Guizhou + Hunan Fenghuang & Zhangjiajie 9-Day Tour: Experience the highlights of both provinces in one seamless journey

Last month, Mr. Chen from Singapore and his family of four reached out to us, wanting to visit both Guizhou and Hunan in one trip. "The kids want to see the floating mountains from Avatar, the grandparents would love to explore Fenghuang Ancient Town, and my wife and I are eager to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall—is 9 days enough?"

That's enough, and we handle it with ease. We've been running this route for five or six years; we know exactly how to string the stops together for maximum efficiency and which expenses are worth it versus where you can save.

How to connect via public transport?

From Guiyang North to Huainan South, the high-speed train takes 2 hours and 10 minutes; second-class seats are 174 yuan per person. From Huainan South to Zhangjiajie West, the high-speed train takes 1.5 hours and costs 98 yuan per person. Travel between these two provinces by high-speed rail costs less than 300 yuan per person—half the price of a private car on the highway.

However, public transportation to the various scenic areas in Zhangjiajie is inconvenient. Tianmen Mountain is easily accessible from the city center, but getting to the National Forest Park and Glass Bridge Grand Canyon requires multiple transfers and can be exhausting. We recommend hiring a private car for this portion of your trip: 5-seater vehicles are available for 600-800 yuan per day, with the driver also serving as your guide.

9-day itinerary breakdown

Day 1 – 2: Guiyang + Huangguoshu

Arrived in Guiyang and spent the first day resting. In the evening, we headed to Qingyun Road Night Market for Siwawa (baby silk rolls) and grilled tofu. Early next morning, we left for Huangguoshu—a 2.5-hour drive. The entrance ticket costs 160 yuan and includes the sightseeing bus; it takes 5–6 hours to explore the three areas: Grand Waterfall, Tianxingqiao, and Dupotang.

Meitushuo Reminder: During the peak season, Huangguoshu Waterfall requires advance reservation on the official park platform 3 days prior. No tickets are sold at the entrance. We recommend arriving early to enter as part of the first batch at 7:30 for fewer crowds and better photo opportunities.

Day 3: Guiyang → Fenghuang Ancient Town

Take the high-speed train to Huaihua South Station, then take a chartered car for 1.5 hours to Fenghuang. Check into a stilt-house guesthouse by the Tuo River. Take an evening stroll along the river and enjoy the night view. Entry to Fenghuang Ancient City is free. The 9-attraction combo ticket costs 128 yuan (includes Shen Congwen's Former Residence). You can choose whether to buy it—the most worthwhile part is simply walking around the Tuo River.

Day 4: Full Day in Phoenix

Morning: Nanhua Mountain (Free) — enjoy panoramic views of Phoenix from the summit. Afternoon: Tuojiang River boat ride at 20 yuan per person. Local specialties include blood curd duck, social rice, and pickled radish. Skip the riverside restaurants; venture into the alleys to find local spots where residents queue up.

Avoid scams: Ignore "one-day tours" sold by touts in Fenghuang; they often stop at shopping stops in Miao villages. Enjoy Fenghuang at your own pace—no need to join any tour groups.

Day 5: Phoenix → Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie

Private car via highway takes 3 hours to reach Wulingyuan. In the afternoon, enter the Forest Park; tickets cost 225 yuan and are valid for 4 days. Walk along Jinbian Stream—a flat 3 km trail that takes 2 hours to complete. The water is so clear you can see fish swimming.

Day 6: Yuanjiajie + Tianzishan

The highlight of the entire route. Take the Bailong Elevator for 66 yuan to Yuanjiajie—the filming location for Avatar—then explore Qiankun Pillar, the First Bridge Under Heaven, and Hunyuan Terrace one by one. In the afternoon, take the eco-bus to Tianzishan, where you'll see the Imperial Brush Peak and Fairy Scattering Flowers.

Meitu Shuo Reminder: Take the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie and the Tianzi Mountain Cable Car down (¥72). Going the opposite way involves too much downhill walking, which can strain your knees. During peak season, wait times for the Bailong Elevator are 1–2 hours; we typically advise guests to arrive at the elevator by 7.

Day 7: Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

Glass Bridge tickets are 138 CNY (includes shoe covers). The bridge is 430 meters long and 300 meters high—walking on it definitely makes your legs weak. Head back to the city in the afternoon; purchase Tianmen Mountain tickets for tomorrow in advance.

Day 8: Tianmen Mountain

Ticket 278 includes round-trip cable car. Tour duration: 4-5 hours. Walk the glass skywalk (shoe cover fee: 5), Guigui Trail, and take the mountain escalator down to Heaven's Gate. You can descend via 999 steps or take the elevator for 32.

Avoid pitfalls: Tianmen Mountain has three routes (A, B, C). Route A is the most classic and easiest—take the cable car up and descend by road. When booking tickets, choose Route A. Route C offers the same price but skips the cable car experience, making it not worth it.

Day 9: Return from Zhangjiajie

Hehua Airport offers direct flights to Changsha, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. You can also take a high-speed train back to Changsha (2.5 hours) or transfer via another flight. In the morning, visit the Tujia Cultural Park for an admission fee of 120 yuan.

How much does it come to?

High-speed rail for two provinces: under 300 per person. Zhangjiajie private car charter: approximately 2000-2400 yuan/day for 3 days. Total entrance tickets: about 1000 yuan per person. Accommodation: 300-500 yuan/night for 9 nights. Excluding round-trip transportation, local tour costs are approximately 5000-7000 yuan per person.

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Chat with us on WeChat first: 18285125548 (phone/WeChat same number). Get a free route plan—no deposit required upfront.