Zhangjiajie and Guilin,
mountains and karst

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Arrival in Zhangjiajie

   183 m

   Land at Zhangjiajie and transfer to your hotel in Wulingyuan, minutes from the park gate. The evening is free: a walk along the riverside promenade and a first Hunan dinner, ordered mild if you prefer.

2. Yuanjiajie and the Avatar mountains

   1,074 m

   A full day in the zone that inspired Pandora: the Southern Pillar, the First Bridge under Heaven and the viewing platforms of Yuanjiajie. You ride up in the Bailong lift, the world's tallest outdoor elevator at 326 metres.

3. Tianzi Shan and its cable car

   1,260 m

   Cross the park by internal shuttle to Tianzi Shan, then climb in a 2.5 km cable car above the columns. The natural stone bridge and the Emperor's Writing Brush viewpoint are the two stops nobody skips.

4. Golden Whip Stream and the glass bridge

   600 m

   Walk the 7.5 km trail along Golden Whip Stream, at the foot of the pillars and away from the busiest zones. In the afternoon, the glass bridge over a 300 m canyon, entered on a timed slot.

5. Tianmen Mountain and Heaven's Gate

   1,518 m

   A separate park at 1,518 metres, reached by the world's longest cable car. The 99-bend road, the 999 steps to Heaven's Gate and the cliff-side glass walkway make this a demanding but unforgettable day.

6. Fenghuang ancient town

   450 m

   Transfer to the riverside town of Fenghuang and sleep among its stilt houses. After dark, with the bridges lit and the Tuo River still, it is one of the most photogenic places in China.

7. Transfer to Guilin

   150 m

   A scenic drive or short flight to Guilin. The afternoon is at leisure: Elephant Trunk Hill, the two rivers and four lakes, and the night market for a first taste of Guangxi cooking.

8. Li River cruise to Yangshuo

   110 m

   The classic four-hour cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo between the karst peaks. The stretch near Xingping is the landscape printed on the 20-yuan note. Evening on West Street.

9. Yangshuo by bike

   110 m

   A flat ride through rice fields and villages to the Yulong River, with a bamboo raft and a cooking class if you like. For most travellers this is the best day of the trip, and no coach is involved.

10. Longji rice terraces and departure

    1,100 m

    Drive to the Longji terraces, carved over seven hundred years by Zhuang and Yao communities, for a walk between the levels and a village lunch. Return to Guilin in the evening for departure or an extra night.