Jiuzhaigou 4-Day Tour Itinerary

🚄 Day 1: Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou

· Morning: Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East Station to "Huanglong Jiuzhai Station," about 2-3 hours. It is recommended to choose an early train, such as C5746 (6:14-7:47) or C5782 (6:45-8:24). The high-speed train is comfortable and fast, saving 3-4 hours compared to traditional buses.
· Noon: After arriving at Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, transfer to a direct shuttle or carpool to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, about 1.5 hours by car.
· Afternoon: Check into a hotel after arriving at the Jiuzhaigou entrance. It is recommended to stay at hotels or guesthouses near the entrance for easy access to the park early the next day.
· Evening: Taste local specialties in Zhangzha Town, such as Tibetan hot pot, to adapt to the plateau environment. Rest early to save energy for the next day.

🏞️ Day 2: Full Tour of Jiuzhaigou Core Scenic Area

· Morning: After breakfast, enter the park early (opens at 7:00 AM) and take the sightseeing bus to start touring. It is recommended to follow the "right first, then left" route to avoid crowds:
1. Take the bus directly from the entrance to Five Flower Lake—the highlight of Jiuzhaigou, with fewer people and soft light in the morning, perfect for photos.
2. Walk along the plank road to Pearl Shoal Waterfall and enjoy the magnificent scenery featured in "Journey to the West."
3. Take the bus to Mirror Lake to capture the stunning mirror-like reflection on the lake surface in the early morning.
· Noon: Have lunch and rest at Nuorilang Visitor Center. Food options inside the park are limited and expensive; buffet costs about 60-80 RMB per person. Bringing your own snacks is also an option.
· Afternoon: Explore Zechawa Valley and Shuzheng Valley:
1. Take the bus to Changhai Lake—the highest and largest lake in Jiuzhaigou.
2. Walk to Five Color Pool, small but with extremely rich colors.
3. Return to Nuorilang Center to visit Nuorilang Waterfall—the widest travertine waterfall in China.
4. Visit Rhino Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, and the Shuzheng lake group in sequence.
· Evening: After leaving the park, enjoy dinner. Yak hot pot is recommended. Return to the hotel to rest and relieve fatigue from a day of hiking.

🏔️ Day 3: Huanglong Scenic Area → Tibetan Village Experience

· Morning: After breakfast, take a bus to Huanglong Scenic Area (about 2.5 hours). Huanglong is famous for its spectacular calcified pools, forests, snow mountains, and folk customs.
· Noon: Have lunch inside Huanglong Scenic Area. It is recommended to bring your own snacks and drinking water.
· Afternoon: Tour the core area of Huanglong, focusing on the Five Color Pool. Then take a bus back to the Jiuzhaigou area.
· Evening: You can choose to visit a Tibetan village to experience Tibetan culture, wear Tibetan costumes for photos, and taste butter tea and barley cakes.

🧳 Day 4: Jiuzhaigou → Chengdu

· Morning: After breakfast, pack your luggage and take a bus to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, then take the high-speed train back to Chengdu.
· Afternoon: After arriving in Chengdu, arrange activities according to your return travel time. If time permits, visit Kuanzhai Alley or Jinli to shop for Sichuan specialties as souvenirs.
· Evening: End your pleasant Jiuzhaigou trip and return home from Chengdu.

💰 Budget Estimate (per person)

Expense Category Economy (RMB) Comfortable (RMB)
Transportation High-speed train round trip about 300 + local transport 200 High-speed train round trip about 300 + private car/carpool 300
Accommodation Guesthouse/economy hotel near the entrance, about 200-300 RMB/night × 3 nights Comfortable/hot spring hotel near the entrance, about 500-800 RMB/night × 3 nights
Tickets & Sightseeing Jiuzhaigou ticket + sightseeing bus 259, Huanglong ticket about 200 Same as left, with additional special experiences
Meals About 100-150 RMB/day × 4 days About 150-200 RMB/day × 4 days
Total About 2000-2500 RMB About 3500-4500 RMB

💡 Practical Tips

1. Altitude Sickness Prevention: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area’s highest altitude is 3100 meters. It is recommended to take Rhodiola 7 days in advance, avoid strenuous exercise, and oxygen bottles can be rented inside the park (about 30 RMB/bottle).
2. Photography Tips:
· Five Flower Lake: Best light and fewer people from 9-11 AM.
· Mirror Lake: Best reflection photos in the early morning.
· Five Color Pool: Colors are most vivid under direct sunlight from 11 AM to 12 PM.
· Clothing: Wearing white or light-colored clothes creates a strong contrast with the scenery, making photos stand out.
3. Avoid Pitfalls:
· Book tickets in advance to avoid no tickets on site.
· Plastic is banned inside Jiuzhaigou; bring your own water bottle.
· Wear non-slip comfortable shoes; some plank roads may be slippery.

This 4-day guide allows you to fully experience the essence of Jiuzhaigou in autumn within a limited time. If you are traveling with elderly or children, or have special accommodation needs, I can help adjust the itinerary details. Wish you a pleasant trip!