7 Days Guilin Chongqing Zhangjiajie High-speed Train Tour

Wake up early in the fresh mountain air and experience the magical sunrise over the Longji Rice Terraces, one of China’s most iconic agricultural landscapes.

After breakfast, begin a guided exploration of the terraces. The landscape unfolds like layers of giant green steps rising toward the sky, forming a breathtaking natural masterpiece shaped by generations of ethnic minority farmers.

From Ping’an Village, follow stone pathways through terraced fields to reach the main viewpoints:

• Seven Stars with Moon Viewing Platform
• Nine Dragons and Five Tigers Viewing Platform

From these viewpoints, enjoy panoramic scenery of terraced fields, traditional wooden villages, and rolling mountain ridges.

After the hike, return to Ping’an and transfer back to Guilin City. Hotel check-in and free time for leisure exploration, shopping, or local food discovery.

Good to Know:

1. Best travel seasons:

• April–June: water-filled reflective terraces
• July–September: lush green terraces
• September–November: golden harvest scenery
• December–February: snowy or silver frost landscapes

1. Some viewing platforms may be under maintenance, but alternative hiking routes ensure full scenic experience remains available.

Today you will experience one of China’s most famous landscapes described as “Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven.”

Begin with a relaxing cruise along the Li River from Mopanshan Pier to Yangshuo Town (approx. 4 hours). Along the journey, admire spectacular karst mountains, rural countryside views, and iconic scenery featured on the Chinese 20 RMB banknote, including the famous “Nine Horses Fresco Hill”.

Lunch is served onboard with simple local Chinese cuisine (snacks can be brought along).

Upon arrival in Yangshuo, check in to your hotel and take a short rest.

In the afternoon, explore the scenic Yulong River area, surrounded by limestone peaks, rice fields, and traditional villages. Enjoy one or more of the following experiences:

• Biking Tour (Yangshuo – Jima – Shuiedi – Gongnong Bridge – West Street, 1.5–2h)
• Bamboo Rafting (Shuiedi – Gongnong Bridge ~40 min / Jima – Gongnong Bridge ~70 min)
• Scenic Driving Tour (Jima – Gongnong Bridge, flexible stops)

Each route offers a peaceful immersion into classic Chinese countryside landscapes.

Later, explore the lively West Street of Yangshuo, where Eastern and Western cultures blend through cafés, street food, shops, and nightlife.

Optional Evening Activity:
Attend the famous outdoor performance “Impression Liu Sanjie”, directed by Zhang Yimou, staged on the Li River natural water theatre (performance time approx. 19:45–22:20).

Today is a relaxed travel day. Enjoy your morning at leisure until your driver escorts you to Yangshuo Railway Station to board a high-speed train to Chongqing (approx. 4.5 hours).

Upon arrival at Chongqing Railway Station, your local guide will be waiting at the arrival hall holding a sign with your name. You will then be transferred by private non-smoking vehicle to your hotel in Chongqing downtown, where your guide will assist with hotel check-in.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore this vibrant and dynamic “Mountain City” at your own pace.

(Note: If you would like to arrange an optional Chongqing night tour, please inform your travel consultant in advance.)

Chongqing Nightlife | Recommended Experiences & Attractions:

1. Hongya Cave: A must-visit landmark featuring layered stilted architecture built against the cliffside. At night, the entire complex glows with golden lights overlooking the Jialing River, creating a magical cyberpunk-style skyline view.
2. Nanbin Road: A scenic riverside promenade ideal for evening walks, offering panoramic views of illuminated bridges, skyscrapers, and flowing river reflections.
3. Yangtze River Night Cruise: Experience Chongqing’s dramatic skyline from the water, sailing past glowing bridges, mountain-built structures, and lively riverfront districts with live onboard atmosphere.

Today's Highlights: Three Gorges Museum, People’s Assembly Hall, Liziba Train Station, Ciqikou Ancient Town, Chongqing to Zhangjiajie High-speed Train Journey

Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin a full-day exploration of Chongqing, one of China’s most unique mountain megacities.

First, visit the Three Gorges Museum, home to over 280,000 historical relics showcasing the rich culture of the Yangtze River, the construction history of the Three Gorges Project, and the development of Chongqing City from ancient times to modern municipality status.

Next, visit the nearby People’s Assembly Hall, an iconic architectural landmark known for its grand classical design inspired by traditional Chinese palace architecture and recognized in international architectural history records.

Continue your journey by taking Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan Station to Liziba Station, a famous scenic metro route offering sweeping views of the city’s layered skyline, bridges, and rivers. At Liziba Station, witness the world-famous phenomenon of a train passing directly through a residential building—an engineering marvel unique to Chongqing.

Then proceed to Ciqikou Ancient Town, a thousand-year-old riverside settlement known for its preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, stone-paved alleys, traditional teahouses, handicraft shops, and local street food culture. This “Little Chongqing” offers a vivid glimpse into historical daily life along the river port.

After the tour, your guide and driver will transfer you to Chongqing East Railway Station to board a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie (approx. 2–3 hours), the gateway to the world-famous sandstone landscape of “Avatar Mountains.”

Upon arrival at Zhangjiajie Railway Station, your local guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Wulingyuan District for check-in. The rest of the evening is at leisure to rest and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Kick off your day with an early breakfast, then head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, one of the world’s most iconic sandstone peak landscapes. Today you will explore the core scenic areas: Ten-mile Gallery, Yuanjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain. (Please note that the order of visits may be adjusted depending on weather conditions and visitor flow.)

Begin your journey at the Ten-mile Gallery, where a sightseeing tram takes you through a picturesque valley surrounded by surreal rock formations. Highlights include natural landmarks such as The God of Longevity Welcoming Guests, The Old Herb Picker, and The Three Sisters Peaks. This gentle tram ride allows you to enjoy a relaxed introduction to Zhangjiajie’s unique landscape of vertical stone pillars and misty valleys.

Next, proceed to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, accessed via the world-famous Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest and fastest outdoor glass elevator. In just 1.5 minutes, you ascend directly to the mountaintop, enjoying a dramatic vertical view of sandstone cliffs.

Once at Yuanjiajie, explore its mystical landscape of towering quartz sandstone pillars. Walk through mist-covered trails and admire the scenery that inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar. Visit highlights such as:

• Ecstasy Terrace, offering panoramic views of stone peaks rising like a stone forest
• The First Bridge under Heaven, a naturally formed stone bridge connecting two cliffs, a rare geological wonder

Continue your journey to Tianzi Mountain by sightseeing bus. At Helong Park, enjoy one of the best observation platforms in Zhangjiajie with sweeping views of peaks such as Yubi Peak and the scenic sea of stone formations known as “peak forests.” You may also explore deeper areas such as Warrior Training Horse, where uniquely shaped peaks resemble ancient warriors and horses frozen in stone.

Finish the Tianzi Mountain experience with a scenic cable car descent, offering a breathtaking aerial view of endless sandstone peaks fading into mist.

After the tour, transfer to Zhangjiajie downtown hotel for check-in and rest.

Optional Attraction – Kongzhong Tianyuan (Field in the Sky, 1–2 hours):
A hidden scenic gem featuring layered terraced fields surrounded by towering sandstone peaks. This viewpoint offers a rare angle of Zhangjiajie’s landscape, including a distant view of the Bailong Elevator. A sightseeing bus (round trip CNY 64/pp, not included) is required. Walking is needed to reach some lower viewing platforms, especially for closer views of Avatar-style peaks.

Optional Evening Performance – Tianmen Fox Fairy Show:
A spectacular large-scale outdoor musical performance staged against the natural cliffs of Tianmen Mountain, combining folklore, lights, and mountain scenery. Show time: 20:15–21:50.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to the legendary Tianmen Mountain, one of Zhangjiajie’s most iconic natural wonders, famous for its dramatic cliffs and the massive natural arch known as Tianmen Cave.

Begin your ascent via the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, one of the longest passenger cableways in the world (approx. 7,455 meters), rising from downtown Zhangjiajie to over 1,400 meters above sea level. From the glass cabin, enjoy spectacular views of winding mountain roads known as Tongtian Avenue (Heaven-Linking Road).

Upon arrival at the summit, explore the West Line Scenic Area, a fascinating route filled with natural cliffs and cultural landmarks. Walk along thrilling paths such as the Guigu Cliffside Path, carved along steep rock faces, offering dramatic views of the surrounding peaks. At the end of the route, visit Tianmen Mountain Temple, a sacred Buddhist site originally built during the Tang Dynasty.

Continue your exploration with optional routes:

• The East Line Scenic Area, featuring forest trails, mountain viewpoints, and scenic valleys
• Or take the Forest Sightseeing Cable Car (optional CNY 25/pp) to reach Yunmeng Fairy Summit, one of the highest viewpoints on the mountain

Next, descend by Transmountain Escalator system, a unique engineering marvel that takes you deep inside the mountain toward Tianmen Cave.

At Tianmen Cave, witness one of the world’s most extraordinary natural formations—a massive 131.5-meter-high arch carved through the mountain by natural erosion and collapse. From here, descend the famous 999 Heaven-Linking Steps, a steep stairway with an incline of up to 45 degrees leading down the cliff face.

Finally, take the Tianmen Express Cableway down to the mountain base, then transfer by shuttle bus to the tourist center where your driver will be waiting.

After this unforgettable experience, you will be transferred to Zhangjiajie Airport or Railway Station for your departure. End of service.