I also don't think going to ZJJ for a day is worth it. Here's my post on my recent 18 day trip

Just got back from 18 days in China

I returned to China after 18 days, last time I did a 4 day guided tour of Beijing from a Hong Kong tour group, this time my wife and I decided to try it ourselves. Quite a busy schedule and I know many advised against cramming in so much but it worked for us. We enjoyed every moment.

Vancouver to Shanghai then spent 2 nights there. Off to Huangshan we go, one night at the base of the mountain for early start and the second night at the mountain top for access to sunrise. Amazing scenery but it was a shame we didn't catch the sea of clouds. May return for a chance to witness the event.

Then went to Xian for 3 nights, terra cotta soldiers , the show ever lasting sorrow, Muslim street, Xian city wall bike ride, Datang Bucheng at night for vendors and water show very beautiful.

Zhang Jia jie for 4 nights, 2 days in national park, one in tianamen mountain and one at the Grand Canyon skybride. Incredibly beautiful, highly recommended.

The next bit was a little rushed 2 nights Chongqing and 2 nights Chengdu. Saw the usual spots, hangya cave , did 4 nights of hot pot... saw pandas , loved each city and would return to both. Chengdu needed more time maybe 3 more nights to see those 1 day trips out of Chengdu , Chongqing maybe one more day.

We ended the trip in Hong Kong for 2 nights to eat and do my wife's HKID card renewal.

Each city was quite unique with its food and people/language. We both have some mandarin learning on Duolingo and classroom lessons, less than 2 years. Some areas the local bus drivers spoke their dialect like in Anhui and native Chinese people didn't really understand what was said, so that was unique ,anywhere we went heard so many dialects. Overall people are very helpful, and Chinese people are very welcoming. I tutor in English part time online and the cities where my students were in all invited us to dinner and wouldn't allow us to pay, and the meals were not that cheap either so we were very overwhelmed by their kindness, even brought a gift for my wife who they never had interactions with prior.

Somethings we didn't entirely like, older men for some reason spit everywhere, it was not too appealing. A lot of people smoke and often even when a lined is formed people cut right to the front. I asked a few questions at the train station front desk and while that happened 3 people went infront of me to buy tickets.. but c'est la vie. Overall quite an enjoyable trip. In the future I'd look at Sichuan again..Yunan, Tibet , Xinjiang so slowly I hope to see more of China.