Chengdu is the hometown of giant pandas and an important birthplace of the ancient Shu civilization.
Jiuzhaigou, about 400 kilometers (249 miles) away from Chengdu, is the "Fairyland on Earth" of the East and known as a "fairytale world" of the West because of its thrilling natural landscapes.
This article aims to assist you in planning an unforgettable trip to Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou.
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How Many Days Are Needed?
A trip to Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou usually takes 3–6 days with different arrangements.
How Many Days Are Needed in Chengdu?
Chengdu takes 2–3 days.
1 day could be used to explore the most essential parts of Chengdu: pandas and food. Another day could be used to learn about Chengdu's lifestyle, history, and culture.
If you still have enough time, you could spend one more day visiting the neighboring areas, such as the Leshan Giant Buddha and Dujiangyan.
Of course, if you want a shorter trip, you could just visit Chengdu for a full day.
How Many Days Are Needed in Jiuzhaigou?
Jiuzhaigou takes 1–3 days.
If you are on a tight schedule, one full day in Jiuzhaigou is fine to see the highlights. If you want a more relaxed itinerary, 2 days are suitable, with some hiking. If you have 3 days, you could add a trip to Huanglong to see travertine lake terraces.
A Classic 6-Day Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou Itinerary Suggestion
- Day 1: Chengdu arrival
- Day 2: Explore Chengdu's city highlights
- Day 3: Transfer to Jiuzhaigou and visit Huanglong
- Day 4: Visit Zechawa Valley and Shuzheng Valley
- Day 5: Visit Rize Valley
- Day 6: Jiuzhaigou departure
In the 6 days, we suggest spending 2 days in Chengdu for the most highlights and 4 days in Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. In such an arrangement, you wouldn't miss the highlights of Chengdu and would also have a comfortable pace to tour Jiuzhaigou.
In Chengdu, you could focus on its most representative experiences: pandas and food. Spend the morning with the pandas (pandas are more active in the morning), the afternoon sipping tea in People's Park, being a half-day Chengduer, and the evening strolling through Jinli Old Street for delicious food.
From Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou, to make the most of your time and add richness to your itinerary, we recommend taking the morning train so that you could spend the afternoon at the Huanglong Scenic Area, enjoying the beautiful travertine lake terraces.
Or you could also arrange Huanglong on the departure day if you couldn't catch the morning train.
The altitude of Jiuzhaigou is relatively high, although the possibility of reverse altitude sickness is not high. However, for a more comfortable experience, spending 2 days there is recommended.
Moreover, Jiuzhaigou is very large and consists of three valleys. If you want to explore deeper and have more time to take photos, 2 days would satisfy that.
Accommodation tips in Jiuzhaigou:
Hotels in Jiuzhaigou would not be as high quality as those in downtown Chengdu. For the star rating of the hotel, since the 4 or 5 stars may only be equivalent to the 3 stars in Chengdu, we suggest you choose a hotel with a high star rating.
For the location of the hotel, we recommend that you stay in the valley entrance area, which is close to the scenic area and most convenient for sightseeing. Zhangzha Town is the recommended area, being 15 minutes' drive from the entrance.
The other option is Huamei Resort if you prefer a quieter vibe, which is 20 minutes' drive from the entrance.
Best Times to Visit Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou in autumnAutumn is the best time to visit Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou, especially for Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhaigou is at its most beautiful.
The second week of October is the best time to see the red leaves in Jiuzhaigou but it is also the most crowded time.
If you want a more comfortable tour, we recommend visiting in September or during the third or fourth week of October (except for during the National Day holidays from October 1–7). Jiuzhaigou's scenery in September is also great.
In autumn, you also have more opportunities to see newborn panda babies in Chengdu.
Summer is also a good time, especially for Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhaigou has entered the abundant water period, making the water scenery even more spectacular. Jiuzhaigou is also an ideal place to escape the heat, with average temperatures ranging from 17–24°C (63–75°F).
However, July and August form the peak season in Chengdu, when it is hot and crowded. If you want to be in more pleasant temperatures and avoid the rush of crowds, we recommend that you visit in June.
In spring, Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou have good weather and suitable temperatures for various activities. It's also a shoulder season with fewer people, so you could enjoy traveling better.
You could eat delicious food, experience culture, and appreciate the natural scenery in Chengdu. You could also feel the infinite vigor and vitality of Jiuzhaigou's roaming mountain flowers and lush greenery.
Winter is the low season for Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou, with the fewest tourists, so you could have a peaceful itinerary. You could see the unique and spectacular snowcapped peaks and crystal blue ice, which are among the "six wonders" of Jiuzhaigou.
How to Travel from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou
You could either take a train or fly from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. A bullet train is recommended.
By Bullet Train (Recommended)
Between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou, a train journey and an airplane journey are similar but a train ticket is at least 50% cheaper than paying for a flight. In addition, flights are not available every day during winter. Therefore, we recommend the train.
There are three bullet train stations near Jiuzhaigou.
- Chengdu to Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Railway Station (recommended). The train journey takes 1½–2 hours. This is the closest railway station to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong and has the most trains. Take another 2 hours to drive to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
- Chengdu to Songpan Railway Station (second recommendation). The train journey takes 1½–2 hours, and then it's another 2½ hours' drive to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area
- Chengdu to Huangshengguan Railway Station (third recommendation). It takes 2–2½ hours by train, then 2 hours to drive to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
Train tickets between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou are not easy to get, especially during the peak season. We suggest booking 2 or 3 months in advance.
Our Jiuzhaigou tour will include the tickets and a private transfer. If you don't have much time to monitor and buy tickets and want to enjoy a hassle-free trip, just contact us.
By Air
There is only one airport in Jiuzhaigou, and a flight from Chengdu to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport takes about 1 hour. After arriving at the airport, you would take another 1½ hours to drive to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
Insider tip:
Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport is located in the plateau area. In case of weather reasons, such as snowfall in winter, flights may be suspended. Therefore, we recommend that you check the weather forecast in advance and allow enough time.
Cost for a Trip to Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou
The level of tourist costs in Jiuzhaigou is higher than in Chengdu. The main difference is that the prices of hotels with the same star rating are at least 30–50% higher than those in Chengdu.
Because Jiuzhaigou is located in a remote area, construction and operating costs are high, affecting the price customization of the hotels.
And there are relatively limited accommodation options there, with even fewer high-quality hotels near scenic areas. During peak seasons, when demand exceeds supply, the prices might be 200% higher than those in Chengdu, adding to the value of these hotels.
Generally, the cost of a private tour for a group of 2–5 people is US$200–230 per person per day, and this price includes transportation within Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou, 4-star or 5-star hotels, attraction tickets, private transportation, and tour guides.
The above is just a reference price — we will give you a more specific price according to the actual itinerary, travel time, number of travelers, hotel selection, etc. Just contact us.