How do I get from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou?

Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong—these two names are enough to make any traveler who loves natural scenery swoon. Snow-capped mountains, colorful pools, forests, canyons, and alpine lakes—this place has almost every plateau landscape you can imagine.

But you'll soon encounter a real problem: how to get there from Chengdu?

For tourists, this choice might be more complicated than expected. What looks like a simple straight line from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou on the map actually involves a complete trek across the plateau. Your transportation choices will directly impact your physical stamina, time management, and even the overall quality of your travel experience.

First, figure out the distances: Chengdu → Huanglong → Jiuzhaigou

• Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area: Approximately 400 kilometers

• Chengdu to Huanglong Scenic Area: Approximately 330 kilometers

• Huanglong to Jiuzhaigou: Approximately 130 kilometers

This means: This is not an easy round trip between cities, but a true high-altitude mountain journey.

Why you should seriously consider "high-speed rail + chartered bus"

Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou are Sichuan's most magnificent natural scenic areas, but they are far from Chengdu.

In the past, tourists could only travel by bus (8-10 hours one way) or expensive domestic flights (prone to cancellation). The Chengdu-Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou high-speed railway, which opened in 2023, has completely changed the way people travel.

But here's the problem: the high-speed rail only goes to "Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Station," and doesn't go directly to the scenic area entrance.

From the high-speed rail station to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou scenic areas, there is a 1.5–2.5 hour drive along mountain roads.

The scenic areas themselves (Huanglong ↔ Jiuzhaigou) are also about a 2-hour drive apart.

Therefore, the most reasonable combination is:

• High-speed rail (fast, stable, and reliable) + chartered car (flexible, effortless, and controllable)

Of course, there's also Songpan Railway Station, which connects to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou scenic areas from Chengdu East Railway Station.

Why not hire a car for the whole trip? Because the highways from Chengdu to the high-altitude mountainous areas are prone to traffic jams (especially during holidays), while high-speed rail is stable, fast, and comfortable.

High-speed rail + chartered bus VS other methods: a real comparison

This distance is taken as an example, based on the arrival at Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Railway Station.

1. High-speed rail + scenic area bus (economical, but requires multiple transfers)

• High-speed rail: Chengdu East → Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Station, approximately 2-3 hours (comfortable and punctual).

• After exiting the station, transfer to a scenic area bus: to Huanglong or Jiuzhaigou, journey time 1.5-2.5 hours.

• Between scenic areas (Huanglong ↔ Jiuzhaigou): Requires another bus transfer, approximately 2 hours.

• Total number of transfers: At least 3-4 times (Hotel → High-speed rail station → Bus → Scenic area → Bus → Another scenic area)

• Luggage: Carry your own luggage throughout the journey; limited luggage space on the bus.

Advantages: Much faster than taking a bus the whole way, and cheaper (high-speed rail ticket + bus ticket totals approximately 200-300 yuan).

Disadvantages:

• You need to be very careful about the departure times of the high-speed rail and bus; missing one can be a big hassle.

• If you spend too much time in Huanglong, you might miss the last bus to Jiuzhaigou.

• Carrying luggage and changing buses at high altitudes is very physically demanding.

2. By Airplane (Fast, but Unreliable)

• Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport: Approximately 1 hour

• However, flights are highly susceptible to cancellation or delays due to weather.

• A chartered car or bus is still required to get from the airport to the scenic area.

Airplanes are suitable for those with a high budget and who are willing to accept the risk of cancellation.

3. High-speed rail + chartered car (Recommended)

• High-speed rail: Chengdu East → Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Station, approximately 2-3 hours

• Chartered car: High-speed rail station → Huanglong → Jiuzhaigou → Return to high-speed rail station

• No need to transfer to public transportation throughout the entire journey

• You have complete control over your time and pace

Of course, hiring a car also has its drawbacks; it will be more expensive.

Four core advantages of high-speed rail + chartered bus

I. How you spend your time is up to you.

• Hotel pick-up → High-speed rail station → Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou station → Direct drop-off at the entrance of Huanglong Scenic Area

• After your visit, the driver will be waiting for you at the exit and will take you directly to Jiuzhaigou or your hotel.

You save 1.5–2 hours of waiting and transfer time each day.

For high-altitude travel, this isn't about convenience, but about safety.

II. Physical strength is the most valuable resource for high-altitude travel.

Huanglong is over 3,500 meters above sea level, and the hiking route in Jiuzhaigou is very long. Most people will experience varying degrees of altitude sickness.

If you take the scenic area shuttle bus:

• You'll need to carry your own luggage on and off the bus.

• You'll need to find the transfer point at an unfamiliar station.

• You need to catch the last bus, otherwise you'll be stranded outside the scenic area.

• If you hire a car:

• Leave your luggage in the car, no need to worry about it.

• The driver will wait for you and won't rush you.

• If you get tired, you can rest, drink water, and use supplemental oxygen directly in the car.

On the plateau, "saving energy" is not a matter of comfort, but a matter of safety.

III. Control – This is the biggest difference

You can decide:

1. What time to depart in the morning (to avoid crowds or get a good night's sleep)

2. Spend an extra hour in Huanglong (if you feel good)

3. Leave a certain attraction early (if you're tired or the weather gets worse)

4. Stop along the way to eat, take photos, or use the restroom

5. Whether to drop off your luggage at the hotel before entering the scenic area

IV. Who is it suitable for? Who is it not suitable for?

More suitable for those who want to hire a car:

• First-time visitors to high-altitude areas (unsure about physical reactions)

• Travelers with limited time (3-4 day round trip)

• Families (elderly, children, unexpected needs)

• Those who want to combine Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou in one day (although not recommended, hiring a car is the only possible option if absolutely necessary)

People who don't necessarily need a chartered car:

• Those familiar with the Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou scenic areas

• Backpackers with plenty of time

• Those who enjoy interacting with strangers and don't mind the uncertainty of transportation

• Those with a limited budget

How to visit Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou

Let's briefly learn about the core scenery of Huanglong Scenic Area and Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and how to enjoy them.

I. How to play in Huanglong

Key features: Huanglong is an ascending valley, with its main attraction being the travertine pools (five-colored pools), distributed from bottom to top. The altitude rises from 3200 meters to 3900 meters.

Core attractions：

• Five-Colored Pools: The largest cluster of colorful pools in Huanglong, consisting of hundreds of pools of varying sizes and colors ranging from light blue to dark green, resembling a natural palette. Located at the very top of the scenic area, it is the highlight of the entire area.

• The Contending Beauty Pool: Located next to the Five-Colored Pool, the pools are more densely packed, creating a stronger contrast in colors. On a clear day, they appear to have a golden edge in the sunlight.

• Golden Sands: A travertine flow about 1.5 kilometers long, with a golden-yellow surface, resembling a "golden waterfall" solidified on the hillside. There are no pools here, but the landform is very unique.

  

• Welcome Pool: The first group of colorful pools you see after entering the scenic area. It is relatively small, but the water is clear and bright, making it a good spot for warm-up photos.

What can you do here?

• Searching for Alpine Wildlife

Blue-eared pheasants (large pheasants with blue feathers) and Tibetan snowcocks are commonly seen in the Huanglong Forest, and red pandas are occasionally spotted. Keep quiet; they are more likely to be seen in the early morning or evening.

• Compare the colors of the pools under different lighting conditions

The color of travertine pools changes with the angle of sunlight: it appears bluish-green in the morning, emerald green at midday, and milky white on cloudy days. You can take the time to observe the color changes of the same pool over a few minutes.

Ticket details:

• Peak season (April 19 to October 30): 170 RMB; Off-season (November 1 to April 18 of the following year): 60 RMB.

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area

Key features: A Y-shaped valley, at an altitude of 2000–3100 meters, characterized by crystal-clear alpine lakes (locally called "haizi"), wide waterfalls, colorful forests, and snow-capped peaks. Public buses are available within the scenic area, allowing for easy hop-on and hop-off at any time; physical fitness is a factor.

Core attractions：

• Five-Flower Lake: The most beautiful lake in Jiuzhaigou. The water color gradually changes from light blue to dark green, and fallen dead trees lie horizontally underwater, as clear as if they were in a glass box. Walking halfway around the lakeside boardwalk, the color changes completely from different angles.

• Pearl Shoal Waterfall: A wide, sloping waterfall where water droplets leap like pearls before cascading down to form a broad waterfall. This was the filming location for the ending theme song of the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West".

  

• Nuorilang Waterfall: China's widest travertine waterfall (approximately 270 meters wide). Water cascades down from a dense thicket of trees, creating a unique effect. It is located at the center of a Y-shaped formation.

  

• Five-Colored Pool: Unlike the Five-Colored Pool in Huanglong, this is a small but deep lake with a rich sapphire blue and purple color and extremely high color saturation.

  

• Shuzheng Lakes: A series of terraced lakes separated by forest, with water flowing from one lake to the next, forming a natural "water staircase".

Besides the core attractions mentioned above, Jiuzhaigou also has many unique lakes, each filled with a magical charm.

What can you do here?

• Have a plateau roasted potato or yak kebab.

In Nuorilang Center or Jiuzhaigou Town, locals sell roasted potatoes and yak meat skewers. You can also try some of the local specialties.

• Watch a large-scale Tibetan and Qiang song and dance performance

"Jiuzhaigou Eternal Love" is a top-tier, large-scale song and dance show performed in the Jiuzhaigou Eternal Love Scenic Area. The most breathtaking part is the 5D recreation of the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake – 3,000 tons of floodwater pour down, causing the entire theater to shake violently, creating an immersive experience.

• Join the Guozhuang Bonfire Party

Some Tibetan villages and performance venues around the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Valley host Guozhuang bonfire parties in the evenings. Locals light the bonfire and dance the Guozhuang dance in a circle, holding hands. Tourists are welcome to join in at any time.

Ticket details:

• Peak season (April 1st to November 15th): Ticket price 190 RMB, bus ticket 90 RMB;

• Off-season (November 16th to March 31st of the following year): Ticket price 80 RMB, bus ticket 80 RMB.

7 things you must confirm before booking a chartered car

Before payment, please confirm the following:

Does the high-speed rail station pick-up and drop-off service apply?

• Yes, from the high-speed rail station to the scenic area and back.

Will the driver wait outside the scenic area?

• Please clearly state "will wait," not "drop off and leave."

How long will the waiting time be? What are the charges for overtime?

• Usually 8-10 hours are free; overtime is charged hourly.

Does the price include fuel, tolls, and parking fees?

• It must be an "all-inclusive price," otherwise additional charges will apply.

Is the vehicle type and luggage space sufficient?

• A 5-seater vehicle is suitable for a maximum of 3 people plus luggage; a 7-seater vehicle is suitable for 4-5 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

• Is a full refund available if cancelled 24 hours in advance?

Is the driver familiar with high-altitude routes?

• Ideally, the driver should have high-altitude driving experience and know where ice is likely to form and where oxygen stations are located.

Recommended chartered car trip

If you are interested in chartering a car, or specifically for Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou scenic areas, we recommend:

Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Tour Aba - 3 Days Private Car

Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Private Tour in Aba

Jiuzhaigou Private Car Tour from Aba Station

The guide contains links to the attractions：China Travel Book