It is 1 hour flight from Chengdu to Zhangjiajie, but the landscape is totally different. As we already know the coldest air since march will rush into south China during this week, we still can not change our schedule due to the discount flight. So we are here, Zhangjiajie, where those people picture the Pandora land of Avatar. We were setting off to the Zhangjiajie National Park for the first day, and that is definitely the highlights of this trip. We thought it would be like this
But, the weather report is so precise, and after the cold rain, heavy snow finally comes, we see the park like this
And this
After walking in the snow for hours with nothing to see, we get on the bus and back to hotel. Luckily, we have very good hotels here in Zhangjiajie. We quickly warmed up by the room heater and enjoyed a tasty dinner in local restaurant, spicy we like.
The next day we went to visit Baofeng Lake which is only 3km from our hotel
There are still snow remaining on top of trees, which gives us a unique scenery of Baofeng Lake, we take the half hour boating on the lake and our guide she was singing local folk songs, what a beautiful morning.
All the scenic spots are pretty close here, after the lake, only 15km drive on country road, we have reached Huanglong Cave. It is two hours walking and taking boat in the cave, it’s a pitty my little camera can not work well in the cave. It is worth a visiting if you haven’t see those caves in Guilin :
The day 3 is all we expected, after the cold wind passes, the sky become clear, and have been driving 4 hours to one of the most famous old town in China - Phoenix town. The real thing is a bit disappoint, this town turns out to be over commercialized. Can not feel the atmosphere of an old town should have. But you can still find some quietness in my photo.
The night of Phoenix town is wonderful, the streets are filled up with pubs and music.
Our trip almost at end after the Phoenix town, we stopped by the red stone forest and Furong old town on the way back to Zhangjiajie airport.
Tips for travelers to Zhangjiajie or Phoenix town:
1. It is a rainy place, make sure you have water proof clothes.
2. There will be some serious walking if you want to explore the Zhangjiajie park deep.
3. Flight to Zhangjiajie: Chengdu/ Guilin/ Kunming/ Xi’an/Beijing / Shanghai/ Guangzhou
4. Bus/ Train to Zhangjiajie: Changsha
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