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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
Why you'll love this trip
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Zhangjiajie · Day 1 - Day 4
· Arrival: into the mountains
Land, transfer, breathe. The stone forest opens tomorrow.
· Yuanjiajie & Tianzi Mountain
The pillar forest, from its high balconies. Learn to read a landscape with no horizontal lines.
· Golden Whip Stream & Huangshi Village
The same mountains, twice. Their feet in the morning, their shoulders in the afternoon.
· Tianmen Mountain
One mountain fills the day. You walk along its cliffs, then stand in its arch.
High-speed rail
Guilin · Day 5
· Rail to Guilin
A travel day that earns its keep. Guilin introduces itself after dark, in light on water.
Li River cruise
Yangshuo · Day 6 - Day 7
· Li River cruise to Yangshuo
Half a day on the water. Let the river set the schedule.
· The Yangshuo countryside
The slowest day of the ten. Pick your speed: pedals, footsteps or a raft.
High-speed rail
Shenzhen · Day 8 - Day 10
· Rail to Shenzhen
The fast train to the fast city. The skyline changes material.
· Technology and innovation
A city that faces forward. Spend a day reading how it got that way.
· Departure
One more Shenzhen before the airport. Sized to your flight.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Wulingyuan
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Zhangjiajie
Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng
Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng is located downtown near Dayongfucheng, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to attractions.
guilin
Shangri-La Hotel Guilin
A softer riverside stay in Guilin, good for travellers who want a greener setting and a calmer break between sightseeing days.
yangshuo
Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel
A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel.
Shenzhen
Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen
A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas.
yangshuo
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried.
zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie
A comfortable Zhangjiajie base for travellers who want an easier return after long days around the national forest park.
Guilin
Sheraton Guilin Hotel
Sheraton Guilin Hotel is located by the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and easy access to Guilin’s attractions.
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services.
Wulingyuan
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Yangshuo
Yangshuo Elite Garden
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.
Zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup.
Guilin
China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin
China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable stays and convenient facilities for business and leisure travelers.
Shenzhen
The Langham, Shenzhen
The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities.
Wulingyuan
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Wulingyuan
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Zhangjiajie
Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng
Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng is located downtown near Dayongfucheng, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to attractions.
guilin
Shangri-La Hotel Guilin
A softer riverside stay in Guilin, good for travellers who want a greener setting and a calmer break between sightseeing days.
yangshuo
Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel
A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel.
Shenzhen
Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen
A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas.
yangshuo
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried.
zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie
A comfortable Zhangjiajie base for travellers who want an easier return after long days around the national forest park.
Guilin
Sheraton Guilin Hotel
Sheraton Guilin Hotel is located by the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and easy access to Guilin’s attractions.
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services.
Wulingyuan
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Yangshuo
Yangshuo Elite Garden
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.
Zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup.
Guilin
China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin
China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable stays and convenient facilities for business and leisure travelers.
Shenzhen
The Langham, Shenzhen
The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities.
Wulingyuan
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Wulingyuan
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Zhangjiajie
Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng
Home Inn Zhangjiajie Dayongfucheng is located downtown near Dayongfucheng, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to attractions.
guilin
Shangri-La Hotel Guilin
A softer riverside stay in Guilin, good for travellers who want a greener setting and a calmer break between sightseeing days.
yangshuo
Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel
A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel.
Shenzhen
Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen
A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas.
yangshuo
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried.
zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie
A comfortable Zhangjiajie base for travellers who want an easier return after long days around the national forest park.
Guilin
Sheraton Guilin Hotel
Sheraton Guilin Hotel is located by the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and easy access to Guilin’s attractions.
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Located in Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring 500+ elegant rooms and suites with exclusive Horizon Club services.
Wulingyuan
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Yangshuo
Yangshuo Elite Garden
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.
Zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup.
Guilin
China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin
China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable stays and convenient facilities for business and leisure travelers.
Shenzhen
The Langham, Shenzhen
The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities.
Wulingyuan
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie
Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie. A selected stay in Wulingyuan.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- HotelsNine nights with breakfast daily from day two
- ExperiencesNational forest park and Bailong Elevator, Huangshi Village and Tianmen cableways, Li River cruise, and one chosen Yangshuo countryside activity
- MealsBuffet lunch on board the Li River cruise on Day 6
Not Included
- Internal railZhangjiajie-Guilin and Yangshuo-Shenzhen rail tickets quoted with confirmation
- MealsLunches 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
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
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%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
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
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
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.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
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.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
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.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
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.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
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.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
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.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
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.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
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.
Less than the mountains suggest. Elevators and cableways do the climbing while stream and city walks adjust to the group.
Long views are not guaranteed. The cableway, cliff paths, glass skywalk and Heaven's Gate remain the core of the day in most conditions.
No. Rafting follows river levels and safety rules; cycling and walking remain available across the same countryside.
The contrast is the route's point. Shenzhen lets the newest city chapter answer the old landscapes that came before it.
Breakfast is included from day two. Other meals stay flexible and are paid locally.
