# Jiuzhaigou and Aba Prefecture travel guide (九寨沟与阿坝州) Sichuan Province · Southwest, China · 16 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/sichuan/jiuzhaigou-and-aba-prefecture ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Huanglong → Songpan Ancient Town (overnight in the ancient town) - **Day 2:** Songpan → Songpinggou Valley → Kalong Valley → Heishui County (overnight in Heishui County) - **Day 3:** Heishui County → Dagu Glacier → Hongyuan Grassland (overnight in Hongyuan) - **Day 4:** Hongyuan → Miyaluo → Bipenggou → Taoping Qiang Village → Chengdu (overnight in Chengdu) - **Day 5:** Chengdu → Jianmen Pass → Zhaohua Ancient City → Thousand Buddha Cliff → Langzhong Ancient City ## The feel of the place - **Natural Disasters:** After the 2017 earthquake and the 2018 heavy rains, Jiuzhaigou's ecosystem suffered serious damage, several scenic spots within the park were badly destroyed, and the scenic area was closed. After a long period of restoration work, Jiuzhaigou has now reopened in an orderly way. - **Fairy-Tale World:** Anyone who sees Jiuzhaigou finds their vocabulary falls short, and they all, without prior agreement, reach for the same phrase to describe this magical place: a fairy-tale world. Visiting here, you'll find everything feels unreal. The richness of colours, the purity of land and sky, the transparency of the air, and the ever-shifting scenery make it seem impossible that such a place exists in the real world. Yet unless you come yourself, how would you know? ## The feel of the place ### Preparation and Consultation ### Language Most local residents are Tibetan. Having long dealt with outsiders, however, the vast majority can speak Sichuan dialect or Mandarin, so communication is usually not a problem. ### Climate and Travel Season Jiuzhaigou is busiest from late spring to early autumn, and October is the golden time to visit. You must, however, go before mid-November, as many sights close for fire prevention and other reasons after that. Mornings and evenings are cold, so bring a warm set of clothes even in summer. Summer brings plenty of rain, so don't forget an umbrella. Summer scenery is not at its best, and the road from Chengdu along the Min River often sees landslides that may disrupt your itinerary. ### Tourist Hub Along the Aba Prefecture route, centred on Jiuzhaigou, lie many of Sichuan Province's best-known attractions. ### Key Transit Hubs Apart from Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, no direct shuttle buses run between the other sights, so you will need to change buses or hire a car. The most important transit hubs are Songpan (松潘) and Chuanzhusi (川主寺). Songpan To Jiuzhaigou: four departures daily, fares ¥42–50. To Huanglong: in peak season, buses to Huanglong depart daily from 6:00, fare ¥28, usually returning to Songpan around 15:00. There are no buses in the off-season. Chuanzhusi You can wait at the Chuanzhusi bus station for the pass-through buses running from Songpan to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong (these generally reach Chuanzhusi about half an hour after leaving Songpan). The fare is a few yuan cheaper than boarding in Songpan. ### Free Oxygen Don't buy an oxygen cylinder. There are oxygen stations along almost the whole route to Huanglong, and for just ¥1 you can buy a set of tubing and breathe oxygen for free. At Huanglong, it is recommended to take the cable car up and walk down, as the scenery on the way down is truly beautiful. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There Most visitors to Jiuzhaigou travel via Chengdu. It is best to buy your bus ticket from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou one day in advance. ### By Air Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport is located in Chuanzhusi Town, Songpan County, about 90 km from Jiuzhaigou. Besides Chengdu and Chongqing, it has direct flights to Xi'an, Kunming, Zhangjiajie, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Fly first to Chengdu or Chongqing, then connect to Huanglong Airport. Civil aviation shuttle buses run from Huanglong Airport to Jiuzhaigou (¥45) and to Huanglong (¥22). ### By Rail You can take a train to Chengdu, or get off at Guangyuan or Jiangyou, then continue by bus to Jiuzhaigou. ### By Road Jiuzhaigou has two bus stations: the Jiuzhai Passenger Transport Centre at the valley entrance in Zhangza Town, and the Jiuzhaigou Bus Station in Jiuzhaigou County town. ### Long-Distance Bus Stops ### Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou Buses leave Chengdu's Xinnanmen Bus Station every morning for the valley entrance; the journey takes 8–10 hours. Chengdu's Chadianzi Bus Station also runs daily buses to the valley entrance and to Jiuzhaigou County town. ### Long-Distance Bus Stops ### Check whether there have been landslides on the road ahead, to avoid danger - tip: Eco-Buses Eco-buses only stop at designated stations, though you can ask to get off at a non-station point on the bus. Buses start at 7:00. The last buses back to Nuorilang leave Changhai at 16:30, the Primeval Forest at 18:00, and Nuorilang Central Station at 19:00 (18:00 in winter, when there are fewer visitors). Don't let the scenery make you forget the time; missing the last bus will leave you stranded. ### Getting Around the Scenic Area From May to November, the scenic area runs a shuttle system with 22 stops, and visitors can explore freely. From December to April, a tour-bus system applies: visitors ride a fixed bus. The system is not strictly enforced, and on the return trip you can often ride other groups' buses. Almost every sight has a bus stop; follow the stop signs. - **Inquiry Hotline** — - **Ticket Hotline** — - **Jiuzhai Passenger Transport Centre (near the valley entrance)** — (East of the valley entrance, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Jiuzhaigou County) - **Jiuzhaigou Bus Station (County Town)** — (Beside Jiuzhaigou County town) - **Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station** — (No. 2 Xinnanmen, Wuhou District, Chengdu) - **Chadianzi Passenger Station** — (West Third Ring Road, Chengdu) ## Eat & drink Most food in the Jiuzhaigou–Huanglong area is trucked in from outside, so eating and drinking costs are higher, and the range of flavours is limited. Roast whole lamb, hand-grabbed beef steak, zamian noodles, potato cibā, and qingke barley liquor can be found at every stop along the way. Many visitors may find them unfamiliar, but Sichuan dishes are common and there is a wide choice of instant noodles, so there is no need to worry too much about adjusting your diet. ## Nightlife To help visitors get their money's worth, Jiuzhaigou offers plenty of evening activities, so the nights here are far from dull. The Jiuzhaigou Ethnic Arts Centre occasionally hosts Tibetan and Qiang bonfire parties with guozhuang dancing, and Tibetan and Qiang foods such as roast whole lamb, butter tea, milk tea, hand-grabbed mutton, lamb ribs and yak meat are all on offer. ## Shopping In this area, ethnic handicrafts are the most captivating purchases, along with Chinese herbal medicines that are rare elsewhere. Qiang embroidery, Tibetan rings, Tibetan knives and prayer beads are the most worthwhile souvenirs here. ### Recommended Local Specialties - **Qiang Embroidery** — Geometric patterns with bold lines. The Qiang are one of China's smallest ethnic minorities, so their embroidery is worth collecting. - **Tibetan Knife** — A distinctive accessory that is not too expensive: around ¥10–20 after bargaining. If you are flying, however, you will have to leave it behind, as airlines do not allow it in checked baggage. ## Where to stay Accommodation is no concern when travelling to Jiuzhaigou–Huanglong. Ordinary hotels and guesthouses, as well as inns run by Tibetan families, are available, with prices and service levels varying widely. However, tourism here is highly seasonal: after October it shifts to the off-season, and most places to eat and stay close. Those who wish to travel in winter must plan ahead to avoid being left without a bed. There are many hotels at the valley entrance, easy to find once you get off the bus. In peak season, bargaining skills come in handy. By regulation, overnight stays inside the valley are not permitted, but you may try arranging to stay at a Tibetan family's home inside the valley. Well-known options include Uncle Shi's home and Xiao Liu's home in Shuzhengzhai. ### Aba Prefecture Route ### Daocheng and Garzê ### Along the Prefecture Route - **Four Seasons Fairytale Hotel** — (Pengfeng Village, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, 0837-7777123/13990435355) - **Xintaoge Tibetan Homestay** — (No. 1 Building, Longkang Village, Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Prefecture, 18508374400) ## Things to see - **Jiuzhaigou** (★★★★★): Admission Peak season: entrance ¥190, sightseeing bus ¥90; off-season: entrance ¥80, sightseeing bus ¥80; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiuzhaigou - **Ganbao Tibetan Village** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ganbao-tibetan-village - **Haizigou** (★★★★): Admission ¥60 (April–November); ¥40 (November–March of the following year); Opening hours 9：00—17：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/haizigou - **China Ancient Qiang City Scenic Area** (★★★★): Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/china-ancient-qiang-city-scenic-area - **Huanglong National Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥170; off-season ¥60; cable car ¥80 up, ¥40 down; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/huanglong-national-scenic-area - **Munigou** (★★★★): Admission Zhaga Waterfall ¥70; Erdaohai ¥70; combined ticket ¥100 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/munigou - **Zoige Rer Grassland** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zoige-rer-grassland - **Flower Lake** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥75; Opening hours Off-season: 9:00–17:30 Peak season: 6:30–20:00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/flower-lake - **Kalonggou Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kalonggou-scenic-area - **Miyaluo and Bipenggou** (★★★★★): Admission Bipenggou admission plus shuttle bus within the park ¥60; Taoping Qiang Village ¥30; Time needed Miyaluo: 2–3 hours; Bipenggou: 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/miyaluo-and-bipenggou - **Dagu Glacier** (★★★★): Admission ¥120; sightseeing bus ¥70; cable car ¥180; Opening hours 8：30—17：00; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dagu-glacier - **Zhaohua Ancient City** (★★★): Admission No entry ticket is needed for the ancient city. A combined ticket is required to visit some attractions, priced at ¥58.; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhaohua-ancient-city - **Langzhong Ancient City** (★★★): Admission Combined ticket ¥100. Zhang Fei Temple ¥50; Imperial Examination Hall ¥50; Confucian Temple ¥30; Zhongtian Tower ¥15; Huaguang Tower ¥15; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/langzhong-ancient-city - **Thousand Buddha Cliff** (★★★): Admission ¥50; Opening hours 8:00–18:00 (summer), 8:00–17:30 (winter); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/thousand-buddha-cliff - **Jianmen Pass** (★★★): Admission ¥105; Opening hours 8:30–16:30 (January–April), 8:00–17:00 (April–November); Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jianmen-pass - **Lianbao Yezé** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 9：00—17：30; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lianbao-yeze --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 363–382. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.