Chengdu's Wonderland Tour | 5-Day High-Speed ​​Rail Tour of Chengdu Panda Base, Huanglong Scenic Area, and Jiuzhaigou

Suggested way to get there:

1. By Air: Chengdu has two airports - Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), with numerous domestic direct flights to cities such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Chongqing, Wuhan, Guiyang, and Xiamen, as well as international direct flights to countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Japan, making transportation very convenient.

2. Train: Chengdu has 4 train stations. You can take the high-speed train to Chengdu from cities such as Beijing (7-11 hours), Xi'an (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Shanghai (12.5-14.5 hours), Kunming (6-6.5 hours), and Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours).

Afterwards, visit Wenshu Monastery , a famous Buddhist temple in Chengdu with over 1400 years of history, and an excellent place to experience Chengdu's culture and history. You can leisurely stroll through the monastery, admiring the Hall of Heavenly Kings (enshrining Maitreya Bodhisattva and the Four Heavenly Kings, one of the main buildings), Wenshu Pavilion (containing a pagoda and Buddhist library, a great place to learn about Buddhist culture), the Great Buddha Hall (touch the iron "福" (fortune) character inside, symbolizing taking away good fortune), the Sutra Repository (containing Buddha relics), and the Hall of the Three Great Bodhisattvas (enshrining Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, a sacred place for prayer), among other solemn buildings, experiencing the Buddhist Zen and tranquil atmosphere. Furthermore, the green tiles and red walls of Wenshu Monastery are popular photo spots; find the perfect angle to capture beautiful moments.

In the afternoon, visit People's Park , hailed as one of Chengdu's most beautiful parks , to experience the leisurely Chengdu culture and the slow pace of local life. Here, you can enjoy a cup of fragrant covered-bowl tea in a century-old teahouse, chatting leisurely with friends on bamboo chairs. You can also experience the intangible cultural heritage of ear cleaning, enjoying the tingling sensation that goes straight to your head, or watch a lively local mahjong game, and stroll through the famous matchmaking corner. If you're lucky, you might even encounter locals dancing in the square, practicing Tai Chi, or playing traditional Chinese musical instruments.

As the sun sets, it's the perfect time to visit Jinli Ancient Street. Known as the "First Street of Western Sichuan" and "Chengdu's Version of the Qingming Scroll," Jinli is one of Chengdu's most representative historical and cultural districts and was even named one of the 21 most beautiful streets in the world by CNN. Strolling through its ancient streets and alleys, you can admire the antique Ming and Qing dynasty architecture and the beautiful scenery of red lanterns hanging high in the air, experience the profound Three Kingdoms culture and unique western Sichuan customs, watch a captivating Sichuan opera face-changing performance, capture beautiful moments from your trip, leisurely browse characteristic handicraft shops (Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, paper cutting, calligraphy and painting, etc.), and savor authentic old Chengdu delicacies (Dandan noodles, Bingfen, Tangyouguozi, etc.), immersing yourself in the unique, vibrant atmosphere of Chengdu's old streets.

After the tour, our driver will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu for check-in and rest.

Evening activity recommendations (optional):

1. Sichuan Opera Performance: You can watch wonderful Sichuan Opera performances at teahouses or designated performance venues in Jinli, including face changing, fire breathing, hand shadow, puppet shows, dance, singing and acrobatics. The performance time is usually from 20:00 to 21:30. You can enjoy the performance while sipping tea and experience the rich cultural atmosphere of Chengdu.

2. Jinjiang River Night Cruise: Taking a boat trip on the Jinjiang River at night is a major highlight of Jinli's evening activities. The cruise usually runs from 18:00 to 23:30 and lasts about 30 minutes. You can enjoy the night view of downtown Chengdu and experience the beauty of the bright lights and antique buildings on both sides of the Jinjiang River.

Huanglong Scenic Area is renowned for its unique travertine landscapes, majestic snow-capped mountains and canyons, pristine forests and meadows, and abundant flora and fauna. It is known as "Jade Pool of the Human World," "Fairyland Huanglong," and "World Wonder," and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1992. The karst landforms within Huanglong are exceptionally rare, forming breathtakingly beautiful clusters of colorful pools. These pools display a vibrant array of colors, including blue, green, orange, yellow, and white, cascading in layers like terraced fields meticulously sculpted by nature. From a distance, they resemble a golden dragon spanning the valley and perched atop the snow-capped mountains, inspiring endless imagination.

Recommended itinerary for today: Take the cable car to the mountaintop viewing platform (offering panoramic views of the Huanglong Scenic Area) → Hike down the mountain (approximately 3-4 hours, along which you can see Huanglong Ancient Temple, Five-Colored Pool, Mirror Reflection Pool, Welcoming Pool, waterfalls, and other travertine pools and cave landscapes, appreciating the natural and cultural beauty of Huanglong).

Recommended attractions in Huanglong Scenic Area:

1. Five-Colored Pools: At an altitude of about 3,576 meters, this is the essence of Huanglong Scenic Area. It consists of 693 travertine pools of different sizes, shapes and colors. The water is clear and displays rich colors under the sunlight, just like a natural palette. Surrounded by green mountains, the scenery is magnificent. At dawn or dusk, you can capture the most beautiful light and shadow effects of the Five-Colored Pools.

2. Huanglong Ancient Temple: Originally built in the Ming Dynasty, it is said to have been built to commemorate Huanglong Zhenren, who helped Yu the Great control the floods. It is a Taoist temple with a long history. The temple is very popular, and people can burn incense and pray for blessings. They can also learn about the legend of Huanglong Zhenren and Taoist culture.

3. Mirror Reflection Pool: Its unique mirror-like reflections and colorful pool landscape have become one of the must-see sights in Huanglong Scenic Area. You can take pictures of the colorful pool reflections and capture the beautiful moments of the sky, clouds, snow-capped peaks and dense forests.

After the sightseeing, you will leave Huanglong Scenic Area and travel by car for about 2 hours to Jiuzhaigou to check into your hotel and rest.

Tips for Huanglong Scenic Area:

1. Huanglong Scenic Area is at a higher altitude than Jiuzhaigou, with the core area at an altitude of 3,200 to 3,600 meters. Some tourists may experience altitude sickness. It is recommended that you avoid strenuous exercise, walk slowly, and prepare oxygen cylinders or use the oxygen stations in the scenic area.

2. The Huanglong Cable Car may be closed during winter (usually from November to March of the following year) due to weather conditions. Please refer to the park's announcement for the specific time.

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area consists of three main valleys: Zechawa Valley , Rize Valley , and Shuzheng Valley , forming a "Y" shape. The easiest and most energy-efficient way to explore is by sightseeing bus. Buses depart from the entrance to each attraction. After arriving at your destination, you can walk along the boardwalk to enjoy the scenery. Then, at a designated location, transfer to another bus to proceed to the next attraction. Our guides can customize a more suitable itinerary based on your time, energy, and number of participants, allowing you to explore the essence of Jiuzhaigou at your most comfortable pace and appreciate the stunning natural scenery along the way.

Recommended Classic Tour Route: Take a sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance → Nuorilang Waterfall (China's widest travertine waterfall) → Take a bus to Zechawa Valley → Hike to Five-Colored Pond (the smallest lake in Jiuzhaigou) and Long Lake (the largest lake in Jiuzhaigou) → Take a bus to Rize Valley → Hike to Panda Lake (named after pandas), Five-Flower Lake (one of Jiuzhaigou's famous lakes, a unique feature of Jiuzhaigou), Pearl Shoal (a unique travertine flow landscape), and Mirror Lake (Jiuzhaigou's third largest lake, with stunning scenery) → Return to Nuorilang Visitor Center for rest → Take a bus to Shuzheng Valley (enjoying views of Shuzheng Lakes, Shuzheng Waterfall, Spark Lake, traditional Tibetan villages, and other attractions along the way) → Return to the entrance.

Useful tips for Jiuzhaigou:

1. Arrive at the scenic area early: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area limits the number of visitors to 41,000 per day. It is recommended to arrive early to avoid peak tourist seasons and enjoy a more peaceful visit.

2. Wear comfortable clothing: Jiuzhaigou involves a long walking distance, so it is recommended to choose comfortable and grippy sports shoes or hiking shoes to avoid affecting your sightseeing due to uncomfortable shoes;

3. Dining options in the park: Nuorilang Restaurant is the only restaurant in the scenic area, offering a buffet lunch, but it is expensive and crowded. It is recommended to bring your own food and choose a scenic spot for a picnic, which can save money and avoid crowds.

If you would like to extend your trip and explore more Chinese destinations, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan, Harbin, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Tibet, Guilin, and Xinjiang, please contact us to make arrangements.