How a Fiji Family Enjoyed a Zhangjiajie Trip Despite Peak Season Visitor Limits

It was a hot afternoon in July in Beijing, and in the midst of the heat, I received an inquiry about a trip to Fiji, from an IP address in Korea, but a person currently in China.

"Our family has been looking forward to Zhangjiajie for a long time!"

The sender was a young woman from Fiji who had just finished a trip to Beijing with her family and was now filled with excitement. Zhangjiajie had always held a special place on her bucket list. Growing up on a Pacific island without many mountains and living in Korea, the breathtaking peaks of the “Avatar Hallelujah Mountains” and the thrilling ziplines were a tangible image of fantasy to her.

Now, she wanted to personally explore these mountains with her parents and younger brother, but the reality was challenging. How could I make her dream come true?

Securing a Zhangjiajie Itinerary During Peak Season

Because it was the peak summer travel season, the park was overflowing with visitors. Tickets were in high demand, tour guides were scarce, and accommodations were nearly impossible to find.

Without a moment's hesitation, I began to sort through all the available options. Time was of the essence, and every moment mattered to ensure their trip would be a success.

I first compared multiple hotels. From the foot of the mountain to the city, from three-star to five-star, I analyzed location, amenities, service, and value for money. A four-star hotel near the Wulingyuan entrance, which had great reviews and a reasonable price, caught my eye. It was within walking distance of the park shuttle station, avoiding traffic delays, and the rooms were spacious and family-friendly. It also included breakfast, which would save them time each morning.

I compiled all these details, attaching real photos and guest reviews to help her see the value behind every expense. At the same time, I contacted my local colleagues to double-check the ticket availability for the Forest Park and the Grand Canyon and to confirm a guide's schedule.

Fortunately, by that afternoon, all the bookings were confirmed, the itinerary was set, and their anxious hearts could finally relax a little.

Adjusting the Itinerary for Crowd Control

However, the challenges didn't end there.

On the morning of their second day in Zhangjiajie, just as dawn was breaking, I received an urgent message from the guide. Due to the massive popularity of the park during summer vacation, the number of visitors had far exceeded its capacity, and the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park had temporarily implemented a crowd control policy. Their planned morning entry was now blocked.

I could imagine them standing at the park entrance, looking at the long line and the closed gates, their faces filled with disappointment and anxiety.

I didn't panic. Years of experience have taught me that panic only makes a bad situation worse. I immediately contacted the local agency and the guide, and we quickly adjusted the plan.

We moved their scheduled visit to the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge to that morning, using the unexpected time to their advantage. I recalculated all the travel times, and arranged for the guide to take them to the park first thing the next morning, right when it opened, to avoid the crowds. Transportation, meals, and rest times were all re-planned to ensure a smooth pace.

When she took her first step onto the Grand Canyon's glass bridge, the wind blew through her hair, and the endless valley stretched out below. She turned to look at her family, and her face was no longer filled with worry, but with an excited smile.

On the third morning, they successfully entered the Forest Park and took the Bailong Elevator straight up to Yuanjiajie. Shrouded in mist and clouds, the legendary stone pillars gradually appeared in the morning light, as if from a dream.

In that moment, the first light of dawn was slowly seeping through the peaks to the east. A thin mist, like a veil of gauze, drifted through the valleys, wrapping around the towering quartz sandstone pillars. The sunlight fell at a slant, painting parts of the mountains in a warm golden-orange, while the shaded sides remained in deep blue. The contrast between light and shadow was sharp and distinct.

The mountain air was crisp and refreshing, carrying the scent of plants and wet rock. The distant forests of peaks appeared and disappeared in the mist—sometimes clear as if carved, other times hazy as if in a trance—looking like a celestial mountain floating in the sky.

They walked slowly along the circular wooden paths of Yuanjiajie, with the bottomless valley far below their feet and the low hum of the wind whistling through the rock crevices in their ears.

As the sun climbed higher, the mist began to flow and rise, moving like a river through the forests of peaks. It would gather and then disperse, the scene changing with every single moment, as if the entire mountain range were breathing, changing, and whispering. She stood at the viewing platform, excitedly taking one silly photo after another with her phone. Her joy in the photos was contagious.

A few days after the trip ended, I received an email from her. She said she had been worried that traveling during peak season would be chaotic, but because of the comfortable and convenient hotel I had chosen and my quick, calm response to the emergency, their entire journey was almost completely undisrupted. She said I was like an "older sister" who, from a faraway country, had created a peaceful and secure travel experience for them with my patience and professionalism.