8-Day Best of Beijing and Zhangjiajie Tour

Zhangjiajie with a Gateway City-Beijing

The daily flights from Beijing to Zhangjiajie take about 3 hours. This tour is suitable for visitors who have business trips in Beijing and would like to take a side trip to Zhangjiajie or for people who are staying in Beijing.

Discover the spirit of Beijing through the lives of its emperors. Immerse yourself in the unique natural scenery of Zhangjiajie and experience it at a comfortable pace.

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Highlights

guide tells a story in the Forbidden City Listen to the interesting stories of eight famous figures in the Forbidden City.
Visit a hutong courtyard house Enjoy a Chinese cultural experience in a traditional hutong courtyard house.
Yummy Beijing roast duck Enjoy an authentic Beijing roast duck dinner in a time-honored restaurant.
Sky Field Garden in Zhangjiajie Visit 'Sky Field Garden' and be in awe of this compromise between nature and humans.
Challenge yourself at Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge Feel your heart beating faster at Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge.
Tianmen Mountain's cableway Take a ride on the world's longest cableway to reach the top of Tianmen Mountain.
Day 1Arrival in Beijing

Your private guide will meet and greet you in the airport arrivals hall or at the train station's exit. A comfortable private car (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel where your guide will help you with the check-in process.

Hotel options:
Novotel Beijing Peace
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town

Day 2The Forbidden City, Hutongs Tour, and Beijing Roast Duck

Enjoy a full day to get a taste of imperial Beijing and the traditional local lifestyle of native Beijingers.

Listen to the Anecdotes about Tian'anmen Square (40 Minutes)

Your guide will give you an interesting introduction to the square's history and architecture. Enjoy your time walking around and take some great photos.

Discover the 600-Year-Old Forbidden City (3 Hours)

Then walk through Tian'anmen Square, just as the emperors did, to enter the Forbidden City. Marvel at the splendid architecture and feel the majesty of the emperors' imperial stronghold.

You don't need to wait in line for your tickets as we book them in advance. Your guide will help you go beyond the normal tourist route to explore 12 carefully selected places within the Forbidden City, while other group tours only visit six spots briefly.

Discover the Forbidden City Discover the Forbidden City

Have an In-Depth Visit to the Hutongs (1½ Hours)

After lunch, go to the old hutong area and visit a local family whose ancestors have lived in the hutongs for generations. This offers a local perspective on the area's history and is a highlight for most visitors.

Enjoy an Authentic Beijing Roast Duck Dinner (1 Hour)

A hutong courtyard A Hutong Courtyard
Day 3 The Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Temple of Heaven Tour

Continue your tour to discover the must-see attractions in Beijing and learn more about the historical city.

Morning Stroll at the Temple of Heaven (1 Hour)

Marvel at the spectacular architecture and get a glimpse of local life. Explore the main buildings and join in with the locals' morning exercises.

Enjoy One of the Wonders of the Ancient World: the Great Wall at Mutianyu (4½ Hours)

We will arrange round-trip cable car rides (you can also choose to walk down) to ascend and descend the Great Wall, instead of spending about 40 minutes climbing the steps. Enjoy walking at your own pace and our private tour's flexibility. It is possible to stay longer on the wall or finish earlier as you wish.

The Temple of Heaven The Temple of Heaven
Day 4The Summer Palace and Flight to Zhangjiajie

Spend half a day exploring the imperial garden and then take a flight to Zhangjiajie in the afternoon.

Have a Relaxing Time at the Summer Palace (1 Hour)

This was an imperial garden where emperors used to go to enjoy themselves. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the beautiful and peaceful scenery at the top traditional garden in China.

Then, your private guide and car will transfer you to the airport. Three hours later, you will land in Zhangjiajie. Enjoy a sound sleep in your hotel.

Hotel options:
Pullman Zhangjiajie (international 4-star standard)
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan

Relax in the Summer Palace Relax in the Summer Palace
Day 5 First Day in the National Forest Park

Wulingyuan Scenic Area is huge and each part of it is unique. Spend 2 days in the park to see as much of it as you can while adapting to the changeable weather. It may be hazy on one day but like a fairyland on the other day. Your tickets are valid for 4 days, allowing maximum itinerary flexibility.

Embrace Tianzi Mountain, Which Is Like a Big Bonsai Garden (3½ Hours)

Check in at the entrance then take a shuttle bus to Tianzi Mountain's cable car station. You will see large areas of spiky peaks thrusting upward. As you walk along the steps, spectacular views will unfold in front of you from different angles. Then take the cable car to descend the mountain.

Have a Pleasant Stroll Alongside Jinbian Stream (2 Hours)

It stretches for a distance of 7.5 kilometers from north to south, winding around mountains and with a shady path. It takes 2 or 3 hours to walk the whole distance or you can walk alongside part of it if you prefer. You will see many monkeys as you walk by the stream.

Afterward, you will be driven back to your hotel in the Wulingyuan area.

Tianzi Mountain Tianzi Mountain
Day 6Second Day in the National Park

You have a full day in the national park to explore this wonderland. Take the Bailong Elevator up and down the mountain to save time and energy.

Visit Yuanjiajie Scenic Area to See Avatar Hallelujah Mountain (1½ Hours)

This was the shooting location for Avatar 2 in March 2019. Explore this area at your own pace - you will find more interesting mountains and features, such as a natural stone bridge stretching between two mountains.

Listen to the Story about 'Sky Field Garden' (1 Hour)

'Sky Field Garden' is a highlight with much fewer tourists. You may not believe that the local people changed the top of a mountain into a piece of farmland and are living on it. With just one more step, you are faced with cliffs.

Visit Yangjiajie Scenic Area to See the Natural Great Wall (1½ Hours)

The Yangjiajie section was opened to the public in recent years. Its unique mountain formations resemble a section of the Great Wall.

After the trip, you will be driven back to your hotel. Have a nice sleep and get ready for the next day.

How did the local people change a mountaintop into a farmland? How did the local people change a mountaintop into a farmland?
Day 7Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Its Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake

Wake up feeling refreshed and get ready to visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. It incorporates mountains, streams, caves, cliffs, and forests. The world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge is located in this area. Walking along this glass bridge at 300 meters above ground-level will be one of the coolest experiences of your tour!

Challenge Yourself on the Glass Bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (4 Hours)

The world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge is located in this area. Walking along this glass bridge that's 300 meters above ground level will be one of the coolest experiences of your tour!

If you prefer not to walk on the bridge, you can take another route to visit the area.

Relax in a Boat at Baofeng Lake (1 Hour)

You'll enjoy a 30-minute ride in a wooden boat. It is a leisurely experience as you cruise on the clear water, view hills of various shapes, and enjoy listening to the local minority people singing their traditional songs.

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
Day 8Tianmen Mountain and Zhangjiajie Departure

Experience the Longest Cableway and Enjoy Views from Tianmen Mountain (4½ Hours)

The views include graceful ancient trees, karst hillocks, and long roads that are carved from the sides of the cliffs. The cable car ride takes 30 minutes from the city center to the mountaintop and it is the longest cableway in the world.

Tianmen Cave (meaning 'Heaven's Gate') is a 30-meter-high hole that was formed naturally in the mountain and looks like a doorway. It is well-known for being glided through by world-class stuntmen in wingsuits. To reach the hole, you can climb for about half an hour up the 'Stairway to Heaven' or take elevators.

After the trip, we will transfer you to the airport and wave goodbye.

Glass skywalk at Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk at Tianmen Mountain

Trip Notes

1. The Tour Price Includes a Flight

The tour price includes a flight from Beijing to Zhangjiajie. Please inform your travel advisor which city you are going to visit after Zhangjiajie so that he/she can arrange more transportation for you.

2. Flexible timing and Travel Order

To avoid waiting in long queues and to adapt to the changeable weather conditions, your tour guide will suggest the best time to start the day and might recommend that you get up early or alter your schedule. Please kindly understand and cooperate.

3. Have a Late Lunch When You Visit the National Park

Lunch is included but there are very limited restaurant choices in the national park. Usually, your guide will suggest you have a big breakfast and will prepare some snacks for you. You will then have a late lunch after you have transferred to downtown Zhangjiajie.

Tour Price

FromUSD 2,219 p/p Based on a private tour for 2 people. Price varies depending on program, travel date, number of people and chosen hotel

Price includes:

  • Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
  • English speaking local guide
  • Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
  • 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling

Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.

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