6 Days Private Guilin and Zhangjiajie Tour

As a Chinese saying goes, “Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven, but Yangshuo’s is the finest in Guilin.” Today, your guide and the driver will escort you from your hotel to the dock for a Li River cruise to Yangshuo. Named by National Geographic as one of the world’s top ten water wonders, the Li River winds like an emerald ribbon through thousands of karst peaks. On the way, we’ll pass the celebrated Nine-Horse Mural Hill. From a distance, it looks like a huge painted screen, while up close, you’ll find a group of horses etched into the cliff, some lying down, some raising their heads and neighing, and some galloping forward. Then comes the Yellow Cloth Shoal, where the seven rolling hills and bamboo forests are mirrored so clearly in the crystal waters that it’s hard to distinguish the real scenery from its reflection. Interestingly, this is the view featured on the CNY 20 banknote. A simple lunch box will be served onboard before ending this 4-hour cruise.

Upon arriving in Yangshuo, enjoy a 2-hour cycling journey through the idyllic countryside. Winding village paths will lead you past golden rice paddies set against a backdrop of rolling green hills. Although machinery is now widely used in agriculture, you may still see farmers plowing fields with traditional tools and water buffalo. For one reason, small, irregular plots are difficult for large equipment to manage, while for another, some farmers believe machinery can harm the soil and environment. Accompanied by your guide, feel free to stop whenever you wish to rest or take photos. Of course, if cycling isn’t for you, we also offer a private car tour so you can still enjoy a romantic encounter with this stunning scenery.

After that, board your private car for the return journey to Guilin. En route, stop at Xianggong Mountain, named for its unique silhouette which resembles a Xianggong, an ancient Chinese official with his hair tied up in a traditional hat. Standing on the highest viewing platform, you can gaze out over a breathtaking vista of the Li River, with floating rafts drifting along its curves and farmhouses and fields dotting its banks. When the sunset glow tints the sky red, the karst peaks turn into velvet silhouettes against a river of liquid gold. After another 1.5-hour driving, we’ll arrive at your hotel in Guilin.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After your guide and the driver meet you at your hotel, let’s head to today’s first destination, Reed Flute Cave. Having hosted over 80 foreign heads of state, this karst wonder is often called the “Cave of State Guests.” Inside, stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, and flowstone curtains glow under colorful lights, creating an ethereal underground world. The most striking section is the Crystal Palace, where ceiling projections depict geological transformations, from crustal shifts to the slow growth of stalactites, blending natural wonder seamlessly with immersive technology.

Next, we’ll proceed to the Elephant Trunk Hill. As you might expect, the hill resembles a giant elephant dipping its trunk into the river. Legend says it was once a celestial elephant that descended to help control flooding in Guilin. While drinking from the Li River, it was attacked by the heavenly soldiers and died, and finally turned into the Hill, forever standing guard by the water.

After the sightseeing, your guide and the driver will escort you to the railway station to board the 7.5‑hour high‑speed train to Zhangjiajie. Upon your arrival at around 22:00, your Zhangjiajie guide and driver will pick you up from the train station and convoy you to your downtown hotel.

► Important Notes for Your Zhangjiajie Adventure:
1. Physical Requirements: While Guilin offers a gentle landscape, Zhangjiajie is rugged and steep. Expect to walk approximately 10 km (6 miles) daily on mountainous terrain with significant stair climbing, which requires good knee strength and general physical fitness. We strongly recommend wearing sturdy hiking shoes for support and comfort.
2. Crowds & Wait Times: As an emerging global hotspot, Zhangjiajie often experiences heavy visitor traffic. While the local infrastructure is improving, it may not match the seamless pace of Guilin. Queues are common at key facilities such as the Bailong Elevator, shuttle buses, cable cars, and major viewpoints. We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you wish to minimize waiting time, please contact your travel consultant in advance about upgrading to a VIP-access pass. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Hop on our private car for a smooth ride with your guide and driver to Tianmen Mountain, the highest mountain in Zhangjiajie. To make the ascent effortless, we’ve included the cable cars and multi‑level mountain escalators for you. The mountain takes its name from its world‑famous natural wonder, Tianmen Cave, also known as Heaven’s Gate. Perpetually veiled in mist, the great arch seems to breathe, with white fog swirling through it. Since ancient times, it has been a place for prayer and blessing. Here, you’ll find five prayer platforms that respectively represent fortune, prosperity, wealth, happiness, and longevity, and you can pray like many locals do. The transmountain escalator will carry you to the summit, where you can walk along the cliff-hanging Glass Skywalk. Standing on the transparent path, with your eyes closed, legs numb, heart pounding, and arms outstretched, you’ll get the most exciting “spa” for the soul, right in the heart of nature. Other highlights, such as the Guigu Plank Road and Yuhu Peak, also await your exploration.

In the late afternoon, we’ll visit the 72 Tujia Stilted Buildings, a masterpiece of ethnic architecture and a global marvel of stilted design. The tiered complex rises over a hundred meters like a village suspended in the air, with a central opening that visually echoes the distant Tianmen Cave. Inside, you’ll find a preserved ancient residence of civil officials, a 200-plus-year-old archway commemorating the local No.1 scholar, and the old teahouses listed as intangible cultural heritage, all adorned with vivid stone or wood carvings. At the end of the day, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► Evening Recommendations (at your own expense): 
The 72 Stilted Tujia Buildings come alive with color and energy after sunset. You can linger longer to explore on your own if interested. You can watch a dazzling light show, lively ethnic song and dance performances, or join a bonfire party to learn the traditional Tujia hand-swaying dance with locals. Besides, it is also a paradise for local specialties, such as salted dried tofu, kiwi fruit juice, and sweet glutinous rice balls. Please note that local flavors can be quite bold and may not suit every palate, so we recommend you try a small portion first. After your evening exploration, please return to your hotel independently by taxi or ride‑hailing service. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

A compact full-day exploration of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park awaits you. Our efficient itinerary allows you to explore four major scenic areas in a single day. Beyond the standard highlights, we’ll lead you off the beaten path to experience the park’s most pristine landscapes.

★ Our All-inclusive Service: 

Choosing us means choosing a worry-free experience. Our quotation covers all park-related expenses, including admission and in-park transport such as the Bailong Elevator, cable cars, and shuttle buses, so there are no unexpected extras during your visit (personal expenses excluded). 

After breakfast, your guide and driver will escort you to the Zhangjiajie National Park. Let’s head directly to the world’s tallest outdoor sightseeing lift, Bailong Elevator. Before it was built, reaching the summit required a winding 5‑hour mountain drive. Today, the elevator makes the same ascent in just two minutes, putting once‑remote vistas within easy reach. As the elevator goes up, you’ll see the jagged peaks known as the Divine Soldiers Assembly, also called the Forty‑eight Generals Rock. Legend says that they were turned from the souls of the local Tujia tribal leader and his 48 ministers, who once discussed uprising affairs here. On the opposite hillside, clusters of white farmhouses dot the slopes, resembling a distant “sky garden.” Stepping out of the elevator, you’ll enter Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, a forest of soaring stone pillars. Here, you’ll encounter the Heaven and Earth Column, the real‑world inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountain in “Avatar”. Local legend tells of skilled herbalists who once scaled the lower reaches of this column in search of rare herbs. They followed a strict ancestral taboo: “Do not climb to the top; do not make a sound.” It was believed that the summit held a “spiritual eye” where heaven and earth met, and any disturbance would invite misfortune. Long before modern conservation laws, it was this deep spiritual reverence that preserved the peak’s pristine beauty.

After lunch, take the park’s eco-friendly shuttle to Tianzi Mountain. Like a fairyland from ancient Chinese mythology, Tianzi Mountain features peaks of vivid lifelike shapes, such as Chinese writing brushes, generals, and fairies. While lush and green in summer, winter often coats the pillars in frost and rime, transforming the area into a serene “kingdom of ice and snow.” After descending by cable car, enjoy a peaceful hike along Golden Whip Stream. One of the trail’s iconic formations is the Golden Whip Rock, said to be the petrified form of an emperor’s magical whip, which could move mountains, flatten lands, and expand territory. When the emperor reached Zhangjiajie, his whip suddenly snapped and turned into this towering pillar. Interestingly, this tale echoes the Greek myth of Sisyphus, both of which acknowledge the limits of human power, but the Chinese version turns a “failure” into a gift of natural beauty.

Finally, take a round-trip sightseeing train to explore the Ten-Mile Gallery, where the peaks lining both sides appear to be the best works meticulously sculpted by nature. You’ll see rock formations resembling embracing couples or an old man. Tired of admiring the stones? The monkeys here will surely enrich your journey. Accustomed to visitors, these smart creatures are quite bold; some might even try to snatch snacks from visitors. Therefore, please keep your food in your bag and maintain a safe distance to avoid any playful “robberies.” 

At the end of today’s itinerary, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, your guide and the driver will offer you a comfortable car ride to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, an area of lush primeval forest dotted with waterfalls and springs. The canyon is also known as “Rotten Ship Gorge” because pieces of decayed wooden boats were once washed up by its springs. It is widely speculated that a massive cave collapse over a century ago trapped fishing vessels inside, with fragments later carried to the surface through the karst aquifer. Upon arrival, we’ll directly head to the canyon’s most famous landmark, the Glass Bridge. As the world’s longest and highest bridge of its kind, it is constructed with double-layered glass. During safety tests, even a heavy truck was driven across it. Walking on the bridge offers not only a thrilling, pulse-quickening experience but also a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the dramatic canyon below. If time permits, we’ll descend to the canyon floor and take a boat tour to explore Sacred Spring Lake. Gliding across the tranquil water surface and looking up, you’ll find cliffs standing like silent guardians with vegetation as their cloak. 

After today’s sightseeing, your guide and the driver will provide you with a private transfer to the airport or high-speed railway station. To ensure you catch your flight or train, we recommend booking tickets departing after 7:00 PM. Should you wish to extend your journey, whether to explore more natural wonders like Jiuzhaigou or Yunnan, or to visit metropolises such as Xi’an or Shanghai, we would be glad to continue tailoring your itinerary. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch