"A vast land, teeming with people, and boasting magnificent natural wonders" - these words undoubtedly evoke thoughts of China. Indeed, China's vast territory and abundant natural resources are undeniable. Moreover, the country's strict environmental laws, which impose significantly harsher penalties than those in other nations, have demonstrably reduced environmental offenses.

++Backpack and Travel Through the Land of the Dragon++

The magnificent grandeur of nature's creations: Chiang Mai, Changsha, Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang.

5 days and 5 nights, a truly satisfying experience.

All Tourist Attractions in This Trip

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Sand painting is a new art form that is also known as sand painting.

+ Tianmen Mountain, the Gate to Heaven

+Watch the spectacular light and sound show "White Fox THE LOVE STORY" directed by "Zhang Yimou".

• Take a tram to see the 10-mile mural.

+ Mount Tianzi, or Avatar Hallelujah Mountain

The Yellow Dragon Cave

Note: I have translated the Thai phrase "ถ้ำมังกรเหลือง" to "The Yellow Dragon Cave" in English. I have kept the HTML structure intact.

+ Ancient Phoenix City

+ Orange Island, a public park in the middle of the Xiang River in the heart of Changsha.

This expedition was supported by ThaiAirAsia. We are very grateful for their support.

Note: For friends who want to follow the journey or say hello, you can do so at https://www.facebook.com/SaPhayKlongTieow/

Note 2. If you like this review, please give me some encouragement by clicking the Vote (+) button. Thank you very much.
With everything ready, it's time to Check In Go To China.

Currently, a visa is still required for travel to China.

Chinese visa application documents

1. Two 2-inch passport photos with a white background.

2. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel and must have at least 2 blank pages.

3. Airline ticket reservation

4. Hotel/Accommodation Booking Form

3. Complete the application form, which can be downloaded from the Chinese Embassy website.

4. VISA fee of 1000 Baht for single entry. Processing time is approximately 4 working days.

+ 220V power supply, similar to the two-pronged type used in Thailand.

The currency used is Yuan (CNY). The approximate exchange rate is 1 CNY = 5.5 Baht. Note: Exchange at Krungthai Bank, Chiang Mai Airport.

China Standard Time is one hour ahead of Thailand Time.

Travel

This AirAsia flight offers direct service from Chiang Mai to Changsha, China, with daily departures.

Why fly from Chiang Mai? My house is in Chiang Rai, so there's no need to waste time.

A short flight to Bangkok, followed by a quick car ride, and you'll be in Chiang Mai.

+ Outbound (Chiang Mai-Changsha) 18:15 - 22:20

Return flight (Changsha to Chiang Mai) 23:20 - 01:15

The flight from Chiang Mai to Changsha was quite cold, so I ordered food through the website.

No need to worry about being hungry on the plane. Today, we offer a menu of Green Curry Chicken with Rice + Green Tea Pudding with Red Beans + Hot Green Tea.

To top it all off, a can of Coke goes perfectly with it, I must say.

Traveling in the evening like this, I saw a beautiful sunset from the plane.

The approximate travel time from Chiang Mai Airport to Changsha Airport is 3 hours.

Upon arrival at Changsha Airport, we proceeded to Changsha city center.

To relax at the hotel before continuing our journey. The travel time from Changsha Airport to the hotel is approximately 1 hour. Day 1: Hello Changsha. Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, is a large city with a significant population and rapid growth.

Aside from being the hometown of China's paramount leader "Mao Zedong," Changsha also serves as a gateway to picturesque tourist destinations.

Changsha boasts numerous attractions, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area and the ancient city of Fenghuang. This makes it an ideal starting point for exploring China.

We woke up early and set off for Zhangjiajie City. The journey from Changsha to Zhangjiajie takes about 3-4 hours.

Arriving in the city from Jie Jie, it was just noon. The army must march on its stomach, so we had to find something to eat. This was our first meal in China.

The taste was not very appealing, bland, oily, and greasy. It reminded me most of grilled chicken with papaya salad.

Take a sip before eating, so you can enjoy your meal.

+ Having eaten our fill, let's head to our first sightseeing spot: sand painting, a new art form known as "sand painting."

The museum has four floors in total. Photography is only allowed on the first floor, but it is truly beautiful. It looks like a 3D image.

Tianmen Mountain National Park, Zhangjiajie

Tianmen Mountain National Park, home to the Tianmen Mountain, boasts the world's longest cable car, spanning 7,455 meters.

A total of 98 cable cars. Once you go up, you will be able to prove your courage with the "Path of Faith", a 50-meter-long glass walkway.

Nestled along the precipice, paralleling the majestic Tianmen Mountain, lies another popular tourist destination at Tianmen Mountain.

This is the Tianmen Cave, also known as the "Heaven's Gate Cave." It is a natural karst cave formed by the erosion of water. The cave opening is the highest in the world.

The World's Longest Cable Car Ride to Tianmen Mountain

To reach the summit of Tianmen Mountain, visitors must embark on a journey via the world's longest cable car. Stretching an impressive 7.5 kilometers, this aerial tramway ascends to the mountain's peak, offering breathtaking views along the way.

The cable car ride to Tianmen Mountain takes 40 minutes and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

Today is the most beautiful day in China. It has been raining every day since I have been here.

And the famous road, 99 curves road and the gate of heaven, each curve will have a sign indicating which curve it is until it reaches 99 curves.

A breathtaking panoramic view from the summit of Tianmen Mountain before embarking on the SkyWalk glass walkway.

The authorities have constructed a cliff-side walkway to provide tourists with a thrilling experience.

A glass walkway with an altitude of 1,433 meters above sea level.

After the thrilling experience on the Skywalk, we returned the way we came.

Translation:

Is there anything else I can help you with?

To descend the escalator, down to the gates of heaven, it may seem like an ordinary escalator, but it could be

The world's longest escalator, it seemed to go on forever. I rode it for what felt like 30 minutes, going up and down, round and round.

We finally arrived at the Heaven's Gate Valley. Wow, it's so beautiful and magnificent!

Translation:

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Translation:

This area is popular with couples who come to lock padlocks and tie red ribbons as a symbol of their love.

The Chinese believe that tying a red cloth will bring good luck.

Those who still have energy can easily walk down the 999 steps.

My legs were shaking when I got down there.

I took the cable car up, but took the park bus back down, passing through the 99-curve road.

Translation:

The drivers here are incredibly skilled, weaving through the 99 curves with ease. Be aware, though, that the road can be treacherous during the winter months.

Due to heavy snowfall, it is very dangerous.

After a tiring hike up Tianmen Mountain,

Translation:

And as he descended the 999 steps, the gates of heaven opened, and it was time for dinner.

The army must have their stomachs filled before they can go and watch the spectacular light and sound show.

"The Love Story," directed by Zhang Yimou, features a white fox.

A world-renowned Chinese director who has made a name for himself in both film and the Olympic opening ceremony.

Or outdoor musical shows, which have left their mark with excellent performances, including the Liu Sanjie show in Guilin and the show in Lijiang.

It's time to float and wait. After eating, I immediately took a car to the show "White Fox THE LOVE STORY".

Translation:

As the car arrived, we were immediately wowed by the stunningly beautiful lights and scenery. The backdrop was the magnificent Tianmen Mountain.

The show ended around 10:30 pm. That's all for today's program.

Return to the hotel to rest and recharge for Day 2. Fight! Day 2: Wulingyuan National Park, Zhangjiajie

Wulingyuan National Park boasts both historical significance and breathtaking scenery.

Located in Hunan Province, which is full of stone pillars, a must-see attraction is the Ten-Mile Gallery, which can be viewed by taking an electric tram.

The Ten-Li Gallery, a 5-kilometer-long stretch of natural rock formations, is not a literal gallery but a metaphorical one. Another must-see attraction is Tianzi Mountain (Emperor Mountain).

Visiting Wulingyuan National Park offers the opportunity to experience the Bailong Elevator, a glass elevator constructed alongside the park's cliffs.

Translation:

This sentence describes an outdoor elevator that is the tallest and has the highest weight capacity in the world. It also mentions the importance of capturing images of the Tianzi Mountain area.

Here's the breakdown:

• ซึ่งได้ชื่อว่าเป็นลิฟท์ภายนอกอาคารที่สูงที่สุดและรับน้ำหนักได้มากที่สุดในโลก - This translates to "which is known as the tallest and highest weight capacity outdoor elevator in the world."
• ที่สำคัญอย่าลืมเก็บภาพบริเวณเขาเทียนจื่อซาน - This translates to "most importantly, don't forget to capture images of the Tianzi Mountain area."

which was also the filming location for the movie Avatar.

+Ride the tram to see the paintings for 10 li

+ Take the glass elevator to Baiyoke Sky, the first glass elevator in Asia, the highest and fastest in the world at 326 meters.

It takes about 2 minutes to reach the top of Tianzi Mountain. The guide told me that during the long holidays,

The wait time for the elevator could be as long as 2-3 hours, but this time our group only waited about 30 minutes.

Mount Tianzi (Emperor Mountain) in Wulingyuan Scenic Area covers an area of 65 square kilometers.

Tianzi Mountain, also known as Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, stands at an elevation of approximately 1,250 meters.

Translation:

The name "Avatar Mountains" comes from the film Avatar, which used photographs of the mountain's peaks to create the film's CGI landscapes.

Unfortunately, the weather was not on my side when I visited Pandora. It was raining and the sky was overcast, so I couldn't see the floating mountains.

The mountain peak, a slight disappointment.

On the way back, I took the cable car through the rain again. It was a different kind of experience.

However, the cable car ride is not as long as the climb to the top of Tianmen Mountain.

Today was a light day, only about 10 km of walking. As soon as I got back to my accommodation, I fell asleep like a log.

Translation:

I'm tired and my eyes are very sore. I'll stop looking at screens for the rest of the night.

Translation:

"I will continue the trip on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. My body is ready today, so I will continue the trip to the end."

Let's continue to Day 3 at Zhangjiakou.

Day 3: Another renowned attraction in Zhangjiajie is the Yellow Dragon Cave, also known as the Dragon King Cave.

The most magnificent and largest cave in Zhangjiajie, with a height of 50 meters and a length of 30 kilometers. However, only 4.5 kilometers are open to the public.

The cave is adorned with colorful lights, making it a magnificent sight. Visitors can take a boat ride through the underground river that flows through the center of the cave.

The cave is adorned with numerous exquisite stalactites and stalagmites, and features a massive dragon pillar that requires 10 people to encircle.

Take a boat trip along the underground river that flows through the cave, which is 30 km long but only 4.5 km is open to the public.

Translation:

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

After finishing the boat ride, we had to walk to see the largest room inside the cave. The walk was quite steep.

That was quite tiring, haha.

Having marveled at the beauty of the Dragon's Cave, it is now time to embark on a journey to the ancient city of Fenghuang.

The journey from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang Ancient Town takes approximately 4 hours.

However, as the saying goes, "an army marches on its stomach." Let's grab a bite to eat first. This restaurant has a very welcoming atmosphere.

The performance of the tribe was accompanied by sweet and easy-to-drink rice wine, known as "lao khao" in the north.

The taste is similar, the atmosphere inside the restaurant is quite good, and the view is beautiful.

The kitchen features transparent glass walls, allowing diners to observe the culinary process within.

Translation:

The food was bland and oily. After eating a lot of Chinese food for several days, I started to feel tired of it.

Translation:

"Because it's bland, it's bland, and it's very bland. 5555"

Explanation:

• "เพราะมันจืด" translates to "because it's bland."
• "มัน" is a pronoun that can refer to "it" or "that." In this context, it refers to the food being discussed.
• "มาก" means "very" or "a lot."
• "5555" is a Thai emoticon that represents laughter.

Note:

• The original text uses informal language and slang. The translation aims to convey the meaning in a more formal and neutral way.
• The emoticon "5555" is not translated as it is not part of the actual sentence.

The bus ride from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang takes exactly 4 hours.

I slept soundly for several hours. By the time I arrived in Fenghuang, it was almost dark.

Let me check in at the hotel first, then I'll go out for a walk.

Admire the colorful lights of the ancient city of Feng, which are reflected on both sides of the Tuojiang River.

Translation:

Most nights are more like pubs and bars. The noise is quite loud, not suitable for…

Those who crave absolute silence.

After exploring the ancient city, I took a break to enjoy a refreshing beer. 🍻

Translation:

Beers in ancient city restaurants and bars are significantly more expensive than those outside the city.

This bottle I'm drinking now shouldn't cost more than 5 yuan outside, but here it's a whopping 40 yuan.

Day 4: Hello, on the fourth day in Changsha, today's itinerary is to visit the ancient city of Fenghuang.

Translation:

The ancient city is bisected by the Tuojiang River, with rows of traditional houses lining both banks, creating a picturesque scene.

The beauty of both day and night. The atmosphere is completely different between day and night. Last night was full of excitement, but this morning is very quiet.

The atmosphere among the villagers is completely different from last night when we arrived.

This place offers many photography services with Hmong costumes. Judging from the poses, they seem professional.

Translation:

The smell is not noticeable when eating, but it is extremely strong when walking past without eating.

The atmosphere of the shops in the ancient city allows you to choose your favorite food and souvenirs.

The auspicious time has arrived, and it's time to set sail on the Tuojiang River. The boat ride is not very long, about 1 kilometer.

After a pleasant boat ride, we ascended to the second-floor observation deck of the Saphan Sai Rainbow Bridge to take in the breathtaking views.

It's time to return to Changsha City. The journey from Fenghuang Ancient Town to Changsha City takes approximately 6 hours by car.

The bus ride was so long that I felt like my body was going to fall apart. Haha. It was the longest bus ride of the trip. We left Fenghuang around noon and arrived in Changsha at 8:30 pm.

Oh my god, you should rest when you arrive at the hotel. You've been in the car all day.

Day 5: A Late Morning in China

After several tiring days, we woke up a bit later on our last morning in China.

Today, we had a relaxing trip to Orange Island, a public park located in the middle of the Changsha River.

Take a tram ride around the island to see the rock carvings of Chairman Mao Zedong's face at the age of 35.

And then it's time to say goodbye to Changsha. It's time to travel back to Chiang Mai.

The flight will depart from Changsha at 11:20 PM on AirAsia and arrive in Chiang Mai at approximately 1:15 AM.

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Translation:

Note: Admission fees for various tourist attractions

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Day 1 + Entrance fee to Heaven 261 yuan

+SkyWalk 5 yuan

+ Take the escalator 32 yuan

Day 2 + Park entrance fee 248 yuan

+ 72 yuan for the cable car ride

+ Glass elevator fee 72 yuan

+ Glass elevator fee 72 yuan

+ Tram fare 10 li 38 yuan/round

Day 3 + Entrance fee to Manglong Cave is 103 yuan.

Day 4 + 148 yuan for visiting Fenghuang Ancient Town (Poet's House, Rainbow Bridge View)

The cost of a tour guide varies depending on the company, ranging from 400-500 yuan per day. However, local guides are unlikely to charge this much.

The exchange rate between Thai baht and Chinese yuan on the day of my trip was 5.55 baht per 1 yuan.

Essential Queue Etiquette: Avoid Cutting the Line at All Costs

To ensure a smooth and efficient queuing experience, it is crucial to avoid cutting the line. Doing so can significantly disrupt the flow and potentially lead to extended wait times for everyone involved.

Here are some key points to remember:

• Respect the order: Maintain your position in the queue and avoid attempting to jump ahead of others.
• Be patient: Understand that everyone is waiting and show consideration for those who have been in line longer.
• Communicate clearly: If you need to step away briefly, inform those around you and ensure your spot is held.
• Address concerns politely: If someone attempts to cut the line, politely but firmly remind them of the importance of maintaining order.

By adhering to these simple guidelines, we can create a more respectful and efficient queuing experience for everyone.

They inserted one person into our group, and they will call more friends to join. Most importantly, don't let your guard down with the Chinese grandmother.

He pretended to walk slowly, but when it was his turn to get on the bus, he ran so fast that I could barely keep up.

For this trip, I would like to thank all my friends who have followed me to the end.

Until next time, then.

Translation:

The "Traveling with a Camera" page would like to thank everyone once again.