The 9-Day (Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) Private China Adventure: Gorges, Glass Walks & Glittering Skylines

• Morning: Eighteen Steps and Light Rail Tour – Afternoon: A Thousand-Year-Old Town on the Yangtze River
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Your guide picks you up at the hotel. First, Eighteen Steps (Shiba Ti) – a restored cliffside stair neighborhood with calligraphy shops and a ci ba (glutinous rice cake) vendor that’s been there for 40 years. Next, Liberation Monument (the city’s modern heart) and the famous Liziba Light Rail Station – watch a train disappear into a residential building. After lunch, drive to Ciqikou Ancient Town. Wander cobbled lanes lined with Chen Mahua (sesame candy) being pulled by hand, watch a puppet show, and sip tea by the Jialing River. This is Yangtze river life unchanged for a thousand years.

• High-Speed Train to Zhangjiajie – Heavenly Gate & a Glass Walk Above the Clouds
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Morning transfer to the station. Board the bullet train to Zhangjiajie (approx. 5 hrs). Upon arrival, head straight to Tianmen Mountain National Park. Ride the world’s second-longest cable car (7,455m) – a 30-minute ascent from city to clouds. Step onto the Glass Skywalk – a transparent path clinging to a vertical cliff. Your heart will race as you look straight down into the abyss. Then take the handrail escalator (world’s longest in a mountain) down to Tianmen Cave (“Heaven’s Door”), a natural arch punched through the rock at 1,300m. Descend by bus along the 99-bend “Heavenly Road”. Back to hotel for a well-earned rest.

• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – The Avatar Mountains, a Sky-High Elevator & a Crystal Stream
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Enter the park that inspired Avatar. Ride the Bailong Elevator – a glass lift that shoots up 326m through the rock, revealing pillar-like quartzite peaks in seconds. Walk Jinbian Stream (Golden Whip Stream) – a cool, shallow trail with macaques swinging overhead and waterfalls tumbling into pools. After a local lunch, ascend Tianzi Mountain (Son of Heaven). The view from its peak: thousands of “dragon bones” (stone spires) draped in mist. End the day back at the hotel.

• Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon – The World’s Highest Glass Bridge (Bungee Optional)
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Today is for thrill-seekers. Walk the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge – 430m long, 6m wide, suspended 300m above a deep gorge. Look down at the emerald river and tiny trees. For the ultimate adrenaline rush, opt for the bungee jump (world’s highest commercial bungee at 260m – yes, it’s legal and safe). Even if you don’t jump, watch others take the leap. Afterwards, stroll the canyon floor past waterfalls and limestone caves. Return to hotel with shaky knees and a huge smile.

• High-Speed Train to Guangzhou – Ancient Temples, Shopping Streets & a Pearl River Night Cruise
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Morning transfer to the station. Train to Guangzhou (08:58–14:10). After check-in, explore Beijing Road – a pedestrian street built over Song and Ming dynasty roads, visible under glass panels. Taste shuang pi nai (double-layered milk) from a century-old shop. Visit Liurong Temple (Temple of the Six Banyan Trees) with its 1,500-year-old pagoda. As night falls, board a Pearl River cruise. Glide past the illuminated Canton Tower (China’s tallest) and shimmering skyscrapers. The skyline reflection on the water is pure magic.

• Qingyuan Gulong Canyon – A Sky Plank Walk & a Cliffside Roller Coaster
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Drive 1.5 hours to Qingyuan. Enter Gulong Canyon for a wild adventure. First, Yuntian Bawang (Cloud-Sky Overlord) – a massive glass platform shaped like a giant paddle, sticking out over a 500m drop. Walk on air. Then ride the Cliff Coaster – a hand-braked rail cart that zips along the mountain edge. You control the speed – go slow to take in the view, or full throttle for a scream-filled descent. The canyon also has waterfalls and rainbow bridges. Return to Guangzhou in the evening.

• Morning Train to Shenzhen – Free Afternoon: Minority Villages, Ancient Towns or a Beach
• Hotel: 4-Stars Hotel
• Meals:Breakfast

Morning high-speed train to Shenzhen (under 1 hour). Your driver transfers you to the hotel. The afternoon is yours. Recommendations:

• Splendid China Folk Village – miniature replicas of the Great Wall, Forbidden City, plus live shows of Miao and Dai minority dances.

• Nantou Ancient Town – a 1,700-year-old walled city with Hakka culture and hipster cafes.

• Dameisha Beach – golden sand and gentle waves for a coastal stroll.
  Pick one or two. Your guide can help arrange transport.

• Free Time & Departure – Last-Minute Electronics & Farewell
• Hotel: None
• Meals:Breakfast

Your final morning free. Recommended: Huaqiangbei Electronics Market – a dizzying maze of drones, phone cases, gadgets, and components. Bargain for a smartwatch or just marvel at the chaos. After lunch (on your own), your private driver will take you to Shenzhen airport or train station based on your departure time. End of an unforgettable 9-day journey.