6-Day Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong Scenic Tour by High-Speed Rail

Arrive at Chengdu airport or railway station independently, check in to the hotel and settle down to adapt to the local climate. In the afternoon, stroll through Kuan and Narrow Alleys, a historic old street integrating Sichuan traditional architecture and trendy commerce, then walk to Kuixinglou Street to taste authentic Chengdu snacks.

In the evening, visit IFS Giant Panda Sculpture and Taikoo Li Commercial District, the landmark of Chengdu. Enjoy the night view of Jinli Ancient Street, try local specialties such as spicy rabbit head, three cannons and ice jelly. Prepare travel supplies in advance: sunscreen, windbreaker, altitude sickness medicine, snacks and drinking water for mountain scenic spots.

Take the early high-speed rail from Chengdu East Railway Station to Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Railway Station (2 hours ride). Upon arrival, transfer to Huanglong Scenic Area by chartered car/through shuttle.

Huanglong Sightseeing Route (3,100m-3,900m altitude): Take the cable car uphill → Visit the core attraction Five-Color Pool (the highest and most beautiful calcified pool in Huanglong) → Huanglong Ancient Temple → Blooming Pool → Golden Sand Pavement → Walk downhill on foot. The whole sightseeing lasts about 3.5-4 hours.

High-altitude reminder: Walk slowly, avoid running and jumping, do not drink alcohol to prevent altitude sickness. After the tour, transfer to Jiuzhaigou Valley Entrance Town, check in the hotel, and taste local yak meat hot pot for dinner.

Arrive at the scenic spot before 7:40 to take the first sightseeing bus and start a one-stop in-depth tour of Jiuzhaigou's three major gullies without backtracking.

Morning | Rizegou Gully (Essence Scenery): Take the sightseeing bus directly to the Primeval Forest at the top, then visit downward Arrow Bamboo Lake → Panda Lake → Five-Flower Lake (the most colorful lake in Jiuzhaigou, core photography spot) → Pearl Shoal Waterfall (classic shooting location of Journey to the West) → Mirror Lake.

Afternoon | Zechawagou Gully (High-Altitude Lakes): This high-altitude gully features grand and pristine alpine lake scenery. Visit Long Lake, Jiuzhaigou's largest and highest alpine lake, surrounded by rolling snow-capped mountains for a vast, majestic view. The tour also includes the exquisite Mini Five-Color Pool, a compact yet breathtaking scenic spot with vivid gradient water colors that rival the famous core Five-Color Pool, showcasing the unique calcified landscape beauty of Jiuzhaigou.

Evening | Shuzhenggou Gully (Classic Waterfalls & Lake Groups): Explore Jiuzhaigou's most concentrated cluster of waterfalls and alpine lakes with distinctive terraced calcified landforms. The highlight is Nuorilang Waterfall, China's widest calcified waterfall, delivering stunning cascading water curtains and powerful visual momentum. Wander past the tranquil Rhinoceros Lake, where peaceful water perfectly mirrors mountain scenery, and the interconnected Shuzheng Lake Groups that form layered, dreamlike water landscapes. The tour also covers Spark Lake, where sunlight dances on rippling water to create dazzling sparkling effects, and the soft pastoral Reed Lake, a unique wetland scenery covered in dense reeds.

Return to the hotel to rest after the tour. 

Optional night activity: Watch Jiuzhaigou Eternal Love live show to experience local Tibetan and Qiang ethnic customs, song and dance culture.

Option 1: Secondary Jiuzhaigou Scenic Tour (For photography & scenery lovers)
Re-enter the Jiuzhaigou scenic area with only a sightseeing bus ticket required. Wander along quiet niche plank roads that were skipped on the first visit, and capture breathtaking morning mist and mirror-like water reflections at Reed Lake and Tiger Lake. These lesser-crowded spots showcase Jiuzhaigou's pristine, untouched natural beauty, allowing photographers and scenery enthusiasts to enjoy soft light, serene water scenes and pure alpine atmosphere away from tourist crowds.

Option 2: Tibetan & Qiang Cultural Experience (For leisure & culture lovers)
In the morning, dress up in authentic traditional Tibetan costumes for immersive travel photography and explore local Tibetan villages in Tenzha Town, where you can witness genuine Tibetan architectural styles, folk traditions and local daily life. In the afternoon, travel to Songpan Ancient City, a well-preserved strategic frontier city of the Tang Dynasty and an important hub on the ancient Southern Tea Horse Road. Walk along the ancient city walls and old streets that carry profound historical and cultural heritage. In the evening, join a genuine Tibetan family cultural experience, taste traditional butter tea and barley wine, and participate in the lively local Guozhuang group dance to feel the warm and bold ethnic customs of Tibetan and Qiang minorities.

Start the morning with a leisurely 1-hour drive to Songpan Ancient City, a millennia-old frontier stronghold and vital gateway of the ancient Southern Tea Horse Road, boasting well-preserved ancient city walls, traditional Tibetan-Qiang architectures and profound border cultural heritage. Wander along the ancient stone streets for around 1.5 hours, explore local folk shops, and browse authentic local specialties including air-dried yak meat and handmade Tibetan incense as ideal travel souvenirs. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing lunch in Chuanzhusi Town, a quiet alpine town nestled among mountains, where you can overlook the distant snow-capped mountain ranges and embrace the grand pastoral alpine scenery.

In the afternoon, depart for Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Railway Station and take the comfortable high-speed rail back to Chengdu East Railway Station. After arriving in the bustling urban area of Chengdu in the evening, head to the popular Jianshe Road Snack Street, a local food paradise gathering countless authentic Sichuan street foods. Taste classic Sichuan delicacies and end the alpine scenery journey with rich local flavors.

Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base: Start the final day early with a visit to the world-famous Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, the largest and most professional panda conservation and breeding center globally. Arriving before 10:00 a.m. allows you to witness giant pandas, red pandas and fluffy panda cubs at their most energetic, feeding and playing actively in natural enclosures. This immersive wildlife experience offers a close encounter with China's national treasure, creating unforgettable heartwarming travel moments.

Wenshu Monastery & Local Pastry Tasting: In the peaceful noon hours, visit Wenshu Monastery, the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple in downtown Chengdu, featuring elegant ancient courtyard architecture, lush green gardens, and a serene Buddhist atmosphere far away from urban hustle. Stroll through the quiet halls and stone paths to experience Chengdu's slow-paced cultural charm. After sightseeing, taste authentic traditional Sichuan palace pastries at the century-old nearby shops, enjoying classic local flavors favored by locals all year round.

Before departure, you can browse local specialty stores to purchase classic Sichuan souvenirs, including authentic spicy hot pot bases, air-dried beef jerky and handmade snacks, perfect for sharing travel memories with family and friends. Finally, transfer to Chengdu airport or railway station on time according to your personal flight or train schedule, concluding your unforgettable journey of fairyland alpine scenery and profound Chengdu humanistic culture.