Premium 6-Day Hunan Tour – Zhangjiajie, Phoenix Ancient Town & Changsha
Embark on a luxury 6-day journey through Hunan, China. Discover world-famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, glass bridges at Tianmen Mountain, the charm of Phoenix Ancient Town, and a night cruise on Changsha’s Xiangjiang River. Small group, no hidden charges, all-inclusive comfort.
- China
- 6 days
- January - March
$？？？
Description
🧳 Discover the Timeless Beauty of Hunan – 6-Day All-Inclusive Journey Through Mountains, Ancient Towns & Cultural Legends
Escape the ordinary and embark on an immersive journey through Hunan Province, where China’s natural wonders and cultural heritage unfold over six unforgettable days. This 6-day all-inclusive small-group tour takes you from the historic Orange Isle of Changsha to the mist-shrouded peaks of Zhangjiajie, through the timeless charm of Fenghuang Ancient Town, and into the literary landscape of Biancheng Tea Town.
Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home of the famed Avatar mountains, and walk the legendary Tianmen Mountain glass skywalk. Sail along the Xiangjiang River, stroll through ethnic villages, and watch the Charming Xiangxi cultural show under the stars. With luxury hotels, curated meals, and VIP access — this is Hunan like you’ve never seen it before.
Perfect for first-time visitors to China or seasoned travelers seeking a deeper, stress-free experience.
🏨 Luxury Hotels: Stay in 4–5 star accommodations including Wyndham, Hilton, and boutique resorts in Phoenix Ancient Town.
🎁 Exclusive Bonuses: Enjoy a VIP seat at the “Charming Xiangxi” cultural show, a night cruise on Xiangjiang River, and gifts like handmade local snacks, mountain spring water, and surprise birthday cakes.
🍽️ Authentic Cuisine: Taste regional specialties such as Chairman Mao’s Red-Braised Pork, Spicy Blood Duck, Baby Fish Hotpot, and Miao-style sticky rice.
🌄 Bucket-List Destinations: Visit top sites like Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain Glass Walkway, Fenghuang Ancient Town, and the literary town of Biancheng Tea Village.
🚫 No Shopping Stops: 100% pure sightseeing. No hidden fees, no forced shopping, no time wasted.
👨🏫 Expert-Guided Experience: Led by a professional local team with full-time tour guides and 24/7 concierge support.
Itinerary
🗓️ Day 1 – Arrival in Changsha & Night Cruise on Xiangjiang River
Theme: Welcome to Hunan · Explore Orange Isle · Enjoy Night Views of Changsha
Itinerary:
Upon arrival in Changsha, our local team will greet you at the airport or train station and escort you to your hotel. At 6:00 PM, you’ll be picked up from the hotel for your first cultural experience:
Visit Orange Isle (Juzizhou) — a famous island in the Xiangjiang River, mentioned in Chairman Mao’s poem Changsha. It was also a place where he swam in his youth.
Enjoy a luxury cruise along the Xiangjiang River (included as a complimentary activity). Admire the city skyline and the romantic night views as you cruise past iconic landmarks.
Note: If you arrive late or prefer not to join the night cruise, you may opt for free time and receive a refund of RMB 100 per adult.
Free Time Suggestions in Changsha:
After the cruise, enjoy free exploration in one of China’s most popular food capitals. We recommend:
Pozi Street – Famous for Huogongdian and Xinhua Lou, offering authentic Hunan cuisine
Taiping Old Street – A vintage alley full of local vibes, perfect for cultural immersion
Duzheng Street – Bar-lined historic street with Ming-Qing style architecture
Huangxing Pedestrian Street – Bustling shopping area with popular snacks like Cha Yan Yue Se
Recommended Cultural Stops:
Wenheyou Stinky Tofu Museum – Learn the fermentation process of this iconic snack in an interactive way
Cha Yan Yue Se – The city’s trendiest milk tea brand with artistic packaging and Chinese elegance
Reminders:
Keep your phone reachable for pickup coordination
Show your ID at check-in and pay a refundable deposit
Pickup may be shared with others arriving around the same time (small waiting time may apply)
🗓️ Day 2 – Red Legacy in Shaoshan & Night Show in Zhangjiajie
Theme: Mao’s Hometown · Revolutionary Spirit · VIP Cultural Night Experience
📍 Itinerary:
After breakfast, take a coach to Shaoshan, the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong (approx. 1.5 hours by bus, 2-hour visit).
Explore this AAAAA-rated historical site where Mao lived, studied, worked, and began his revolutionary journey.
🗿 Visit key landmarks:
Mao Zedong’s Former Residence (about 40 minutes)
Mao’s Bronze Statue Square (about 30 minutes)
✔️ A special group ceremony will be held: offering flower baskets, wearing Mao badges, and red scarves (included)
🥢 Lunch features Chairman Mao’s favorite dishes, including Red-Braised Pork and Fire-Roasted Fish — an authentic “Chairman’s Banquet.”
In the afternoon, drive to Changde or Zhangjiajie, passing through Hunan’s lush countryside known as the “land of fish and rice.”
🌟 Evening highlight:
Enjoy the spectacular “Charming Xiangxi” folk culture show with VIP seating.
This powerful live performance blends ethnic dance, music, and storytelling from the Tujia and Miao minorities — a deeply immersive cultural experience.
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Changde or Zhangjiajie (depending on arrangement)
📢 Reminders:
Please stay close to the guide during the Shaoshan visit as crowds may be large.
Families with children should hold hands and stay alert.
Respect local customs and watch your personal belongings.
Apply sunscreen and stay hydrated throughout the day.
🗓️ Day 3 – Deep Exploration of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Theme: Avatar Mountains · Canyon Trails · Hidden Peaks
📍 Itinerary:
After breakfast, transfer by bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China’s first AAAAA-rated national park and home of the world-famous sandstone peak forest.
🔼 Take a round-trip cable car to Huangshizhai (Yellow Stone Village), famously described as “If you don’t visit Huangshizhai, you’ve wasted your trip to Zhangjiajie.”
At 1,200 meters above sea level, this scenic platform offers panoramic views of the quartz-sandstone pillars.
Key sights include:
Six Wonders Pavilion
Star-Plucking Terrace
Sea of Fog Tortoise Rock
Heavenly Book Treasure Box
🌿 Continue your hike through the most beautiful section of Golden Whip Stream, renowned for crystal-clear water, lush forest, and dramatic peaks on both sides.
Enjoy the peaceful charm of what’s often called “the most beautiful canyon in the world.”
🚠 Take the Yangjiajie cableway up to explore the core scenic area of Yangjiajie, a newly discovered route featuring stunning rock formations and steep cliffs.
🎬 Visit Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, known as the filming location of the floating “Hallelujah Mountains” in Avatar.
Marvel at:
First Bridge Under Heaven
Misty Viewing Terrace
Soul-Lost Platform
The massive stone pillars that inspired Pandora’s floating mountains
⬇️ End the day by taking the Bailong Elevator down the cliff — the world’s tallest outdoor glass elevator.
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast · Dinner (Lunch at your own arrangement due to park logistics)
🏨 Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
📢 Reminders:
Lunch is not provided inside the park; local snacks and small meals are available along the trail.
Park transportation is via shared eco-buses. Please follow your guide at all times.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, avoid skirts, and prepare for rain or sun.
Do not feed wild monkeys in the park.
🗓️ Day 4 – Tianmen Mountain Adventure · Hanging Waterfall Town · Phoenix Ancient Town by Night
Theme: Glass Skywalk · Ancient Waterfall Village · Dreamlike Phoenix Night
📍 Itinerary:
After breakfast, depart by coach to visit the iconic Tianmen Mountain (AAAAA-rated), known as the “soul of Zhangjiajie.”
🗻 Highlights of Tianmen Mountain:
Glass Skywalk: Step onto the transparent cliff-side walkway — nicknamed the “Sky Road of the East.”
Panlong Cliff Glass Walkway: A thrilling 100-meter-long path hanging 1,500 meters above the ground, offering a vertigo-inducing view of 99 curves down below.
Tianmen Cave (“Heaven’s Gate”): A natural mountain archway often wrapped in mist, with changing light and mysterious clouds.
Tianmenshan Temple: One of western Hunan’s most important Buddhist temples, featuring multiple halls and ancient trees.
Optional items included: One-time use shoe covers for the glass skywalk, and the Tianmen Mountain escalator (valued at RMB 64)
📸 The mountain was named one of China’s “Top 50 Places Foreigners Must Visit” and praised by international media as on par with the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors.
🚌 In the afternoon, transfer to Furong Town, a 2,000-year-old village dramatically built into cliffs and featuring a waterfall flowing through the town.
Formerly known as Wangcun, this village gained national fame after the movie Hibiscus Town was filmed here.
Explore hanging wooden houses, boat scenes, and ancient town views over cascading waters.
🌙 Evening arrival in Phoenix Ancient Town (Fenghuang) — one of China’s most poetic towns.
Step into a wooden boat and enjoy a night cruise on the Tuojiang River, where you’ll see:
Layers of reflections and lantern-lit stilt houses
Miao women washing clothes by river
Historic rainbow bridge and city gates
A full 7-part Water Projection Light Show, themed around Miao culture: Miao Encounter · Red Dresses · Morning Light · Painting Scroll · Time Travel · Miao Love Letter · Ancient Sun God
The experience blends light, sound, and ancient river town mystique — like sailing through a dream.
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast · Lunch
🏨 Accommodation: Phoenix Ancient Town
📢 Reminders:
Tianmen Mountain tickets require real-name prebooking; routes and time slots are pre-assigned and may vary.
Tour group cannot choose the specific cable car route; we will follow final online reservation results.
In Fenghuang, due to traffic regulations, your bus may stop at a transfer point. You may need to walk to your hotel or use a luggage porter (optional).
Night river cruise and water show are bonus activities and may be affected by weather or river conditions (no refund if canceled due to force majeure).
🗓️ Day 5 – Phoenix Morning · Miao Culture Street · Literary Border Town Tea-dong
Theme: Ethnic Flavor · Literary China · Rural Romance
📍 Itinerary:
After breakfast, continue your visit in Phoenix Ancient Town, exploring its cultural core — the “Nine Charms of Fenghuang”:
A green mountain embracing an ancient town
The Tuo River flowing through historic streets
Red stone alleys paved with stories
City walls, watchtowers, and hanging bridges
Stilt houses, rainbow bridges, misty mornings
Famous historical figures and local legends
National-level intangible cultural heritage
Stroll through Cui Cui Street, an immersive cultural corridor inspired by Shen Congwen’s novel Border Town.
Here, you’ll encounter:
Silver jewelry artisans demonstrating Miao forging techniques
Miao-style sticky blood duck dishes
Hand-roasted rice tea
Traditional snacks like ginger candy and spicy tofu
“Ox Horn Combs” representing Miao literature and rituals
🎁 Enjoy a cup of Cui Cui-style stir-fried rice tea, taste handcrafted treats, and connect with the living heritage of western Hunan’s Miao communities.
🚌 After lunch, travel by coach to Cha-tong Ancient Town (about 1.5 hours), known as the real-life setting of Shen Congwen’s novella Border Town.
Now officially named Biancheng, this tranquil riverside town sits at the convergence of Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing — famously described as a place where “a rooster’s crow is heard in three provinces.”
📷 The town retains a quiet, poetic beauty: cobblestone lanes, bamboo bridges, wooden docks, and the ancient ferry crossing known as Lala Ferry.
🚐 After the visit, return to Changsha (approx. 5.5 hours, 473 km). Upon arrival, check into your hotel and rest.
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast · Lunch
🏨 Accommodation: Changsha
📢 Reminders:
Phoenix Ancient Town is a commercial zone. All shops operate independently and are not organized shopping stops.
Please check your luggage before leaving your hotel in Fenghuang to avoid forgetting items.
Local snacks, silver goods, and crafts are optional purchases based on personal interest. No forced buying.
🗓️ Day 6 – Farewell from Changsha
Theme: Departure · Reflection · Journey’s End
📍 Itinerary:
After breakfast, we will arrange your transfer to Changsha Airport or Train Station according to your departure time.
This marks the end of your unforgettable 6-day journey through Hunan — from the legendary peaks of Zhangjiajie to the river towns of Fenghuang and the cultural roots of Shaoshan.
We hope you leave with amazing memories, stunning photos, and a deeper connection to the rich landscapes and traditions of China.
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: None (return home)
📢 Reminders:
Please double-check your luggage and belongings before hotel checkout.
Hotel check-out time is 12:00 PM. Late check-outs may incur additional fees per hotel policy.
If you have a late departure, feel free to explore nearby shops or cafes before heading to the station or airport.
Our team will ensure you arrive on time and assist with boarding if needed.
Accommodation
Includes & Excludes
💰 What’s Included – All-Inclusive Package
🎫 All entrance tickets listed in the itinerary
(including Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Bailong Elevator, Golden Whip Stream, Shaoshan, Phoenix Ancient Town, Furong Town, Tea-dong, and more)🏨 5 nights in 4–5 star hotels
(including Wyndham, Hilton, and boutique hotels in Fenghuang)🚌 All ground transportation in a private air-conditioned coach
🍽️ 5 breakfasts + 6 featured meals
(Chairman’s Banquet, Spicy Blood Duck, Baby Fish Hotpot, etc.)🧑🏫 English-speaking licensed tour guide throughout the trip
🚐 Airport/train station pick-up & drop-off in Changsha
🚠 All cable cars and scenic eco-buses included:
Bailong Elevator (Zhangjiajie)
Yangjiajie Cable Car
Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk & Escalator
Tianmen Mountain Upper & Lower Cable Routes
Shaoshan Shuttle
Tuojiang Night Cruise
Furong Town Entry + Waterfall Ticket
Border Town Tea-dong Entry
🎁 Exclusive bonuses (formerly optional, now included):
VIP seat for Charming Xiangxi Cultural Show
Tuojiang River Night Boat + 7-part Miao Water Light Show
Chairman Mao’s Statue Ceremony (flower basket + red scarf)
Local gift packs (mountain spring water, local snacks)
Birthday surprises (if applicable)
