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Zhangjiajie and Phoenix
Ancient City
(5-day)
Highlights:
Explore the ancient city of Fenghuang, a place that shares
the name with the holy bird in ancient times. With its peculiar
architecture, winding alleys, and own fascinating blend of
culture and tradition, Fenghuang is a hidden delight among
China�s attractions
Located in western Hunan Province, the famous tourist city of
Zhangjiajie is home of China�s first forest park � the
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park � and a World Natural Heritage
site in Wulingyuan
There are many famous scenic spots in Zhangjiajie, such as
Tianzi Mountain, Yellow Dragon Cave (Asia�s largest cave), and
many beautiful waterfalls and brooks. But the most attractive
scene that Zhangjiajie features is the mysterious mountain
covered with dense, primeval forests
B=(Breakfast) L=(lunch) D=(dinner) DEPARTURE: Daily
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TOUR ITINERARY |
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Tour
code:
GWA-ZJJ-03 |
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Day 1 arrive in
Zhangjiajie
Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie (you can either
fly in or take the train), you will be met by your
English-speaking guide, who will then take you to
your hotel. Zhangjiajie is famous worldwide for its
pristine national scenery and the government’s
potent policy on tourist infrastructure construction
in recent years has boosted the region’s tourist
industry and made it one of the new-rising popular
tourist destinations in China.
Zhangjiajie’s main tourist draw (what we will see
tomorrow) is the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which was
added to the UNESCO World Heritage list for its lush
vegetation, unique sandstone pillars, pristine
waters and a wide variety of species of flora and
fauna. It contains three major sights including the
Zhangjiajie Forest Park, Suoxi Vale, and Tianzi
Mountain, with a total coverage of 396 square
kilometers.
Once you arrive at your hotel the rest of the
evening can be spent at your own leisure.
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Day 2
Zhangjiajie-Fenhuang (B, L, D)
Today we will be making an excursion to the ancient
town of Fenghuang (Phoenix City), and we will do so
by way of the Mengdong River. Major scenic spots
include Eight-Scene Cave, Small Dragon Cave,natural
cliff side murals, Golden-Star Gorge, Fairy Gorge
,Line of Sky, Jumping Monkey, Yuanyang Gorge and
Laojun Gorge. You can enjoy rafting on the Si River,
a tributary of the Mengdong. The river flows along a
narrow valley and the water is swift. It is a great
adventure to drift on it. Along the way we will also
stop at the town of Furong.
The town used to be named Wang Cun (village) until a
famous movie entitled Furong Town was filmed here.
Most of the people there are of the Tujia Minority
group. Furong’s main attractions are the older,
architectural structures and the wooden buildings
that provided most of the film’s sets. There is also
a large stone archway, over 100 years old, built to
commemorate the virtue of a young woman.
In the afternoon we will arrive at Fenghuang.
Fenghuang, praised as "the Most Beautiful Town of
China" by famous New Zealand writer Rewi Alley, is a
small county renowned for its natural beauty, rich
history and culture as well as its colorful ethnic
customs. Fenghuang is embraced by green mountains,
with the Tuo Jiang River running through its heart.
Unique wooden houses constructed on stilts are built
along the riverbank. These kinds of houses are
called Diaojiaolou (Chinese for building with
hanging legs). The design keeps the buildings safe
from the spring floods. The villagers of Fenghuang
still live a very simple life despite the other
places of China that are under the onset of
modernization.
Fenghuang is divided into two districts: New Town
and Ancient Town. Fenghuang Ancient Town’s history
can be dated back to Spring and Autumn Periods (770
BC to 476 BC). The presenting Fenghuang Ancient Town
was built in the 43 year of the Reign of Emperor
Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1704), where the ancient
buildings in distinct Qing Dynasty style are well
preserved. Fairly long history endows it with over
300 culture heritages, such as Huang Si Qiao Castle,
the best preserved stone castle built in Tang
Dynasty (year 687); the meandering Xiangxi Border
Walls, which was built during Ming Dynasty, is
praised highly as China’s Southern Great Wall; and
the flagstone paths paved during Ming and Qing
Dynasties. Besides, there are famous ancient
buildings including Longevity Palace, Chao Yang
Palace and Heavenly King Temple.
For the night, we will stay at an inn in Fenghuang. |
Day 3
Fenghuang-Zhangjiajie (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will pay a visit to the former
residence of Shen Congwen, a famous Chinese writer
and literary figure. It is a representative south
Shiheyuan (quadrangle—a compound with houses around
a square courtyard). It was a brick made bungalow
built by Shen Hongfu, the grandfather of Shen
Congwen (who was ever appointed as the prefect of
Guizhou province) in 1866. Possessing distinctive
Xiangxi architecture featured during the Qing
Dynasty, the former residence of Shen Congwen
consists of 11 chambers with delicately-carved
windows and a courtyard paved with red bricks.
Then we will further examine the architectural
marvels of the Tujia people’s Diaojiaolou (stilted
house), which are prevalent throughout the town.
This stilted house has its own ethnic
distinctiveness; for, it is constructed in such a
way as to overhang the water and be supported by
many wooden pillars. According to tradition, the
specific reason for building such a structure is to
deliver the inhabitants from miasma, poisonous
vegetation and venomous snakes. Aside from this,
Tujia people are accustomed to constructing their
houses over the water and in proximity to the
mountains, with most residences established in the
valleys, giving the appearance of crouching tigers.
Clearly, the best way to construct a spacious and
stable house, while economizing on material, is to
lay the foundation on wooden pillars and build the
structure upon it. Over several millennia, a simple
shelter against wind and rain has evolved into a
construction, which is practical, graceful and
artistic, harmonizing with the surrounding natural
environment.
We will then make the drive back to Zhangjiajie, and
we should arrive back at the hotel in the early
evening. The rest of the night can be spent at your
leisure. |
Day 4 Zhangjiajie (B, L, D)
Today we will have a full day excursion to the
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It was first
established by the state council in 1982 as the 1st
national forest park of China. Covering 13 sq km,
the park is known for it's unique landscape with
lush forests dominated by quartzite sandstone
pillars. Bubbling brooks and charming lakes wind
around the area and connect giant caves. One of
China's most beautiful nature reserves, Zhangjiajie
has wonderful hiking trails in a serene environment
of staggering natural beauty.
Once in the park we will visit Jinbian Brook. It
covers a distance of 7.5 km from north to south,
winding across mountains and valleys. The brook is
limpid through the year, with many scenic spots
along the way. It is famous for Jinbian Cave-which
has a height of 382km and looks like a huge flying
eagle. Wear good walking shoes and protection from
the weather.
Another major highlight of the park is Huangshi
Fort. Huangshi Fort was named after a hermit called
Mr. Huangshi. It is a mesa higher on the north side
elevated by stiff cliffs. Huangshi Fort has the most
of marvelous view of Zhangjiajie National Forest
Park including Treasure Box of Heavenly Books, Magic
Sea-suppressing Needle, South Pillar of Heaven,
Golden Tortoise Watching the Sea etc. It is the best
platform to view the beautiful scenes of Zhangjiajie
National Forest Park. As the saying goes, he who
does not reach Huangshi Fort would be regarded as
having never been to Zhangjiajie.
We will stay overnight at a guesthouse in the park.
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Day 5 Zhangjiajie-departure
(B, L)
Following breakfast we’ll get started with
the day’s activities with a visit to Tianzi
Mountain, by way of cable car. Tianzi Mountain
Nature Reserve is a mesa in the northwest of
Wulingyuan. Up on the mesa, the field of vision is
widely opened up and it is a perfect location to
have a panoramic view of the nature reserve. Tianzi
Mountain has four scenic wonders, namely Cloud
Billows, Moon Brightness, Sun Glow and Winter Snow.
The cloud billows are ever changing, morning and
evening sun glows vast sky, moon shines in the still
night, winter snow falls enchanting the scenery,
like a lyric, like a landscape painting. Here in the
Tianzi Mountain, scene majestic is in all its
variety. There are five main scenic zones and over
ten scenic spots in the Tianzi Mountain area.
After coming down from Tianzi Mountain we’ll
pay a visit to the Yellow Dragon Caverns. Yellow
Dragon Cavern is a typical Karst cave, an area of
irregular limestone in which erosion has produced
fissures, underground streams, and caverns. So far,
the discovered cave is about 15 kilometers long and
140 meters high, covering an area of 48 hectares.
The Cavern can be divided into two parts. One is the
dry cave, and the other is the water cave. Even in
the Yellow Dragon Cavern, there are caves inside
caves, and one cave may lead to many others.
Sometimes there are caves under the ground too.
Stalactites, stalagmites, stone blossoms, stone
curtains, stone branches, stone canals, stone
pearls, and stone macrospores can be seen here and
there in the cavern, which constitutes a fantastic
yet natural scene.
You will then be taken to either the airport
or train station, and you will travel on to your
next destination.. |
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Tour Inclusions:
1. Hotels with daily western
breakfasts;
2. Meals in accordance with
that listed on the itinerary.
3. professional local guide
& driver;
4. Private air-conditioned
car or van for transportation;
5. Admission of the first
gate.
6.Two bottles of mineral
water per day.
Tour exclusions:
1. Tip of the guide
2. Personal costs
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