--- title: "Three Speeds" description: "10 days from Heaven's Gate to Shenzhen Bay watching the country change speed" type: "tour" route_id: "zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days" total_days: 10 price: 2800 highlights: ["Zhangjiajie", "Guilin", "Yangshuo", "Shenzhen"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days" locale: "en-US" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","zh-TW":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-TW/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days"} --- # Three Speeds 10 days from Heaven's Gate to Shenzhen Bay watching the country change speed Landscapes first, future last. Sandstone pillars, cliff walkways, a river cruise, rice fields and an electronics district, with English-speaking guides city by city. - 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 Four mountain days move slowly, the middle follows the Li River, and the last chapter accelerates into Shenzhen. Rail links the changes and local guides meet each arrival. LyrikTrip travel designers ## Summary - Route ID: zhangjiajie-guilin-shenzhen-10-days - Duration: 10 days / 9 nights - Starting price: $2,800 - Status: active - Highlights: Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bi5OLL9V.jpg ## City highlights - Zhangjiajie (4 days): The national forest park and Tianmen, from their gates. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9eQNDBn1.webp - Guilin (1 days): The rail and river gateway - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bgyDTly0.webp - Yangshuo (2 days): River pace and countryside - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/kEU0FuS3.webp - Shenzhen (3 days): The fast city, bayside - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/j3OhqX9B.webp ## Experiences Sandstone stillness, river pace and Shenzhen speed in one southbound route. - Yuanjiajie by the Bailong Elevator (Zhangjiajie): the elevator runs straight up the cliff face and lets you out among Yuanjiajie's viewing platforms, home to some of the park's most recognizable scenery. You stand at the First Bridge Under Heaven, a natural arch joining two sandstone towers, and at the Enchanting Terrace, with thousands of pillars ranked below you. The elevator spends your energy on looking, not climbing. - Subtitle: the elevator runs straight up the cliff face and lets you out - Tags: Nature - Host: Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie Lens — Avatar peaks and skywalks - Access: The elevator spends your energy on looking, not climbing. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/aba27529841b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/48cfb7128fce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7342179e7849.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b0f3f29707e4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1a23f12fa796.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5333eac5607f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b5c36fc9e0b8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/97e6678c30fe.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/65c92f55008a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ff5a68fc199a.jpg - Tianzi Mountain (Zhangjiajie): Tianzi Mountain is known for high viewpoints over Zhangjiajie's pillar-like sandstone formations. - Subtitle: A dramatic peak area in Zhangjiajie - Tags: Mountain - Host: Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie Lens — Avatar peaks and skywalks - Access: A key viewpoint for Zhangjiajie's vertical mountain scenery. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d4100c0f45a2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/46c487fda8da.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2ad097de6cfa.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1a23f12fa796.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6eb56556499f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/61d14357c9c5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/13ef886fd0e8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9d9fe7476e45.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bde2e9f999d9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d3aab1eb3ef.jpg - Golden Whip Stream (Zhangjiajie): a walk on the valley floor beside clear water, dense forest around you and sandstone cliffs straight overhead: the same pillars you saw from above, met at their feet. The path is level going and the length is cut to fit your day; the park from below is a quieter, closer park. - Subtitle: a walk on the valley floor beside clear water, dense forest around - Tags: Walk - Host: Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie Lens — Avatar peaks and skywalks - Access: The path is level going and the length is cut to fit your day; the park from below is a quieter, closer park. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6bd5ad7cd8d1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/266dcd768842.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/65830461d08a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6e4f580d4495.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7bb01923c0f0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b88d23386b67.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3a2d514f0391.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bd97ceeaaba6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f35dc1ae3065.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/90d2f7592034.jpg - Huangshi Village (Zhangjiajie): a cable car lifts you to open viewing platforms with a full panorama across the surrounding mountains; from up here the pillars read as one connected geological landscape rather than single towers, and the scale of Zhangjiajie finally fits in one look. - Subtitle: a cable car lifts you to open viewing platforms with a full - Tags: Nature - Host: Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie Lens — Avatar peaks and skywalks - Access: a cable car lifts you to open viewing platforms with a full panorama across the surrounding mountains; from up here the pillars read as one connected geological landscape rather than single towers, and the scale of Zhangjiajie finally fits in one look. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6fd0a947d39d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/89ea209e2d83.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/794665e1063d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b0f3f29707e4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1963d3f6b020.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5f9f86cae79e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f69bd3688f6a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c7f5c6257a4d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dd19a44cd371.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ffaaac601d49.jpg - Tianmen Mountain (Zhangjiajie): Tianmen Mountain adds cable car views cliff paths and a very different Zhangjiajie perspective. - Subtitle: A mountain known for cliffs and skywalks - Tags: Mountain - Host: Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie Lens — Avatar peaks and skywalks - Access: A high-altitude mountain experience with dramatic access and views. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c994af5f2dac.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/48b00e4541e4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/11b778654365.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/89ea209e2d83.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/794665e1063d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1963d3f6b020.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5c28e4ca9d19.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f69bd3688f6a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d038b6057082.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dd19a44cd371.jpg - Li River Cruise (Guilin): The Li River Cruise carries travelers through Guilin's signature karst scenery toward Yangshuo. - Subtitle: The classic Guilin to Yangshuo river journey - Tags: River Cruise - Host: Guilin, Guilin Lens — Karst rivers and terraces - Access: A slow scenic transfer through one of China's most recognizable landscapes. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a5f789c445a3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7dba15774930.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0c55cb43391f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4a7712b16e0f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/851ee4224979.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8cc7f309eb2a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/859a8a38d0d2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/745a0df35af1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b6b549bed65b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7eea69cfad11.jpg - Two Rivers & Four Lakes Evening Walk (Guilin): the waterways that ring central Guilin, walked after dark: lit pagodas standing on the water, gardens along the banks. A gentle first evening in Guilin, paced to whatever the rail day left in your legs. - Subtitle: the waterways that ring central Guilin, walked after dark: lit pagodas standing - Tags: Evening - Host: Guilin, Guilin Lens — Karst rivers and terraces - Access: A gentle first evening in Guilin, paced to whatever the rail day left in your legs. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/083abca9a4ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f559f129a28d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/36211596fbab.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c3cf66f04898.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ace32e81edb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9bc46b6e5e90.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be2275beb700.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5835d4f280ff.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6728c0a50c88.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/18d677886a8b.jpg - Yangshuo Countryside Day (Yangshuo): a whole day in the landscape around Yangshuo: rice fields, villages and quiet riverside paths framed by limestone peaks. You choose the mode: gentle cycling, countryside walking, or a bamboo raft on the Yulong River, and the pace leaves room to watch village life and stop for photographs whenever the light asks. Why a full day: this is the landscape China has painted for centuries, and it does not reward hurry. - Subtitle: a whole day in the landscape around Yangshuo: rice fields, villages and - Tags: Slow - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: Why a full day: this is the landscape China has painted for centuries, and it does not reward hurry. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/02042b694496.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5943b2f5538d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b09be4e9e978.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f08a7d5e0a6e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e972b823ffca.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be8117047f82.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/21642ae11f13.jpg - Reading Shenzhen (Shenzhen): a day built like a course. First the maps and models, an introduction to the city's industrial rise at a public exhibition or urban planning venue; then Huaqiangbei, one of the world's best-known electronics districts, where components, prototypes and finished devices sell side by side within a few dense blocks; then the architecture: DJI Sky City, Tencent's Seafront Towers, and a walk through Shenzhen Talent Park by the water. With the context first, the streets read as one connected story. - Subtitle: a day built like a course - Tags: Tech - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: With the context first, the streets read as one connected story. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4ba54eb84471.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ed526df8e0a3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f10089674fd9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b95d821b66b3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/403ff3a81a73.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4e35b6670c31.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/850e604d29dd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f2f1f94a56f1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6ddf0bbfc8f7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7ea9ef55b235.jpg - Shekou or Nantou (Shenzhen): the departure-day choice, sized to your flight: 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. Either way, you leave with one more Shenzhen than you arrived with. - Subtitle: the departure-day choice, sized to your flight: Shekou, where the story of - Tags: City - Host: Shenzhen, Shenzhen Lens — Drones and future mobility - Access: Either way, you leave with one more Shenzhen than you arrived with. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0540e86e5dd0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/24cfb51611ba.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6a3d6358e6cc.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d611105bca0e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/21a863e8cba1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8cd57b420cf9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ba1b0f9300a8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/01c07d442af3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/783f9d0fe378.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d0b2dd4ecb27.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### Stone, Water and City - 10 days Three Speeds #### Zhangjiajie (4 days) - Subtitle: The national forest park and Tianmen, from their gates. - Recommendation: Enter the sandstone forest park at the gateway town, then give Tianmen Mountain a full day. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Pace the high park platforms around weather and crowds; use the Tianmen cableway for the climb and set view expectations. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9eQNDBn1.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/14B6b2VP.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1uw3ShDO.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2t45crmz.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3g0JUsbQ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3KNKbO1s.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4FYtDGPN.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/75b1yrkY.webp ##### Day 1: Arrival into the mountains - (transport) — Meet the guide and drive to the park gateway. ##### Day 2: Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain - (sight) — Ride up to the First Bridge Under Heaven and Enchanting Terrace. - (sight) — View Imperial Writing Brush Peak and the West Sea Stone Forest. ##### Day 3: Golden Whip Stream and Huangshi Village - (sight) — Walk beside the stream at the foot of the sandstone walls. - (sight) — Take the cable car to open viewing platforms. ##### Day 4: Tianmen Mountain - (transport) — Travel from Wulingyuan to downtown Zhangjiajie by private vehicle. - (sight) — Ride the cableway and walk the cliff paths to Heaven's Gate. #### Guilin (1 days) - Subtitle: The rail and river gateway - Recommendation: Use Guilin as the rail and river gateway. - Transport: Li River cruise - Transport mode: car Keep the arrival evening gentle. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bgyDTly0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3uGHEW2j.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4UilJCmH.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4VtYWWkT.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4Yfatbqd.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5ElOR2GL.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5Mke9ayW.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6451wQWE.webp ##### Day 5: Rail to Guilin - (transport) — Travel from Zhangjiajie West and transfer to the hotel. - (sight) — Evening walk beside central Guilin's waterways. #### Yangshuo (2 days) - Subtitle: River pace and countryside - Recommendation: Slow the middle chapter to river and countryside pace. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Match the countryside activity to weather, water levels and the traveler's pace. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/kEU0FuS3.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3RSDiQUA.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/43ER0eM0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4iXf7Jvh.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4LasL8DS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51gauczC.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5Pv2GT5l.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5zFw5FSH.webp ##### Day 6: Li River cruise to Yangshuo - (sight) Li River Cruise — Cruise downstream through karst scenery. - (note) — Free evening after check-in. ##### Day 7: Yangshuo countryside - (sight) — Visit the panoramic viewpoint early when weather permits. - (sight) Yulong River — Choose cycling, walking or a Yulong River bamboo raft according to preference and river conditions. #### Shenzhen (3 days) - Subtitle: The fast city, bayside - Recommendation: End with city planning, technology landmarks and Shenzhen Bay. - Transport: Cross-border transfer - Transport mode: car Confirm the public exhibition venue for the travel date. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/j3OhqX9B.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8AH70UD0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/h4WopDz7.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0540e86e5dd0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/09971fb8ed55.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0cb198f8a49d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1dabf6d8d82e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4ba54eb84471.jpg ##### Day 8: Rail to Shenzhen - (transport) — Travel from karst country to Shenzhen. - (sight) Shenzhen Bay Park — Walk the new city and finish beside the bay. ##### Day 9: Technology and innovation - (sight) — Begin with maps and models before walking Huaqiangbei. - (sight) — View DJI Sky City and Tencent's Seafront Towers, then walk the waterfront park. ##### Day 10: Departure - (sight) — Choose according to departure time. - (transport) — Transfer to Shenzhen airport, railway station or border checkpoint with time to spare. ## Daily plan ### Day 1 — Arrival: into the mountains Land, transfer, breathe. The stone forest opens tomorrow. - Arrival & transfer: your guide meets you at Zhangjiajie's airport or railway station and drives you to Wulingyuan, the town at the gateway of the national forest park; check-in is handled while you look at the ridgelines. - 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. - Stay: Wulingyuan - Meals: No meals on arrival day ### Day 2 — Yuanjiajie & Tianzi Mountain The pillar forest, from its high balconies. Learn to read a landscape with no horizontal lines. - Bailong Elevator: the elevator climbs the cliff face and opens onto Yuanjiajie; it does the ascending so your legs stay fresh for the platforms. - Yuanjiajie: you stand at the First Bridge Under Heaven, a natural arch joining two sandstone towers, then at the Enchanting Terrace, with thousands of pillars ranked into the haze below you. You'll notice your voice has dropped, the way it does in a cathedral. - Tianzi Mountain: sweeping views across the peak forest, from Imperial Writing Brush Peak to the West Sea Stone Forest; mist and light keep changing the picture, so your guide keeps you at the balconies and lets the weather do the work. - Stay: Wulingyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 3 — Golden Whip Stream & Huangshi Village The same mountains, twice. Their feet in the morning, their shoulders in the afternoon. - 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: from down here the pillars you photographed yesterday become walls; the valley is the quieter, closer way to meet the same landscape. - 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. - Stay: Wulingyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 4 — Tianmen Mountain One mountain fills the day. You walk along its cliffs, then stand in its arch. - The cableway: from downtown Zhangjiajie, one of the world's longest mountain cableways carries you to the summit; the city drops away under your cabin on the way up. - Cliff pathways & glass skywalk: you walk the pathways fixed to the rock face, including the glass skywalk section where the valley opens under your feet; weather permitting, the views run across deep gorges, the winding mountain road and layers of far peaks. - Heaven's Gate: the immense natural arch of Tianmen Cave, a hole punched clean through the mountain; you stand beneath it and let it argue for itself. - Down to the city: after the mountain, transfer to your hotel in Zhangjiajie city, one night closer to the rail line south. - Stay: Zhangjiajie - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 5 — Rail to Guilin A travel day that earns its keep. Guilin introduces itself after dark, in light on water. - Rail south: from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station the train runs you south; your Guilin guide is waiting when you step off and takes you straight to the hotel. - 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. - Stay: Guilin - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 6 — Li River cruise to Yangshuo Half a day on the water. Let the river set the schedule. - Boarding: you board the Li River cruise in the morning and travel downstream toward Yangshuo; seats are assigned by name on the boat ticket, so yours is set before you step aboard. - The river: limestone peaks rise along both banks and double themselves in the calm water; bamboo groves line the shore, small farming villages pass, and working boats move through the scene. An hour in, you'll notice you've stopped asking what's next on the plan. - 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. - Stay: Yangshuo - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; buffet lunch on board ### Day 7 — The Yangshuo countryside The slowest day of the ten. Pick your speed: pedals, footsteps or a 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: cycle the lanes, walk them, or let a poler take you down the Yulong River on a bamboo raft; you can decide that morning, and change your mind at lunch. - Stay: Yangshuo - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 8 — Rail to Shenzhen The fast train to the fast city. The skyline changes material. - 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: four nights ago your window opened onto a forest of stone. Tonight, across the bay, a skyline switches on tower by tower. Somewhere over the water, the sentence you'll say at home puts itself together: ten days, one country, three speeds. - Stay: Shenzhen - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 9 — Technology and innovation A city that faces forward. Spend a day reading how it got that way. - The city, explained: the day starts with the maps and models: an introduction to Shenzhen's industrial rise and urban transformation at a public exhibition or urban planning venue, so the streets make sense afterward. - Huaqiangbei: one of the world's best-known electronics districts: counters of components, prototypes and finished devices packed into a few dense blocks, and your guide walking you through what is being bought and built around you. You'll catch your own pace quickening to match the city's. - 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. - Stay: Shenzhen - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 10 — Departure One more Shenzhen before the airport. Sized to your flight. - 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: a private transfer to Shenzhen's airport, railway station or border checkpoint, with margin built in. - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ## Hotels ### Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan - City: Wulingyuan - Description: Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan. A selected stay in Wulingyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0KGqTPP.webp ### Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng - City: Zhangjiajie - Description: Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng is located downtown near Dayongfucheng, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to attractions. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8sMNjwlL.webp ### Shangri-La Hotel Guilin - City: guilin - Description: A softer riverside stay in Guilin, good for travellers who want a greener setting and a calmer break between sightseeing days. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/l5FMkJfm.webp ### Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel - City: yangshuo - Description: A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hHS5RgEc.webp ### Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen - City: Shenzhen - Description: A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2mFLzVk5.webp ### Yangshuo Mountain Retreat - City: yangshuo - Description: A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2R0KYRQ9.webp ### Pullman Zhangjiajie - City: zhangjiajie - Description: A comfortable Zhangjiajie base for travellers who want an easier return after long days around the national forest park. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cvVCOIej.webp ### Sheraton Guilin Hotel - City: Guilin - Description: Sheraton Guilin Hotel is located by the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and easy access to Guilin’s attractions. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/kjMQHeJN.webp ### Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen - City: Shenzhen - Description: Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/lNzYq6FP.webp ### Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - City: Wulingyuan - Description: Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. A selected stay in Wulingyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/23699bfa7dd9.jpg ### Yangshuo Elite Garden - City: Yangshuo - Description: Located in central Yangshuo near West Street and the Li River, Yangshuo Elite Garden Hotel is a comfortable four-star hotel offering convenient access to the area’s main attractions. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/31Rz8fCF.webp ### Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel - City: Zhangjiajie - Description: Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9PAgozjd.webp ### China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin - City: Guilin - Description: China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable stays and convenient facilities for business and leisure travelers. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hcF3JHeA.webp ### The Langham, Shenzhen - City: Shenzhen - Description: The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4S1F07e6.webp ### Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie - City: Wulingyuan - Description: Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie. A selected stay in Wulingyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d6e6ba8999cb.jpg ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Hotels: Nine nights with breakfast daily from day two - Experiences: National forest park and Bailong Elevator, Huangshi Village and Tianmen cableways, Li River cruise, and one chosen Yangshuo countryside activity - Meals: Buffet lunch on board the Li River cruise on Day 6 ### Not Included - Internal rail: Zhangjiajie-Guilin and Yangshuo-Shenzhen rail tickets quoted with confirmation - Meals: Lunches 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 - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### 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%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### 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 - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): Perfect for couples - My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): Great for families - Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): Alisa made the whole experience easy - Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly - Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - 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. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - 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. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - 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. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - 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. ### How much walking is this, really? Less than the mountains suggest. Elevators and cableways do the climbing while stream and city walks adjust to the group. ### What if clouds close in at Tianmen? Long views are not guaranteed. The cableway, cliff paths, glass skywalk and Heaven's Gate remain the core of the day in most conditions. ### Is the bamboo raft guaranteed? No. Rafting follows river levels and safety rules; cycling and walking remain available across the same countryside. ### Why does a mountain trip end in Shenzhen? The contrast is the route's point. Shenzhen lets the newest city chapter answer the old landscapes that came before it. ### Why aren't all meals included? Breakfast is included from day two. Other meals stay flexible and are paid locally.