Most travellers assume a China trip means a full tourist visa, or a rushed stopover in Beijing or Shanghai. It does not have to. Since 17 December 2024, both of Hunan province’s international airports – Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) and Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG) – are official 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit ports. That means eligible travellers can fly straight into Hunan, spend a full ten days exploring the “Avatar Mountains” and old China, and fly out to a third country, all without ever applying for a visa or routing through the big first-tier cities.
We live in Zhangjiajie and run this exact routing for guests every week. Below is our recommended 10-day Zhangjiajie plus Changsha private itinerary, built entirely inside Hunan so it stays comfortably within the visa-free rules. For the full policy details, see our companion guide: Zhangjiajie on China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit.
Why Hunan is the smartest visa-free entry point
Here is the part almost no guidebook has caught up on yet. Because both Hunan ports carry the 240-hour status, you can enter through one and exit through the other and never double back:
- Fly in via Changsha Huanghua (CSX) – Hunan’s main international gateway, with connections to Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and beyond.
- Fly out via Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG) – or reverse the order. Either way, you skip Beijing and Shanghai entirely.
- Stay up to 240 hours (10 days) across Hunan and the wider permitted transit zone, which is plenty for a deep Zhangjiajie trip plus a gateway city.
This route is still genuinely under the radar. In the policy’s first year, only a few thousand foreign travellers entered China through the two Hunan ports – so you get world-class scenery without the first-tier-city crowds.
Who qualifies for 240-hour visa-free transit
The 240-hour transit scheme is open to ordinary passport holders from a list of eligible countries – more than 50 nationalities as of 2026, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of the EU, Japan and South Korea. Because the official country list has been expanded more than once, we always ask guests to confirm their own passport against the current list before booking flights. Three core conditions apply:
- You hold a passport from an eligible country, valid for at least 3 months.
- You have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region (not a return to where you came from) departing within the 240-hour window.
- You enter and stay within the designated transit area.
The onward ticket is the rule most people miss. A simple qualifying loop looks like Seoul or Bangkok into Changsha, then out of Zhangjiajie to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Our team will sanity-check your flight plan against the rules before you commit. Full requirements are broken down on our 240-hour visa-free transit page.
The 10-day Zhangjiajie plus Changsha itinerary
This is a private, no-shopping-stops itinerary with a licensed English-speaking local guide throughout. Pace and hotels are flexible – it is a template, not a fixed departure.
Day 1 – Arrive Changsha (visa-free entry)
Land at Changsha Huanghua (CSX) and clear the 240-hour transit channel. Your guide and private car meet you at arrivals. Ease into China with an evening at Orange Isle (Juzizhou) on the Xiang River and a first taste of famously fiery Hunan food around Taiping Old Street. Overnight in Changsha.
Day 2 – Changsha highlights, then high-speed rail to Zhangjiajie
Morning at the Hunan Provincial Museum (home of the Mawangdui Han-dynasty treasures) and Yuelu Mountain with its thousand-year-old Yuelu Academy. In the afternoon, board a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie West – the fastest services run in well under three hours (from about 1 hour 45 minutes). Overnight in Zhangjiajie.
Day 3 – Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: the Avatar peaks
The heart of the trip. Ride the Bailong Elevator up the cliff face and walk out to Yuanjiajie and the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain – the sandstone pillars that inspired the floating peaks on screen. Stroll the Golden Whip Stream valley below. Overnight near the park.
Day 4 – Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie
A second full day inside the park, because one is never enough. Tianzi Mountain’s sea-of-peaks viewpoints and the quieter Yangjiajie ridges give you the classic misty-pinnacle photographs without the tour-bus crush.
Day 5 – Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
Descend into the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and cross the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, the record-setting glass span suspended high above the gorge. This is an optional highlight we can build in on request. Overnight in Zhangjiajie.
Day 6 – Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Ride one of the world’s longest passenger cableways up Tianmen Mountain, walk the cliff-hanging glass skywalk, and see the natural arch of Tianmen Cave (“Heaven’s Gate”) above the 99-bend mountain road. Overnight in Zhangjiajie.
Day 7 – High-speed train to Fenghuang Ancient Town
A short high-speed hop (about an hour, plus a brief transfer) brings you to Fenghuang, the riverside old town of stilt houses along the Tuo River. Spend the afternoon wandering the lanes and the evening watching the waterside lanterns come alive. Overnight in Fenghuang.
Day 8 – Fenghuang to Furong Town (Hibiscus Town)
Morning in Fenghuang, then transfer to Furong Town (Hibiscus Town), the thousand-year-old settlement built above a thundering waterfall. It is one of Hunan’s most photogenic corners and a world away from the crowds. Overnight in Furong Town or back toward Zhangjiajie.
Day 9 – Water and caves, or a slow day
A flexible buffer day. Options include a boat cruise on serene Baofeng Lake, the illuminated chambers of Yellow Dragon Cave, or simply an easy return toward your departure port. Building in this buffer keeps you safely inside the 240-hour window. Overnight near your exit airport.
Day 10 – Depart Hunan (visa-free exit)
Private transfer to Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG) or back to Changsha Huanghua (CSX) for your onward flight to a third country. Ten days, zero Beijing or Shanghai transfers, and no visa queue.
What is included, honestly
We build every trip privately, and we keep our promises literal – no exaggeration:
- A licensed, English-speaking local guide throughout (other languages on request, subject to availability).
- Private car and driver for all touring and transfers.
- All park entrance tickets and cable cars listed in your final itinerary.
- Handpicked hotels – 3-star, 4-star or 5-star, your choice.
- Meet-and-greet at both 240-hour ports, plus all in-trip logistics and 24/7 support.
- A locally licensed operator, no forced shopping stops and no hidden commissions.
Optional add-ons stay optional and clearly priced. A Hanfu & Miao photo session (from US$299) is a favourite on longer trips and is often included – just ask. Our shorter 5-day Zhangjiajie private tour also comes with a signature fixed-position aerial video clip at a marquee viewpoint; on a longer trip we simply tailor the extras to what you want.
What a 10-day visa-free trip costs
Our private 10-day China tours start from US$1,980 per person, and our flagship 5-day Zhangjiajie tour starts from US$680 per person. Final pricing depends on your exact dates, group size, hotel level and inclusions – so this Hunan-only routing, which skips long domestic flights, is quoted individually. Browse the full range on our Zhangjiajie tours page, then message us for an exact per-person figure. We turn around a written proposal fast.
How booking works
Reserving is low-risk: a small deposit (10-20 percent) confirms your dates, and you pay the balance in person in China once you have arrived and signed the formal travel contract. You get a written receipt, and free cancellation up to 30 days before departure (partial refunds inside that window; see your proposal for the exact terms). We are a Zhangjiajie-based team who live here year-round, not a distant agency outsourcing your trip, with genuine verified traveller reviews on Trustpilot.
Ready to plan your visa-free 10 days?
Send us your passport nationality and rough travel dates and we will confirm your 240-hour eligibility, sketch the routing, and send a tailored quote – usually the same day.
WhatsApp: +86 189 7441 2915 | Email: info@chinafantasytravel.com
– Tian, Founder, China Fantasy Travel
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Zhangjiajie without a China visa?
Yes, if you hold an eligible passport, are transiting to a third country or region, and enter through a designated port. Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG) and Changsha Huanghua (CSX) are both 240-hour visa-free transit ports, so eligible travellers can enter Hunan and stay up to 10 days without a visa. Always confirm your own nationality against the current list before booking.
Which airports let me enter Hunan visa-free?
Two: Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) and Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG). Both became 240-hour transit ports on 17 December 2024, so you can enter through one and exit through the other without ever passing through Beijing or Shanghai.
How long can I stay, and where can I go?
Up to 240 hours – a full 10 days – within the permitted transit zone, which covers Hunan province and a wider allowed area for onward connections. Our itinerary stays inside Hunan to keep everything simple and compliant. The exact zone and rules can change, so we confirm the current version for your entry port at booking.
Do I need an onward ticket to a third country?
Yes. The 240-hour scheme is a transit policy, so you must hold a confirmed ticket onward to a third country or region (not back to your origin) departing within the window. A common qualifying loop is Seoul or Bangkok into Changsha, then out of Zhangjiajie to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. We will check your flight plan against the rules before you book.
How much does a 10-day Zhangjiajie and Changsha private tour cost?
Our private 10-day China tours start from US$1,980 per person, with the 5-day Zhangjiajie tour from US$680 per person. Because this Hunan-only routing skips long domestic flights, we quote each trip individually based on your dates, group size and hotel choice. Message us for an exact figure.
Is the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge included?
The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is an optional highlight we can build into your itinerary on request. Tell us if you want it and we will include the tickets and timing in your plan.
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