Breathtaking Mountain and Cliff Views + Amazing Hiking Experience
Xian is famous for its long-lasting history and culture. You may want to refresh your eyes and souls after the cultural exploration in Xian, then, why not travel from Xian to Zhangjiajie to enjoy the breathtaking Avatar World. Only around 2 hours are needed to take a direct flight from Xian to Zhangjiajie. During the first 4 days of this tour, you will not only visit the historical sites of Xian, such as Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, etc., but also go to hike Mount Hua which is known as the most precipitous in China. After Xian Huashan tour, you will take a night flight to Zhangjiajie where you will stay three full days to hike the Grand Canyon and walk the Glasses Bridge, take beautiful photos in Zhangjiajie National Park, and sightsee atop the Tianmen Mountain.
Highlights of this tour
Welcome to Xian! Your tour guide will meet you at Xian Xianyang International Airport (or railway station), then escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to explore this ancient capital of China.
Note: if you arrive at Xian in early and want to have some activities arranged for the rest time, please let us know in advance. There are many options available (with extra costs), including: 1) visit a local family and learn to cook Chinese dishes or making dumplings; 2) have an interesting class of Chinese calligraphy or painting in Tangbo Art Museum; 3) explore the bustling Zhonggulou Square where the beautiful Bell Towers and Drum Towers are located at.
Arrival Ideas: Xian is only about 2~3 hours flying from majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, etc. You can also get to Xian by high speed trains from Beijing(5.5hrs), Shanghai (6-7hrs), Guangzhou (8.5-9hrs), Hangzhou (6.5-7hrs), Pingyao (3hrs), Zhengzhou (2hrs), and so on.
After breakfast, drive about 40 km to discover one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world - the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, built by the first emperor of China Qin Shihuang to protect him in his afterlife. Over 8,000 life-size warriors, horses and chariots, buried in 3 pits for more than 2,000 years until uncovered by a local farmer in 1974, form an ancient military army with complete battle units of infantry, cavalry, etc. Standing in front of these figures, one can’t help being amazed not only by the ambition of Emperor Qin Shihuang but also by the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans.
After lunch, return to Xian to take a wonderful stroll on the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Enjoy panoramic views of modern Xian while you leisurely examine this well-maintained city wall which is 12 meters high and 18 meters wide with a total circuit of nearly 14 kilometers. Leave the City Wall, then go to wander leisurely around bustling and lively Muslim Quarter, a place where you can try different local snacks and explore Muslim culture. Don't miss the Great Mosque of Xian which is a fusion of Chinese culture and Islamic culture, a sacred religious site with huge ancient architectural complex, also a surprisingly quiet land away from the bustling Muslim streets.
Optional activities: 1). Take a relaxing cycling on the Ancient City Wall; 2). Enjoy a wonderful Tang Palace Dance Show (usually from 8pm to 9pm) after a hearty dumpling dinner at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. Then you will be escorted to Mount Hua (Huashan) by car, which will take you two hours on the way.
After arrival, you will firstly take the cableway from East Gate to the North Peak with only about 10 minutes. Here you can also get good views of other four peaks, and watch far away. And only the fourth side is the entrance path to other peaks which is named “Ear Rubbing Cliff” for tourists have to climb further up only by pressing the ear close the cliff. Then you will hike about 2 hours to get to the East Peak. On route, you will visit the Heavenly Ladders, Riyue Cliff, Canglong Ling, Golden Lock Pass. Spend some time to view the breathtaking landscape on the East Peak. Continue hiking about 1.5 hours to the South Peak. You will firstly get to Nantian Gate, then get to the famous Plankroad in the Sky which is seen as the dangerous path in Huashan. Well, it is dependent on you to take this fearsome path. It is a more than 100 meters long, 0.3 meters wide plank road built along the surface of a vertical cliff. It is only about 30 minutes walking to the South Peak. Here is the highest spot of Mount Hua. From South Peak, you can see other four lower peaks. Then take the last hiking about 40 minutes to the West Peak. The West Peak is also called Lotus Peak because of its unique shape. This peak is formed by a huge rock. Hence it's very steep.
Take the cableway down to the foot of Mount Hua. Your driver will take you back to Xian.
Tips: you can pack some favorite foods and drinks with you because there is not much food you can buy on the mountain.
After a little bit rest and fresh up, head to Da Cien Temple, a famous Buddhist sutra translation site during the Tang Dynasty. Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the most famous building in the temple. The pagoda, rising to a height of 64.5 meters, was built by the famous Buddhist master Xuanzang to preserve classic scriptures he brought back from India during the early Tang Dynasty. Xuanzang was the prototype character for Tang Seng in the famous Chinese novel “Journey to the West”. (Note: It costs an extra 30 RMB if you want to climb up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda)
Following is an educational visiting to Shaanxi History Museum. Ramble in the modern exhibition halls to appreciate relics, such as porcelains, paintings, currencies from Zhou to the Tang periods (1100 BC to 907 AD). (Note: Shaanxi History Museum may be replaced with other activity or attraction because of crowding tourists during July ~ early September and China’s National Day during Oct.1-Oct.7. You may check details with your travel consultant.)
The rest of the day is free for you until be escorted to catch your flight to Zhangjiajie. Currently the direct flights from Xian to Zhangjiajie only depart after 10PM. You may arrive at Zhangjiajie after 12 A.M. You can let your tour guide know that you don't want to start tomorrow's sightseeing too early.
After breakfast, be ready for today's exciting adventures. You'll first drive about 60km from Zhangjiajie downtown area to visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Now, its your bold moment to take the challenge and walk on the transparent Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge to feel like walking on the clouds, which is the world longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge so far in the whole universe, with total length of 430 meters and height of 400 meters above the deep valley. After the thrilling moment, take the elevators and enjoy the Nuokeli Slideway to the valley bottom for a cooling down and please your both eyes with the fascinating natural sceneries of the lush forest, emerald lake, various vegetation, etc. at the popular Rainbow Square, Momo Cave, the Holy Spring Lake, etc.
Next, you’ll drive about 20km to see the natural wonder in the Yellow Dragon Cave, also known as Huanglong Cave. It is a underground-lost palace which is praised as the most beautiful cave in the world by UNESCO Experts, with an area of 100,000 square meters, a length of 7.6 kilometers, a height of 140 meters. There are two underground rivers, four waterfalls, 13 caverns and 10,000 stalagmites and stalactites is this huge limestone cave. The Magic Needle and Chair of Dragon King are two most famous sights in the cave.
After the sightseeing, drive to Wulingyuan to check in your hotel.
After breakfast, start your full-day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Adventure. Located 32 kilometers from Zhangjiajie city, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first state-level forest park in China. It is known for its exquisite forests, odd-shaped peaks and rocks, the beautiful canyons, the limestone caves, and the breath-taking panoramic views. The words, such as majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild, are not enough to describe it's beauty.
Firstly, go to take the 326-meter-high Bailong Elevator (the tallest and the fastest in the world) up to Yuanjiajie, which is situated in the north of Zhangjiajie National Park. This scenic area is world famous as the mountains here inspired the floating mountains in the Hollywood movie Avatar. The peaks in Yuanjiajie are nearly at the same height, which makes it a mountain platform great for enjoying sweeping vistas.
Next, take a sightseeing bus to Tianzi Mountain, where you can have a stunning view of the peaks rising one after another. Atop of the mountain offers a full extent of the whole scenic area, which is magnificent and spectacular. There are four wonders in Tianzi Mountain: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter.
After the exciting tour, your guide and driver will escort you to Zhangjiajie downtown area to check in your hotel.
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. On this day, you’ll first take a trip to Tianmen Mountain. Referred to as the “Soul of culture and spirit of Zhangjiajie”, Tianmen Mountain, standing 1,500 meters above sea level, boasts miraculous and unique geographic landform, unparalleled natural landscape, profound cultural connotations.
Experience the longest cableway in Asia with a length of 7200 meters, take photos of Avenue toward Heaven with 99 turns from cable car. On the top of Tianmen Mountain, enjoy the Cliff-Hanging Walkway and avoid the crowds to take some photos; hold your breath and experience the thrilling Glass Sky Walk. Then, visit the natural mountain-penetrating Karst cave - Tianmen Cave. The foot of the cave is wonderful photo opportunity with the hole in the mountain as the background. It is worth waiting for the sunlight to shine through the hole with mist or smoke illuminating the way.
After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you the airport or railway station to catch the train to your next destination. Service ends!
Mount Hua
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
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