Zhangjiajie Old House View Sunrise Inn

The experience of staying in a homestay in the mountains of Zhangjiajie was particularly good. Not only were the rooms comfortable, the conditions were better than I had imagined, but the quilts in the mountains were a little damp, so you can turn on the air conditioner to blow out the moisture yourself. Toiletries were also provided. Except for the slightly shabby bathroom decoration, it was quite clean. The owner built a viewing platform opposite the house, and the scenery was very beautiful. It was very relaxing. The owner was very enthusiastic. Not only did he take us back and forth to the Sky Garden for free, and below was the filming location of Avatar and other attractions; the food in the homestay was also delicious and the price was very affordable. What was even more heartwarming was that the owner picked fresh fruits and vegetables for us from the small vegetable garden behind the house in the evening. I am especially grateful for their attentive hospitality. Fortunately, we stayed in the mountains for one night, otherwise it would have been sunny every day, and I really wanted to go down after just a short stroll in Zhangjiajie Mountain. After this experience, at least it felt perfect.

We arrived in Zhangjiajie West around 2:00 PM. After getting off the bus, we checked our clothes and luggage to our mountaintop guesthouse. We then went to YiHi to pick up our car and then dropped off our luggage at our guesthouse for the third day. We wasted quite a bit of time, arriving at the Forest Park's Middle Gate near 4:00 PM. The Middle Gate is the closest gate to the Bailong Elevator. After entering the park, you can walk directly to the entrance, perfectly missing the large group descending the mountain. We were the only ones in the elevator, and the ascent took just over a minute, with only 30-plus seconds of scenery. The ticket cost 65 yuan. After exiting the elevator, we boarded an eco-friendly bus directly to Yuanjiajie. We visited several popular attractions and waited for Mr. Liao to take aerial photos. By the time we arrived at Yangjiajie, it was already around 6:20 PM. Fearing we'd miss the last bus to the scenic area, we decided to skip Yangjiajie and take a bus directly to Sanchakou to wait for the guesthouse owner to pick us up. The route from Yuanjiajie to Yangjiajie to Sanchakou was straightforward, and there was no need to worry about wasting time. I heard Yangjiajie only had a so-called natural Great Wall, nothing special. On the way to the B&B, the sun was about to set, and the view of the Golden Mountain shone through the sky was breathtaking! Our luggage arrived early in the morning, a highly recommended service. Regardless of size, it was only 30 yuan per item, saving us from having to lug around so much luggage while we were exploring. The B&B is called "Laowuchang Sunrise Viewing Inn." I booked a triple room, the cheapest on Qunar, around 300 yuan. It was simple, clean, and hygienic, with plenty of water pressure, and the temperature was just right for four people to shower and wash their hair. Dinner and breakfast were 50 yuan per person, free for children under 12, and two children were charged as one. The stir-fried green beans were absolutely delicious! The B&B's highlight is the large viewing platform, offering stunning views of both sunrise and sunset! We enjoyed dinner under the setting sun, a cool breeze blowing, and sang "Evening Breeze Blowing in My Heart"—hahaha! The owner and his family were incredibly nice and accommodating. The next day, after breakfast, they even gave us a free ride to the "Sky Garden," the most popular attraction. Going there on our own would have cost 65 yuan on an electric car, which really saved us money. Sky Garden is across from the Bailong Elevator and is quite worth a visit. We then took a scenic bus to Helong Park and snapped a picture of Ran's homework [grin]. We visited several popular attractions along the way, and by then, we were exhausted and hot 🥵. Luckily, there was no line for the dreaded Tianzi Mountain Cableway. It must have been 2 PM at this point, right? After getting off the cableway, we took a bus to the Ten-Li Art Gallery. The weather was so hot, we didn't want to walk any further. We ended up spending 190 yuan for two adults and one student on the round-trip train. We didn't see much of the scenery; the whole trip was pretty much the same, so it was a bit boring. It's worth mentioning that Zhangjiajie Scenic Area offers free admission for those under 14, which saved Ran money, and Le got half off with his student ID. Our two adults bought a three-ride, multi-route package, which was a bit of a loss. We only rode the Tianzi Mountain Cableway once and didn't even visit Huangshizhai in Yangjiajie. The ticket is valid for four days, so we'll see if we can find time to go back in the remaining two days. However, a reservation is required for a second entry. Finally, we arrived at the Golden Whip Creek, a place Ran Ge had been longing for, where we could play in the water. We spent over an hour by the creek at the entrance, but didn't even go inside. It was a bit of a shame. I love this attraction the most, but we were all too tired to move. Finally, we took the bus from the Golden Whip Creek stop back to the Zhongmen parking lot. Driving back to the B&B, I was so relieved by the pool that all my fatigue disappeared. It was so comfortable [love]

For a two-day tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, in addition to staying outside, it is also a good choice to stay in several inns in Laowuchang. In addition to picking us up at Sanchakou, the owner also took us to visit the Sky Pastoral Scenic Area for free, saving 68 yuan per person in sightseeing bus fare. The platform just built at the doorstep is the best place to watch the sunrise.

The location is in Laowuchang, near the Sky Garden, and there is an observation deck in front to watch the sunrise. A pick-up service to Sanchakou is provided. The landlord's sister is cheerful and enthusiastic. She took us to see the Sky Garden for free and helped us take photos. Going to this attraction by yourself requires an additional fee. The landlord also provides travel guidance and plans. This time I saw the Sky Garden Wonderland in the clouds, which is rare, and I was lucky to see the sunrise. The hotel provides breakfast and dinner for 50 yuan per person, and it is also convenient to eat in the hotel. After all, you can't ask for too many facilities in the mountains.

We were very lucky to find this place: one of the few homestays on the mountain. The owner personally drove us in from the intersection station, and then drove us to the scenic spot below, giving us the opportunity to walk to the beautiful scenery around. The owner provided us with delicious dinner and breakfast for a little extra money. There is also an observation deck next to it, and we were lucky to see the sunrise!

The lady boss is very friendly and living in the mountains is a great experience. The inn is being renovated and the facilities should be more complete after the project.