Hunan Officially Launches 5 Cross-Region Premium Routes of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone
Big news for anyone planning a deeper Hunan journey: on September 23, 2026, the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism officially announced the first batch of 5 cross-region premium routes for the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone — officially published on September 28, 2026. For the first time, Zhangjiajie, Changde, Xiangxi (West Hunan), Huaihua and Shaoyang have been packaged into official, government-endorsed itineraries that link the region’s headline sights with hidden gems most foreign visitors have never heard of.
What the announcement says
According to the official notice, the five routes were selected to implement Hunan’s plan to build a world-class tourism destination, with Zhangjiajie as the core engine driving cross-regional integration. Local governments along the routes will upgrade infrastructure and services, and tourism companies that sign operating agreements and actually run these routes will receive support from provincial culture and tourism special funds.
In plain terms: these routes are now the official golden threads of Hunan tourism — well-signposted, better connected, and backed by government investment.
The 5 official routes at a glance
1. 8 DAYS Peak Forest Wonderland — Zhangjiajie + Changde + Xiangxi + Huaihua + Shaoyang Grand Panorama
The full-length signature route, sweeping across all five cities and prefectures:
Taohuayuan (Peach Blossom Land), Changde — the fabled utopia of Chinese poetry
Liuye Lake Resort and Changde Old River Street
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie
72 Wonders Tower (Qishier Qilou)
Zuolong Gorge and Furong Town — the “town hanging on a waterfall”
Aizhai · Shibadong · Dehang Grand Canyon
Shanbei Huayao Terraced Fields, Xupu
Yushuwan Youth Square (Huaihua), Jingping Ancient Village, Anjiang Hybrid Rice Memorial Park
Langshan Scenic Area, Shaoyang — UNESCO World Heritage Danxia landscape of red sandstone peaks
2. 5 DAYS Xuefeng Mountains & Dong Songs — Huaihua + Shaoyang
A history-and-folk-culture deep dive west of the mountains:
Memorial Hall of the Victory of the War of Resistance, Zhijiang — where Japan’s surrender in China was formally accepted in 1945
Qianyang Ancient Town and Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City
Gaoyi Ancient Village and Huangdu Dong Culture Village
Huangsang Ecotourism Area
Shanbei Huayao Terraced Fields and Langshan Scenic Area
3. 6 DAYS Hidden Wonders — Zhangjiajie + Xiangxi + Huaihua Ethnic Culture
The classic Zhangjiajie-to-Fenghuang corridor, extended into Huaihua:
Tianmen Mountain and the 72 Wonders Tower, Zhangjiajie
Furong Town and Qianzhou Ancient Town
Aizhai · Shibadong · Dehang Grand Canyon
Fenghuang Ancient Town — the iconic riverside old town of the Tujia and Miao peoples
Anjiang Hybrid Rice Memorial Park, Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City, Jingping Ancient Village
4. 4 DAYS Wuling Family Adventure — Changde + Zhangjiajie Study Tour
Purpose-built for families with kids:
Changde Wildlife World safari park
Taohuayuan (Peach Blossom Land)
Baima Mountain Berry Tea Theme Park
72 Wonders Tower and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Yellow Dragon Cave
Zhangjiajie Cultural & Creative Industry Park — hands-on Tujia brocade weaving and Junsheng sand painting workshops
5. 7 DAYS Mountain Retreat — Changde + Zhangjiajie + Xiangxi + Huaihua Wellness Journey
A slow-travel itinerary built around hot springs, terraces and quiet valleys:
Taohuayuan and Reshi Yunding Hot Springs Resort, Changde
Yellow Dragon Cave, Baizhang Gorge, Tianmen Mountain, 72 Wonders Tower
Bumen Hot Springs, Xiangxi
Furong Town and Shanbei Huayao Terraced Fields
Anjiang Hybrid Rice Memorial Park, Yushuwan Youth Square, Jingping Ancient Village
Why this matters for international travelers
Beyond the postcard. Most foreign visitors see Zhangjiajie’s sandstone pillars and leave. These routes officially connect Zhangjiajie with Fenghuang, Furong Town, the Huayao terraces, Hongjiang’s merchant old town and Langshan’s Danxia geopark — a far richer slice of Hunan.
Better infrastructure is coming. Government backing means improved roads, signage, visitor services and cross-city coordination along all five corridors.
Longer stays, lower hassle. One trip can now seamlessly combine 2–3 cities that used to require separate planning.
How we can take you there
As a travel brand based right here in Zhangjiajie with 14 years of operating experience (since 2014) and a network of licensed local partner agencies across our destination cities, Zhangjiajie Travel China can build a private itinerary around any of these official routes — with your own English-speaking guide, private vehicle and flexible pacing.
Planning a Hunan trip of 4–8 days? Browse our Zhangjiajie private tours, request a free quote, or message us on WhatsApp — we’ll draft a route that follows the government’s new golden threads, tailored to your dates and interests.
Source: Notice on Publishing the Cross-Region Premium Routes of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone, Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, September 23, 2026 (published via the official Zhangjiajie Culture and Tourism channel on September 28, 2026). Route names and stop lists quoted from the official announcement. Planning your own visit? Start with our Zhangjiajie travel guides.
