3 Days Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour in Wulingyuan Scenic Area

Welcome to Zhangjiajie City, an incredible destination where you can experience the reality of Hallelujah Mountain from the Movie Avatar! Upon your arrival in Zhangjiajie, the local guide and driver will meet you at the airport exit and accompany you to your hotel in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area (35km, 1 hour drive). After checking in at the hotel, you will have some free time to explore the area at your leisure.

You can visit Xibu Old Street (溪布街) to admire the architecture influenced by the local Tujia ethnic group culture. “Xibu” refers to a type of exquisite handwoven brocade created by the Tujia minority people, which is the origin of the name “Xibu Old Street”. It is a pedestrian street that encompasses a bar street, a local snack street, a West Hunan folk culture souvenir shopping street, and creative workshops. When the street comes alive in the evenings, you can satisfy your hunger with Hunan’s local snacks such as “Frog Cake” and “Tujia Fried Rice” while appreciating various Tujia-style accessories, clothing, and handicrafts.

Arrival Ideas:

1. Transportation to Zhangjiajie: There are numerous flights connecting to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport. You have the option to fly to Zhangjiajie from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and more. Additionally, you can also take the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie from Changsha (2-4 hours), Guilin (7 hours), Shanghai (9 hours), Beijing (11 hours), Fenghuang Ancient Town (1 hour) and other destinations.

2. Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源景区), situated in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China, is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and World Geological Park. As the rare quartz sandstone peak forest canyon landform in the world, Wulingyuan is widely recognized as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in China. Wulingyuan consists of four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, and Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve. Our trip will cover the most popular and iconic sections, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.

This morning, you will continue your journey by immersing yourself in the breathtaking Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, where you will explore Huangshizhai Village (黄石寨). As the saying goes, “Not visiting Huangshizhai Village, it would be a waste to come to Zhangjiajie”. In the afternoon, you will hike along Jinbianxi Stream (金鞭溪) and encounter the monkeys that inhabit the area, while also discovering more stories related to the famous Chinese TV series “Journey to The West” (Monkey King) that was filmed here.

After entering Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, you will head to the cable car station, then transfer to Huangshizhai Village by cable car. According to legend, Huangshi Gong, master of Zhang Liang (? – 186 BC, a prominent strategist well-known by Chinese people), once lived here, and the name Huangshizhai originated from this. Huangshizhai, also known as Huangshi Lion Village (黄狮寨), is named so because the entire mountain resembles a mighty lion. Huangshizhai is located in the middle of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, occupying a vast flat mountaintop with an elevation of 1,200 meters. The mountaintop covers an area of 16.5 hectares and is considered the biggest and the most beautiful observation deck in Wulingyuan. Standing in this natural grand observatory, when you look around, countless towering stone peaks and pillars emerge, densely distributed, forming a vast forest of peaks. It fills one’s heart with a sense of openness and joy. If you encounter rolling clouds and mist, with peaks draped in white veils, they appear and disappear, creating a surreal and ever-changing scene. Take your time to hike in Huangshizhai from one viewing platform to another viewing platform, and use your imagination to name the peaks and scenery you see with a interesting name.

After a simple lunch, you can take the cable car down to our next destination – Jinbianxi Stream (Golden Whip Stream). Jinbianxi Stream, with a total length of 5,710 meters, is a naturally formed beautiful stream named after one of the “Top Ten Scenic Spots of Zhangjiajie” – Jinbian Rock. Also known as Jinbian Valley, a winding and deep valley, it was one of the earliest developed areas in the Wulinyuan Scenic Area. It is renowned as “one of the most beautiful valleys in the world”. As the most picturesque boundary of Wulingyuan, Jinbianxi Stream was one of the filming locations for the classic TV series “Journey to the West” (西游记). Along the way, you will encounter many Chinese fans excitedly searching for the classic scenes from the TV series, such as the Monkey King’s Huaguoshan (Flower and Fruit Mountain) and Shuilian Dong (Water Curtain Cave). “Man walks in the valley, mountains passing on both sides”. When you wander through the peaks and valleys, the stream is clear and vibrant, with playful little fish swimming in it. Wild macaques shuttle through the trees and play in the water. The riverside is adorned with beautiful flowers and plants, and the air is filled with the songs of birds. You will find that hiking along the clear stream of Jinbianxi feels like strolling in a painting.

Notes:

1. Please maintain a certain distance from mischievous monkeys. Do not hold plastic bags or food in your hands, and avoid feeding the monkeys to prevent being snatched or scratched.

2. When playing in the water of Jinbianxi Stream during summer, be cautious of the moss on the rocks to avoid slipping.

After the tour, it is time to end your 3 Days In-depth Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour in Wulingyuan. Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high-speed train to your next destination. 

Thank you for choosing HelloChinaTrip for your China tour. We are always here to work for you and hope to welcome you back for your next trip to China or Asia.