7 Days China Great Wall and Avatar Country — Self-Launched
7 days · Beijing & Zhangjiajie, China
UME Travel Co. Ltd charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-friendly, self-launched version of UME Travel's 7-day private Beijing-and-Zhangjiajie tour. See the same headline sights — Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Mutianyu Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the floating sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains — using public transport, the high-speed rail, and self-bookable day tours instead of a private guide and driver. Expect hostel dorms and budget guesthouses, metro and Didi rides, and independent side trips. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights and the Chinese visa.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Beijing
Beijing
Land at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) and get into the city the cheap way: Airport Express train to Dongzhimen (~£3) or the Capital Airport bus (~£3) — skip the ¥200+ taxi. Check into a hostel or budget hotel near the Dongsi / Nanluoguxiang metro area so you're walking distance from the sights. Spend the afternoon shaking off jet lag with a wander down Nanluoguxiang hutong and a bowl of zhajiangmian for dinner (~£3). Pick up a Beijing Transport Card or set up Alipay/WeChat Pay with a foreign card for metro and Didi rides.
🚌Airport Express train ~£3; metro ~£0.50 per ride
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Dongsi / Nanluoguxiang, ~£12-18/night
- →Airport Express into the city
- →Walk Nanluoguxiang hutong
- →Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay and a transport card
- →Local dinner (zhajiangmian)
Tian'anmen, Forbidden City, Jingshan & Hutongs
Beijing
Get to Tian'anmen Square early (metro Line 1 to Tian'anmen East) and queue for the security check — bring your passport. Note that the Forbidden City requires online advance booking (via the official WeChat mini-program or a GetYourGuide/Klook timed-entry ticket ~£8), and tickets sell out days ahead in peak season, so book before you fly. Self-tour the Forbidden City with an audio guide or a downloaded walking-tour app, then climb Jingshan Park (~£0.30) for the classic panoramic view over the palace rooftops. In the late afternoon explore the surrounding hutongs on foot. Skip Quanjude's pricey Peking duck dinner; instead join a small-group Beijing Opera facial-makeup workshop (~£15-20, bookable via Klook) or grab budget duck at a local chain like Siji Minfu (~£8).
🚌Metro Line 1 ~£0.50; walking between sights
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, ~£12-18/night
- →Tian'anmen Square
- →Forbidden City self-tour with audio guide
- →Jingshan Park viewpoint
- →Hutong walk
- →Beijing Opera facial-makeup workshop (optional)
Mutianyu Great Wall & Temple of Heaven
Beijing
Book a shared minibus day trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (~£25-35 return with cable car, via GetYourGuide/Klook) — far cheaper than a private car and includes the early start that beats the tour buses. Walk the watchtowers and guard stations, and consider the toboggan descent for fun. Back in Beijing late afternoon, head to the Temple of Heaven; entry is ~£4 and there's often informal tai chi and morning exercise groups in the surrounding park you can join for free. Dinner of dumplings or a noodle bowl near Tiantan Dongmen (~£4).
🚌Shared minibus day tour ~£25 return incl. entrance; metro ~£1
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, ~£12-18/night
- →Mutianyu Great Wall hike & watchtowers
- →Toboggan descent (optional)
- →Temple of Heaven park visit
- →Join the tai chi / exercise groups
Summer Palace, Yonghe Temple & sleeper train toward Zhangjiajie
Beijing to Zhangjiajie
Morning at the Summer Palace (~£5 entry): explore the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, walk the Long Corridor, see the marble boat, and climb to the Tower of Buddhist Incense. Then take the metro to the Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple, ~£3) for the Hall of Dispelling Clouds. In the evening catch an overnight train or, better, fly from Beijing to Zhangjiajie — budget carriers run the route and flights booked a few weeks out often cost ~£45-70, saving a full day of travel. If you prefer the rail adventure, book a Beijing–Zhangjiajie sleeper (~£25-40, hard sleeper) for the full overnight experience.
🚌Metro ~£1; Beijing–Zhangjiajie one-way flight ~£45-70, or hard-sleeper train ~£25-40
🛏Sleeper train berth, or hostel guesthouse in Zhangjiajie if flying, ~£12-18/night
- →Summer Palace (Long Corridor, marble boat)
- →Tower of Buddhist Incense
- →Yonghe / Lama Temple
- →Overnight onward transport
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — Tianzi Mountain & Yuanjiajie
Zhangjiajie
Base yourself in Wulingyuan town, right at the park gate, in a budget guesthouse (~£12-18/night). Buy the multi-day park ticket (~£25) valid across several days — get it at the gate or pre-book via Klook. Ride the cable car up Tianzi Mountain (~£8) and walk the scenic trails along the ridge, then move to the Yuanjiajie section for the star attraction: the 'Avatar Hallelujah Mountains' pillars that inspired the film, plus the natural bridge. For the descent, either take the cable car back down (~£8) or the Bailong Elevator, the 300m glass lift (~£8, though at peak times expect a 1-2 hour queue). Public shuttle buses inside the park are included with the ticket.
🚌Internal park shuttle buses (included); Wulingyuan town is walkable to the gate
🛏Budget guesthouse in Wulingyuan, ~£12-18/night
- →Zhangjiajie National Forest Park entry
- →Tianzi Mountain cable car & ridge trails
- →Yuanjiajie / Avatar Hallelujah Mountains
- →Bailong Elevator descent (optional)
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Baofeng Lake
Zhangjiajie
Take a shared taxi or the local bus to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (~£3-6) and pre-book your Grand Canyon entry + glass-bottom bridge ticket online (~£20 via Klook/GetYourGuide) to skip the queue. Walk the glass bridge (there's a non-glass alternative route for the nervous) and hike down through the canyon. In the afternoon, head to Baofeng Lake (~£12) for a wooden boat ride past the cliff scenery, with local Tujia minority singing along the way. Back in Wulingyuan for dinner at a local stall — Tujia three-dish and sour-fish hotpot are the regional specialities (~£5).
🚌Local bus / shared taxi to Grand Canyon ~£3-6 each way
🛏Budget guesthouse in Wulingyuan, ~£12-18/night
- →Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & glass-bottom bridge
- →Canyon hike
- →Baofeng Lake boat ride with local minority entertainment
Departure from Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie
A relaxed morning — pick up any last souvenirs or grab a final bowl of rice noodles, then head to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport (~30 min by taxi, ~£6) for your onward or homeward flight. If you're continuing elsewhere in China, the high-speed rail from Zhangjiajie West to Changsha connects to the wider network cheaply. Factor in roughly £10-15 in local transport and snacks for the departure day.
🚌Taxi to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport ~£6
🛏None — departure day
- →Final souvenir shopping
- →Departure transfer
Self-launched vs. UME Travel Co. Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | UME Travel Co. Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£560 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,540 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more UME Travel Co. Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£560
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 7 Days China Great Wall and Avatar Country — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £560 per person for 7 days in Beijing & Zhangjiajie, China. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with UME Travel Co. Ltd?+
Yes — UME Travel Co. Ltd charges around £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £560 — a saving of roughly £1,540 (73%) per person.
How long is the Beijing & Zhangjiajie, China trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Beijing & Zhangjiajie, China.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Beijing & Zhangjiajie, China, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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