Gongtan

Wuling Mountains stretch over 100,000 sq. kilometers in the Central China from West Hunan to East Guizhou and Chongqing. In the east, the famous Wulingyuan Scenic Area is a World Heritage Site, located near the city Zhangjiajie. In the south, the ancient town of Fenghuang, setting along the beautiful river Tuo, is argued to be the most beautiful town in China.

However both places have been invaded by huge numbers of tourists. Like other overdeveloped sights in China, they are expensive and crowded. I often heard of tourists being cheated or ripped off in Zhangjiajie. That's why I have never ventured there. Fenghuang looks safe for the moment. However, the entrance tickets for visiting different sights are unreasonably high.

Gongtan is no doubt the most attractive destination of backpackers in this region. Little known to outside travelers, this unique historical town is set halfway in the deep Wu Jiang Gorge. A large number of wooden stilt-houses, perched finely on steep slopes, stretch over 1000 meters along the east bank of Wu Jiang (the River Wu). Most of them have survived for more than 100 years. Some of them are around 400 years old. The narrow old street, paved with stone slabs, connected by beautiful stone bridges, is lighted by traditional eave lanterns. The surrounding areas offer a number of easy and pleasant treks, with breathtaking views, and accessing to some scenic minority villages. ...more.

The spectacular Wu Jiang Gorge is extremely steep and rugged with stunning rock formations. About 100km in length, starting after Pengshui, and ending near Wanmu, the gorge is more awesome, verdant and pristine than the famous Three Gorges of Chang Jiang (Yangzi River).

Mt. Fenghuang 2570M, the highest summit of Wuling Mountains, stands in the Fanjing Shan Nature Reserve near Tongren in Guizhou. Fanjing Shan is one of the five sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism and an important conservation area of Wuling's abundant plants and animals, home of Guizhou Snub -nosed Monkeys.

Many beautiful ancient towns in this region, like Xichehe and Longtan, have been gradually unveiled by travelers in the recent years.

 

Getting there and away:

By Air:

A list of cities having an airport in this region:

Northeast - Zhangjiajie, Daily flights(one-way fare): 5 flights from Shanghai (Y1210), 4 flights from Beijing(Y1220), 2 flights from Guangzhou(Y790) and Xian(Y630).
Northwest - Chongqing City.
West - Guiyang.
South - Guilin.
Central - Tongren. Only having flights to Guiyang and Chongqing.

Beijing - Huaihua: around 26 hours.
K267: Beijing West 11:50 - Zhangjiajie 09:58* - Jishou 12:06* - Huaihua 13:47*
K268: Huaihua 8:10 - Jishou 9:42 - Zhangjiajie 12:00 - Beijing West 10:00*
Or Beijing-Kunming Express Trains run via Huaihua.

Guilin - Zhangjiajie: 15 hours.
2412: Guilin 19:28 - Liuzhou 22:31 - Sanjiang - Huaihua 06:02* - Jishou 07:42 - Zhangjiajie 10:54.
2411: Zhangjiajie 17:33 - Jishou 19:41 - Huaihua 21:31 - Sanjiang - Liuzhou 05:03 - Guilin 08:09.

Shanghai - Huaihua:
Fastest: 23 hours.
Take a Shanghai-Kunming or Shanghai-Chongqing Express Train and get off in Huaihua.
K73: (Chongqing ->) Huaihua 12:39 -> Shanghai 11:30*.

Shanghai - Zhangjiajie:
K91: Shanghai West 10:29 - Zhangjiajie 08:22 * - Jishou 10:44*
K92: Jishou 20:38 - Zhangjiajie 22:43 - Shanghai West 21:10*

Shenzheng / Guangzhou:
N702 Shenzheng West 13:00 - Guangzhou 16:14 - Zhangjiajie 07:51* - Jishou 10:15* - Huaihua 12:03*
N704 Huaihua 10:20 - Jishou 12:12 - Zhangjiajie 14:30 - Guangzhou 05:00* - Shenzheng 08:07*
N712: Guangzhou 19:17 - Zhangjiajie 10:13*
N710: Zhangjiajie 16:02 - Guangzhou 06:35*

* Next day.

Itineraries:

1. Zhangjiajie (Wulingyan) > Yongshun > Longshan > Xichehe > Liye > Longtan > Youyang > Gongtan > Yanhe > Fenghuang > Huaihua. (8 - 11 days)

2. Chongqing > Pengshui > Gongtan > Youyang > Longtan > Fenghuang > Jishou > Zhangjiajie. (8 - 10 days)

3. Tongren > Fanjing Shan > Yanhe > Gongtan > Youyang > Longtan > Jishou > Zhangjiajie. (10 days)

4. Jishou > Longshan > Xichehe > Liye > Longtan > Youyang > Gongtan > Yanhe > Huaihua (7-10 days)