Jiuzhaigou Itinerary: A Complete Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Before You Go

Jiuzhaigou (also known as Jiuzhai Valley National Park) is one of China’s top 10 natural wonders and was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1992. The park sits at an altitude of 2,000–3,000 meters and is famous for its 114 alpine lakes.

Hours:

• Peak Season (April 1 – November 15): 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 2:00 PM), daily visitor limit: 41,000
• Off Season (November 16 – March 31): 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 2:00 PM), daily visitor limit: 23,000

Tickets

• Peak Season: 220 CNY/person (entrance), 90 CNY/person (shuttle bus)
• Off Season: 80 CNY/person (entrance), 80 CNY/person (shuttle bus)
• Booking: Purchase online via Klook or through your hotel.

Notes:

• Shuttle tickets must be purchased together with the entrance ticket (the park is too large to walk).
• Free: Children under 6 or <120 cm, seniors 70+.
• Half-price entrance: Minors 6–18, university students with ID, seniors 60–70 (shuttle ticket full price).
• If tickets sell out, your hotel can often secure them via local channels at no extra cost.

Best Time to Visit

• High Water Season (July–November): Lakes are fullest; most visually stunning.
• Late October–Early November: Peak beauty with full lakes and colorful foliage.
• Low Water Season (January–May): Lakes are about half full; advantage is fewer crowds.
• Winter: Less water and greenery, but snow creates a unique landscape.

Tips:

• Avoid visiting during Chinese national holidays, such as May Day Golden Week (May 1–5) and National Day Holiday (October 1–7), when the park is extremely crowded, hotels are expensive, and high-speed train tickets are hard to get.
• There are restaurants and convenience stores inside the park.
• Luggage storage is available at the park entrance.
• Mobile phones work inside the park, but internet speed may be slow.

Watch: Chinese People Told Us WE HAVE TO COME HERE

Getting to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu

Chengdu is the nearest major city to Jiuzhaigou.

High-Speed Rail (HSR)

A. Train from Chengdu East Station to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station
The journey takes about 2.5 hours covering 288 km, with ticket prices starting from 130 CNY. It’s best to book round-trip tickets in advance, especially during holidays, as HSR tickets are highly competitive and can be booked up to 15 days ahead.

B. From Huanglong Jiuzhai Station to Jiuzhaigou
The 93 km journey to Jiuzhaigou winds through mountainous roads, so expect a slow ride (1.5–2.5 hours). After exiting the station, take the escalator up to the upper level. Follow the bilingual signs: one side for taxis, the other side for buses.

• Taxis (fixed price, no meter): Blue-and-white taxis offer a fixed fare of 240 CNY per car (up to 4 passengers). You can also share a ride with other travelers for 60–70 CNY per person (80 CNY in peak season). Travel time: 1.5–2 hours.

  Notes: Taxis are not metered, but don’t worry about being overcharged if you confirm the price before departure. If you encounter problems, note the license plate and ask your hotel to help complain. The main risk is drivers who like to drive fast.

• Bus: Blue buses with a panda logo are available; tickets cost 51 CNY and can be purchased on-site. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. If you are staying near the park entrance, such as Holiday Inn Express, get off at Zangwangyan Square station (藏王宴广场). Tip: During peak season, buses may skip Zangwangyan Square to disperse crowds. In that case, the final stop could be up to 3 km from your hotel, and you may need to take a taxi (20–30 CNY) to reach your hotel. It is recommended to confirm with the driver before boarding, using a translation app if necessary.

C. Returning from Jiuzhaigou to the HSR station:
You can ask your hotel to help call a taxi, arrange a shared ride, or book a bus ticket. During peak season, buses may depart from a distant parking area due to traffic control. Taxi fare back is slightly higher (~300 CNY per car), shared taxi ~80 CNY per person.

By Plane

Fly to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, then take the high-speed train from the airport to Huanglong Jiuzhai HSR Station. The journey takes about 2 hours 20 minutes, and tickets start from 148 CNY. There are only two HSR departures per day from the airport, so if your flight doesn’t align with these trains, you’ll need to take a taxi (about 40 minutes) to Chengdu East Station to catch the train.

Where to Stay in Jiuzhaigou

It is recommended to stay near the Jiuzhaigou park entrance, for example:
Holiday Inn Express Jiuzhaigou The hotel is about a 10-minute walk to the park entrance and is close to restaurants and bus stops.

Notes:

• Camping is prohibited in Jiuzhaigou to protect the environment.
• If you stay farther from the park, it is best to choose a hotel that provides shuttle service. Although taxis are available outside the park, during peak times (such as when many visitors leave the park), drivers may prioritize passengers going to long-distance destinations like the HSR station.

Dining in Jiuzhaigou

• You are allowed to bring your own food into the park for a picnic.
• Inside the park, Nuorilang Station has several restaurants.
• Near the park entrance, there are multiple dining options, including chain restaurants such as Starbucks and McDonald’s.
• Huanglong Jiuzhai HSR Station is very small and has no restaurants. However, after exiting the station, take the escalator up and turn left to a building called the Second Waiting Hall (the building has a large letter “I” on it, as it also serves as the second visitor center). There are several restaurants inside this building.

Jiuzhaigou Itinerary and Map

Jiuzhaigou park is shaped like a Y, and it is generally divided into three routes:

• Left Route (Zechawa Valley): ~18 km, scenery is average; can skip if short on time.
• Right Route (Rize Valley): ~16 km, features many beautiful alpine lakes.
• Middle Route (Shuzheng Valley): ~14 km, diverse scenery with lakes, waterfalls, and rivers.
  

Itinerary A – Relaxed, 1-Day Park Ticket

Best for: travelers who prefer a relaxed pace, are sensitive to altitude, or visiting in winter/early spring.

Day 1: Depart from Chengdu around noon; arrive in Jiuzhaigou in the evening and stay at a hotel outside the park.
Day 2: Explore the Right Route in the morning (Arrow Bamboo Lake → Sparkling Lake → Nuorilang Tourist Center), then the Middle Route in the afternoon. Skip the Left Route.
Day 3: Return to Chengdu.

Note: Sudden altitude changes may affect some travelers, so it’s not recommended to enter the park on the first day. If returning to Chengdu on Day 2 evening, book HSR tickets in advance and plan to leave the park 3–3.5 hours before train departure.

Itinerary B – Full 2-Day Park Experience

Best for: travelers visiting in peak season, with enough time and stamina, who want to see all three routes.

Day 1: Depart from Chengdu around noon; arrive in Jiuzhaigou in the evening; stay at a hotel outside the park.
Day 2: Morning: Left Route; Afternoon: Middle Route.
Day 3: Right Route; return to Chengdu in the evening.

Note: Park tickets are valid for one day only, so you’ll need to purchase a new ticket for the second day. Winter visits may limit scenery and make hiking less comfortable — in this case, Itinerary A is recommended.

Transportation within Jiuzhaigou

Shuttle Buses

Jiuzhaigou uses a shuttle bus system to manage visitor flow, which can be confusing for first-time travelers. Here’s the key rule: you board a shuttle at the park entrance first, and only decide your route later at Nuorilang Station (the Y-shaped junction with a visitor center and restaurants).

Quick Summary:

• Board any bus at the park entrance
• All buses go to Nuorilang Station first
• From Nuorilang, choose the Left, Right, or Middle Route
• Switch buses at Nuorilang if your route doesn’t match your plan

How it works in detail:

• Left Route (toward Long Lake): Stay on the bus if it matches your plan; otherwise, get off at Nuorilang and queue for a Right Route bus.
• Right Route (toward Arrow Bamboo Lake, sometimes continues to Primeval Forest): Same as above—you can stay or switch at Nuorilang. Buses going to Primeval Forest still stop at Arrow Bamboo Lake.
• Peak times or late arrivals: Some buses may only go as far as Shuzheng Village Station near Shuzheng Lakes. From there, you can explore the Middle Route, or walk about 1 km to Rhinoceros Lake Station to catch the next shuttle.

Tips:

• Direction signs are clearly displayed at Nuorilang Station.
• If unsure, use a translation app to tell the driver which route you want and ask to be reminded where to get off.

Hiking

Jiuzhaigou is very large, and walking the entire park is not realistic. While the park is equipped with boardwalks, the elevation ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 meters, so don’t overestimate your stamina. There are no dangerous wild animals within the visitor areas or along the boardwalks. You may occasionally see snakes in quieter sections, but they generally avoid humans.

Main Attractions in Jiuzhaigou

Left Route Itinerary

Get off at Long Lake Station (~40 minutes from the park entrance by shuttle). Long Lake is Jiuzhaigou’s highest lake (3,101 m), deepest (90 m), and largest (4,350 m long, 90 m wide).
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Hike 1,050 m to Five-Color Pond
The Five-Color Pond is famous for its vivid colors, though small in size (about 100 m long, 60 m wide, and 6.6 m deep).
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From the station near Five-Color Pond, take a shuttle back to Nuorilang Station (Nuorilang Tourist Center) (approximately 17 km, 20 minutes by shuttle; hiking this section is not recommended).

Right Route Itinerary

If the shuttle’s final stop is Primeval Forest Station:
After getting off, you can hike the Primeval Forest Trail (~1.3 km). The scenery is similar to ordinary forest, so most visitors skip it. Alternatively, you can head directly toward Swan Lake, about 3 km on foot (40 minutes–1 hour). The scenery is especially beautiful on clear autumn days.
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At Swan Lake Station:
Wait for and take the shuttle to Arrow Bamboo Lake (15-minute ride, 8,300 m; the path runs along a river with no notable scenery, so hiking is not recommended).

At Arrow Bamboo Lake Station:
Enjoy the scenery here. Many visitors skip the Primeval Forest hike and get off at Arrow Bamboo Lake instead, as Jiuzhaigou’s forest scenery is relatively ordinary.
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Hike 685 m to Panda Lake for scenic views.
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Hike 850 m to Panda Lake Station, then take the shuttle to Five Flower Lake (~10-minute ride, 2,300 m; this section has no notable scenery, so hiking is not recommended).

At Five Flower Lake Station:
This is Jiuzhaigou’s most famous and most visited attraction. Five Flower Lake: 450 m long, 313 m wide, 9 m deep.
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Hike 700 m to Pearl Waterfalls for sightseeing.
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Hike 1,782 m to Mirror Lake for scenic views.
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At Mirror Lake Station:
Take a shuttle (~5 minutes) to Nuorilang Station (Nuorilang Tourist Center) (~1.2 km; strong hikers can walk instead, scenery along the way is pleasant).

Middle Route Itinerary

For those with good stamina, the Middle Route can be hiked in full, approximately 14 km, taking 4–5 hours.

Lunch at Nuorilang Tourist Center

Hike ~400 m (stairs required) to Nuorilang Falls
Nuorilang Falls: 24.5 m high, 320 m wide — the widest alpine travertine waterfall in China.
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Hike 600 m to a shuttle station and take the bus to Rhinoceros Lake (alternatively, hike ~3,155 m).

At Rhinoceros Lake Station:
Recommended Xiaohongshu Post: Rhinoceros Lake is unbelievably beautiful

Hike 1,150 m to Shuzheng Lakes for sightseeing.
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Hike 1,200 m to Sparkling Lake for scenic views.
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Hike 2.6 km to Reed Lake (If you’re tired, you can take a shuttle to Bonsai Shoal, then walk 600 m back to Reed Lake.)
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Hike 600 m to Bonsai Shoal The scenery here is modest, but you must board a shuttle here (Reed Lake has no shuttle station). Take the shuttle 15 minutes to the park exit (~5,800 m; hiking is not recommended).

Hidden Attraction:
Just outside the park, walk slightly to the right to see a river with separated colors. (During summer/high-water season, drones are allowed outside the park.)
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Thank you for reading. Hope you have a wonderful journey! ヽ(´▽`)/