute joy – excellent value, and the guide service was thoughtful at every turn. Even the shuttle to the high-speed rail station was already included, so we never once needed a taxi. No surprises, no hidden costs.”
“Shiny looked after us so thoughtfully – everything perfectly arranged, and the commentary at every stop detailed and heartfelt. Our driver was first-rate too: steady, precise, always putting safety first. I will recommend them to my friends without hesitation.”
🔒 Only a 10-20% deposit (of your trip cost) to book – you pay the balance after you arrive in China and sign your formal tour contract. Your deposit is fully secured and you receive a written receipt for every payment. Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure.
Make it unforgettable – optional add-ons
Your private trip is yours to shape. Tell us when you enquire and we fold any of these into your itinerary and quote – no pressure, no fixed packages.
- Cultural experiences from $80 per person – Tujia home cooking, Miao embroidery, or a mountain-teahouse tea ceremony.
- Travel photography – a professional Hanfu & Miao ethnic-costume photoshoot among the peaks.
- Slow it down – extra rest days, a private sunrise viewpoint, or a quiet local village most tours never reach.