6-Day Shanghai + Zhangjiajie Itinerary 2026: Skyscrapers and Avatar Mountains
A 6-day itinerary pairing Shanghai (modern China, 3 days) with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar mountains, 3 days).
Quick Answer
What is this 6-day itinerary like?
This 6-day itinerary covers 4 UNESCO sites, involves 22 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $1,080.
Day by day
Book this trip →Six days: Day 1-3 Shanghai, Day 4-6 Zhangjiajie. Fly Shanghai → Zhangjiajie (2.5h, ¥600-1000). Combines urban and natural China. Most visa-free for 30 days.
Shanghai: Bund and Pudong
The Bund at sunrise · Nanjing Road · Shanghai Tower (¥180) · Pudong IFC Mall evening
- 09:00The Bund at sunrise
The Bund at sunrise
- 11:00Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road
- 13:00Shanghai Tower
¥180
- 15:00Pudong IFC Mall evening
Pudong IFC Mall evening
Shanghai: Old City
Yu Garden (¥40) · French Concession walk · Tianzifang · Shanghai acrobatic show
- 09:00Yu Garden
¥40
- 11:00French Concession walk
French Concession walk
- 13:00Tianzifang
Tianzifang
- 15:00Shanghai acrobatic show
Shanghai acrobatic show
Shanghai: Museums
Shanghai Museum · Power Station of Art · Evening: Huangpu River cruise
- 09:00Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum
- 11:00Power Station of Art
Power Station of Art
- 13:00Evening: Huangpu River cruise
Evening: Huangpu River cruise
Shanghai to Zhangjiajie
Fly Shanghai → Zhangjiajie (2.5h) · Transfer to Wulingyuan · Suoxi Valley walk
- 09:00Fly Shanghai → Zhangjiajie
2.5h
- 11:00Transfer to Wulingyuan
Transfer to Wulingyuan
- 13:00Suoxi Valley walk
Suoxi Valley walk
Wulingyuan (Avatar)
Wulingyuan National Park (¥225) · Yuanjiajie — Avatar Hallelujah Mountain · Tianzi Mountain
- 09:00Wulingyuan National Park
¥225
- 11:00Yuanjiajie
Avatar Hallelujah Mountain
- 13:00Tianzi Mountain
Tianzi Mountain
Tianmen Mountain and departure
Tianmen Mountain (¥261) · Glass skywalk · Departure from Zhangjiajie
- 09:00Tianmen Mountain
¥261
- 11:00Glass skywalk
Glass skywalk
- 13:00Departure from Zhangjiajie
Departure from Zhangjiajie
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 6 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Lock in the essentials before you fly
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Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 5 days too long for a first trip?
No — {n} days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.