Mengdong River

The 47-km-long (29 mi) Mengdong River is located in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, 80 km (50 mi) southwest of Zhangjiajie. It is famous for thrilling drifting due to its scenic mountains, various waterfalls and turbulent waves, which has earned it the reputation of “The No.1 Drifting in China”.

Mengdong River

 The popular drifting is mainly carried out on the Sihe River, a tributary of the Mengdong River. Starting from Hani Palace and ending at Niulu River, the 17-km-long (11 mi) drifting course is one of the only two 4A rafting routes in China. In the single 2.5-3 hour-long thrilling and refreshing drifting, you may be able to find a completely relaxed self that you've been missing for a long time. Reaching the downstream, enjoy the calm River, peculiar karst caves, and cute wild monkeys.

Despite the excitement, don't miss the superb landscapes on the banks, like big river slopes, waves flapping against the rafts, 108 rapid & dangerous shoals, more than 20 waterfalls of different sizes along 155 turns of the winding course. It also passes by secondary forests, canyons, and mountains. Such scenery matches with its many nicknames like “10-Mile Cliffs”, “10-Mile-Waterfalls”, and “10-Mile-Painting”.
 Mengdong River rafting is especially suitable for summer. The temperature is 20 to 35℃ from June to October, which is the best time for rafting.
 Hani Palace Tourist Center → Triangular Rock → Cloak Shoal → Leigong Shoal → Fishing Platform → Thirteen Waves → Nietu Waterfall → Jumping Rock → Yama Shoal → Gate of Hell → Luoshuikeng Waterfall → Mengsi Gorge → Coin Hole → Wooden Horse Shoal → Long Pond → Niulu River
 Hani Palace is the starting point of the Mengdong River drifting. Here, you can see clear water with rugged cliffs on both sides. In front, a small waterfall flows from the top of the cliff, seeming like a piece of thin white silk. On the left side of the cliff is the carving of “The No.1 Drifting in China”.
 Various rocks of cute shapes by Triangular Rock may leave you with a deep impression: some look like galloping horses, some docile sheep grazing grasses, some nimble monkeys picking up the moon, and some rabbits swaying in the air. Due to the humid air, these rocks are covered with green moss.
 In local Tujia dialect, “Nietu” means “the most beautiful”. “The Most Beautiful” Waterfall is 30-meter-high (100 feet) and 50-meter-wide (165 feet), like a misty fairyland with dense forest and unique rocks standing quietly nearby. What makes the Waterfall mysterious lie in the two rocks immersed in water. They look like sunk ships and stone folding screens

Other places worth your special attention during the drift include the 200-meter-wide (660 feet) Luoshuikeng Waterfall with the upper part wide and lower part narrow and Mengsi Gorge featuring the changeable sound of flowing water. The sound is like the laughing of girls when you are close to it or whisper between lovers when you are far away. 
  You'd better not wear expensive clothes to go rafting. Wear comfortable and quick-drying clothes. Do not wear high heels. Sandals or slippers are recommended. Your clothes will inevitably get wet, so it's best to have a raincoat and a change of clothes.
 Except for bottled drinking water, it is advisable not to carry other items on the raft, especially documents and valuables such as mobile phones, cameras, watches, jewelry, and cash. If you insist on taking your phone with you, make sure you have a waterproof bag and keep it safe during rafting to avoid water or falling into the river.
 Rafting is a high-risk tour, so please think carefully according to your situation. People with heart disease, hypertension, mental illness, dementia, and disabilities, pregnant women, people over 60 years old, children under 1.2 meters (3.9 ft), and drunk people are not allowed to take part in rafting.
 Carefully read the safety tips and correctly wear the life jacket before you start. Follow the orders of the drift guide, hold on to the safety rope, and do not do any dangerous actions during rafting.
 8:00 – 16:00
 CNY 220
 To get to Mengdong River from Zhangjiajie, please take a high speed train from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station to Furong Town Railway Station first. The time needed is 23 minutes. 

After getting off the train, take a minibus near the Railway Station to arrive at Furong Town Coach Station, where you can take a coach to reach the destination.
 The 2,000-Year-Old Furong Town is attractive, surrounded by water on 3 sides and abundant in historical relics like Tuwang Bridge and Wuli Slate Street. The Town is not far from the destination of Mengdong River drifting and you can get there in 30 minutes by taxi.
 Laosicheng Tusi Domain is one of the birthplaces of China's Tusi System – a hereditary political system to rule ethnic minorities in southwest China. It is also the most complete, largest, and oldest capital site in China. The City preserves large walls and buildings and is divided into several areas like palace area, street & alley area, and tomb area.
 Bu'ermeng Forest Park is like an oxygen supply station because of its 90% forest coverage rate. The Park has a variety of maple trees. Early winter is a good time to come here. At that time, red, yellow, and green leaves would swing with the breeze in the Park.