Day 1 Gathering Day ★ Anywhere → or → Changsha
All day
Today is the gathering day for activities.
Tourists from all over the country can choose their own means of transportation, arrive at the designated hotel in Changsha to check in, arrange rooms, and then have free time.
Recommended itinerary
If you arrive early, you can climb Yuelu Mountain, overlook the scenery of Changsha from the top of the mountain, check in at the Aiwan Pavilion, and visit the thousand-year-old Yuelu Academy, Hunan University, etc.
You can also go to Orange Island and feel the breeze from the Xiangjiang River; visit the museum to get to know the whole city - take a peek into the Mawangdui Han Tomb at the Hunan Museum.
In the evening, tourists can head to Wuyi Square, Huangxing Square, and IFS, Changsha's bustling districts brimming with New Year festivities. Take a short city walk through Fire Palace, South Gate, and Pozi Street, and don't forget to sample the local snacks—stinky tofu, sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes, Cha Yan Yue Se (tea-flavored glutinous rice cakes), perilla peaches, Tianma beef patties, and sweet wine.
Day 2 Changsha → Ten-mile Gallery → Wulingyuan
·afternoon
After breakfast, depart for Zhangjiajie's world geological heritage site [Wulingyuan Forest Park]
Today, we visited the Ten-Mile Gallery, where you can admire the naturally formed peaks and rocks on both sides of the canyon. There are as many as one or two hundred of them, resembling people and objects. As you walk among them, you will see a different scene with every step. The scenery is picturesque.
The Ten-Mile Gallery is a corridor leading from the forest park to Tianzi Mountain. Wildflowers and trees line the valley floor, while in the distance, unique peaks and rocks appear. Walking through it feels like stepping into a natural landscape painting, completely enchanted by the pristine natural beauty.
The unique peaks here, exquisitely carved by time, resemble a paradise, a masterpiece of nature. The Ten-Li Gallery boasts many famous stone sculptures, including "The God of Longevity Welcoming Guests," "The Old Man Gathering Herbs," "Reading to the King," "Conch Peak," "Peacock Spreading its Tail," and "Tiger Roaring to the Sky."
Among them, the "Herb Picking Old Man" attraction is particularly magical. It looks like an old man with a hunched back, wearing a square scarf, a long gown, carrying a basket full of herbs on his back, staring at the opposite mountain with his bright eyes, as if thinking about something.
·night
After exiting the Ten-Li Gallery, we will return to the Wulingyuan landmark gate and return to the hotel to rest.
At night, you can find food on your own in Xibu Old Street. We recommend the Zhangjiajie specialty "Three-in-One Pot" and the rose wine in the old street.
Day 3 Wulingyuan → Golden Whip Stream → Yuanjiajie → Tianzi Mountain → Furong Town
·morning
After breakfast, proceed to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park for an in-depth tour
We first took the scenic bus to Golden Whip Stream and strolled through "one of the most beautiful canyons in the world" to get a preliminary feel for the beauty of Zhangjiajie.
We started our stroll along the Golden Whip Stream from Shuiraosimen. This area is renowned for its breathtaking peaks, secluded valleys, and picturesque forests. Three thousand stone peaks rise from the ground in various shapes, while deep canyons and gurgling streams nestle between the peaks and forests. Golden Whip Stream is known for its reputation of "Five steps to wonder, seven steps to exclaim, and ten steps to astonishment." Walking along the stream, we felt like we were in a real-life version of "The Wizard of Oz." The stream was filled with all sorts of small fish, and we even encountered little macaques along the way. It was a truly relaxing experience.
After about an hour of walking and playing, we arrived at Luancuanpo and started hiking along the steps. This is a niche way to go up the mountain, avoiding most of the tourists in the scenic area, so everyone can enjoy the hiking process.
After about a 2-hour hike, we arrived at Yuanjiajie, the essence of Zhangjiajie. We then headed to Hallelujah Mountain (also known as Qiankun Pillar), the filming location for "Avatar," to explore the mysterious and unpredictable world of floating mountains and scattered stars in Avatar; we also saw representative and famous attractions such as the DI Bridge, the Bewitching Platform, the Qiankun Pillar, the Divine Turtle Asking the Sky, and the Five Daughters Paying Homage to Their Birthday.
We then have free lunch.
·afternoon
After lunch, we took a scenic shuttle bus to another key scenic spot, Tianzi Mountain. This mountain gets its name from Xiang Dakun, a Tujia ethnic minority from the early Ming Dynasty who styled himself "Xiang Wang Tianzi." Its elevated position offers panoramic views from the east, south, and west, creating long perspectives, expansive views, and diverse landscapes. Here, you'll find He Long Park, the West Sea Observation Deck, the Fairies Presenting Flowers, and Yubi Peak, a scenic spot that captivates photographers and painters.
Then we took the Tianzi Mountain cable car down the mountain and headed to Furong Town from the forest park landmark gate.
·night
Arrive at the vibrant New Year atmosphere of Furong Town , known as the "Millennium Ancient Town Hanging on a Waterfall." With a history spanning over 2,000 years, it's one of the four great ancient towns in western Hunan. It boasts winding streets and alleys, Tujia stilt houses nestled by the water, and a five-mile-long street paved with bluestone. A small river flows along the town, cascading down a cliff as it joins the Youshui River, creating the spectacular Furong Waterfall.
It has been gaining more and more attention and popularity in recent years. It is also the filming location of "Flowers and Youth Camping Season", and you can check in the same ancient town as Yang Mi's "Flowers and Youth"!
In Furong Town, the Lunar New Year celebration is a grand celebration overflowing with traditional charm. The Tujia stilt houses, illuminated by red lanterns, appear even more quaint and festive, while the bluestone streets, adorned in red, resemble dancing dragons.
When night falls, thousands of pumpkin lanterns are reflected in the spectacular waterfall, making it look like a fairyland. Men, women, young and old wear beautiful traditional costumes and walk through every corner of the town. This is why we chose to arrive in Furong Town at night!
Experience the vibrant New Year's atmosphere in Xiangxi here. Join the enthusiastic locals in watching the spectacular dragon parade and the charming lantern festival, brimming with traditional Chinese charm, and soak in the rich festive atmosphere and auspicious spirit. Hundreds of Tujia people gather around the bonfire in the Baishou Hall, performing the "Baishou Dance" in unison. Join them and let go of the year's worries with this joyful dance! In the evening, wander freely around Furong Town, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Don't forget to savor a bowl of Liu Xiaoqing's signature rice tofu, as well as other local delicacies like hot sweet wine, sugar figurine paintings, and stir-fried candies.
Day 4 Furong Town → Dehang Miao Village → Tianwen Terrace → Aizhai Bridge → Jishou
·morning
After breakfast, depart Furong Town for Dehang Miao Village in Jishou, Xiangxi. "Dehang" means "beautiful canyon" in the Miao language. Surrounded by mountains, with four canyon streams running through the village, lush greenery protects the fields, and verdant mountains create a scene reminiscent of a secluded valley. Known as the "Miao Village Hidden in the Sea of Clouds," the distinctive Miao architecture blends seamlessly with the natural landscape. Here, we'll experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Xiangxi Miao Village New Year.
Entering the village is a highly interactive experience, with everyone experiencing a unique local welcoming ceremony: passing through three gates—drinking gate-blocking wine, stepping over a winnowing basket, and singing with the ayahs. Afterward, enjoy authentic ethnic performances, including Miao songs and dances, wedding performances, and a display of ethnic costumes. Dehang is truly a drum village, and the drum is a symbol of Miao culture, becoming a spiritual totem. Their most exciting performances are the drum music performances!
P.S. Ethnic performances are held daily at 10:30 and 15:30, each lasting 45 minutes. The morning shows include singing and dancing, musical instruments, customs, and Miao drums, while the afternoon showcases Miao costumes and martial arts. We watched the morning performance.
The performance venue is located in the center of the Miao village. There is also a small museum nearby, which displays the real objects and pictures of the music and drumming skills of various ethnic minorities, an exhibition of costumes from the five major Miao distribution areas, and an exhibition of various beautiful local butterfly specimens.
After touring the Miao village, we gathered for lunch, a traditional Miao New Year meal called the Long Table Banquet. This tradition, steeped in history, is a joyous way to celebrate the New Year and remains the highest form of hospitality among the Miao people.
After dinner, we all joined in the lively folk activity of the Miao village during the New Year - making glutinous rice cakes. Making glutinous rice cakes is one of the most important activities during the New Year in Xiangxi. In addition to being delicious, glutinous rice cakes also contain beautiful meanings. Every time a glutinous rice cake is made, several families or even the entire village will join in. The whole process is considered complete only when everyone makes glutinous rice cakes together.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we went to Tianwen Terrace in Dehang Grand Canyon.
The secluded Dehang Miao Village, a paradise nestled in a canyon, lies deep within a ravine. A naturally formed platform, facing the sky on three sides, rises from the horizon, and towering peaks and rock pillars create a magnificent landscape painting. Legend has it that Qu Yuan's "Heavenly Questions" describes this spot, and it was also the filming location for Wonder Woman in China. At the observatory, Master Badai performed ancient rituals to bless the Miao people and visitors.
There is a waterfall on one side and a Miao village on the other. The scenery is very charming. We climbed up to Tianwen Terrace, embraced nature, and prayed for a happy new year.
After coming out of Dehang Grand Canyon, we will pass Aizhai Bridge.
A bridge soars across the canyon, transforming a natural barrier into a thoroughfare. Spanning the Dehang Grand Canyon, the bridge deck reaches a height of 355 meters, creating four world firsts. Clouds and mist surge through the canyon, creating a feeling of passing through a fairyland when driving over. We walked into the lower level of the bridge, where the transparent glass layer was more stunning and spectacular than any other glass bridge!
·night
In the evening, we arrived in Jishou, the capital of Xiangxi. This city is also one of the most lively during the Lunar New Year celebrations in Xiangxi. Spending the New Year in a place blessed by ethnic minorities and auspicious places is sure to be an unforgettable experience for tourists!
After checking in, we wandered around the iconic Qianzhou Ancient Town in Jishou. The nightlife during the Lunar New Year in Qianzhou Ancient Town is unique and bustling, and it often hosts intangible cultural heritage performances like iron flower making. You're likely to see them during the Lunar New Year period, so it's worth the wait.
In the evening, you can freely find food in the bustling Jishou, toast and celebrate the arrival of the New Year together~~
Day 5 Jishou Qianzhou City → Fenghuang Ancient Town
·morning
In the morning, we can go to the representative Qianzhou Ancient City in Jishou to see what it looks like during the day.
Qianzhou, a twin city along the southern Great Wall, has been renowned since ancient times, alongside Fenghuang Ancient Town. With its ten-mile-long ancient streets within the city, a ten-mile-long river running through the city, and a ten-mile-long border wall outside, it served as an important commercial port during the Qin and Han dynasties and a crucial military command center along the southern Great Wall's defense line during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
This ancient city is remarkably tranquil, allowing visitors to fully savor its charm. Though small, it boasts a comprehensive array of attractions. It boasts former residences of famous figures, a suspension bridge, rock-jumping activities, Miao stilt houses, bookstores, galleries, exhibition halls, and specialty snacks like mugwort cakes, pickled radish, rice tofu, and even silver jewelry shops. Each is well worth a leisurely stroll.
If you went to see the night view last night, you can also choose to rest in the hotel and sleep in.
In due time, we will take a bus to the national historical and cultural city - [Fenghuang Ancient Town].
Fenghuang Ancient Town places great importance on traditional New Year customs. Strolling along the cobblestone streets of Tuojiang River, you'll see vibrant lanterns hanging high on both sides of the river and clusters of ancient stilt houses steeped in history. Along the Tuojiang River, women in distinctive Miao costumes parade through the streets, performing intangible cultural heritage folk performances. Near the North Gate Wharf, locals in traditional costumes play suona and drums by the river, creating a lively New Year atmosphere.
After we have arranged accommodation in the ancient city, we can have a delicious lunch in the ancient city at noon.
·afternoon
After lunch, we'll visit Fenghuang Ancient Town to experience a traditional Miao craft: batik. Batik is a traditional Miao textile printing and dyeing craft. We'll start by sketching our favorite pattern with a pencil. Don't worry, our instructor will teach you the techniques. Then, we'll use a wax knife dipped in molten wax to transfer the pattern to the fabric. We'll then dye the pattern with indigo. After boiling and rinsing, our unique creations are ready. (During holidays, batik will be replaced with tie-dye.)
After the experience, you can explore the ancient city on your own. You can stroll along the Tuojiang River or visit Bijiashan Park, where you can see a panoramic view of Fenghuang Ancient Town. Nestled between mountains and water, the shallow Tuojiang River flows through the city, and red sandstone walls stand on the shore. Without the crowds of tourists, you'll feel as if the ancient city has remained frozen in time a century ago.
As night falls, the ancient city becomes hazy and intoxicating. You can freely wander around Fenghuang Ancient Town and admire the Fenghuang Ancient Town and stilt houses at night. Stroll along the Tuojiang River and enjoy the extraordinary night view of Fenghuang.
Make a wish at the Rock Jumping Pier and release colorful river lanterns filled with wishes; freely taste Fenghuang’s special snacks, or experience the unique bars of the ancient city, the atmosphere is charming and passionate.
Day 6★ Disbandment day Fenghuang Ancient Town → Huaihua South
All day
Get up early and experience the morning life of Phoenix: when people are still asleep, walk along the ancient and long bluestone streets, stand by the quietly flowing Tuojiang River, let the breeze caress your face, and watch the clouds drift by;
Alternatively, you can sleep until you wake up naturally. After breakfast, we will take a bus to Huaihua South Station.
Tourists who want to leave Phoenix can take the maglev subway or shuttle bus to Fenghuang Ancient Town High-Speed Railway Station after having fun. There are high-speed trains running all day to Changsha.
Everyone said goodbye with tears and reluctance! Don't forget to hand in your homework when you get back!
