5-Day Xiangxi Adventure! Zhangjiajie Sky Ladder Climbing and a Night Tour of Fenghuang Ancient Town

[Day 1] Depart from Shenzhen for a First Exploration of Zhangjiajie At 6:00 AM, I took the first B3X bus from the city center. I passed the Shenzhen Bay Port and took a taxi directly to Shenzhen North Station. I boarded the 8:32 high-speed train to Zhangjiajie West. Arriving at approximately 2:53 PM, I took a taxi directly outside the station to my homestay near the Tianmen Mountain Cableway station to store my luggage. After dinner, I took a taxi to the "72 Wonderful Towers." It's recommended to arrive after 7:00 PM for the best lighting. The towers are primarily food stalls and restaurants, with a few retail shops and scheduled song, dance, and stunt performances. The second floor offers a photo area for 10 yuan per photo, which is a good value. If you're not particularly interested, checking in from the outside is sufficient. #ZhangjiajieInternetCelebrityCheck-inSpot [Day 2] Tianmen Mountain Day Trip I booked Line A tickets three days in advance (entry requires a ticket based on the reserved time slot) and entered the scenic area at 7:00 AM, right after it opened. I took a photo at the "Sky Corridor" while it was less crowded, then continued my tour along the west route. The glass plank road costs 5 yuan and is relatively short, taking about 5 minutes to complete. The western route ends at Tianmenshan Temple, where the main hall houses Buddha relics and is worth a quiet visit. Afterwards, you can choose to continue along the eastern route (which takes several hours) or take the open-air sightseeing cable car (no cabins, only seats) directly to Yunmeng Fairy Peak. The top of the observation tower is approximately 1,500 meters above sea level, offering expansive views, but the difference from the lower level isn't significant, so consider minimizing the climb. Afterwards, return to the cable car station and walk along the eastern route's full, high-altitude cloud corridor to the seven-level elevator plaza. There are numerous restaurants here (even a Burger King!), and a seven-stage elevator ride takes you down to Tianmen Cave. You can either hike the 999 steps or pay to take the elevator down. At the base of the mountain, there are photo spots (the background is photoshopped), as well as cafes and snack stalls (the snacks in the scenic area are relatively simple, mostly serving sausages and oden). Finally, take the express cable car down the mountain and transfer to a shuttle bus back to the cable car station. The total journey takes about 7 hours. In the evening, we booked a performance of the "Fox Fairies of Tianmen" (we bought group tickets online on Trip.com, which was cheaper than the official tickets). The driver picked us up at our designated location (free within Yongding District). Although the shared ride was a bit crowded, the short ride was acceptable. The special effects were spectacular, and the cheapest seats offered a great view. We even had the opportunity to take a photo with the "Fox Fairies" before the show began. Afterward, we returned to our B&B to pick up our luggage and moved to an inn near the landmark gate. #TianmenshanNationalForestPark #ZhangjiajieFoxFairiesofTianmen [Day 3] Wulingyuan Highlights Tour Purchase Line B tickets in advance (including the Bailong Elevator and Tianzi Mountain Cableway). After ascending the Bailong Elevator, we visited attractions such as the Mihun Terrace and the First Bridge Under Heaven. We then transferred to a scenic bus bound for Tianzi Mountain (passing Daguantai and Dianjiangtai stops along the way. If you don't specify in advance, the driver will usually drive directly to Tianzi Mountain). There are many attractions around Tianzi Mountain Station, including a McDonald's for a rest stop. We then took the Tianzi Mountain Cableway down the mountain and continued on to the Ten-Li Art Gallery. This section is about 5 kilometers and can be hiked or taken by train. The end point is at Three Sisters Mountain and the Monkey Park. Afterwards, I took the scenic bus to Golden Whip Stream. Because the entire route is quite long (7 kilometers), I only walked the entrance section before leaving through the sign gate. In the evening, I watched "Charming Xiangxi" (show at 6:20 PM). The indoor and outdoor performances lasted about 2 hours, and the acrobatics and folk songs and dances were truly impressive. There's a snack street behind the inn, making it very convenient for eating. #ZhangjiajieNationalForestPark [Day 4] Huanglong Cave & Transfer to Fenghuang Ancient Town Enter Huanglong Cave at 8:00 AM (accessible by Wulingyuan Bus No. 1) and explore for about 1.5 hours. The stalactites are stunning, but the numerous stairs require some stamina. Tickets include a guided tour, and Hong Kong and Macau visitors can also enter with their Home Return Permit. At noon, I returned to the inn to collect my luggage and took a taxi to the high-speed rail station to catch the 3:14 PM train to Fenghuang Ancient Town. Upon arrival at 4:12 PM, take the Maglev train to Fenghuang Lansheng Station (the observation deck offers panoramic views of the ancient city), then take a taxi to the inn near the former residence of Chen Congwen. The ancient city lights begin to illuminate at around 7:00 PM and are fully illuminated at 9:00 PM. Arrive at the North Gate Pier around 8:00 PM for a boat ride. After a 15-minute cruise, disembark downstream and enjoy the night view as you walk back to the inn. #TuojiangNightScenery #KalasticCaveWonder [Day 5] Fenghuang Ancient Town Daytime & Return Trip During the day, explore the ancient city, stroll along Hongqiao Bridge, and see the cliff jumping. Relax with a foot massage in the afternoon. Lunch near Hongqiao Bridge before taking the 4:14 PM high-speed train back to Shenzhen North. Take a taxi to Shenzhen Bay Port to conclude your trip. #FenghuangAncientTownDaytime