Chengdu to Guizhou & Zhangjiajie Discovery

This morning, be met and transfer to Chengdu rail station for a 4-5hrs high speed train journey to Kaili. Be greeted by your private tour guide at Kaili rail station and transfer to hotel. You’ve arrived Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. Explore Kaili Nationality Museum which has been classified as one of the "100 most distinctive Museums of China" and visitors can get a glimpse into the culture and history of the Miao people with displays on bronze drum dances, Fengyu Bridge, Baoye Bridge, beauty cushions, wine songs, ox & fish culture and local festivals. In addition, the museum owns a large collection of artifacts from different ethnic groups. After that you will be transferred back to your hotel. 

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After enjoying a nice breakfast, you will start today’s trip by visiting Shiqiao Miao Village, where locals are the successors of making paper in antique method. You can see the traditional way of making paper or even have a try. Besides the hand-made skill, you can also steep yourself in the idyllic sceneries and seek the paleontological rocks here.

After that, drive to Matang Gejia Village. Located on the bank of Chong’an River, locals and beautiful nature live in harmony. You can step into their dwellings to experience the real life with locals, admire their featured ethnic garments and traditional handicrafts like batik and stitch work, and participate in local activities if it’s the right time.

The third village for today is Langde Miao Village, which is known for their long skirts. Go through the wind-rain bridge at the gate that means you can go through ups and downs in life, and take about 3-hour walking in Langde Miao Village to see stilted buildings that are important historical relics, and experience local life here.

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In the morning, visit Shidong Miao Village, which is famous for making silver ornaments. If you are in the right time, you will have the chance to join their grand ethnic festivals and activities, like Noux Gad Liangl Festival or Noux Vongx Festival, etc. In the afternoon, head to Zhenyuan Old Town. Surrounded by mountains and river, Zhenyuan Old Town has the history over 2000 years, features antique buildings, traditional dwellings stands among the beautiful natural scenery. Stay overnight at the old town.

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In the morning, take your time in Qinglong Caves and the ancient town of Zhenyuan. The area of Qinglong Caves is the center of multi-culture, including Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. And Zhenyuan Old Town is surrounded by mountains and river, beautiful natural scenery and antique buildings. Later drive around half an hour for a 2 hours cruise on Wuyang River, to see the natural views and minority buildings along the river side. 

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This morning, drive around 2hrs and then reach Mt. Fanjingshan, a sacred Buddhist mountain. First, you will be guided to take transfer bus to Yu’ao station from where you take a cable car up to the mountain sightseeing area. Immerse yourself in the unique mountain view and buildings on top. Red Cloud Golden Summit, Mushroom Stone and Old Golden Summit are the popular sites offering you a true experience of this mountain. 

After the visit of Mt. Fanajingshan, drive ahead for Fenghuang Ancient Town which is 2hrs away. Fenghuang is the home to minority ethnic groups, mainly Miao and Tujia nationalities. The batik and tie-dye are very popular among the minorities here. Miao and Tujia have their own ways to produce the cloth with unique folk patterns.

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Enjoy private escorted Fenghuang Ancient Town exploration today. Having a stroll in the town, walking through the old courtyards and riverside stilted buildings, visiting some souvenir shops and local people’s home, one cannot fail to appreciate its intoxicating atmosphere.

Taking a small boat ride on the Tuojiang River, you will pass through the most essence part of the old town which is from Beimen Pier to Longevity Palace. Visit the famous Chinese writer Shencongwen's Former Residence, his book "The Border Town" makes this small town famous to the world. Later, visit Hongqiao (Bridge of Rainbow), a landmark of the ancient town. The bridge was first built in Ming Dynasty and then renovated in 1670.

Continue your tour at the old town and explore few more main sites there, such as East Gate Tower, Wanming Pagoda, etc. Take some leisure time on your own, maybe for a cup of coffee in a nice coffee shop on the bank of Tuojiang River.

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In the morning, leave Fenghuang Ancient Town and enjoy a private transfer to Zhangjiajie where is 5hrs away. En toute, visit scenic Dehang Miao Village built along a river. Dehang means ‘beautiful valley’. Here 80 Miao families live a simple happy life and keep their traditional culture and customs. (Or you may choose to visit Tianwen Tai, also named Heaven-asking platform and the magnificent Aizhai Suspension Bridge)

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In the morning, you will be escorted to enter the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The first scenic area is Yunanjiajie. Take Bailong Outdoor Elevator up to the top for an exciting experience and spectacular scenery. Bailong Elevator is the fastest and also the tallest outdoor elevator in the world, it takes only 1.5 minutes from the valley bottom to the pillar peak. Hike around to discover “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” and “world’s No.1 Bridge”.

After lunch, be transferred to visit Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, another highlight attraction in Wulingyuan Area. Take cable car up and down to save your time and energy. On the top, marvel at Zhangjiajie’s greatest concentration of stone peaks.

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Today you will take an excursion to Tianmen Mountain, another magnificent National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie. First, transfer to take Tianmen Mountain Cable Car (about 30 mintues) from city downtown to the peak of the Mountain, this 7455 meters cableway is the longest one in the world so far. The stunning sightseeings include Tianmen Cave, the 99 Bends, the glass skywalk and so on. On the mountain, your guide will take you to have a challenging walk on the glass skywalk along the cliff.

After the exciting adventure, our guide and driver will escort you to Zhangjiajie airport for a flight to Shanghai. Be met by your guide for Shanghai when arrive at Shanghai airport and transfer to hotel.

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After breakfast at hotel, start your Shanghai exploration, absorb the beauty and culture essence of Shanghai today. Shanghai is the first city in mainland China where the East meets the West, so its alluring mixing culture is the biggest highlight of the city. Our first spot is Yu Garden, located in central Shanghai, it is the best-kept and most famous private classic garden in Shanghai. Walk through the elegantly carved gates and corridors to discover the elaborate designed halls, rooms, artificial hills, and get to know the back stories that happened in the past 400 years. Walk out of the garden, you will see a bustling bazaar, named Yuyuan Market or Chenghuangmao Market packed with local specialty foods and snacks.

Later have a stroll through Shanghai’s old small alleyways – the lilongs, to witness yourself how local people live their daily life. Enjoying Shanghai local delicacies at local restaurant for lunch will further satisfy your curiosity about local life and cuisine. Shanghai’s colonial architecture is always a big draw. The Bund has a remarkable collection of 19th to 20th Century colonial buildings, which were originally banks, commercial and trade buildings, hotels, customs house, etc.

Then we head for Shanghai Lujiazui Financial District, where skyscrapers are rising high. Get in Shanghai World Financial Center, one of the tallest buildings in the city to view Shanghai’s skyline and also look into China’s future.

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Enjoy your leisure time exploring in Shanghai, before transfer to airport / railway station, for flight or train to your next destination. E nd of your 13 days China tour from Chengdu to Guizhou and Zhangjiajie.

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