A Group of Ten Exploring Zhangjiajie – 4D3N Adventure Among Avatar Peaks
We are a group of ten from Malaysia. Sea breeze, coconut palms and bak kut teh are our everyday life, yet we had long kept a strange, un-tropical landscape in our hearts. As kids, we thought the floating mountains in Avatar were pure CGI. Later we learned they were inspired by real peaks in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China. So ten of us made a simple decision: let’s go and see them with our own eyes. Over four days and three nights, we walked through mist, climbed stone steps, rode the Bailong Elevator, and turned a movie fantasy into the ground beneath our feet.
Click here for a detailed itinerary.
1. Cost Guide
We originally planned our trip independently and checked quotes from multiple online travel agencies. The estimated total cost for ten people was 32,800 MYR. After booking this small-group tour customized by guide Riyue, including hotels, attraction tickets and private transfers, our total cost came to 28,600 MYR, saving 4,200 MYR in total. All prices are clearly stated with no hidden charges.
This is Riyue's WhatsApp +86 19522591430
Email: hunanVIP_intltravel_Riyue@hotmail.com
2. Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Zhangjiajie - 72 Wonder Building
We arrived in Zhangjiajie and were transferred to our city hotel by private vehicle. In the evening, we visited 72 Wonder Building, wandered among layered stilt houses, enjoyed the spectacular night view and tasted local Tujia food.
·The Qili'er Qi Lou is the world's tallest cluster of stilted buildings, constructed along a mountainside. Its name originates from the ancient legend of the Wuling Mountains region—“Nine Bows, Eighteen Villages, and Seventy-Two Wondrous Towers”—and from afar, it resembles a Tujia village floating in mid-air.
Day 2: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Yuanjiajie - Bailong Elevator
We spent the whole day in Wulingyuan Scenic Area. We took Bailong Elevator uphill, visited Hallelujah Mountain and the First Bridge Under Heaven, admired thousands of sandstone peaks and took plenty of photos at viewpoints with a relaxed pace.
·The mountains in Yuanjiajie are the original filming location for the floating mountains in "Avatar". The Qiankun Column was later officially renamed "Hallelujah Mountain". Standing on the viewing platform and looking at that 150-meter-tall stone pillar standing alone in the canyon, it really looks like an alien wonder in the movie.
Day 3: Tianzi Mountain - Ten-Mile Gallery - Yellow Dragon Cave
In the morning we visited Tianzi Mountain and overlooked the vast sea of peaks. In the afternoon, we toured Ten-Mile Gallery by sightseeing tram and explored Yellow Dragon Cave to view magnificent stalactites.
·Tianzi Mountain got its name because the ancient Miao tribal chieftains here proclaimed themselves kings. The "herbalist old man" stone pillar in the Ten-Lane Gallery is said to be Peng Banxian, the military doctor accompanying the king Tianzi, who climbed the sheer cliff to collect herbs to save the master and eventually transformed into a stone pillar, always carrying a medicine basket along the mountain path.
Day 4: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave
We boarded the world’s longest mountain cable car, walked on the glass skywalk and viewed the huge natural Tianmen Cave. After sightseeing, our private car transferred us to the station or airport for departure.
·Tianmen Cave is a natural cave in a mountain. Paragliding enthusiasts have once attempted to fly through this cave. Tianmen Mountain was formerly known as Songliang Mountain. In the year 263 AD, the cliff suddenly opened up, forming a spacious and clear passage like a door, hence the name.
4. The advantages of traveling with tour guide Riyue
Travelling in a group of ten requires lots of coordination. Riyue planned a route suitable for our big group in advance, pre-booked all tickets and arranged multiple vehicles. He knows well about Zhangjiajie geology and Tujia folk culture and delivers vivid explanations. He took good care of the elders in our group, adjusted rest time flexibly and quickly changed backup routes in bad weather. No shopping stops throughout the trip.
5.Personal Travel Tips
1. 10 people should travel together. Try to divide into smaller groups for the journey and agree on a meeting point.
2. The weather in mountainous areas is changeable. Always carry a raincoat and don't just bring a sunshade umbrella.
3. Prepare anti-slip hiking shoes and carry drinking water with you.
4. During the peak season, it is essential to book the scenic area tickets in advance to avoid being stranded due to lack of tickets.
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Riyue's email address: hunanVIP_intltravel_Riyue@hotmail.com
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