7-Day Sichuan Trip (Chengdu - Mount Emei - Leshan - Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong)

Note 1: Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, rain gear, ID card, power bank, and medicine (stomach medicine, cold medicine, motion sickness medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, band-aids).

Note 2: Apply for the Chengdu Metro code on your phone in advance. The two children bring their ID cards (free for bus, metro, and high-speed rail).

Note 3: The first stop is Mount Emei. Some mountain trails require walking. It is recommended to store luggage at the Emeishan High-Speed Rail Station (large bag 30 yuan, small bag 15 yuan, can be stored until the next day; bargaining is possible for multiple items). Carry a backpack up the mountain. Wear long pants and long sleeves. Put jackets and base layers for adults and children, plus a change of clothes for the next day in the backpack. Protect against cold and sun. The summit is about 13°C cooler than the base, and with mountain winds it will be cool, especially at night and during sunrise.

Note 4: Book tickets and hotels for all major scenic spots in advance.

Note 5: In Jiuzhaigou, buy two oxygen canisters near the hotel as backup. Some points are at around 3,000 meters; normally you don't need them if you don't run or jump. Huanglong is above 3,500 meters, higher than Jiuzhaigou (the highest point in Huanglong is 5,500 meters but usually not visited; the highest popular spot is about 3,500 meters). Visiting Jiuzhaigou first helps with acclimatization.

Note 6: There are oxygen stations in the scenic areas. If the oxygen canisters are insufficient, call for scenic area emergency or go to an oxygen station to rest (our group of four adults and two children found two oxygen canisters sufficient).

Note 7: This itinerary covers famous Sichuan attractions scattered across three cities/counties, so you will use almost all means of transportation and spend a lot of time on the road. Consider whether it suits you.

Brief itinerary: Take an early morning flight from Guangzhou to Chengdu Tianfu (cheaper; if first stop is Chengdu, suggest flying to Shuangliu). Take the metro to Chengdu East High-Speed Rail Station and have lunch there.

While eating lunch, estimate the time and buy tickets to Emeishan Station. After arriving, store luggage at the station. Take the scenic area bus from the station to Leidongping, walk to Jieyindian, and take the cable car up the mountain before 18:00.

Take high-speed rail from Chengdu East to Emeishan Station (about 65 yuan, about 1 hour 20 minutes).

Store luggage at the high-speed rail station upon arrival.

Buy a combo ticket in advance through the official WeChat account (370 yuan/person, includes entrance fee, up/down mountain buses, and round-trip cable car). Enter with ID card; children under 1.2 meters and under 7 years old are free; carry them through the gate.

Take the scenic area bus directly from the high-speed rail station; the whole ride takes about two hours.

First and last bus times: 06:00 – 17:00/18:00 (only one round trip, but valid for two days).

Between Leidongping and Jieyindian, you need to walk (normally 20-30 minutes; not far, but due to high altitude and stairs, go slowly).

From Jieyindian to Jinding Cable Car (cable car takes 3-5 minutes; walking would take two hours).

Cable car hours: 06:00 – 18:00 (only one round trip, valid for two days).

I chose the Jinding Hotel (over 400 yuan in low season), Leidongping/Jieyindian (around 200 yuan), and a hotel at the foot (over 100 yuan). If you don't want to see sunrise, you don't need to stay at Jinding.

Rent cotton coats at the top (30 yuan; usually not needed if you bring a light jacket and base layer).

Mount Emei's four major sights: sunrise/sunset, sea of clouds, Buddha's light, and sacred lamps (sunrise and sunset cannot be seen without staying at Jinding due to cable car hours. The sea of clouds is usually at 9-10 AM. Both require good weather; check the forecast before departure. Buddha's light and sacred lamps are rare, don't have high expectations. Besides the four sights, the overall environment is nice, but food choices are limited.

The restaurant at Jinding Grand Hotel: for our group of four adults and two children, it cost over 300 yuan and was acceptable, better than typical scenic area food.

After dinner, take a casual walk (there are temples like Wanfoding, Huazang Temple, and Woyun Nunnery if interested; sometimes there are evening ceremonies. During our visit, the path to Wanfoding was closed. Wanfoding is the highest point; supposedly the view is better than Jinding; if accessible, it's worth going.)

Go to bed early. Before sleeping, check the next morning's sunrise time and set an alarm (hoping for good weather).

Jinding Grand Hotel (we paid 467 in low season).

Brief itinerary: Set alarm – sunrise – breakfast – sea of clouds – descend the mountain – Leshan – drop luggage at hotel – take a taxi (if no kids, use shared bikes) to Jiaxing Road (recommend Fengsilang's Qiaojiao Beef, Zhao Duck's Sweet Crispy Duck, Xiaodou Haitang) for eating – Leshan Giant Buddha – continue eating (Shangzhongshun) – late-night snack recommend Changyaohaoyun Fried food.

Leshan Giant Buddha (food is also a theme here).

Time it to watch sunrise, then wander and take photos, have breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, and see the sea of clouds.

Take the cable car down, then transfer to the bus. Get off at Wannian Temple (bus ticket only for one round trip, valid for two days; you can get off once for free at either Wannian Temple or Wuxiangang on the way down. If you get off, take the Wannian Temple cable car up (65 yuan, down 45 yuan) to Wannian Temple; most go for blessings. If not interested, go directly down the mountain and take the high-speed rail back.

If going to Wannian Temple (skip it if going to Wanfo Temple), have vegetarian lunch there (20 yuan); otherwise, eat in Leshan (I chose not to go, directly to Leshan).

Return to the high-speed rail station to pick up luggage.

Emeishan Station to Leshan Station (about 12 yuan, around 20 minutes).

Take a taxi to Leshan Tangyuchan Enjoy and Nourish Resort Hotel (247 yuan including breakfast) and store luggage.

Take a taxi to Jiaxing Road (ordered a set meal at Fengsilang Qiaojiao Beef, packed a duck from Zhao Duck's Sweet Crispy Duck, then had a sweet soup at Xiaodou Haitang).

After lunch, take a taxi to Leshan Giant Buddha, get off at the North Gate parking lot, then walk a few steps to the free shuttle bus that takes you to the ticket gate. Enter with ID card (80 yuan/person). Children under 6 years old are free (but need to bring ID for verification).

Personal suggestion: enter the scenic area and walk around; you can also take a boat. Boating is less tiring and you can see the Buddha, but you miss other spots inside, and it lacks the impact of viewing from the Buddha's feet.

Shangzhongshun (Ju Popo's Mian Bing, Haihui Yuan's Fresh Meat Shao Mai, Jiujiu Tofu Pudding, Jiumei Chicken Feet) – try small portions of many things, eat until full. Then visit nearby malls. For late-night snack, recommend Changyaohaoyun Fried food.

Snack recommendations: Suckling Tofu Pudding, Pig Intestine Sandwich, Leshan Bobal Chicken, Egg Puff Cake, Suckling Meat Ka Bing, Brown Sugar Guokui, Wolf Tooth Potato, Leshan Spicy Hot Pot, Ye'er Ba, Shredded Tofu Sandwich, Ka Ka.

Return to hotel and rest early; the next day we catch the high-speed rail.

Brief itinerary: After breakfast, prepare some snacks – take a taxi to Leshan Station for the 08:49 train changing to high-speed rail – arrive at Zhenjiangguan at 12:11, take the 12:50 bus to the hotel – Jiuzhaigou Eternal Love scenic area.

Have breakfast, buy some food, then take the high-speed rail (Leshan to Zhenjiangguan, transfer at Chengdu East, about 200 yuan). Train from Leshan at 08:49 to Chengdu East at 09:36, high-speed rail from Chengdu East at 10:30 to Zhenjiangguan at 12:11. Reserve the hotel's 12:50 bus, arrive at hotel around 16:00, drop luggage and go to Jiuzhaigou Eternal Love or nearby food street.

Two common ways from the high-speed rail station to the hotel (about three hours drive. One reason we chose Xingyu Hotel is that it includes the bus ticket from Zhenjiangguan to the hotel. Buying tickets on the official WeChat account costs 75/person, but only two buses a day directly to the hotel, so it's best to catch this time.):

If not taking the bus, a 7-seat minivan shared with others costs 100/person (children same price);

Recommend Xingyu International Hotel (618 yuan for two nights, includes two bus tickets, Tibetan clothing experience, breakfast, and a fruit basket). There are two bus trips a day directly to the hotel: 12:50 and 17:00. At least one week in advance, ask the hotel to check if tickets are available. Confirm before booking. Children's bus tickets need to be purchased separately for 75 yuan (I negotiated with the hotel and they helped buy them for 50/person).

Jiuzhaigou Eternal Love: buy online for 280/person; through hotel or taxi drivers for 180/person. It's a scenic-style area with a main performance, food, and a small market. Showtimes: 17:30-18:30 and 19:00-20:00.

Jiuzhaigou opens at 8:00 and stops admission at 14:00. Rest early; tomorrow is another full day.

Brief itinerary: Early rise, hotel breakfast – enter Jiuzhaigou a little after 8:00 – leave before 18:00 – dinner – return to hotel.

Jiuzhaigou (tickets for both Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong can be bought on the WeChat account "Aba Tourism Network").

After breakfast at the hotel, head out. Jiuzhaigou has many spots; suggest entering a little after 8:00 (6 minutes by taxi from the hotel).

Ticket: 190 yuan entrance + 90 yuan sightseeing bus.

First boarding and the section from Nuorilang to Changhai are over ten kilometers each; you must sit. Other stops are shorter and you can stand.

Approximate route inside: Jianzhu Sea – Jianzhu Sea Waterfall (walk) – Panda Sea (walk) – Wuhua Sea – Pearl Beach (walk) – Mirror Sea – Nuorilang Waterfall (can also see on return) – Changhai – Wucai Pond (walk 800m). On return, see Rhinoceros Sea, Tiger Sea, Spark Sea, etc. Shuzheng Group Sea is closed, only viewable from a distance.

Lunch: Nuorilang Restaurant (the only restaurant; food is average. If you don't want the set meal, bring self-heating food; available at hotel supermarkets).

Closing time is 17:30, but generally no one chases you out even after 18:00. If you take your time, you'll finish by around 17:00.

Dinner recommendation: Anu Tibetan Restaurant.

Return to hotel and rest early; tomorrow is Huanglong.

Brief itinerary: Early rise, hotel breakfast – leave hotel around 8:00 – Huanglong – expected playtime 10:30 to 15:00 (lunch at the scenic area; there is a restaurant halfway up, or bring self-heating rice) – last high-speed rail back to Chengdu East departs at 19:11 – metro to hotel – walk to dinner.

Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, and the high-speed rail station are far apart. I found two ways to visit Huanglong after Jiuzhaigou and return to Chengdu (our group of 4 adults and 2 children chose the first option; the hired driver will stop at rest/toilet points, usually shops selling specialties; no forced consumption, but they offer free samples to make you feel obliged to buy):

1. Hire a private car (700 yuan, picks up from hotel in the morning, goes to Huanglong, luggage stays in the car, after finishing picks you up and drives directly to Zhenjiangguan High-Speed Rail Station).

2. Take a taxi to the bus station – take a bus to Huanglong (full fare 80 yuan, same for children; sometimes group tickets available) – store luggage at Huanglong Visitor Center, play – after playing, take a taxi to Songpan Bus Station (about 150 yuan) – from Songpan Bus Station take a bus to Zhenjiangguan High-Speed Rail Station (free with train ticket; buses at 10:30 and 16:00).

Huanglong ticket: 60 yuan (entry hours 08:00-16:30; peak season 170 yuan, low season 60 yuan; December 16 – May 31 is low season). Near the visitor center, there is a free green cart to the cable car check-in area (if you have a private car, it will drop you directly at the cable car gate). Uphill cable car 80 yuan, downhill 40 yuan. Sightseeing car (20 yuan, from cable car to Wucai Pond, only 5,000 tickets per day, saves one hour of walking; must book several days in advance).

Recommended play time at Huanglong is about four hours. Walk slowly and normally; if you feel unwell, use oxygen (not needed if you don't run or jump; one oxygen canister is enough even for those with weaker health).

After exiting, contact the hired driver; they usually wait nearby; the driver appeared 7-8 minutes after we called. (Driving time about two hours, so must finish by 15:00.)

The last high-speed rail from Zhenjiangguan to Chengdu departs at 17:30 (book in advance), arrives in Chengdu at 19:11. After arriving at the hotel and dropping luggage, walk to Chunxi Road or Taikoo Li for dinner. Our first meal in Chengdu was at Taolin Restaurant; service and taste were good, recommended.

Check into Hanting Hotel (Chunxi Road new branch; this branch has free washing machine and dryer).

Brief itinerary: Wake up naturally – breakfast/lunch – Sanxingdui – Fuqin Night Market.

Sanxingdui Museum.

After waking up, take a taxi or take a direct bus from under the panda's bottom (can buy tickets in advance on the mini program "Scenic Area Direct Bus").

Sanxingdui Museum (72 yuan/person, open 08:30-18:00, last entry 17:00; book tickets on WeChat public account; can book 5 days in advance; tickets released at 20:00 daily).

Starting from Chunxi Road:

1. Walk to Chunxi Road bus stop, take Sanxingdui tourism direct bus (departures 07:00-16:00 hourly; return 09:30-20:30, depart when full, 25/person; about 2 hours).

2. Walk to metro station, take metro 6 stops to Chengdu East Railway Station, then take train to Guanghan North, walk 15 minutes; about 2 hours.

3. Taxi 70-90 yuan; for our 4 adults and 2 children, we took two taxis.

There is a restaurant near Hall 2 where you can order dishes.

Recommended play time is 3-4 hours; you'll finish in the afternoon.

Take a bus or taxi to Fuqin Night Market, eat and walk around. If you still have room, go to the unnamed pig trotter shop near the hotel for late-night snack.

Brief itinerary: Breakfast at a nearby skewer shop or noodle shop – take a taxi to Wenshu Monastery – Sichuan Opera performance at Shuyi Theater – Dongzikou Zhang Er's Liangfen – Palace Pastry – take a taxi to Kuanzhai Alley – dinner recommendation: Three Pao Street Laozhaizi Feichang Yu (intestine fish).

Those not marked as taxi can be reached by walking; it's not far. If not carrying kids, shared bikes would be more convenient for places marked as taxi.