5 Days Chengdu Tour to Jiuzhaigou Valley and Dujiangyan

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu to Chuanzhusi
   Discover Watchtower Labyrinths on Your Cultural Gateway

   HELLO! Welcome to our 5-day guided Jiuzhaigou and Dujiangyan tour! Your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby at the agreed time. Then we drive for 6 hours to reach Chuanzhusi Town. We will stop at Taoping Qiang Village on the way. This is the most complete group of inhabited watchtower buildings preserved in the world. Its maze-like architecture has been praised as the "Mysterious Oriental Castle". The village has a long history and was founded in 111 BC. The guide will explain its story to you when you appreciate the unique watchtowers.

   After arriving in Chuanzhusi Town, you can freely move around for the rest of the time. The average altitude of the town is 2,980 meters, and the vast majority of people do not experience altitude sickness. However, it is still recommended that you acclimatize to the altitude.

   Meal: Lunch

   Accommodation: in Chuanzhusi Town

   

2. Day 2: Chuanzhusi to Huanglong Scenic Area
   Walk Among 693 Pools Painted by Mountain Minerals

   Today you will be led to explore the amazing Huanglong Scenic Area. It is the only well-preserved plateau wetland in China, located on a ridge that gradually rises from south to north. The altitude of Huanglong is between 1,700 and 5,588 meters. Therefore, you may experience altitude sickness when visiting some attractions. You are strongly advised not to walk too fast!

   After arriving, the tour guide takes you up the mountain by cable car (to save energy and time). Then we hike for 40 minutes to at the essence of Huanglong - Wucai Pool, also called Five-Colored Pond. 693 colorful pools are surrounded by mountains. They are formed by natural calcification, with ups and downs and staggered patterns. From above, it looks like a huge color palette on the earth. Spend more time taking photos here.

   

   Continuing forward, you will visit other highlights such as Huanglong Ancient Temple and Golden Sand Pavement. Huanglong Temple is a Buddhist temple, quite magnificent. There were five halls here. Now you can only see the Guanyin Hall and the eighteen statues of Arhat. The Golden Sand Pavement is also a popular attraction. It is the largest, longest, and most colorful calcareous beach current of its kind discovered in the world.

   After the tour, you will be transferred to the hotel near Jiuzhaigou Valley to check in. Rest and relax well tonight.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: near Jiuzhaigou Valley

3. Day 3: Jiuzhai Valley National Park
   Witness China's Widest Silk Waterfall - Nuorilang

   Bet you're already looking forward to today's visit as you eat breakfast! Jiuzhai Valley is a World Heritage Site. Spreading out in a “Y-shape”, this national park is a picturesque wonderland where you will be amazed by spectacular waterfalls, sparkling lakes and colorful wild forests.

   Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve has three major scenic spots, Shuzheng Valley, Zechawa Valley, and Rize Valley, with water features such as a group of plateau calcified lakes, calcified waterfalls, and calcified beach streams as the main landscapes. They are blue, turquoise, white, and emerald in different seasons.

   

   Jiuzhaigou is a large area and you will take a sightseeing bus to explore the entire area. Your private guide will organize your exploration of Jiuzhaigou's highlights at a comfortable pace, depending on your energy and time.

   Some of the classic attractions include Pearl Beach, Mirror Lake, Panda Sea, Five Colorful Pools, and Nuorilang Waterfall. One of the quite popular ones is the Nuorilang Waterfall, which is the widest alpine calcified waterfall in China. The gushing water comes from the Norilang Group Sea and pours down from the top of the waterfall, like white hada (a piece of silk). In winter, the waterfall becomes a huge ice mantle, with differently shaped ice sculptures in blue color.

   After all visits, transfer you back to your hotel for a relaxing evening.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: near Jiuzhaigou Valley

4. Day 4: Drive to Dujiangyan from Jiuzhaihou Valley
   Stop Where an Earthquake Drowned History Beneath Alpine Waters

   After breakfast, we drive to Dujiangyan City. It will arrive in about 6 hours. Along the way, stop at Diexi Lake (叠溪海子) for a brief visit. With an elevation of 2,258 meters, the lake was originally a border defense town in ancient times. Under this lake, there used to be a prosperous ancient city that lasted for thousands of years. However, in the afternoon of 1933, the city was destroyed in an instant due to a M7.5 earthquake. Nowadays, it is the 'most beautiful earthquake relic in China'.

   Upon arrival in Dujiangyan, check into the hotel in the city center. You can explore this city, which is over 2,000 years old and thriving due to water, on your own in the remaining time.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Dujiangyan

5. Day 5: Dujiangyan Back to Chengdu
   Marvel at Ancient Water Wisdom, Seek Taoist Mountain Serenity

   In the morning, you will be guided to visit Dujiangyan Irrigation System. It is the only water conservancy project in the world that is characterized by dam-free water diversion. Can you believe that it has a history of over 2,250 years? The guide will give you a rough explanation of its working principle, and then you will know its greatness. Also, visit the nearby Erwang Temple, which is a memory of the master Li Bing (built the irrigation system) and his son. ‌

   

   After the visit, go to Qingcheng Mountain for sightseeing. This is one of the Four Great Taoist Mountains in China, and many Taoist palaces have been well preserved to this day, such as Laojun Pavilion, Yuqing Palace, and Ancestral Hall. The whole mountain is evergreen all year round, surrounded by mountains and winding paths leading to secluded places. If you have plenty of energy, try walking to the mountaintop and visiting temples along the way to find inner peace. If climbing is too difficult for you, you can take the cable car (optional, extra charge).

   Learn more: In addition to Qingcheng Mountain, the other three famous Taoist mountains in China are Wudang Mountain (武当山) in Hubei Province, Longhu Mountain (龙虎山) in Jiangxi Province, and Qiyun Mountain (齐云山) in Anhui Province.

   After the tour, drive you back to the hotel in downtown Chengdu. This is the end of the 5-day Chengdu tour to Jiuzhaigou Valley and Dujiangyan. If you are interested in the Panda Volunteer Program, we can arrange an additional day for you to experience carrying bamboo and making food for pandas.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A