7 Days Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Tour by High-speed Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu Arrival

   Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas in China! When you arrive at Chengdu Tianfu Airport, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate of the airport and transfer you to the local hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free on your own.

   You may spend the afternoon getting a feel for the city. One place we would recommend you to explore is Chunxi Road. This is one of the most lively shopping areas in Chengdu, and here you can find everything you may want to see in this city. Enjoy your time here, and if you’re hungry, there are also a lot of restaurants serving local meals, try some authentic Chengdu flavors such as hotpot or bo bo chicken, which have been liked by people from not just Chengdu but also all around the world.

   No English-speaking tour guide service or any tour activity for today.

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
2. Day 2: Chengdu to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station

   After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will escort you to the train station to take the high-speed train to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station (ref: C5792/10:06-12:34). Upon arrival, the local guide will pick you up and drive to Jiuzhaigou to check in (2 hours).

   One thing you need to take care is Jiuzhaigou’s altitude. It has relatively high altitude which may cause some travelers to feel mild altitude discomfort. Take it slow on the first evening, and always avoid intense physical activity. Just keep in mind that you need to give your body time to acclimatize. If the symptoms get serious, don’t hesitate to ask your guide for help.

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   4-Star Hotel in Jiuzhaigou
3. Day 3: Full Day in Jiuzhaigou National Park
   Marvel at Turquoise Lakes, Calcified Waterfalls, Wild Otters in UNESCO-Protected Valley

   Day 3 is like an official start of your trip. In the morning, your guide will see you in the hotel lobby and take you directly to the Jiuzhaigou Valley. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it amazes everyone with a fairly primitive natural landscape. There are “five wonders” you can’t miss when visiting here: mountains, forests, lakes, cascading waterfalls and Tibetan folk customs. And above all, the cute small animals such as otters, ducks, cats, and koi can also bring you unforgettable memories.

   The Nuorilang Waterfall is a highlight of the whole valley. It’s 24.5 meters high and 320 meters tall, so that this dramatic scale has made it the widest calcified waterfall in China. The currents of the Nuorilang are turbulent, after pouring down from the treetops, the water then becomes a powerful stream that flows through the valley. And one of the most spectacular views you can have would be a huge ice curtain, which the waterfall will become in the cold winter.

   The tour guide will lead you to visit the three major scenic spots of Shuzheng Valley, Zechawa Valley, and Rize Valley. These beautiful valleys will be covered with different colors in different seasons because of their special landscape, and they often become turquoise, blue, and emerald. After the visit, we’ll go back to the hotel to have a good rest.

   Tips:

   1. Norilang Restaurant is the only restaurant in the valley where you can have your buffet lunch. You can also bring some snacks.
   2. To avoid crowds, try to have breakfast early and enter the scenic area early.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jiuzhaigou
4. Day 4: Huanglong Back to Chengdu
   Hike Through Jewel-Toned Travertine Pools, Gaze at Snow-Capped Peaks

   Today, our main highlight is the gorgeous Huanglong National Park, a masterpiece of nature. Huanglong is the only well-preserved plateau wetland in China, and here you can see all kinds of wonders, such as colorful pools, snow-capped mountains, canyons, and forests. It is also home to endangered species and many beautiful landscapes. Huanglong sits at an elevation of 3,305 meters, so you can choose to take a cable car to go up and walk down, which allows you to embrace as many stunning views as possible while also saving a lot of time and energy.

   The Five-Color Ponds are the largest group of colorful pools within the Huanglong Valley, and what’s more amazing is that they are actually the largest and highest-altitude outdoor travertine colorful pond group in the world. The pond embankments are low and scattered, which create an intricate pattern. Appreciate the ponds’ beauty from a distance, and you might find that these pools actually resemble jade plates, and under the sunlight, their colors keep changing from white, purple, blue, and green.

   At the end of the visit, you will be transferred to the railway station for a high-speed train C5798/18:19-20:39 back to Chengdu.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
5. Day 5: Chengdu Panda Visit
   Watch Pandas Munch Bamboo, Sip Tea in Gardens, Catch Face-Changing Show (Optional)

   Around 08:30 in the morning, our guide will see you in the hotel lobby. And our first destination today will be the exciting Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This place is renowned for its important role in protecting and breeding endangered giant pandas in China. Here, you can see pandas playing and living in a primitive living environment up close. Your guide will take you through the vast area on a most rewarding route, and they’ll also be sharing facts about giant pandas. To save these wonderful moments, your guide can also assist you in taking photos (framed with pandas from a distance). And if you want to buy some souvenirs, there are also themed shops waiting for you to explore.

   After lunch, we go to People's Park to spend a leisurely afternoon. Here, you appreciate flowers and garden landscapes, relaxing in the local slow-paced Chengdu life. If interested, experience ear cleaning, sip a pot of classic Gaiwan tea, and observe the locals playing mahjong.

   The last stop is Jinli, a quaint pedestrian street that preserves many ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Here, you can find handicraft shops, Sichuan cuisine restaurants, and tea houses. Try tasting authentic Sichuan cuisine and enjoy traditional performances such as Sichuan face-changing opera (at your own expense). In addition, Jinli Steer holds folk activities such as paper cuttings and sugar painting from time to time to let tourists experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture. After the visit, we will send you back to the hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
6. Day 6: Drive from Chengdu to Leshan
   Gaze Up at the 71-Meter Buddha, Feast on Fiery Sichuan Food in Qing-Era Alleys

   After breakfast, we’ll take about a 2-hour drive to admire the Leshan Giant Buddha, the tallest stone Buddha in the world. And to finish the construction of this 71-meter (233-foot) statue, it took three generations of craftsmen for 90 years in working on it. On the Buddha’s right side, there’s a winding plank road that leads up the mountain, and following your guide to walk along this road allows you to see the 1,051 curls of hair on the Buddha’s head up close. However, if walking is too tiring for you, you can choose a boat ride instead (at an extra fee). From the river, you’ll enjoy a full, panoramic view of the statue.

   In the afternoon, we return to Chengdu and visit the well-known Wide and Narrow Alley, one of Chengdu's most representative neighborhoods. Here, you can sample local street snacks. For dinner, your guide will take you to taste popular foods like Dandan Noodles with spicy sauce, Zhong Dumplings, Bo Bo Chicken, and more. Afterward, you’ll be escorted back to your hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
7. Day 7: Chengdu Departure

   Spend your morning at leisure, whether relaxing at the hotel or taking a short walk nearby. At the agreed time, your driver will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to the airport. He’ll assist with your luggage if needed and make sure you arrive in good time for your departure flight. This is the end of your 7-day Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou tour. Thank you so much for choosing China Xian Tour. Hope to see you again!

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