Songpan, Huanglong, Zhaga waterfall

📅 Itinerary
Day1：Huanglong: have entrance and cable car tickets in advance. Difficult to get it on spot. Long queue (cca 1 hour) for the cable car at 10:45. Go there early, maybe less people are waiting in the morning. You can walk up but give yourself a favour and go up with cable car, and also take the mini shuttle for 20 CNY (4 km route). Even after that there is an extreme amount of stairs upward. Walking down is okay. For me it was 2 hours, I stopped at many places to take photos. Have portable oxygen with you for prevention, due to possible altitude sickness. There are also small oxygen provider huts but they are always full. Buy the oxygen bottle in advance, in the pharmacy it was only 35 CNY. It is also available while you are waiting in the cable car queue but I don't know their price.
Day2: Zhaga waterfall: the magic of magic. Have a transfer up to the waterfall not just to the ticket office (ticket office and waterfall entrance area has a 5 km slightly upward route). Then from the waterfall area entrance to the bottom of the big main waterfall at least 500 stairs and additional 500 stairs up to the top of the waterfall. Again, have oxygen with you. It is magical. And when you finish, if you find small buses, ask them if they go to Songpan town (if your hotel is there). Very cheap and no need to wait for the Didi driver (sometimes you have to place a 2nd or 3rd order as no drivers are available).
Day3: Songpan: Ancient City: lots of shops and "street" sellers, cookers, etc. Unique experience. Walk both day and night. Live music and local dancers enjoy the end of the day, everyone can join.
🏨 Accommodation: Songpan An Boutique Hotel, good. (the written name outside on the building is Xian Boutique Hotel)
🍴 Food Recommendations: whatever you like, they have both meaty and veggie options, street foods, noodle restaurants, etc.
📌 Tips: buy the oxygen in a pharmacy upon arrival. Even Songpan town is located at high altitude (2870m ASL).

Post by KingaQ | Aug 6, 2025