Wander China

Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Private Tours

Zhangjiajie is the landscape that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar, and it is the single most photographed place on our itineraries. Fenghuang, a riverside town of stilt houses founded in 1704, is often paired with it — three hours away by road, and best at dusk when the lanterns come on.

The sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie in mist

What we do here

Two full days in the Wulingyuan scenic area is the right amount: Yuanjiajie and the Avatar viewpoint, the Bailong elevator, Tianzi Mountain and Jinbian Stream on one day; Tianmen Mountain and the glass walkway on the other. Fenghuang works as an overnight between Zhangjiajie and Chongqing or Guangzhou.

Zhangjiajie involves long cable cars, long shuttle-bus queues and a great deal of walking. We plan around the peak queue windows and use the shuttle buses inside the park, which are included in your tickets.

Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang experiences you can add

  • Fenghuang by boat — the Tuo River at dusk, stilt houses and lanterns on the water.
  • Miao silversmithing — hammer and chase a small piece with a craftsman in his workshop.
  • Miao dress-up and a photo walk — silver headdress, indigo cloth, and the old lanes as the set.
  • Romance of Zhangjiajie — a stage epic of western Hunan, then the old street’s night market.

Trip facts

Best monthsApril to June; September to November. Winter is cold and misty; July and August are crowded and hot.
Getting thereZhangjiajie Hehua (DYG). About 3 hours from Chongqing by high-speed rail; about 6 hours from Guilin.
How long you needTwo full days in Zhangjiajie, plus one night in Fenghuang.
Walking loadHigh. Long days on stone steps, plus cable cars and shuttle buses.
AltitudeAround 1,000m in the park; Tianmen summit around 1,500m. Not a high-altitude destination for most people.

Zhangjiajie in pictures

Sandstone pillars in Zhangjiajie
A stone bridge in an old riverside town
Zhangjiajie peaks in mist

Which of our routes include Zhangjiajie

16-Day Grand China16 days9-Day Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang & Chongqing9 days12-Day Beijing, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing & Chengdu12 days

Common questions

Is Zhangjiajie one place or several?
Several. The Wulingyuan scenic area contains Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Jinbian Stream; Tianmen Mountain is a separate site closer to the city. Our itinerary lists which ticket covers which.
How fit do I need to be?
Reasonably. There are cable cars and elevators to cut out most climbing, but there is still a lot of walking on steps. Tell us if anyone has knee or heart issues.
Is Fenghuang worth an overnight?
Yes. It is a completely different experience at dusk and early morning than as a day trip, and the day-trip crowds vanish after about 18:00.

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