6-Day Private Luxury China Tours: Changsha, Fenghuang & Zhangjiajie Discovery

Summary

Day 1 Changsha Arrival
Day 2 Changsha-Fenghuang: Yuelu Academy (w/shuttle bus & cable car), Orange Island (W/Sightseeing Train), Bullet train to Fenghuang, Tuo Jiang River scenic view.
Day 3 Fenghuang-Zhangjiajie: Tusi Castle, Tianmen Mountain, Tianmen Cave, Zhangjiajie Night City – Qilou Complex (with ticket), Recommended Optional Shows: Tianmen Fox Fairy Show / Charming Xiangxi.
Day 4 Zhangjiajie: Wulingyuan Forest Park, Bailong Elevator (round-trip), Yuanjiajie, Ten-Mile Gallery Train Ride.
Day 5 Zhangjiajie-Changsha: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, World’s Longest Glass Bridge, Bungee Jump Platform, transfer to Changsha.
Day 6 Changsha Departure

Day 1 Changsha Arrival

When your flight lands at Changsha Huanghua International Airport, you will be greeted by our courteous local guide holding a visible “Your Way Holiday” sign, along with your driver. They will provide attentive assistance from the moment you arrive, helping with luggage and escorting you to a comfortable, well-maintained private vehicle arranged exclusively for your group. The transfer to your hotel will be smooth and relaxing, giving you time to settle in and prepare for the memorable experiences ahead in Changsha.

Day 2 Changsha-Fenghuang

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and lead your group to the hidden corners of Yuelu Mountain, where the historic Yuelu Academy quietly sits amid centuries-old trees and winding stone paths. Instead of climbing steep trails, you’ll take a scenic cable car that reveals stunning views of the surrounding city and lake below, allowing seniors and children to enjoy the journey comfortably. At the academy, your guide will bring to life lesser-known stories of famous scholars, secret study traditions, and unique architectural features often missed by typical visitors. Wander through peaceful courtyards, intricate wooden halls, and tucked-away meditation spots, where the calm ambiance offers perfect moments for reflection and photography. The experience is carefully paced so that every member of your group can fully appreciate the academy’s subtle charm and rich intellectual heritage.

Next, your group will visit Orange Island, a peaceful retreat nestled in the heart of the Xiang River. Instead of following the usual tourist path, you’ll explore the island aboard a charming mini-train that meanders through hidden groves, fragrant flower gardens, and quiet riverside corners. Along the way, your guide will introduce fascinating stories about the island’s artistic and revolutionary heritage, including the lesser-known details behind the Mao Zedong Youth Statue. You’ll have the opportunity to pause at secluded viewpoints perfect for photography, while children can enjoy interactive explanations and fun anecdotes. The experience concludes with a leisurely lunch at a carefully selected local eatery, where your guide ensures everyone’s dietary preferences are considered.

In the afternoon, you’ll take a comfortable high-speed train to Fenghuang, enjoying scenic glimpses of the countryside along the way. Upon arrival, your guide will accompany your group to Fengming Tianxia Hotel and help you settle in smoothly. Later, unwind with a riverside tea experience carefully arranged for your group, where the gentle flow of the Tuojiang River and the surrounding willow trees create a serene escape. As dusk approaches, your guide will lead a quiet stroll through the lesser-explored lanes of Fenghuang Ancient Town, revealing hidden courtyards, quaint riverside houses, and tucked-away artisan shops. You’ll pass the historic East Gate Tower, Wanming Pagoda, and the charming Hong Bridge, all softly illuminated by lantern light. Along the way, your guide will share intriguing local legends, point out secret photo spots, and introduce artisanal snacks and crafts that are often overlooked by typical visitors, ensuring a truly immersive and magical evening for the whole group.

Day 3 Fenghuang-Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, board a high-speed train bound for Zhangjiajie, where natural beauty and cultural heritage meet. Your first stop will be Tusi Castle, an evocative site that preserves the legacy of the Tujia chieftains. Rather than focusing only on the grandeur, your guide will take you into quieter courtyards and wooden galleries, pointing out subtle details like the symbolic carvings on roof beams, the ingenious drainage systems beneath the stilted houses, and the hidden passageways used in times of conflict. As you wander through these traditional diaojiaolou structures, you’ll hear little-known tales of Tujia rituals, seasonal festivals, and ancestral traditions that are rarely highlighted in mainstream narratives. The experience offers an intimate glimpse into how architecture, landscape, and community life were woven together in ways that still influence local identity today.

In the afternoon, your group will explore the dramatic landscapes of Tianmen Mountain, a site renowned not just for its vistas but also for its hidden natural wonders. Begin your ascent aboard the mountain cableway, the longest single-line lift in the world, which glides over lush valleys, twisting roads, and cliffside forests rarely noticed by most visitors. Your guide will point out subtle features such as rare rock formations, secluded groves, and ancient temples tucked into the cliffs. Once at the summit, you’ll experience a specially arranged walk along a glass skywalk that stretches along less-traveled sections of the ridge, offering a breathtaking sense of floating above the mountains. With your guide’s expert support, the adventure combines both safe exhilaration and the chance to capture unique perspectives of Zhangjiajie’s mystical terrain.

After exploring the summit, you’ll descend Tianmen Mountain on the express cableway, gliding over secluded valleys and forested cliffs often overlooked by casual visitors. Your journey continues to the magnificent Tianmen Cave, or “Heaven’s Gate,” a towering natural arch created by centuries of geological shifts. Standing beneath its 130-meter-high opening, you’ll feel the scale and raw power of this formation. Your guide will reveal lesser-known local legends, including mystical rituals once performed here and daring historical feats tied to the site, offering a glimpse into how the mountain has inspired awe, reverence, and imagination for generations. The combination of dramatic scenery and rich storytelling makes this stop a truly memorable highlight.

As night falls, your group will explore the lively Qilou Complex, a vibrant enclave where Zhangjiajie’s modern energy meets its traditional roots. Stroll through narrow lanes illuminated by colorful lanterns and subtle neon, where local street performers, musicians, and artisans bring the area to life. Your guide will lead you to hidden eateries serving authentic Hunan flavors, introduce family-run craft shops, and share stories about the neighborhood’s history and everyday culture rarely highlighted in typical tours. This evening experience offers a blend of discovery, local flavor, and immersive atmosphere, allowing your group to connect with Zhangjiajie’s unique night-time charm.

To conclude your day, your guide can help you arrange tickets for one of two distinctive evening shows that reveal the cultural heartbeat of Zhangjiajie. One option is the Tianmen Fox Fairy performance, an open-air spectacle set against the dramatic cliff faces, blending local legends, acrobatics, and music in a visually captivating narrative. Alternatively, the Charming Xiangxi show offers a more intimate glimpse into the rituals, dances, and songs of Hunan’s ethnic minorities, highlighting traditions rarely seen by visitors. Both experiences provide an enriching perspective on the region’s heritage. Please note that these performances are optional and ticket costs are not included in the tour price.

Day 4 Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, your day begins at the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO-listed site celebrated for its towering sandstone pillars and hidden forest valleys. To reach the elevated trails with ease, your group will take the Bailong Elevator, a marvel of engineering that ascends 326 meters along a sheer cliff face. Rather than just the height, your guide will highlight overlooked details such as the surrounding microclimates, unusual rock formations, and the ecological strategies used to preserve the fragile landscape. The ride provides breathtaking, rarely seen perspectives of the forested pillars below, setting the tone for a day of discovery through some of Zhangjiajie’s most enchanting and less-visited corners.

At the summit, you’ll step into Yuanjiajie, a landscape that feels otherworldly with its soaring sandstone spires and mist-filled ravines. Instead of focusing only on its movie fame, your guide will lead you to lesser-noticed viewpoints where you can appreciate the unusual textures of the rock faces and the way vegetation clings to the cliffs in seemingly impossible places. Among the highlights is the natural stone arch known locally as the First Bridge Under Heaven, which has long inspired poetry and folklore for its daring span across a deep chasm. You’ll also encounter the towering Southern Sky Pillar, whose striking shape has fueled both myths and modern imagination. With your guide’s insight, these formations are revealed not just as geological wonders but as living symbols woven into the cultural identity of Zhangjiajie.

Your exploration then leads you into the serene Golden Whip Stream, a hidden valley embraced by towering sandstone walls and dense forest. Instead of rushing through, your guide will encourage a slower pace, allowing you to notice details such as the delicate wildflowers growing along the banks, the shifting colors of the water under sunlight, and the echo of birdsong between the cliffs. Local legends speak of immortals once resting in this secluded gorge, and your guide will share little-heard tales tied to these landscapes. Along the shaded path, it’s common to see playful macaques darting across branches or pausing to drink from the stream, offering spontaneous moments of connection with nature. The experience here is less about grandeur and more about the quiet magic hidden in Zhangjiajie’s valleys.

To close the day, you’ll experience the Ten-Mile Gallery aboard a leisurely open-air tram that glides through a secluded valley surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. Instead of simply passing by, your guide will point out the subtle artistry of nature in formations often overlooked—peaks shaped like legendary figures, ridges compared to animals from folklore, and cliff faces that appear to shift as the light changes. The slow pace of the ride allows time to savor the valley’s atmosphere, where mist curls around the rocks and seasonal flowers brighten the forest floor. With stories drawn from local tradition and a chance to simply enjoy the tranquil rhythm of the landscape, this journey offers a gentle yet memorable finale to your Zhangjiajie adventure.

Day 5 Zhangjiajie-Changsha

After breakfast, you’ll head to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, a striking landscape where dramatic cliffs, emerald forests, and rushing streams create a vivid natural scene. The highlight of your visit is the renowned Glass Bridge, an engineering feat suspended high above the canyon floor. Rather than focusing only on its record-breaking size, your guide will draw attention to the experience itself—how the transparent walkway creates the illusion of floating in mid-air, how the reflections of clouds and light change underfoot, and how the surrounding peaks frame the valley like a living painting. Along the way, you may come across quiet viewpoints less visited by the crowds, perfect for photos and moments of reflection. With your guide’s insights into the area’s geology, flora, and cultural legends, this excursion offers not just a thrill but also a deeper appreciation of the canyon’s unique character.

At the center of the Glass Bridge stands a daring bungee platform, recognized as one of the most dramatic in the world. For those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the bridge, the canyon below reveals quieter treasures: winding trails shaded by dense foliage, hidden waterfalls, and small streams where the water runs crystal clear. Your guide will help you notice the less obvious details of the ecosystem, such as rare wildflowers tucked into the cliffs and the calls of local bird species that echo through the gorge. This blend of cutting-edge design and untouched natural scenery offers a deeper perspective, transforming the visit from a simple sightseeing stop into an encounter with both innovation and wilderness.

In the afternoon, you’ll make your way to Changsha, a dynamic city where centuries-old traditions meet a fast-paced modern lifestyle. Rather than just a simple transfer, this journey is an opportunity to hear little-known stories from your guide—tales of Hunan’s revolutionary past, local culinary culture, and the literary figures who shaped the province’s identity. As the scenery shifts from mountain landscapes to the urban skyline, you’ll gain fresh insight into how Changsha has grown into a cultural and creative hub. This thoughtful transition not only brings you closer to the city but also enriches your understanding of the region beyond its famous landmarks.

Day 6 Changsha Departure

After breakfast, you’ll start the day in Changsha’s Guojin Center, a landmark that represents the city’s pulse of creativity and commerce. Beyond its modern skyline appeal, this district offers layers of discovery: hidden tea houses tucked between high-end shops, galleries showcasing emerging local artists, and boutique stores where traditional Hunan craftsmanship is reimagined with a contemporary twist. Your guide will introduce you to corners often overlooked by casual visitors, such as small eateries serving regional specialties or rooftop viewpoints ideal for cityscape photos. Rather than just a shopping stop, this experience immerses you in the rhythms of everyday urban life, where Changsha’s innovative spirit and cultural roots meet in surprising harmony.

After exploring Guojin Center, continue your walk into Pozi Street, a lively corridor where the spirit of old Changsha lingers amid its modern rhythm. Instead of focusing only on the busy storefronts, your guide will highlight tucked-away noodle stalls, century-old snack shops, and family-run stores that have preserved their craft for generations. As you wander, you’ll hear little-known anecdotes about the street’s role as a gathering place for merchants and storytellers in the past. Sampling a few specialties—like handmade rice cakes or spicy Hunan street bites—adds a sensory layer to the visit. This blend of everyday life, authentic flavors, and hidden details offers a deeper glimpse into the cultural heartbeat of the city.

At the end of your journey, your driver and guide will escort you to Changsha Huanghua International Airport. They will assist with luggage and check-in procedures, ensuring a smooth and comfortable departure. Wishing you a safe flight and wonderful memories of your time in China.

Price Per Person in US Dollars