Chongqing and Zhangjiajie: Cities, Cliffs and Caves

Meet your driver at Chongqing Airport and transfer to the hotel. A Russian-speaking tour escort will assist with check-in, introduce the programme and answer practical questions. After time to settle in, take an easy evening walk for a first look at Chongqing's illuminated towers, steep streets and layered urban architecture.

Begin at Luohan Temple, whose present complex contains hundreds of arhat figures. Continue to Kuixinglou to experience how Chongqing's streets meet at different levels, then watch a Chongqing Rail Transit train pass through the Liziba building. Walk through Xiahaoli, a restored part of the Longmenhao historical block, where older lanes now mix with cafés and public spaces. Finish at the scheduled observation deck for broad views over the city's bridges, towers and the meeting of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.

Transfer to the railway station and travel by high-speed train to Zhangjiajie. Meet the local guide and continue to Tianmen Mountain. Ascend by cableway, move through the high mountain landscape and step onto the glass walkways when conditions allow. The route also reveals Tianmen Cave, the natural arch known as Heaven's Gate. Afterwards, transfer to the hotel and check in.

Enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and explore Yuanjiajie's quartz-sandstone pillars, part of the wider UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan landscape. Hunan tourism associates this scenery with the visual prototype for Pandora's floating mountains in Avatar. Ride the 326-metre Bailong Elevator, recognised by Guinness World Records as the tallest outdoor elevator, to reach the upper viewpoints. Later, descend to the forested Golden Whip Stream route, walking between cliffs beside the clear water before returning to the hotel.

Explore Yellow Dragon Cave, also called Huanglong Cave, following its visitor route through limestone chambers, stalactites and stalagmites. A sightseeing-boat section reveals part of the underground system from the water. The remainder of the day is free. Travellers who wish may make an independent visit to Furong Ancient Town, whose old streets and houses rise beside a broad waterfall; transport, timing and admission for this optional outing should be arranged separately.

Check out and transfer to Zhangjiajie railway station for the high-speed train back to Chongqing. On arrival, continue to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is unstructured, leaving time to rest, browse for souvenirs or take an independent evening walk through the illuminated city.

Check out after breakfast and meet your driver for the private transfer to Chongqing Airport. The seven-day programme ends at the terminal, with departure procedures and onward travel completed independently.