Starting a self-driving trip from Chengdu, 5 days and 4 nights! Complete Zhangjiajie Family Travel Guide

Hi, sisters~ This autumn break, I just came back from a crazy fun trip in Hunan with the kids! While it’s still fresh, I’m sharing this 5-day family travel guide for Zhangjiajie + Phoenix Ancient Town with you! The kids had so much fun they didn’t want to go home, the route is tested and reliable, so save it quickly💖 ㅤ 🚗 Itinerary Overview - Day 1: Chengdu → Zhangjiajie (stay in Wulingyuan District) - Day 2: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park South Gate → Huangshizhai → Golden Whip Stream - Day 3: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park East Gate B Route → Ten-Mile Gallery → Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie → Tianzi Mountain - Day 4: Tianmen Mountain B Route → Phoenix Ancient Town Night View - Day 5: Stroll in the Ancient Town → Self-driving return trip ㅤ 🌲 Day 1: Huangshizhai + Golden Whip Stream (enter from South Gate) - Huangshizhai: Easy cable car ride up and down, the mountaintop sea of clouds looks like a fairyland, the saying "If you don’t go to Huangshizhai, you’ve wasted your trip to Zhangjiajie" is truly deserved - Golden Whip Stream: Gentle hiking, stroller-friendly! The stream is shallow, perfect for playing in the water in summer, and there are many macaques 🐒 (remember to keep snacks safe!). We turned back at the filming location of Journey to the West! - Accommodation: Near East Gate in Wulingyuan District, convenient for entering the park the next day ㅤ 🏞 Day 2: East Gate B Route Highlights - Bailong Elevator: 66 seconds straight up to the sky! Be sure to grab a spot by the glass for an amazing view! - Yuanjiajie: Check out the Avatar floating mountain prototype, the “Southern Sky Column,” and the breathtaking Mysterious Platform viewpoint! - Tianzi Mountain: Cable car up and down saves energy, must-see spots include Helong Park, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Scattering Flowers, the peak forest looks like a bonsai garden unfolding - Ten-Mile Gallery: Take the small train (38 RMB/person) through the scenic landscape, lots of monkeys, kids love it ㅤ ☁ Day 3: Tianmen Mountain B Route - B Route order: Take the express cable car → Tianmen Cave → 999-step Heavenly Ladder → 12-step mountain escalator → East-West loop on the mountaintop → descend - Tianmen Cave: With kids, you can pay 32 RMB for the escalator up and down to avoid climbing the steep Heavenly Ladder. - Glass Walkway: Very short, kids with courage can jump around, shoe covers 5 RMB/person, those afraid of heights can bypass. ㅤ 🏮 Day 4: Slow Life in Phoenix Ancient Town - Tuojiang River Night Tour: Arrive the night before, the night lights are dreamy and magical, dress the kids in Miao costumes for photos, looks great👍 - Ancient Town Stroll: Visit Shen Congwen’s Former Residence and Rainbow Bridge in the morning, eat sour soup fish, then head back in the afternoon ㅤ 📌 Warm Tips 1️⃣ Tickets: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park 227 RMB/person (valid for 4 days), if visiting for two days, buy the three cable cars and one elevator combo ticket, strictly enter the park according to the reserved time slot; Tianmen Mountain B Route 278 RMB/person, book in advance on the official website! Free for under 14 years old, only 3 RMB insurance required 2️⃣ Clothing: Non-slip sports shoes + thick jacket, big temperature difference in the mountains ㅤ This trip has both the grandeur of peak forests and sea of clouds, and the warmth of ancient town lights. Zhangjiajie is truly a place worth visiting! Sisters, hurry and take your kids! If you have any questions, tell me in the comments~ ㅤ