Guilin to Zhangjiajie

Your private guide and driver will meet you at your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel lobby to begin the first day of your adventure. The exact meeting time is flexible based on your preferences.

Start the day with a short hike up Xianggong Hill for one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in all of China — a sweeping bird’s-eye vista over the Li River and its iconic karst mountain peaks. Particularly stunning in the morning light and mist.

Board your own private Li River Cruise along the most scenic stretch of the river — from Xingping to Nine Horse Fresco Hill and back. Along the way, experience a live Cormorant Fisherman Demonstration, a centuries-old tradition and one of the most memorable moments of the entire tour.

After the cruise, explore the charming streets of Xingping Ancient Town — one of the oldest and most picturesque towns along the Li River, with well-preserved Qing Dynasty architecture, local snack stalls, and stunning river views. Stop for lunch at one of the riverside restaurants at your own cost — your guide can recommend the best local options.

Explore the beautiful Yulong Valley by bicycle, riding through quiet local villages, bamboo groves, and along the picturesque Yulong River. Visitors who prefer walking can enjoy a guided valley stroll instead — both offer equally spectacular scenery.

Return to central Yangshuo and explore the famous West Street — lined with restaurants, cafés, and local bars. Enjoy dinner at your choice of restaurant (not included in pricing). Your guide can suggest the best local spots.

End the day with a spectacular outdoor performance staged on the Li River itself, featuring over 700 performers, dramatic mountain backdrops, and breathtaking lighting effects. A truly unforgettable evening experience that shouldn’t be missed.

At the conclusion of the show, your driver will transfer you back to your Yangshuo hotel for the rest of the evening at leisure.

Meet your guide and driver at your Yangshuo hotel lobby and depart for the Longji Rice Terraces — approximately a 3 to 3.5 hour drive north.

Walk into the Longji Zhuang Ethnic Minority Village — a beautifully preserved hillside community of traditional wooden houses where life feels unchanged from centuries past. Your guide will introduce you to the local culture, architecture, and daily village life first-hand.

Sit down for a memorable traditional meal of Bamboo Chicken and Bamboo Rice at a local family’s home. The food is prepared in a licensed kitchen to ensure health standards, but the experience of dining in a traditional Zhuang home makes this one of the most special meals of the entire tour.

Follow a quieter, scenic trail from Longji Zhuang Village up to Ping’an Village — a 45-minute to 1-hour walk on a gently winding uphill path with sweeping terrace views and very few other visitors. A road transfer can be arranged instead if preferred.

From Ping’an Village, explore the different scenic lookout points overlooking the Longji Rice Terraces — a landscape of layered terraces that cascade down the mountainside like a giant natural staircase. Spectacular at any time of year, but especially beautiful in summer green or autumn gold.

Check in to your Tiantouzhai Village hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. Watching the terraces change colour at sunset from your hotel terrace is a highlight in itself.

Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and explore the rice terraces at Tiantouzhai Village Area.

Visit the dramatic Jinkeng Rice Terraces via the cable car ride and enjoy the stunning views on top of the Jinkeng Rice Terraces.

After seeing off your Guilin tour guide, you will begin the drive to Fenghuang Old Town with your private driver — approximately 4.5 hours. Your Zhangjiajie tour guide will be waiting for you at Fenghuang and proudly show you around this charming ancient town.

After freshen up at your hotel in Fenghuang, you will explore the ancient town with your guide and enjoy the stunning night view of the ancient town. Fenghuang is one of China’s most celebrated historic towns, set along the winding Tuojiang River and framed by old stone bridges and traditional Miao stilted architecture. Arrive in the early evening when the town transforms under warm lantern light — the perfect time to wander the riverside streets, try local Miao snacks, and soak in the magical atmosphere.

Check in to your Fenghuang hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening exploring the ancient town at your own pace.

Spend the morning further exploring Fenghuang before departing — a great time to visit the quieter backstreets, browse local artisan shops, and enjoy the town at a relaxed morning pace before heading north.

After 2hrs drive from Fenghuang, you will stop at the extraordinary Aizhai Bridge — a suspension bridge hanging 336 metres above a canyon, connecting two mountain tunnels. The engineering is breathtaking, and walking across or viewing it from the dedicated lookout platform is a jaw-dropping experience that stops most visitors in their tracks.

After the visit to Aizhai Bridge, you continue your adventure to Furong Ancient Town. It takes approx. 1.5hrs traveling from Aizhai to Furong Ancient Town, which is a picturesque riverside town built around a dramatic waterfall, with traditional Tujia-style wooden houses perched along the cliffs. As you wander its lantern-lit streets and stone pathways, you’ll experience a charming blend of natural beauty and rich ethnic culture.

Continue the drive to Zhangjiajie City, arriving in the early evening after 1.5hrs traveling by car. Tonight is a chance to rest and recharge before two full days exploring one of China’s most extraordinary national parks.

Check in to your Zhangjiajie City Hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening. Your guide can recommend great local dinner options nearby.

Meet your guide and driver at your Zhangjiajie City Hotel lobby. The exact departure time will be confirmed the evening before based on your preferences and queue conditions.

Ascend Tianmen Mountain by chairlift (or bus depending on conditions) for one of China’s most dramatic mountain experiences. At the summit, walk through the famous arched rock cave of Tianmen Grotto — a natural archway 131 metres high reached by 999 steps — then explore the cliff-hugging boardwalks and take on the Glass Walk with its vertiginous views straight down the mountainside.

After 50mins drive from Zhangjiajie city, you will check in to your Wulingyuan Hotel — the most convenient base for exploring the national park over the next two days. Your guide can recommend a great local dinner spot, or even a well-deserved foot massage after all the walking!

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby before entering Zhangjiajie National Park for a full day of extraordinary scenery.

Ascend to Tianzi Mountain by cable car for sweeping vistas across a sea of jagged sandstone peaks shrouded in mist. From there, travel to the legendary Yuanjiajie Scenic Spot — the direct inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains in James Cameron’s Avatar. Standing on the ridge and looking out across the stone pillars suspended in the clouds is a genuinely surreal experience.

Descend from the park via the extraordinary Bailong Elevator — a glass elevator built directly into the face of a cliff, dropping 326 metres in under two minutes. It holds the official record as the world’s tallest outdoor elevator, and the views on the way down are absolutely breathtaking.

After descending via the Bailong Elevator, take a scenic stroll along the Golden Whip Stream — a beautiful forest trail winding through the valley floor of Zhangjiajie National Park, following a crystal-clear mountain stream flanked by towering sandstone pillars. A wonderfully peaceful way to end a spectacular day in the park.

Return to your Wulingyuan Hotel for a final evening at leisure. A perfect night to reflect on an incredible day over a good dinner.

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby for your final day. Today you’ll visit the spectacular Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon before your late afternoon departure.

Spend the final morning at one of China’s most spectacular attractions — the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, suspended 300 metres above the canyon floor between two towering cliff faces. At 430 metres long, it is one of the world’s longest and highest glass-bottomed bridges, offering a truly exhilarating walk with breathtaking panoramic views across the canyon. After crossing the bridge, descend into the magnificent Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon — a stunning gorge carved through ancient sandstone, with lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams weaving through the valley below. An unforgettable finale to a remarkable 7-day journey through southern China.

Your guide and driver will transfer you to Zhangjiajie Airport, Zhangjiajie Railway Station, or back to your Wulingyuan Hotel depending on your onward travel plans. Thank you for joining us on this incredible 7-day journey — we hope to see you again soon!