The Seventy-Two Wonders Tower is spectacular, Zhangjiajie, Furong Town, Phoenix Ancient Town

📅 Itinerary
Route logic: Zhangjiajie (natural wonders) → Furong Town (waterfall ancient town) → Phoenix Ancient Town (cultural nightscape)
Recommended season: May to October (summer has abundant waterfall water and lush greenery; better to avoid the peak summer vacation in July and August)
🗓️ Daily detailed schedule
Day 1: Arrive in Zhangjiajie, adapt to the city
Transportation: Arrive in Zhangjiajie by plane or high-speed train, take a taxi from the airport or station to the city center (about 25 RMB).
Accommodation: Choose a hotel near the Tianmen Mountain cableway, 5 minutes walk to the cableway station.
Evening activities:
Stroll through Nanmenkou Food Street: try Tujia Three-Pot Dish (cured meat + pork intestines + walnut meat, about 40 RMB per person), pig brain cold noodles.
Night tour of Dayong Ancient City: free light show, experience Tujia culture.
Day 2: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (core scenic area)
Ticket: 228 RMB (valid for 4 days), recommended to enter before 7 AM to avoid crowds.
Route:
1. Yuanjiajie: take the Bailong Elevator (one way 72 RMB) directly to the mountaintop, check in at the "Hallelujah Mountains" from Avatar, the "Qian Kun Pillar," and the First Bridge under Heaven.
2. Tianzi Mountain: overlook the West Sea Peak Forest and sea of clouds, take the cableway down (one way 65 RMB).
3. Golden Whip Stream: light hiking 7.5 km, occasionally see macaques (⚠️ do not feed), breathe fresh air and relax.
Lunch: recommended to bring your own.
Overnight: near the Wulingyuan landmark gate
Day 3: Tianmen Mountain + head to Furong Town night view
Tianmen Mountain (ticket 278 RMB, must book 3 days in advance!):
Choose Route A (cableway up + bus down): take the 7,455-meter high cableway, walk the glass plank road (shoe covers 5 RMB), climb the 999-step Heavenly Ladder or take the mountain escalator (32 RMB) to see Tianmen Cave.
Furong Town highlights:
Night tour of the waterfall light show (lights on at 7:30 PM): take panoramic photos of the "ancient town hanging on the waterfall" from the viewing platform.
Eat Liu Xiaoqing’s rice tofu and Tujia cured meat pot.
Overnight: local folk guesthouse in town (it will be noisy next to the waterfall).
Day 4: Furong Town morning view + stroll in Phoenix Ancient Town
Furong Town early morning: go to the waterfall viewing platform before 6:30 AM, the ancient town in the mist looks like a fairyland (few people, great for photos).
Morning: stroll the stone slab street, Tuwang Bridge, watch Tujia folk performances (check showtimes at Baishou Hall).
Afternoon: take high-speed train or private car to Phoenix Ancient Town (1.5-hour drive).
Phoenix activities:
Daytime: Shen Congwen’s former residence, Rainbow Bridge Wind and Rain Tower, Miao costume photo shoot.
Night: boat ride on Tuojiang River (about 80 RMB), enjoy the reflection of stilt houses’ lights, climb Nanhua Mountain for panoramic views.
Overnight: stilt house guesthouse by Tuojiang River.
Day 5: In-depth experience of Phoenix + return trip
Morning:
Stroll the ancient town’s stone slab street, shop for Miao silver jewelry and tie-dye (bargain starting at half price!).
Return: take high-speed train from Phoenix station or private car back to Zhangjiajie (about 2.5 hours).
🍜 Food recommendations
|Location|Must-try dishes|
|Zhangjiajie|Crayfish, Hunan cuisine, Tujia cuisine
|Furong Town|Cheap food outside the town
|Phoenix Ancient Town|Blood rice duck, sour soup fish
🛏️ Accommodation
Zhangjiajie: city center near Tianmen Mountain cableway, forest park near Wulingyuan landmark gate.
Furong Town: scenic guesthouses inside the ancient town > hotels outside the town (better value).
Phoenix Ancient Town: stilt houses in the middle reaches of Tuojiang River (beautiful night view but a bit noisy), or alleys inside the ancient town (quiet and affordable).