Sample Itineraries
Nature Hunan: 8 Days, Zhangjiajie + Fenghuang + Changsha
Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars, the stilted riverside lanes of Fenghuang and a relaxed finish in Changsha, linked by high-speed rail.
- Duration
- 7 nights / 8 days
- Pace
- Moderate (2 of 4)
- Cities
- Zhangjiajie → Fenghuang → Changsha
- Best for
- Mountain lovers who also want a riverside town
Who this route is for
This route suits travellers who want Zhangjiajie's mountain scenery without a rushed schedule, followed by a slower stay beside the Tuo River. Fenghuang gives the trip a slower middle, and Changsha makes an easy city to end in, with a museum and good food. The pace is moderate: the park days are full but flexible, the train days are short and kept light, and Fenghuang has free time built in.
Reference prices
Price checked: 23 October 2026
- Independent
- From $2,200per person
- Private Guided
- From $3,500per person
2026 reference prices · reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included
Season, hotel level and group size change the price; your consultant quotes the exact trip.
Compare what each level includesThe route
- 1. Zhangjiajie3 nights
- 2. Fenghuang2 nights
- 3. Changsha2 nights
High-speed rail
High-speed rail
Day by day
01
Arrive in Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie
Morning
Arrive at Zhangjiajie Hehua airport (DYG), with the morning kept clear for delayed flights.
Afternoon
Transfer by road to your hotel in Wulingyuan or Zhangjiajie town and rest after the journey.
Evening
An easy dinner near the hotel, with a short walk if you feel like it and an early night before the park.
02
Wulingyuan and the pillar mountains
Zhangjiajie
Morning
Head into Wulingyuan to Yuanjiajie, the area behind the Avatar-style scenery, using the Bailong elevator or the cable car, or walking, depending on your fitness.
Afternoon
A few well-chosen viewpoints and an easy walk along the ridge paths. The park is large, so this is kept to a realistic amount.
Evening
Dinner in Wulingyuan, with Hunan dishes such as smoked pork or river fish, and an early night.
03
Tianmen Mountain, or a quieter valley
Zhangjiajie
Morning
Ride the Tianmen Mountain cableway up to the cliff paths and the glass walkway. If heights are a concern, spend the morning in a quieter Wulingyuan valley instead.
Afternoon
Take your time on the mountain or the valley path, with a long lunch and rest before heading back down.
Evening
A relaxed dinner and an early night before tomorrow's train.
04
Train to Fenghuang, riverside evening
Fenghuang
Morning
Take the high-speed train from Zhangjiajie West to Fenghuang Ancient Town station, about an hour, then a short ride to the old town.
Afternoon
Settle into your hotel by the Tuo River and take an easy first look at the lanes.
Evening
A stroll along the stilted riverside lanes as the lights come on, then dinner in a riverside restaurant.
05
Fenghuang at an unhurried pace
Fenghuang
Morning
Walk Fenghuang Ancient Town in the morning, crossing the bridges and wandering the alleys before the day-trippers fill the lanes.
Afternoon
Free time: a boat on the Tuo River, a teahouse by the water, or a quiet read at the hotel.
Evening
Dinner in the old town and a last walk by the river.
06
Train to Changsha
Changsha
Morning
Take the train from Fenghuang Ancient Town station to Changsha, changing at Huaihua South, with a relaxed morning before you leave.
Afternoon
Check in and rest after the journey, with an optional short walk on Orange Isle if energy remains.
Evening
A simple dinner near the hotel and an early night.
07
Changsha city day
Changsha
Morning
Visit the Hunan Provincial Museum (closed on Mondays); on a Monday, spend the morning at Yuelu Mountain instead.
Afternoon
Wander the old streets and riverside, with a teahouse stop and time for any shopping.
Evening
A street food evening, trying Changsha's spicy snacks such as stinky tofu and crayfish in season.
08
Departure from Changsha
Changsha
Morning
A relaxed breakfast, then transfer to Changsha airport or station for your onward journey.
Afternoon
Departure, with timing matched to your flight or train.
Evening
Onward travel or arrival home.
2026 reference prices
Two ways to take this route.
Your final price depends on hotels, car arrangements and what you ask for — usually a little above this, sometimes more.
Independent
From $2,200
per person · reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included
- Guide
- No full-time guide; add a guide for set times or sights
- Car
- On request
Private Guided
From $3,500
per person · reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included
- Guide
- English-speaking private guide throughout
- Car
- Private car throughout
Included on both
- Hotels selected by us, confirmed by you, usually with breakfast
- Transport inside China: high-speed rail, domestic flights and transfers, including 12306 handling
- Entrance tickets for the sights in your itinerary
- Restaurant bookings made ahead where China requires it
- 24h WhatsApp / WeChat support while you travel, plus the LocalKey app
Not included
- International flights — we can book them on request, quoted separately
- Visa fees — many passports can enter China visa-free. Check your passport
- Personal spending and shopping
- Travel insurance
Tipping is not customary in China. There are no tips in your price, and you do not need to tip anyone who looks after you during your trip.
Make it yours
Keep the shape. Change the details.
Every sample here can be shortened, stretched, or rebuilt around what you care about.
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