Just returned from Zhangjiajie, and I honestly don't recommend visiting from May to July

Zhangjiajie actually has quite a few tourist traps if you don't plan well 😭 It's super popular here with so many people coming to check out the real-life "Avatar" mountains, so proper planning is essential. Without good preparation, I'd advise against visiting from May to July‼️ 💕 Complete Zhangjiajie Travel Guide (May-July 2025 Edition) Three Thousand Peculiar Peaks · Sea of Clouds Wonderland · In-depth Experience · Pitfall Avoidance 🔥🔥🌈 World Natural Heritage: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (including Yuanjiajie, Golden Whip Stream, Yellow Stone Village), Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. Geological Wonders: Quartz Sandstone Peak Forest Landform, Tianmen Cave, Glass Walkway, Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. Cultural Experiences: Tusi City, Fenghuang Ancient Town, Western Hunan Miao Village. Food Recommendations: Sanxiaguo (Three-pot Dish), Tujia Bacon, Rock Ear Stewed Chicken, Sour Pickled Fish. 🗾 2. Itinerary Planning (5 Days 4 Nights In-depth Tour) 🔵 Day 1: Arrive in Zhangjiajie · First Exploration of Tianmen Wonders Morning: Arrive at Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport/West Railway Station, check into hotel (recommend hotels near Tianmen Mountain Cableway Station). Afternoon: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park (Ticket: ¥258, includes cableway): Route: Tianmen Mountain Cableway → Glass Walkway → Ghost Valley Plank Road → Tianmen Cave → 99-Bend Road. Tips: Book Line A (cableway up) in advance to avoid crowds. Dinner: Fuzhengyi Sanxiaguo (Tianmen Mountain Cableway Branch): ¥60/person, must-try bacon and pork tripe Sanxiaguo. Night Tour: Xibu Street: Explore intangible cultural heritage blocks, try kudzu root powder and glutinous rice cakes. 🔵 Day 2: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park · Peak Forest Exploration Morning: Yellow Stone Village (Ticket included in park pass, round-trip cableway ¥118): Viewpoints: Five Finger Peak, Six Wonders Pavilion, Star Picking Platform. Afternoon: 🔥🔥 Yuanjiajie (Bailong Elevator one-way ¥65): Visit "Hallelujah Mountain" (Avatar filming location) and First Bridge Under Heaven. Yangjiajie: Natural Great Wall, Peak Wall Wonder. Dinner: Lao Zaotao Local Cuisine (Wulingyuan Landmark Store): ¥50/person, recommend Tujia Mixed Dish and Rock Ear Stewed Chicken. Accommodation: Four Seasons by the Stream Resort (Wulingyuan Branch): Near Baofeng Lake with free shuttle service. 🔵 Day 3: Golden Whip Stream Walk · Overnight in Furong Town Morning: Golden Whip Stream (Free): 7.5km walk (2 hours), encounter wild macaques. Afternoon: Ten-Mile Gallery (Small train one-way ¥38): See Herbal Medicine Gatherer and Three Sisters Peaks. Evening: Head to Furong Town (Ticket: ¥108): Visit the thousand-year-old town on waterfalls, enjoy night light show. Dinner: Liu Xiaoqing Rice Tofu Shop: ¥15/person, must-try rice tofu and mugwort cakes. Accommodation: Furong Town Tuwang Palace·Badu Hall: Built by the waterfall with scenic views. 🔵 Day 4: Tusi Culture · Fenghuang Ancient Town Morning: Tusi City (Ticket: ¥98): See Nine-Heaven Stilted Building and Hand-Waving Hall, experience Tujia wedding customs. Afternoon: Head to Fenghuang Ancient Town (3-hour drive): Walk along Tuo River, visit Rainbow Bridge and Ten Thousand Pagodas. Dinner: Junzi Restaurant: ¥60/person, must-try Blood Cake Duck and Sour Fish Soup. Night Tour: Boat ride on Tuo River, admire ancient town night view, try Miao silver jewelry DIY. 🔵 Day 5: Western Hunan Miao Village · Return Morning: Western Hunan Miao Village (Ticket with performance: ¥120): Participate in Gate-Blocking Wine Ceremony, Long Table Banquet, learn Miao songs and make glutinous rice cakes. Afternoon: Return trip, can buy souvenirs: Zhangjiajie berry tea, eucommia tea, kudzu root powder. 🔥 3. Transportation Guide 🚄 External Transport: Flight: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, 10km from downtown, taxi ~¥15. Train: Zhangjiajie West Station (high-speed), Zhangjiajie Station (regular), both have direct buses to downtown. 🚗 Local Transport: Scenic Area Shuttle: Downtown → Wulingyuan: Bus from bus station, ¥13/person, 50 mins. Downtown → Grand Canyon: Direct bus, ¥22/person, 1.5 hours. Ride-hailing/Taxi: Daytime starting fare ¥6, nighttime ¥7. 🏠 4. Accommodation Recommendations 📍 Tianmen Mountain Area: Wyndham Garden Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain (near cableway station): 2000㎡ garden terrace with mountain views. 📍 Wulingyuan Area: Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie (near forest park landmark gate): Offers free customized tour routes. 📍 Fenghuang Ancient Town: Pushi Riverside B&B (Tuo River side): Stilted house views, 5-min walk to Rainbow Bridge. 🗾 5. Food Map Sanxiaguo: Fuzhengyi Sanxiaguo (Tianmen Mountain branch), bacon/tripe/pork belly pot, ¥60/person Tujia Cuisine: Lao Zaotao Local Cuisine (Wulingyuan branch), rock ear chicken/Tujia mixed dish, ¥50/person Snacks: Xibu Street Old Noodle Shop, straw hat noodles/kudzu root powder, ¥15/person Night Food: South Gate Food Street, grilled glutinous rice cakes/sour spicy noodles, ¥25/person 6. Pitfall Avoidance Guide 🎫 Ticket Traps: Avoid "scalper" overpriced tickets, book via official platforms in advance. 🚄 Transport Tips: Airport/station unlicensed taxis overcharge, insist on metered taxis or ride-hailing. 🍴 Dining Notes: Higher prices in scenic areas, bring snacks; confirm prices before ordering. ‼️ Safety Tips: Wild macaques at Golden Whip Stream/Yuanjiajie - don't feed or provoke them. Take this guide and embark on your journey to the fairyland of peaks and clouds! 🏞️🌉