Active — longer walking days, mountain paths, or high altitude possible

Several mountain walking days, forest boardwalks, streamside paths, and full city days; elevators and cable cars cover the climbs.

Overview

四天的山间行程节奏缓慢,中段沿漓江而行,最后一章加速进入深圳。铁路连接着变化,当地导游迎接每一位抵达的旅客。

LyrikTrip旅行设计师

Why you'll love this trip

  • Zhangjiajie: Yuanjiajie, Golden Whip Stream, and Tianmen Mountain
  • Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River Cruise and Countryside Trails
  • Shenzhen: Huaqiang North, Talent Park & Shenzhen Bay
  • View the sandstone pillars from the Yuanjiajie Observation Deck, then follow Jinbian Stream down to the foot of the mountain.
  • Cruise the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, admiring the karst peaks on both banks.
  • Explore the Huaqiangbei Electronics Market and the Shenzhou Bay waterfront.
Tour route mapTour route: Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, ShenzhenZhangjiajie · ArrivalsD1–D4GuilinD5YangshuoD6–D7Shenzhen · DeparturesD8–D10

Things to do

Yuanjiajie Bailong Elevator, Zhangjiajie
01
Heavenly Emperor Mountain, Zhangjiajie
02
Golden Whip Stream, Zhangjiajie
03
Huangshi Village, Zhangjiajie
04
Heavenly Door Mountain, Zhangjiajie
05
Li River Cruise, Guilin
06
Two Rivers, Four Lakes Night Cruise, Guilin
07
Yangshuo Countryside Day Tour, Yangshuo
08
Unveiling Shenzhen, Shenzhen
09
Shekou or Nantou, Shenzhen
10

Itinerary

Zhangjiajie · Day 1 - Day 4

Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie

Day 1 · Arrival: into the mountains

Upon arrival, head to Wulingyuan for a restful overnight stay before entering the forest park tomorrow.

Arrival & transfer Meet your guide at Zhangjiajie Airport or the train station, then drive to Wulingyuan to check in.
An easy evening Rest, or take a slow walk through town, with tomorrow's mountains already standing at its edge; nothing is scheduled tonight, on purpose.

Day 2 · Yuanjiajie & Tianzi Mountain

Take the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie, then walk the viewing platforms of Tianzi Mountain.

Bailong Elevator Ascend to Yuanjiajie via the Bailong Elevator to view the sandstone peak forest from a high vantage point.
Yuanjiajie Walk from China's No. 1 Bridge to the Bewilderment Platform and gaze down at the sandstone pillars and valley below.
Tianzi Mountain View the Imperial Brush Peak and Xihai Stone Forest from the Tianzi Mountain Viewing Platform; visibility of the distant peaks varies with weather.

Day 3 · Golden Whip Stream & Huangshi Village

In the morning, stroll along Jinbian Stream at the foot of the karst peaks; in the afternoon, take a cable car up Huangshi Village.

Golden Whip Stream A walk on the valley floor: clear water beside you, dense forest around you, and the sandstone walls going straight up on both sides; the length is cut to fit your pace.
Looking up Looking up from the valley floor, sandstone cliffs rise on both sides of the stream—a perspective distinct from yesterday's view from Yuanjiajie.
Huangshi Village The cable car lifts you to open platforms in the afternoon; below you, the pillar country runs to the horizon, and the geology finally reads as one connected landscape.

Day 4 · Tianmen Mountain

Start in the Wulingyuan district, then take the cable car to Tianmen Mountain. Overnight in the Zhangjiajie city center.

Wulingyuan to Zhangjiajie City In the morning, take a coach from Wulingyuan to Zhangjiajie city center, then head to the Tianmen Mountain Cableway Station.
The cableway Take the cable car up from Zhangjiajie city center and enjoy panoramic views of the urban landscape and mountain terrain from the cabin.
Cliffside Walkway Walk along the cliffside trail on the mountain; visibility into the distant valley varies with the weather.
Heavenly Gate Arch Stand at the foot of Tianmen Cave and look up through the natural opening piercing the mountain's body.
高铁

Guilin · Day 5

Guilin
Guilin
Guilin

Day 5 · Rail to Guilin

South by rail to Guilin; an evening stroll along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes.

Rail south Take a train from Zhangjiajie West Station to Guilin, then head to your hotel upon arrival.
Two Rivers & Four Lakes on foot An evening walk along the waterways that ring the city center: lit pagodas standing on the lakes, gardens along the banks, the pace set by however the train day left you.
漓江游船

Yangshuo · Day 6 - Day 7

Yangshuo
Yangshuo
Yangshuo

Day 6 · Li River cruise to Yangshuo

Cruise the Li River to Yangshuo, with the afternoon reserved for check-in and free time.

Boarding Board a Li River cruise in the morning and drift downstream to Yangshuo.
The river View the karst peaks, bamboo groves, and riverside villages from the boat; when the water is calm, you can even see the peaks reflected in the river.
West Street evening You land in Yangshuo in the afternoon and check in; the evening is yours on West Street or along the riverfront of this busy little river town.

Day 7 · The Yangshuo countryside

Explore scenic viewpoints and country trails, then choose between a ride, a walk, or a bamboo raft.

The viewpoint Weather permitting, the day opens early at a panoramic viewpoint above the Li River, karst peaks stacked away to the horizon while the light comes up.
Into the countryside Rice fields, villages that still farm, quiet paths along the water; the day is built with stopping in mind: for photographs, for village life, for nothing in particular.
Your speed Choose between cycling, walking, or a Yulong River bamboo raft based on your preference; whether the raft is available depends on the water level and safety regulations of the day.
高铁

Shenzhen · Day 8 - Day 10

Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen

Day 8 · Rail to Shenzhen

Take a high-speed train from Yangshuo to Shenzhen, then explore the city's architecture and the views of Shenzhen Bay.

Rail south The high-speed train carries you from the karst country to Shenzhen; peaks outside your window at departure, towers by arrival.
The new city on foot You walk the Civic Center district and Gangxia North Station, where contemporary design and urban planning are on open display, then follow the water at Shenzhen Bay.
Shenzhen Bay after dark Just a few days ago, we were exploring the sandstone peak forests of Zhangjiajie. Tonight, we arrive at Shenzhen Bay, where the coastline is lined with urban architecture and dazzling night lights.

Day 9 · Technology and innovation

A city that faces forward. Spend a day reading how it got that way.

The city, explained If venue opening is confirmed before the trip, first view Shenzhen's urban development materials in a public exhibition or city planning center, then visit Huaqiangbei.
Huaqiangbei Step into Huaqiangbei's electronics market to see how components and finished devices are sold side by side at neighboring counters.
Landmarks & Talent Park Architecture views of DJI Sky City and Tencent's Seafront Towers, then a walk through Shenzhen Talent Park along the water: technology, business, architecture and public life sharing one shoreline.

Day 10 · Departing Shenzhen

Depending on your departure time, you can explore Shekou or Nantou before heading to the airport, train station, or border checkpoint.

Shekou or Nantou Depending on your departure time, one last neighborhood: Shekou, where the story of China's economic reform meets a modern waterfront, or Nantou Ancient Town, where historic lanes and contemporary creative studios share the same blocks.
Onward Proceed to Shenzhen Airport, Railway Station, or the border crossing according to your departure time, and allow ample buffer for transit.
Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

  • HotelsAccommodation for nights 1–9; breakfast on days 2–10
  • ExperiencesNational forest park and Bailong Elevator, Huangshi Village and Tianmen cableways, Li River cruise, and one chosen Yangshuo countryside activity
  • MealsBuffet lunch on board the Li River cruise on Day 6

Not Included

  • Internal railZhangjiajie-Guilin and Yangshuo-Shenzhen rail tickets quoted with confirmation
  • MealsLunches and dinners beyond breakfast, other than the Day 6 buffet lunch on the cruise

Special Notes

Weather, water levels and departure timing affect parts of this route.

  • Tianmen views — Long views depend on weather; the cableway, cliff paths and Heaven's Gate remain the core.
  • Yangshuo raft — Rafting depends on river levels and safety rules; cycling and walking remain available.
  • Shenzhen venue — Confirm a public exhibition or urban-planning venue for the travel date.

Is Ten Days Your Length?

Tell us your arrival point and departure plan. We will keep the mountain, river and city tempo in balance.

Keep the full 10 days

Best when you want Zhangjiajie, Yangshuo and Shenzhen without turning the rail days into a rush.

Shorter on days

We can trim one nature day or the Shenzhen close, but the core Zhangjiajie mountain days should stay intact.

Good to Know

Language
English-speaking guides throughout
Shopping Policy
No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here.
Tailoring
Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay.
Ports
Zhangjiajie In · Shenzhen Out
Gateway markets
Lead country marker: FR. Gateway markets from inventory: WEU, SEU. Both ends may need a connection.

Your Private Concierge

Jenessa

Jenessa

Private China Route Concierge

“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”

Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.

20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care

Step 01

Tell us what excites you

Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.

24h

First concept delivered

Step 02

We design it around you

Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.

100%

Private, never off-the-shelf

Step 03

Lock it in with 30%

When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.

30%

Deposit to confirm

Step 04

Travel. We handle the rest.

Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.

24/7

Support throughout your journey

Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe

Guest Reviews

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China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.

Do this before you fly

VPN & Internet Access

What's blocked

Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.

Download before you leave

It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.

Hotel Wi-Fi tip

Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.

Good news

WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.

Your concierge sets this up on Day 1

Paying in China

China is cashless

Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.

International cards now work

Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.

Carry some cash

We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.

Booking this trip

Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.

We handle the paperwork

Visa & Entry

Do you need a visa?

Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.

240-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.

Processing time

Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.

What we provide

Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.

Our responsibility, always

Safety & Practical Tips

Is China safe?

China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.

Emergency numbers

Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.

Health & medications

Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.

Language

English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveler.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

Less than the mountains suggest. Elevators and cableways do the climbing while stream and city walks adjust to the group.

Long views are not guaranteed. The cableway, cliff paths, glass skywalk and Heaven's Gate remain the core of the day in most conditions.

No. Rafting follows river levels and safety rules; cycling and walking remain available across the same countryside.

The contrast is the route's point. Shenzhen lets the newest city chapter answer the old landscapes that came before it.

Breakfast is included from day two. Other meals stay flexible and are paid locally.

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