Itinerary · 14 days · active
Hiking China's national parks — Zhangjiajie, Huangshan and Jiuzhaigou, 14 days
Fourteen days across three of China's most dramatic mountain and forest parks — the sandstone columns of Zhangjiajie, the granite peaks and sea of cloud at Huangshan, and the turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou.
China's national parks range from easily accessible (Huangshan has cable cars on all faces) to genuinely demanding (the high plateau at Jiuzhaigou sits above 3,000m). This itinerary visits three that are visually and ecologically distinct. Physical fitness is an advantage but not a requirement — all three parks have paved paths, and cable cars are available at Huangshan and Zhangjiajie. Jiuzhaigou requires more walking. Book Jiuzhaigou tickets well in advance — daily visitor numbers are strictly capped.
Day by day
Day 1 · zhangjiajie
Arrive Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain cable car
Fly to Zhangjiajie (ZJJ) from Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. Afternoon at Tianmen Mountain — the world's longest cable car (7.5km), a glass walkway on the cliff edge, and 999 steps to the cave arch. Good orientation for the terrain ahead.
Stay in: Zhangjiajie city — base for the national forest park.
Day 2 · zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — Yuanjiajie
Full day in the park. Yuanjiajie plateau: the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain (the floating sandstone column used as visual inspiration). The Bailong Elevator (glass elevator up the cliff face) is a practical way to change levels. Walk the ridge-top circuit.
Day 3 · zhangjiajie
Tianzi Mountain and Golden Whip Stream
Morning: Tianzi Mountain area — dense columns in valley mist. Afternoon: Golden Whip Stream, a flat 7.5km walk along a narrow gorge between sandstone pillars, finishing at the south gate. The stream walk is the park's most accessible route.
Day 4 · zhangjiajie
Glass Bridge, Baofeng Lake
Morning at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge (the world's longest glass-bottomed suspension bridge — 430m span, 300m above a forested gorge). Afternoon at Baofeng Lake — smaller, quieter, rowing boats available.
Day 5 · huangshan
Fly to Huangshan
Flight ZJJ → Huangshan (via a hub city, typically 4–5h total). Arrive at Tunxi (Huangshan) Airport. Check in near the Tangkou gate. The town of Tunxi has a preserved old street (Lao Jie) worth a brief evening walk.
Stay in: Tangkou village (base of Huangshan) or on the mountain itself.
Domestic flight ZJJ → TXN via hub, approx 4–5h total.
Day 6 · huangshan
Huangshan — western steps, hot springs
Take the Yungu cable car to the summit plateau. Walk the western stairway route past the Welcoming Pine tree. The sea of cloud (yunhai) appears when valley fog rises below the granite peaks — typically morning. Hot springs at the base in the evening.
Attractions: huangshan-mountain
Day 7 · huangshan
Huangshan — sunrise, eastern steps
Stay overnight on the mountain (Beihai Hotel area) for the sunrise. The eastern stairway descent to Yungu cable car base. Afternoon: Hongcun or Xidi ancient villages (30 min by taxi) — whitewashed Huizhou architecture.
Attractions: huangshan-mountain, hongcun-village
Day 8 · huangshan
Xidi village, travel day
Morning at Xidi village — smaller than Hongcun, less visited. Afternoon journey to Huangshan city (Tunxi) for onward flight or train.
Attractions: xidi-village
Day 9 · chengdu
Transit through Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu (hub city for Jiuzhaigou). Rest day or afternoon at the Panda Base if the itinerary allows.
Attractions: panda-base-chengdu
Stay in: Chengdu city.
Flight TXN → CTU, approx 3h via hub.
Day 10 · jiuzhaigou
Fly to Jiuzhaigou, Shuzheng Valley
Morning flight CTU → JZH (45 min). Arrive the valley. Entry is strictly timed and capped. Afternoon walk on the Shuzheng Valley boardwalk — turquoise lakes layered down the valley floor, each a different shade. Book tickets well in advance.
Attractions: jiuzhaigou-valley
Stay in: Outside the park (only authorised accommodation inside). Hotels near Zhangzha town.
Domestic flight CTU → JZH, 45 min, ¥400–700.
Day 11 · jiuzhaigou
Rize Valley, Nuorilang Waterfall
Rize Valley: the Five Flower Lake (multi-coloured turquoise, visible to the lake floor). Nuorilang Waterfall — the widest highland waterfall in China, 270m across. The colours are at their most vivid in autumn.
Attractions: jiuzhaigou-valley
Day 12 · jiuzhaigou
Zechawa Valley, Swan Lake
Upper Zechawa Valley — Swan Lake and Long Lake at the valley head (3,100m altitude). The lake surface reflects the surrounding peaks and forest. Light walking on boardwalk paths.
Attractions: jiuzhaigou-valley
Day 13 · chengdu
Return Chengdu, Jinsa Museum
Fly JZH → CTU (45 min). Afternoon in Chengdu. Jinsha Site Museum for the Bronze Age context that bookends the parks.
Attractions: jinsha-site-museum
Domestic flight JZH → CTU, 45 min.
Day 14 · chengdu
Wenshu Monastery, departure
Morning at Wenshu Monastery. Hot-pot lunch if departure is in the evening. Transfer to CTU for international flight.
Attractions: wenshu-monastery
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥3000 |
| Mid-range | ¥8000 |
| Comfortable | ¥18000 |
Per person total 14 days including domestic flights (approx ¥3,000). National park entry: Zhangjiajie ¥248, Huangshan ¥230, Jiuzhaigou ¥169 (plus transport within parks). Mountain overnight adds ¥600–2000 per night. International flights excluded.
Attractions covered