Transportation
1. Do not take overly cheap taxis in Zhangjiajie;
2. Be especially cautious about hotel, dining, and travel suggestions made by taxi drivers;
3. Absolutely avoid entertainment venues introduced by taxi drivers that may be illegal;
4. Always remember the taxi number whenever you take one;
5. Do not take taxis waiting at hotel entrances. Walk a little further and hail a moving taxi on the road.
Dining
1. Price is not the standard for determining whether something tastes good. Taste, cleanliness, and enjoyment are key. As a traveler, spending a bit more is fine as long as you’re happy;
2. The local sour radishes in Zhangjiajie are delicious and well-known, but not everyone’s stomach can tolerate or adapt to them, and the level of spiciness should be adjusted to personal preference;
3. Zhangjiajie has Western fast food chains like McDonald’s and KFC;
4. The spicy hot pot from street vendors in Zhangjiajie is tasty, but mentally and physically prepare yourself for possible stomach discomfort when eating it;
5. Always understand the price in detail before making a purchase—don’t get angry at the checkout;
6. Try not to let a single meal ruin your overall enjoyable trip to Zhangjiajie;
7. The majority of restaurants in Zhangjiajie offer good service, pricing, and quality. Don’t enter a restaurant with prejudice—it will affect your dining experience;
8. Do not engage in illegal activities at entertainment venues, and avoid drinking “special drinks”—they are specifically designed traps for tourists;
9. Group meals in Zhangjiajie are mainly spicy (or cured meat-based), with rice as the staple. If you have special dietary requirements, please inform in advance;
10. Group meals in Zhangjiajie consist of 8 dishes and 1 soup for a table of 10 people, with the option to add more staple food;
11. To prevent digestive issues from unfamiliar food, drink some aged vinegar or eat some raw garlic before meals.
Shopping
1. All large tourist shopping malls in Zhangjiajie allow returns and exchanges. The quality is guaranteed;
2. It is recommended to shop at large tourist shopping malls that do not allow bargaining;
3. Tour guides and drivers receive relatively little commission from large tourist shopping malls, so try to understand and be tolerant;
4. Always ask for an invoice when shopping at any mall;
5. Do not shop at small malls;
6. Only buy products that you need and like;
7. Price is not the only measure of quality;
8. Do not buy extremely cheap products at street-side shops, especially food items;
9. Don’t let the extra few yuan spent on local specialties ruin your trip to Zhangjiajie. There are many local products in Zhangjiajie with varying qualities. Xiang Xiaowu’s local specialties are recommended for their good value.
Accommodation
1. Do not go to the hotels recommended by touts or aunties at the airport or train station exits.
2. Hotel prices in Zhangjiajie vary greatly between peak and off-peak seasons. Don’t assume the low prices you find in the off-season apply all year round.
3. Hotels in Zhangjiajie require advance reservations; otherwise, you may be unable to extend your stay due to later bookings.
4. The same hotel may have different prices for rooms based on orientation or other differences.
5. Many hotels in Zhangjiajie charge different rates for foreign guests, compatriots from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and domestic guests.
6. Standard rooms usually do not include breakfast.
7. Most hotels have better rooms on higher floors, which also tend to be more expensive.
8. Hotels that are part of the long-distance call alliance offer free international calls. Please confirm this with the front desk when checking in.
9. Please leave valuables with the front desk for safekeeping.
10. Smoking in your hotel room and burning even a small hole in the carpet will result in a costly compensation fee.
11. It’s best to reserve your room before arriving in Zhangjiajie. Especially at night, finding accommodation on the spot can be very difficult.
12. Most hotels charge half the price of a room for an extra bed. It’s advisable to consider the number of people in your group in advance.
13. When staying in a hotel, please keep your room door securely closed during rest time and ignore any harassing phone calls.
14. Accommodation conditions in Zhangjiajie differ from those in more developed areas. Some officially rated star hotels are older establishments with relatively outdated facilities.
Travel Tips
1. During your trip, please always pay attention to your own safety. Unless there is a special reason, do not leave the group to explore on your own.
2. While sightseeing, please follow the schedule and listen to your guide’s arrangements.
3. Please take care of your luggage, especially your mobile phone, wallet, and other valuables.
4. Before hiking, pay special attention to your clothing and footwear. Try to travel light with minimal items to reduce the load. Choose sneakers, cloth shoes, or hiking shoes—avoid high heels to prevent inconvenience and safety risks. When using trekking poles, choose ones that are of suitable length, weight, and sturdiness.
5. Bring rain gear to avoid getting soaked.
6. Tourists should be aware of unlicensed vendors who may aggressively sell goods or overcharge. These vendors often appear near large, famous tourist attractions, selling fruits, drinks, and small souvenirs to passersby and tour groups.
7. When exploring scenic areas, pay attention to signage to avoid getting lost or disoriented.
8. If you need to temporarily leave your group during the tour—such as to use the restroom—please inform your guide or fellow travelers.
9. Scenic spots in Zhangjiajie are mainly natural landscapes with strong ethnic customs. With the guide’s explanations, you can learn about the diverse traditions, customs, and interesting stories of different ethnic groups.
10. Many newly developed natural landscapes and ethnic cultural performances are highly entertaining and well worth experiencing.
Beliefs and Cultural Etiquette
When traveling to other places, interaction with locals is inevitable. Simple exchanges such as asking questions, directions, or making purchases—if not handled carefully—can lead to unnecessary trouble. To earn respect, you must first show respect. To understand a country, you must first understand its culture. To understand Western Hunan, you must first understand the cultures of the Tujia and Miao peoples. Therefore, when dealing with or speaking to locals in Zhangjiajie, we must be aware of their taboos. As the saying goes: “Customs vary every ten miles, traditions every hundred.” “When going abroad, ask about prohibitions; when entering a region, ask about local customs.” The area under the jurisdiction of Zhangjiajie City is home to a mix of ethnic groups including Tujia, Bai, Han, and others. The harsh and primitive living environment has shaped the unique character of these ethnic minorities and given rise to distinctive cultural customs.
