A Three-Day Trip to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong from Chengdu

When it comes to travel, I've always believed in a spontaneous approach. Of course, this trip to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong was no different—it wasn't overly planned. This year, due to work, I've been on a business trip in Chengdu. I've long heard about the beautiful scenery of Sichuan but never had the chance to see it. Seizing this rare opportunity, I called my family for a spontaneous trip, with Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong as the destinations.

As usual, there were five of us (including my wife, daughter, my mother, my mother-in-law, and myself). Originally, my wife and I planned to go light, but after much consideration, we decided to bring both mothers along, taking advantage of their relative youth to show them more (the fathers are always too busy with work, so every trip involves the two mothers). However, it later proved that this decision wasn't very wise—the journey to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong was too arduous. For those prone to motion sickness, it's advisable to think twice before going, or consider hiring a private car rather than a tour bus.

On November 11th, they flew directly from Nantong to Chengdu. We met at the airport and headed straight to the hotel. This time, we chose an apartment instead of a traditional hotel. Apart from the lack of breakfast, I found both the value for money and the living experience quite good. Yipin Yunshu International Apartment is located in Hengda Square, near Tianfu Square and not far from Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li. There are many street-side restaurants downstairs, making dining and shopping very convenient. You can book it directly on Ctrip—great value for money.

On the 12th, we took a rest day in Chengdu. One goal was to show them the bustling scene of this major western city, and the other was to prepare supplies for the trip to Jiuzhaigou on the 13th. In the morning, we went to Jinli, and in the afternoon, we strolled around Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li—just a stroll. Jinli felt overly commercial, and Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li didn't seem much different from Nanjing Road in Shanghai or Wangfujing in Beijing, so we were already indifferent.

The trip to Jiuzhaigou takes about 8 hours one way, so it's essential to prepare some snacks. Since the vehicle travels on winding mountain roads, motion sickness medication is also necessary—just in case. Moreover, the altitude of Huanglong Scenic Area exceeds 3,000 meters. For first-time visitors to high-altitude regions, it's necessary to bring medication for altitude sickness (tour groups stop at a place resembling a clinic before entering Huanglong, where they explain altitude sickness precautions and sell emergency medication at 100 yuan per dose). Altitude sickness really varies from person to person—I was able to run at the Five-Color Pond at the highest point of Huanglong, but my mother suffered severely with a splitting headache. Also, bring disposable raincoats, as the weather there is said to be unpredictable. However, we were lucky with the weather throughout the trip.

Alright! After a day of rest, we finally embarked on the journey to Jiuzhaigou. We got up at 6-something and set off, arriving at the entrance of Jiuzhaigou only at 8 PM, then checked into the hotel. Along the way, we made brief stops at the Panda Base, Diexi Haizi, and Songpan Ancient City. These short visits were merely to break up the monotonous drive—just enough to get off, take a photo, and check in.

At Diexi Haizi, there were a few white yaks. We had never seen yaks before and found them novel. Riding one for a photo cost 10 yuan per person.

On the 14th, we had another early start. We packed our luggage, checked out, and headed to Jiuzhaigou. Fortunately, the drive was only about ten minutes. Jiuzhaigou now operates a real-name system. The tour group had already submitted our information to the relevant authorities, so we just swiped our ID cards to enter.

Jiuzhaigou is shaped like a "Y". Upon entering the gate, we took a sightseeing bus. The buses head either toward Chang Hai (Long Sea) or toward Wu Hua Hai (Five Flower Sea). In any case, they drop you off at the highest point, and then you tour downward. Almost every scenic spot has a transfer point where you can get on and off at will. We first arrived at Wu Hua Hai.

I think Zhenzhu Tan Waterfall (Pearl Shoal Waterfall) is a must-see—it was a filming location for the 1984 version of "Journey to the West" and is truly spectacular.

Jing Hai (Mirror Sea) is also a must-visit in my opinion, because it's incredibly beautiful and requires almost no touch-up for photos.

Next stop was Nuorilang Central Station, where we had lunch. Smokers must take this opportunity to smoke as much as they want, because smoking is banned elsewhere in the scenic area. After lunch, we took a short rest and then switched to the bus heading to Chang Hai.

Chang Hai is the highest point of Jiuzhaigou, at an altitude of 3,100 meters.

Going down, we arrived at Wu Cai Chi (Five-Color Pond). (A must-visit spot—truly beautiful.)

Then we followed the main route scenery along the Nuorilang Waterfalls downward. For those with less stamina, do not stop at Lu Wei Hai (Reed Sea), because the road there is narrow and there is no transfer point, requiring a long walk to Pen Jing Tan (Bonsai Shoal) to catch the bus. Personally, I felt the scenery along the main route was somewhat similar—though still beautiful, it was slightly less impressive compared to the previous ones.

At 5 PM, we finished our tour of Jiuzhaigou. We boarded the bus and went to a Tibetan family restaurant to try a Tibetan hotpot and experience a different Tibetan culture. My mother danced and sang along with the Tibetan people, having a great time. Then we drove another hour and a half to Chuanzhusi Town, checked into our hotel, and ended the day's itinerary.

The next day, we had to get up early again. After a quick breakfast, we drove half an hour to Huanglong Scenic Area. The altitude here is above 3,000 meters. My mother and mother-in-law were already experiencing mild altitude sickness. Fortunately, we bought two doses of emergency medication at the aid station—it seemed to help; their symptoms eased after taking it.

In Huanglong, we first took a cable car to Wanglong Tai (Dragon Viewing Terrace) and then hiked. Those with good physical strength can head to the highest point, Wu Cai Chi (Five-Color Pond), but that adds about 3 kilometers of walking. However, I personally think the Five-Color Pond is worth visiting.

At 12 PM, the trip was essentially over. After lunch, we endured another 8-hour drive back to Chengdu in a hurry.

A fairyland on earth—Jiuzhaigou

An earthly paradise—Huanglong

Body in hell, soul in heaven.