5-Day Chengdu Tour to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu

   Hello! Welcome to our 5-day private Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou tour!

   After arriving at the airport or train station, a local guide will meet you at the exit and then take you to the downtown hotel to check in. If you arrive early, you can explore the 'Land of Abundance' on your own.

   Free Time Ideas:

   East Suburb Memory Park is known as "Chengdu's 798 Art District". It preserves red brick workshops and old steam locomotives from the 1950s. Inside, you can find galleries, graffiti walls, and bookshops. There are often outdoor music festivals on weekends, perfect for taking photos and experiencing youthful Chengdu culture.

   The "Tower of Vitality" is located at SKP South Square and serves as a cyberpunk city landmark with six giant inverted waterfall pillars. It's free to visit, with the stunning light show every evening from 19:30 to 22:00.

   

   Vehicle

   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
2. Day 2: Classic Chengdu City with Giant Pandas
   Meet giant pandas and experience Chengdu through tea, history, and food

   Giant pandas are a must-see for anyone traveling to Chengdu! Today's trip first takes you to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where the base simulates the pandas' natural habitat and houses over 200 giant pandas and red pandas. The base is huge, and the guide will take you along a well-planned route to see panda cubs aged 3 months to 2 years in the nursery, young pandas, and adult pandas climbing trees, eating, and playing outdoors.

   

   Next, you'll explore the Jinsha Site Museum to uncover the mysteries of the ancient Shu Kingdom (1200–650 BC). The Sunbird gold ornament is the highlight, only 0.02 cm thick, symbolising the ancient Shu people's worship of the sun and birds.

   Chengdu is known nationwide for its slow pace of life, which you can deeply experience at People's Park. Enjoy tea like a local and learn about tea culture.

   

   Finally, visit Kuanzhai Alley to try authentic spicy snacks. Feel the leisurely vibes of old courtyards in Wide Alley; admire Western-style buildings and browse creative shops in Narrow Alley; catch a glimpse of brick culture walls and street performances in Well Alley.

   Optional Activities:

   While drinking tea, you can try the ear-cleaning service. A technician uses goose feather sticks to sweep your ear canal, leaving a tingling, stress-relieving sensation.

   If you're interested in intangible cultural heritage, you can watch a Sichuan opera face-changing performance in Kuanzhai Alley, where performers switch masks instantly, like magic.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
3. Day 3: Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou by High-speed Train
   Admire Huanglong's rainbow pools beneath snowy peaks

   Take the bullet train in the morning from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. After reaching the destination, a local guide will pick you up at the station with a welcome board “China Xian Tour”.

   Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Scenic Area is the only well-preserved plateau wetland in the country. It covers an area of roughly 700 square kilometers and has more than 3,000 ponds with varied colors and unique surfaces shaped through calcareous formation.

   

   Your tour guide will take you to the cable car, allowing you to see breathtaking views of the entire Huanglong area while riding up. When walking along the boardwalk, the first stunning sight is the Guest Welcome Pond, known for its wonderful, clear water, and it is surrounded by greenery.

   Five-colored Pond, featuring its vibrant colors, is one of the core attractions of Huanglong Scenic Area. Under the sunlight, the water shimmers like a carefully crafted palette of nature. You will stay here for about 40 minutes to 1 hour, so you can take many amazing photos.

   After that, visit other highlighted attractions: Huanglong Ancient Temple (Tibetan Buddhism) and Golden Sands Floor. Last, hike down the mountain, and you will be escorted to the hotel to have a good rest.

   Travel Tips:

   Some areas of Huanglong National Park are located at an elevation of over 3,500 meters, so you might experience altitude sickness. It's recommended to take it easy and avoid strenuous activities.

   There are no restaurants in the park. It's a good idea to have a hearty breakfast before visiting and eat after leaving the park. Also, you can bring some snacks.

   High Speed Train, Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Jiuzhaigou
4. Day 4: Jiuzhaigou Valley Day Trip
   Follow turquoise lakes and waterfalls through Jiuzhaigou's fairytale landscapes

   Another highlight of this Chengdu tour is Jiuzhaigou Valley, where the scenery varies throughout the four seasons, with the colorful autumn being the most beautiful. It is a paradise for photographers.

   Upon arriving, take a battery car to Rize Valley (日则沟), the essence of Jiuzhaigou. Here, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, featuring its splashing water, is one of the filming locations for the famous Journey to the West. Five-Flower Lake boasts colorful and sparkling water. Nuorilang Waterfall, with a width of 270 meters, is one of the largest plateau calcareous waterfalls in China.

   

   Next, go to Zechawa Valley (则查洼沟). Two of the most popular attractions are Changhai (Long Lake) and Wucaichi (Five-color Lake). Changhai is the largest lake in Jiuzhaigou with an S-shaped surface. Wucaichi features varied colors of water, which show different colors depending on the angle and lighting.

   In the late afternoon, visit Shuzheng Valley (树正沟), where you can see the smallest of the four main waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou - Shuzheng Waterfall and a unique landform and vegetation landscape at Bonsai Shoal. After all visits, return to the hotel.

   Warm Tip: Nuorilang Restaurant is the only restaurant in Jiuzhaigou providing buffet lunch, but the dishes are limited. You can choose to prepare your own simple meals.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Jiuzhaigou
5. Day 5: Jiuzhaigou Departure

   You are free to relax on your own until the pick-up time for departure. Your driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport to see you off. The 5-day Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou tour ends here. Hope you had a wonderful time with us!

   Recommended Extended Activity: If you’d like to immerse yourself further in the cyberpunk urban vibe after visiting the Tower of Vitality, we can help you extend your trip to Chongqing, known as the “8D Magic City,” where the night views are absolutely stunning.

   

   Vehicle

   B