Top Things to Do in China - Nature, Culture, Adventure

This was my first trip to China, and with a day to spare between Chengdu and Changsha, I decided to visit the famed “Avatar Mountains” (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park). I reached out to Paul for a one-to-one (solo) private tour—and boy, did he not disappoint.

Paul met me at the airport and his car had enough space for all my luggage. Though I had grand plans of also seeing Tianmen Mountain and the Glass Bridge - Paul rightly advised that with just 8 hours, it was best to focus on the main event - The Avatar Mountains.

He took me up the Bailong elevator and guided me through stunning trails and hidden photo spots inside the national park—views straight out of the movie set. We spent about 4hours and came down by cable car, r
Paul was not only a professional guide with deep local knowledge, but also incredibly warm, flexible, and mindful of my needs.

At 5pm, we had a hearty meal at a halal Xinjiang restaurant. Paul’s incredible warmth and easy-going nature not only made it easy to relax and soak in the stunning scenery, but also made me feel comfortable enough to open up about life’s problems! I’m quite sure with a bit more practice, he could double as a counsellor too—hehe!

In short, an amazing chap with good English, excellent local know-how, and a natural gift for hospitality. I’ll be back—with my family next time—to see Heaven’s Gate and the Glass Bridge properly. Highly recommend!

I was part of a tour group from the Czech Republic. Paul was our guide in Zhangjiajie. He led us through all the sights from which we have only good impressions. All the places were beautiful, my family still remembers the lovely views and buildings in this city. Paul was caring and funny guy. On the last day, he even sang us a couple of songs in Chinese, which really amazed our group.
I hope that someday I will come to this city again. Thank you very much!

I have travelled from USA, and was part of 30 members group. We hired Paul as our tour guide who made our trip to Zhangjiajie funfilled and memorable. He was passionate, humble and witty. Our group had great time visitng the spectacular sandstone mountain views and landscapes. Since our stay was short, he hand picked the best places our group can visit. He got us very nice Hotels and also good local restaurants. He attended to every need of the group with most of the group being retirees, and he showed utmost respect and hospitality that entire group fell in love with Paul from the start. We used to call him "Harry Potter". He was the best guide/person we had in our 13 day tour covering five different places. Paul, keep up the good work. God Bless you!

Had such a great time with Paul as my guide. I came as a solo traveller to Zhangjiajie and Paul was super attentive. You can tell he is extremely passionate with what he does and wants to ensure his guests have the best experience ever. The day before our tour he kindly picked me up at the hotel because I was going to see the Fox Lady show and he had some guests who were going as well. On the day of the tour he greeted me with coffee and water. We went to the Dragon Cave and Glass Bridge and the weather was not the best since there was alot of fog and weren’t able to see much of the view. Yet, he helped me get the virtual tour and I was super grateful. At the end he kindly bought me some local snacks so I could have dinner and rest at the hotel and bought me a delicious tea.

I highly recommend Paul as a guide. He pays special attention to every detail to ensure his guests have the best experience.

As a experienced traveler, i had a lot of guides throughout the tours, but Paul, he is some next level. I am not talking about him as a guide, i am talking about him as a human being. I have never seen someone so passionate about the tour, unselfish, always there to help so the client’s wishes can always be fulfilled. He is very experienced and well organized.
He picked us up from hotel in a very comfort and luxurious car and even provided snacks, water and some fresh fruits for us.
At the Tianmen mountain he took us even more beyond than the tour is saying, providing us unforgettable experience.
Near the end of tour we saw a place where Fox Show is performed and as we needed to leave Zhangjiajie tommorow morning, he managed to organize us a visit to the show same night, without charging us for anything extra. He stayed with us until 23:00 h and even took us to see 72 wonders building and the original plan was to finish the tour about 5 o’clock.
These are the gestures that a person can never forget!
I am very grateful and thankful to him and opportunity to have him as a guide.
All recommedations, you will be amazed!

It might be a belated review as we visited this incredible park in March.
I was captivated by the pristine beauty of this destination. Crystal‑clear waters, lush forests, and graceful waterfalls greeted me at every turn. The vibrant lakes shimmered in the spring sunshine, creating scenes straight out of a dream. Yes, there’s plenty of walking on uneven trails—but each trek rewarded me with views well worth the effort.

Travel tip: Logistics require planning—train tickets sell out quickly in peak season, so book early. I arrived the night before and set out at dawn to enjoy the park before the crowds arrived.

If you have extra days in Chengdu, don’t miss this gem. Its springtime splendor and tranquil atmosphere make it an unforgettable side trip.

Special thanks to our guide, Mr. Paul, for his expert insights and warm hospitality throughout the journey!

张家界和凤凰古城的风景真的很漂亮！8天的旅程虽然走的很累但是Paul都会带着很多小零食给我们吃还帮忙拍照打卡📷拍照技术也是nice！他还会准备很多不同地区的美食给我们品尝和送我们见面礼😍体验感真的up up！

Exploring Zhangjiajie with Mr. Paul was nothing short of spectacular. His deep knowledge of the region turned the Tianmen Mountain cable car ride and glass plank road into an unforgettable adventure—he even pointed out hidden viewpoints that most tourists miss. Transfers were seamless, hotels were perfectly located, and Paul’s friendly, attentive service made me feel supported every step of the way. Highly recommend for anyone seeking both thrills and insider insights!

Paul's tour guide service is very good! He brought us a lot of surprises. The trip with him was warm and happy. Thank you Paul for giving us such a good experience!

We had an amazing trip through Changsha, Wulingyuan, Changde, and Fenghuang! Paul, our guide, was fantastic—super friendly, knowledgeable, and made everything so easy for us. We got to see the stunning Avatar-inspired pillars, explore the ancient streets in Fenghuang, and take in jaw-dropping views from the mountains. Paul helped us with everything, from transport to finding the best places to eat. The whole trip was so well-organized, and the hotels were really comfortable. It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Highly recommend!