Away from city bustle, indulge in landscapes, savor the flavors of Jiuzhai, journey to the magical Jiuzhai, a paradise on earth.

Dressed fresh and light with luggage in hand, we are about to begin our ultimate 5-day, 4-night journey (Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou – Huanglong). We want to escape the city's hustle, indulge in the mountains and waters, savor the flavors of Jiuzhai, completely free our minds, cleanse our souls, purify our bodies and minds, and return to our origins.

After arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and exiting, we were greeted by a young chauffeur who warmly escorted us directly to our hotel in Chengdu.

After checking in, my companion and I visited the Yongling Museum in Chengdu, and then sampled local Chengdu cuisine on the famous snack street: Husband and Wife Lung Slices, Dandan Noodles, Beichuan Cold Noodles, Stone-Ground Tofu Pudding, Erjie's Diced Rabbit, and Sugar-Oil Balls. During this time, wherever we went, we kept our phones on and ready, ensuring the guide could contact us immediately if needed.

After a night's rest, we had breakfast at the hotel in the morning and set off for a pleasant second day.

We gathered at the hotel entrance and boarded the luxury minivan that came to pick us up. After about two hours of driving, we arrived at the first scenic spot of the trip – Dujiangyan China Giant Panda Park. Here, we saw many adorable giant pandas. Look, look at all those round and chubby ones! They are just too cute!!! Whether you are a child or an adult, you can't resist their charm.

In the Panda Paradise, the Shuangnan Garden, Diequan Garden, Linze Garden, and Panpan Garden are fully open to the public. There are also many associated animals such as red pandas, black bears, golden pheasants, silver pheasants, and ring-necked pheasants. Among the rare plants are the "living fossil" of the plant kingdom – the dove tree (Davidia involucrata), the "king of ferns" – the tree fern (Cyathea spinulosa), yew trees, and pandas' favorite bamboos like walking stick bamboo, black bamboo, square bamboo, and bitter bamboo – all lush green, soothing to the eyes and calming to the spirit.

In the afternoon, we went to Songzhou Ancient Town in Songpan County, northeastern part of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. Songzhou Ancient Town is a historic city of Sichuan and a famous frontier stronghold in history, known as the "Gateway to Western Sichuan." In ancient times, it was a key military area, having endured countless wars and disturbances. The blue-gray ancient city walls bear witness to the vicissitudes of changing times and the deep, heroic national character.

On the city walls, we experienced archery, tasted Tibetan horse tea, "traveled back to the Tang Dynasty," and participated in "border patrol" entertainment programs. We felt the long history and splendid culture of ancient Songzhou during the Han and Tang dynasties. Red lanterns strung together hung high under the eaves, and the wooden buildings were rustic and solid – truly awe-inspiring. Here, we achieved a spiritual time travel between the past and present.

In the evening, we arrived at our hotel in Jiuzhaigou. Under the guide's arrangement, we visited a Tibetan clay pot hotpot restaurant to experience the modern lifestyle and dietary habits of the Tibetan people, dancing and singing together with them. The hotpot broth was savory and aromatic, with a unique spiciness. The meat for dipping was well-marbled, with perfect thickness, and cooked quickly in the boiling water. Dipped in the secret sauce, it was simply delicious! Of course, there were also local specialty dishes. After the meal, patting our round bellies, we gave a thumbs up. Watching the natural and spontaneous dances of the Tibetan performers on stage, we couldn't resist joining them on the floor – yalaso!

On the third day, after breakfast, we headed to the highlight of the entire trip – Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage Reserve. Jiuzhaigou is enchanting: under the azure sky with white clouds, the lake is as clear as crystal, with small fish swimming and lush green water plants clearly visible at the bottom. The forests on the mountains are brilliantly colored – bright yellow, maple red, verdant green, tender green... The distant mountains are capped with pure white snow, pristine and flawless, beautiful yet majestic. Here, the body and mind are completely immersed in the landscape, the soul finds peace, and every pore feels comfortable.

The main valley of Jiuzhaigou is shaped like a "Y," with many lakes, waterfalls, and travertine streams distributed throughout. Water is the main protagonist of Jiuzhaigou's scenery: the crystal-clear, emerald-green streams thread through forests and shoals like necklaces. Amidst the colorful trees, there are countless waterfalls, forming rainbows of various sizes under the sunlight.

The Tibetan wooden houses, prayer flag racks, plank bridges, and mill houses in Jiuzhaigou are cultural sights worth seeing. Walking past the prayer flag racks, we reverently turned the prayer flags with our hands, silently praying for the gods' protection.

Back at the hotel in the evening, I immediately organized the photos I took during the day – there were so many! Then I posted them on my social media to share the beauty of Jiuzhaigou with everyone.

On the fourth day, we drove about two and a half hours to Huanglong Scenic Area. It is located at the foot of Xuebaoding, the main peak of the Minshan Mountains in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Renowned for its "four unique wonders" – travertine pools, snow-capped mountains, canyons, and forests – it is a rare natural travertine museum in the world, known as "a wonder of the world" and "the earthly Yaochi (Jade Lake)." Each travertine pool is a different color, each area a different hue, like precious gems embedded in the earth. The majestic snow mountains and the scenery at their feet form another unique picturesque scene. The canyons hold meltwater from the snow peaks, forming mirror-like lakes that resemble a fairy's dressing mirror. The verdant forests, full of lush greenery like ink washes, are soothing to the heart and eyes, and the high concentration of negative ions fills the body and mind with joy.

Beautiful moments are always fleeting. In the evening, we returned to Chengdu, and the guide arranged a car to take us back to the hotel.

On the fifth day, after breakfast and checking out, our trip came to an end. There was so much reluctance that words cannot express. I didn't want to leave the picturesque landscapes of Jiuzhaigou. I can only look forward to the next holiday to visit again. Goodbye, Jiuzhaigou. I want to show your beauty to the world, so that everyone can appreciate you.

Many friends have asked about the tour package I used. Instead of answering individually, I'll paste the link here for you all to check.

Chengdu + Jiuzhaigou + Huanglong Famous Scenic Area 5-Day 4-Night Group Tour (4 Diamond)

[20-person premium group] Pure play without shopping + upgraded to 2 nights at 5-diamond hotel, immediate discount of 200 per person upon booking. 'Double 5A scenic spots + Panda Paradise or Dujiangyan to choose from' Aero-type 2+1 minibus, complimentary 3 special meals: stone pot chicken, welcome banquet, Tibetan clay pot hotpot, 24-hour airport/train station transfer.

https://vacations.ctrip.com/travel/detail/p29165016/?city=1