Road Trip: Zhangjiajie to Guilin via Fenghuang & Dong Villages

Drive south from Zhangjiajie through Tujia and Miao villages, ancient commercial towns, and Dong settlements all the way to Longji and Guilin.

An inter-provincial road trip from western Hunan to northern Guangxi. Pass through peak forests, Tujia and Miao villages, ancient commercial towns, Dong settlements, and terraced fields, with changing landscapes and ethnic cultures every day. Spend only two days on the highlights of Zhangjiajie to save time for smaller places along the way. This one-way route requires a one-way car rental or a chartered car, making it ideal for repeat visitors with plenty of time.

Longji terraces are flooded in April and May, and turn golden in September and October. Watch out for falling rocks on mountain roads during the rainy season.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Zhangjiajie & Climb Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie（Tianmen Mountain Cableway、Tianmen Mountain、Tianmen Cave & Heaven-Linking Avenue）

Pick up your car at the airport and drive to the cable car station (approx. 20 minutes). Park in the city and take the cable car up and down the mountain.

Stay: Zhangjiajie City Center (Yongding)

Day 2 · Wulingyuan & Yuanjiajie Peak Forest

Zhangjiajie（Bailong Elevator、Wulingyuan / Yuanjiajie、Tianzi Mountain）

Drive from the city to Wulingyuan (approx. 1 hour). Park at your hotel and use the park shuttles and Bailong Elevator.

Stay: Wulingyuan Town (Wujiayu)

Day 3 · Golden Whip Stream to Furong Town

Zhangjiajie（Golden Whip Stream） → Fenghuang & Xiangxi（Furong Town (Wangcun)）

Walk along Golden Whip Stream in the morning, then drive from Wulingyuan to Furong Town in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes).

Rooms in Furong Town are tight on weekends; book at least two weeks in advance.

Stay: Furong Town

Day 4 · Red Stone Forest & Zuolong Gorge

Fenghuang & Xiangxi（Hongshilin Red Stone Forest、Zuolong Gorge）

Drive from Furong Town to Red Stone Forest (approx. 30 minutes), then to Zuolong Gorge (approx. 25 minutes), and head to Jishou in the evening.

Stay: Jishou Urban Area

Day 5 · Dehang Aizhai to Fenghuang Ancient Town

Fenghuang & Xiangxi（Dehang Miao Village、Aizhai Bridge、Hongqiao Bridge）

Drive from Jishou to Aizhai (approx. 40 minutes). After visiting, drive to Fenghuang (approx. 1.5 hours).

Mobile signals can be weak on the winding roads of Aizhai; download offline maps in advance.

Stay: Huilong Pavilion · Rainbow Bridge

Day 6 · Morning Walk in Fenghuang to Hongjiang

Fenghuang & Xiangxi（Fenghuang Ancient Town & Tuojiang River、Shen Congwen's Former Residence） → Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town（Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town）

Stroll through the ancient town in the morning, drive from Fenghuang to Hongjiang in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours), and see the ancient commercial town in the evening.

Stay: Around Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City

Day 7 · Qianyang Ancient City & South to Huangdu Dong Village

Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town（Qianyang Ancient Town） → Tongdao（Huangdu Dong Village）

Drive from Hongjiang to Qianyang Ancient City (approx. 1 hour), then take the Baotou-Maoming Expressway to Huangdu (approx. 2.5 hours).

Stay: Huangdu Dong Culture Village

Day 8 · A Day along the Pingtan River Dong Villages

Tongdao（Yutou Dong Village、Pingtan Wind-and-Rain Bridges、Hengling Dong Village、Gaobu Dong Village）

Take short drives along the Pingtan River (approx. 30 minutes between villages). Return to Huangdu for the night.

Stay: Huangdu Dong Culture Village

Day 9 · Enter Guangxi & Head to Chengyang Eight Villages

Sanjiang & Chengyang Dong Villages（Chengyang Eight Villages & Yongji Wind-and-Rain Bridge、Mapang Drum Tower）

Drive from Huangdu via Longcheng to Chengyang (approx. 2 hours). The mountain roads are narrow. Explore the villages on foot.

Stay: Chengyang Bazhai

Day 10 · To Longji Jinkeng Terraced Fields

Longji Rice Terraces（Dazhai Jinkeng Red Yao Terraces、Tiantouzhai & Thousand-Layer Ladder Viewpoint）

Drive from Chengyang to Dazhai (approx. 2 hours). Transfer to the scenic shuttle, then walk or take the cable car to the viewing platform.

If your guesthouse is on the hillside, travel with light luggage or hire a local porter.

Stay: Dazhai Jinkeng

Day 11 · Ancient Zhuang Village to Guilin

Longji Rice Terraces（Longji Ancient Zhuang Village） → Central Guilin（Two Rivers and Four Lakes / Sun & Moon Pagodas）

Drive from Dazhai to the Ancient Zhuang Village (approx. 1 hour), then to Guilin (approx. 2 hours). Walk around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes in the evening.

Stay: Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Zhengyang Road

Day 12 · Elephant Trunk Hill, Jingjiang Princes' Palace & Departure

Central Guilin（Elephant Trunk Hill、Jingjiang Princes' City & Duxiu Peak）

Walk or take taxis around the city in the morning, then drive to Liangjiang Airport in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour) to return your car.