11-day Zhangjiajie & Guilin Cycling Adventure

Please arrange your own flight or train to China and Guilin (KWL) and earlier arrival time is recommended n order to have more time enjoying the city, and for more rest too. A warming up ride around 30KM in Guilin city helps a lot to understand the rental bikes and cycling difficulties on China’s road condition, it also reveals the real local lives of the citizen. The itinerary and distance for biking is very flexible as we do hope you can have a good rest after a long trip to China. A tour briefing for the next day will be made by your guide after a fancy dinner in the top-rated restaurant.

A one hour driving after hotel check out is the best way to skip the rush hours in the city and will lead us directly to the peaceful countryside. Our cycling of the whole trip starts from the bike path along the Ling Canal near Xing’an county (Built in 214BC, one of the oldest contour canals in the world).

After visiting the local farmer’s house and his grape farm, challenging some short climbs with beautiful reservoirs and brooks, we finally arrives a remote village where one of the biggest tunnel caves in Asia is located. A 1-2 hours stays and exploration inside the huge tunnel cave is highly recommended for people without back/knee problems. Saying thanks and goodbye to the owner of the land and the memorable scenery there, our supporting van will drive us back to our hotel in Xing’an.

Guilin is a beautiful region where countless limestone hills lives, cycling through the undulating back roads. The northern part of Guilin looks a little different to the south, more canals, valleys, brooks and reservoirs makes our biking memorable. Move by pedaling gradually into the south and the well-known Li River banks. The bike path along the Li River will lead us to our hotel, and a visit of Daxu Ancient Town and rice wine factory visit is also worthy during our cycles.

An challenging 1.5 km steep uphill takes us to the mountain top where the panoramic view of Li River and the small town we stay last night can be seen, a local boat transit to the other side of the river gives us better scenery and cycling opportunity along the Li river all the way to Yangdi town - half way town for the well-known Li River cruise.

Biking deep into the mountain area full of wonderful Karst landforms, we will finally see the back garden of Yangshuo – the Yulong River and enjoy splendid scenery, leisure cycling and all types of amusement for tourists there. Yangshuo is an interesting place full of things to do, we can stop our cycling anytime and transfer to our hotel if your tour is a guided/half-guided one. The light show about LiuSanJie (local finsherman singer) in the evening is highly recommended after our dinner in the West Street, book it one day ahead with us if you want to see.

Our local guide will take you for an insight ride more than the popular bike routes around Yangshuo known by major tourists. And the itinerary for today is very flexible based on your wishes, we recommend a 40-60KM around the town or a biking + non-cycle touring to less crowded attractions hidden between Guilin-Yangshuo-Xingping (the classic triangle zones where best scenery are). After the trip, our supporting van will drive us from Yangshuo/Xingping back to Guilin which allows us seeing the beauty of the other side of River Li.

After breakfast, drive 1.5 hours to Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Spot. Unlike the majority of tourists who will going up by vehicle, it must be more interesting hiking with your guide from the mountain bottom up all the way to Ping’an Zhuang Village (9 km, 2.5-3 hours) via zigzagging mountain trail. You will surely be amazed by the stunning view of farmlands and stilted wooden houses built on the mountain slope. And a visit of the local museum offers us insight views about the landscape of the terrace fields and the inhabitants. Our guesthouse, although basic, offers spectacular views of the rice terraces and fantastic food, popular among westerners for over 20 years.

A further explore the areas in the morning to the most beautiful viewing platforms to see the man-made miracle of Longji Rice Terraces (2 hours) can be done today or yesterday afternoon, we shall have plenty of time resting in the village or return to Guilin suburb for a visit to some free but places of high values like visiting local wood carving market / flower and birds market, etc. After making a good use of our final day in the first province of the tour, we will transfer to Guilin Railway Station. You will take a bullet train to Liuzhou (1.25 hrs), then change another overnight sleeper train to Zhangjiajie (10.5 hours, starts in the evening). You will take 2 different types of trains today, which is a unique experience for international travelers.

Arrive in Zhangjiajie in the morning. Transfer to the hotel for refreshment. We have to make earlier decisions about today's plans, about to walk / keep cycling for a half day (with different rental bikes). Zhangjiajie is a heaven during hot summers; we can walk along the brooks, or swim in a crystal clear stream flowing in the mountain valley to wash away our tiredness on the train. Later you will be rewarded by a local spicy dinner featured with Hunan cuisine, hot dishes is not a must but we can try those local flavors.  

Located in the northwest of Hunan province, Zhangjiajie is a beautiful mix of landscape and culture. For the past decades, it has been prestigious for its quartz and sandstone geomorphologic structure rare on the planet. Most of Zhangjiajie’s attractions are at Wulingyuan, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, we will spend three days here and your guide will try to avoid the tourist-packed sites and see the less visited spots. 

The orders of visiting in the National Forest Park are very flexible based on weather and client's wishes. Today you will have another day tour at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Ascending Yuanjianjie Mountain by Bailong Elevator (recommeded to save time by this, optional fee) - a glass elevator which was built into the side of a huge cliff, and it is the fastest elevator in the world. Experience the speed while taking in the breathtaking views. Taking about 2.5 hours to discover the amazing pillar scenery of the southern sky, which was used to inspiration for the famous “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”. Afterwards, take the sightseeing bus to visit the beautiful Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, including Helong Park, West Sea Scenic Area and some other sights. Marvel at a notable setting of quartzite peaks that seem so the otherworldly. Later, take cool Tianzi Mountain cable car down the mountain and to enjoy a brisk walk along the picturesque Ten-mile Natural Gallery, lined with peaks resembling human, fingers, monkys, lions, etc.

The National Forrest Park is definitely worth for 3 days walking but it is not the only highlight of the city. So based on our flexible tour itinerary style and more cares to the clients’ wishes, you can communicate with GCT’s guide ahead and do some optional visit like going to the Tianmenshan Mountain – city symbol of Zhangjiajie. From the 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, and 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.

Instead of visiting the above places, more rest and leisure touring can be arranged before leaving Zhangjiajie, the tour price includes the room for tonight so if you are leaving today, please let the guide know earlier as they are leaving today and finish their jobs.