Zhangjiajie Travel Strategies

With picturesque scenery, Zhangjiajie is the most suitable place for leisure tourism, offering a piece of tranquility to relax.
People travel Jiuzhaigou Valley for its pure water, while here in Zhangjiajie for beautiful mountains. Indeed, you couldn’t find a second place in the world that could offer you such unusual landscape: three thousands beautiful peaks rise straight from the ground and eight hundreds of streams run twists and turns. Zhangjiajie is honored as "extended bonsai, downsizing fairyland", "the ideal world", "prototype of Chinese landscape painting". All beautiful words are applied to describe its beauty but fail to depict the visual shock it brings to people.  
Language
The native people speak in their dialect which is similar to Sichuang dialect, easy to catch if said slowly. Usually there’s no problem if you communicate with them with mandarin.  
Climate and tourist season
The best time to travel Zhangjiajie is April and October when the natural scenery appears in its best condition. Rainy days do not support climbing because the road is slippery and it's rare to see the fine view with dense fog surrounding the top of mountains. You'd better go one or two hours after the rain. 
Luggage
One-off raincoat or umbrella, sunscreen, cotton-padded shoes, skid-proof sneaker, volumes of film, sunglasses, sunbonnet, underwear and socks, facial tissue, disinfected wet tissue, band-aid, antibiotics and antidiarrheal. 
Special tips
You can bargain over everything at a 20 or 30 percent discount. Bring less money and a raincoat while drifting on Mengdon River. As for self-guided tourism, a guide is a good choice for he may describe every spot in detail, save you much energy and help you get accommodation 30 percent off. The price of a guide for a group of six is 300 yuan a day. Call the travel agency ahead and consult about the price and requirements and ask the guide to pick you up. Luggage can be stored at the ticket office at many spots costing only 2 yuan. Having a picnic, setting a bonfire or putting up a tent is not allowed. Listening to folk songs at the singing kiosk enables you feel the original flavor of Tujia brothers and sisters. If come across with festivals you can even have a carnival with the natives. There must be big fog on the top of mountains on a rainy day but it does be a great time to appreciate the sea of cloud soon after the rain.    

Zhangjiajie Backpacking Club offers four routes for travel buddies:
I. Golden classic route
Zhangjiaie core scenic region plus west line (three days and two evenings)
Feature:
1.This route integrates all classic scenic spots of Zhangjiajie including a mountain, a cave, a drifting, a lake and a village, definitely a full of entertainment.
2. It is not only a regular sightseeing but also allows you to experience the daily life of Tujia nationality as well as the miraculous and exciting drifting on Maoyan River.
3. It is economical, at least saving you 52 yuan for the cableway.
4. It saves much trouble. We offer chartered bus from city center to core scenic region and then to Jiutian Cave and Maoyan River and back to city center.

Suit for: all healthy tourists.

Day 1: AM: take a bus to the forest park (about 40min), and tour the golden whip stream on foot (7.5 kilometers)
      PM: travel Yuanjiajie Boundary and stay for the night
Day 2: AM: travel Tianzi Mountain
      PM: travel Wulong Village and stay for the night
Day 3: AM: take a bus to Jiutian Cave (about 2 hours), travel the first cave in Asia----Jiutian Cave and the old village with a thousand-year history---- Kuzhu Village
      PM: travel Pinghu and drift on Maoyan River and back to city center by bus.

II. Popular route
Zhangjiajie—Yuanjiajie—Yangjiajie—Tianzi Mountain—Daguantai (three days and two evenings)
 
Detailed route:
Day 1: AM: take a bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (40 min), and tour the golden whip stream on foot, including famous scenic spots like peaks of mother and son, Bajie carrying his wife on back, golden whip crag, spliting hills to save mother, spring of longevity, Wenxing crag, zicao pool, long distance meeting ,etc. After arriving at long distance meet, you may either climb to the back garden or take the Bailong elevator from water surrounding four gates to Yuanjiajie if unwilling to climb and the elevator costs 56 yuan per person.

      PM: Travel the core of world natural heritage----including Yuanjiajie, the first bridge under the sun, five daughters setting out for war, spring of twin dragon, Heart Bridge, turtle asking the god, Qiankun pillar----prototype of the halleluiah floating mountain, and Mihun Stage. Stay at Joyous Farmer’s House at Yuanjiajie.  

Day 2: AM: Travel Daguan stage, holy chicken pecks, fairy bridge, Tianzi base, the Old House, pastoral in the sky and holy army assembling.( pastoral in the sky is an undeveloped scenic spot and you may take a charted bus due to the far distance)

      PM: Travel Wulong village, bandits nest, Tianbo mansion, five men worshiping Buddha, a skyrocketing rise, corridor in the air, etc. Stay at Joyous Farmer’s House at Yuanjiajie.

Day 3: AM: Travel famous scenic spots of Tianzi Mountain like Shentang Gulf, Dianjiang Terrace, west sea, Yunqingyan viewing platform, Helong Park, Fairy maiden presenting flowers, emperor's brush writing, etc.

      PM: take the Tianzi Mountain cableway (52 yuan) or walk down to visit the Ten Miles Pictures, peak of forefinger, peak of herb-hunting man, peak of three sisters, Nine-turn Attic, etc.( you may take the sightseeing train, 40 yuan for back and forth) Then back to the city center and end up your happy trip to Zhangjiajie.

III. Leisure and recreational route
Zhangjiajie—Yuanjiajie—Yangjiajie—Tianzi Mountain—Yellow Dragon Cave or Baofeng Lake (three days and two evenings, 640 yuan per person)

Detailed route:
Day 1: AM: take a bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (40 min), and tour the golden whip stream on foot, including famous scenic spots like peaks of mother and son, Bajie carrying his wife on back, golden whip crag, cutting hills to save mother, spring of longevity, Wenxing crag, lithospermum pool, long distance meet ,etc. After arriving at long distance meet, you may either climb to the back garden or take the Bailong elevator from water wingding four gates to Yuanjiajie if unwilling to climb and the elevator costs 56 yuan per person.

      PM: visit the core of world natural heritage-including Yuanjiajie, the first bridge under the sun, five daughters setting out for war, spring of twin dragon, Heart Bridge, turtle asking the god, Qiankun pillar----prototype of the halleluiah floating mountain, and Mihun Stage. Stay at Joyous Farmer’s House at Yuanjiajie.
Day 2: AM: travel Wulong village, bandits nest, Tianbo mansion, five men worshiping Buddha, a skyrocketing rise, corridor in the air, etc.

      PM: take the Tianzi Mountain cableway (52 yuan) or walk down to visit the Ten Miles Pictures, peak of forefinger, peak of herb-hunting man, peak of three sisters, Nine-turn Attic, etc. (you may take the sightseeing train, 40 yuan for back and forth) Go out of the Landmark Gate and stay at Wulingyuan where you can watch the folk show “Charming west of Hunan province” or "The Fairy Song of Tima" in the evening.

Day 3: AM: travel world-famous Yellow Dragon Cave or the fairy pool in mortal world Baofeng Lake or gate to the earth's core Dragon King Cave.

      PM: go directly to Phoenix City or to the station.
　

IV. Tension-type route
Zhangjiajie-Yuanjiajie-Yangjiajie-Tianzi Mountain (two days and one night, 450 yuan per person)
   (This route suits for those who arrive at Zhangjiajie at night.)
　　
Detailed route:
Day 1: AM: take a bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (40 min), and tour the golden whip stream on foot, including famous scenic spots like peaks of mother and son, Bajie carrying his wife on back, golden whip crag, cutting hills to save mother, spring of longevity, Wenxing crag, lithospermum pool, long distance meet ,etc. After arriving at long distance meet, you may either climb to the back garden or take the Bailong elevator from water wingding four gates to Yuanjiajie if unwilling to climb and the elevator costs 56 yuan per person.

      PM: visit the core of world natural heritage----including Yuanjiajie, the first bridge under the sun, five daughters setting out for war, spring of twin dragon, Heart Bridge, turtle asking the god, Qiankun pillar-prototype of the halleluiah floating mountain, and Mihun Stage. Stay at Joyous Farmer’s House at Yuanjiajie.

Day 2: AM: travel Wulong village, bandits nest, Tianbo mansion, five men worshiping Buddha, a skyrocketing rise, corridor in the air, etc.

      PM: take the Tianzi Mountain cableway (52 yuan) or walk down to visit the Ten Miles Pictures, peak of forefinger, peak of herb-hunting man, peak of three sisters, Nine-turn Attic, etc. (you may take the sightseeing train, 40 yuan for back and forth) Take a bus from Wulingyuan to city center and then the station.

The price includes charge for accommodation at the Joyous Farmer's House, the guider, liability insurance of the travel agency and personal accident insurance. The traffic expense from city center to the scenic region is free if you travel with at least five people.   
 

V. Exploration route on foot
Zhangjiajie-Kidney Village-Shadao Ditch-the Ola House-Yangjiaje-Tianzi Mountain. (Four days and three nights, This route requires physical vigor and six people or more)
Instruction: Kidney Village is one of the earliest explored scenic spots and remains in renovation since 1990s. As the population of tourists increases, Kidney Village shows up again characterized by danger, wildness, quiet and vigor. As the longest touring route, the whole scenic spot extends to 90000 meters. All the essential spots mainly distribute on the cliffs of the village which just lends some support to its winding path and rare human presence. Ha-ha, you own the whole village.

Detailed route:
Day 1: go directly to Zhangjiajie Forest Park after meeting at the station and walk through Kidney Village where you may visit Hawk Fortress, Dove Tree Bay, Baiying Valley, tour around the top, heavenly bridge, the Jade Hare Watching the Moon, Frightened Soul in the air, Momentum of an Avalanche and so on. Take Bailong elevator at Water Winding Four Gates (56 yuan) to Yuanjiajie. (This whole journey cost at least 8 hours.) Stay at Joyous Farmer’s House at Yuanjiajie.

Day 2: AM: travel Daguan stage, holy chicken pecks, fairy bridge, Tianzi base, the Old House, pastoral in the sky and holy army assembling.( pastoral in the sky is an undeveloped scenic spot and walking takes 4 hours)

      PM: visit famous scenic spots of Tianzi Mountain like Shentang Gulf, Dianjiang Terrace, sea of stone, Yunqingyan viewing platform, Helong Park, Fairy maiden presenting flowers, peak of emperor brush, etc. (This journey takes over 7 hours). Stay at Joyous Farmer's House at Yuanjiajie.

Day 3: AM: travel Wulong village, bandits nest, Tianbo mansion, five men worshiping Buddha, a skyrocketing rise, corridor in the air, etc.

      PM: visit the core of world natural heritage----including Yuanjiajie, the first bridge under the sun, five daughters setting out for war, spring of twin dragon, Heart Bridge, turtle asking the god, Qiankun pillar-prototype of the halleluiah floating mountain, and Back Garden. Stay at Joyous Farmer's House at Yuanjiajie.

Day 4: Shadao Ditch-Golden Whip Stream-Long Distance Meet-Lithospermum Pool-Wenxing Crag-Spring of Longevity-Golden Whip Crag-Bajie Carrying His Wife on Back-Peak of Mother and Son

Back to city center from the entrance of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and end up your happy trip to Zhangjiajie.