Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Five-Day Tour
I've wanted to explore Jiuzhaigou for a long time!
As a foodie who can't eat spicy food, Chengdu wasn't my first choice, but it had always been a place I longed to visit. From October to December, every time I planned a spontaneous trip, something unexpected would come up. Fortunately, I finally made it in December.
Travel gear: 2 phones, 1 compact camera
Clothing: 1 down jacket, softshell jacket, hiking shoes, gloves, hat
Essentials: toiletries, slippers, motion sickness medicine, Yunnan Baiyao, insulated water bottle, band-aids, power bank, selfie stick, charger, cash (both Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu locals really dislike using credit cards, so bring extra cash), etc.
[Day 1] Capital Airport – Chengdu Shuangliu Airport
On the bus, we decisively bought tickets for the return trip from Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu, Chengdu to Dujiangyan and Qingchengshan, and Chengdu to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, saving us a lot of time. The journey from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou was long, from 7:00 to 17:00. Half-asleep, I still managed to catch glimpses of the beautiful scenery along the way: Wenchuan, Maoxian, Diexi Lake, and Songpan Ancient City.
We arrived at Jiuzhaigou around 18:00. The sudden white landscape made me incredibly happy. Local Tibetans said it was rare to encounter snowfall like this. That night, we stayed at a hotel near the Jiuzhaigou entrance. The environment was average, probably due to the off-season, but prices were cheap—perfect for budget travelers. It was only a 10-minute walk to the Jiuzhaigou entrance, very convenient. Since it was already late after checking in, many shops were closed, so we ate at a small place nearby. In the off-season, you need to eat early in Jiuzhaigou.
[Day 2] [Day 3] Exploring Jiuzhaigou
We booked a 2-day itinerary for Jiuzhaigou. Off-season ticket: 80 yuan, bus fare: 80 yuan, insurance: 10 yuan, second-day re-entry fee: 20 yuan, bus fare: 80 yuan, total 270 yuan. Fewer people, beautiful scenery, no rush—very worthwhile.
*For the second-day entry, you must inform the ticket seller when purchasing on the first day and have your photo taken at the entrance!
Day 1 itinerary: Rize Valley (Arrow Bamboo Lake – Panda Lake – Five Flower Lake – Pearl Shoal – Pearl Shoal Falls – Mirror Lake – Nuorilang Falls) – Nuorilang Center – Zechawa Valley (Long Lake – Five Flower Lake) – Nuorilang Center – Return
Day 2 itinerary: Hiking in Shuzheng Valley (Rhino Lake – Tiger Lake – Shuzheng Lakes – Shuzheng Waterfall – Crouching Dragon Lake – Spark Lake – Reed Lake – Bonsai Shoal)
No more words—snowy scenery photos:
On the second day, the weather cleared up, and the contrasts of light and color immediately stood out. I impulsively ran back to Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake, and Five Flower Lake to take more photos. Hiking through Shuzheng Valley was also incredibly enjoyable. We started strolling around noon, and the paths were almost empty. Enjoying delicious food amidst such beautiful scenery was pure bliss.
*The lunch at Nuorilang Visitor Center is expensive; it's recommended to bring your own.
Foodie recommendations: Highland barley cake, yak meat, potato ci ba, cheese
Foodie summary: Not necessarily delicious, but about trying new things.
[Day 4] Jiuzhaigou – Chengdu
Although the two days in Jiuzhaigou were relaxing, they still left us, who rarely exercise, feeling tired. We slept most of the way on the bus and arrived at Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station at 17:00, feeling refreshed.
Accommodation: Jiaoliao Boutique Hotel in Kuanzhai Alley – a bit luxurious
The moment we stepped in, this Chengdu guesthouse was absolutely stunning! It's right inside the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area, so you can step out and explore. It's close to Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, Tianfu Square, etc., accessible by subway or taxi (about 10 yuan by taxi).
The overall style of this guesthouse is exactly what I love. The room design leans toward Japanese, built with pure wood, giving off a unique, soothing fragrance. The room also features handmade Shu embroidery and a wren painted by a renowned artist.
The hotel is filled with calligraphy, paintings, and antiques that the owner painstakingly collected. Every detail is thoughtfully done and impeccable.
Room: The door uses an electronic lock for safety. The entire room, including decorations and the bed, is made of phoenix tree wood, giving off a faint woody scent that is very relaxing.
The room has a designated dining area, and the lunch and dinner options were quite good.
Whenever I travel, regardless of the hotel or guesthouse, the bathroom is my top concern. Its cleanliness can greatly affect my mood. I give the bathroom at Jiaoliao a perfect score.
After arriving, the butler learned that I can't eat spicy food and specially prepared non-spicy wontons for breakfast.
In the evening, we headed straight to Wenshu Monastery. My spice-loving best friend went straight to Zhang Liang Fen and ordered the famous Yellow Liang Fen and Sweet Water Noodles. Surprisingly, they weren't very spicy but a bit sweet, which disappointed her. Then we moved to Long Chao Shou and ordered a set meal of snacks. The taste was average except for the Dan Dan Noodles, which impressed her.
Foodie recommendations: Zhang Liang Fen, Dan Dan Noodles, Five-spice Youcha
[Day 5] Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, People's Park, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli, Kuanzhai Alley
You must go to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in the morning, as pandas come out to sunbathe and play. They are incredibly cute, especially the one-year-olds, who, with the keepers' help, climb trees and run around. Our planned 2-hour visit turned into 4 hours.
After leaving the base, it was past noon. We headed straight to Lao Ma Ti Hua near People's Park and ordered trotters, Kung Pao Chicken, and Couple's Lung Slices. We spent the time eating and complaining. The trotters were too greasy for us Northerners—a layer of oil. After two sips of the soup, we gave up. The Couple's Lung Slices were decent; my friend finished a whole plate. The Kung Pao Chicken wasn't spicy at all, quite different from the Northern version—the side dish was diced bamboo shoots, slightly sweet, so the non-spicy me finished most of it.
After a full meal, we strolled through People's Park to experience Chengdu's slow pace of life.
After a leisurely time, we went directly to Wuhou Shrine and Jinli. Since we're true foodies with little interest in Three Kingdoms culture, we didn't enter Wuhou Shrine but instead feasted at Jinli. Jinli is a true gathering of Chengdu snacks—so many kinds we couldn't keep up. We decided to have dinner there. Recommendations: Li Changqing's San Da Pao, Liang Gao, beef jianbing, Zhang Fei beef, egg puffs. After strolling, it wasn't too late, so we wandered to Chunxi Road to feel the commercial vibe. We discovered that Sichuan really produces beautiful women—we were full of envy.
[Day 6] Qingcheng Mountain, Dujiangyan
We originally wanted to go to Mount Emei, but due to weather and physical reasons, we ultimately chose the closer Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan. Both tickets were 90 yuan, and honestly, they were just average—not worth the nearly 100-yuan price tag. Perhaps we're used to Beijing's Forbidden City tickets costing only 40 yuan.
Dujiangyan: Very famous. The route was simple: Yulei Mountain – Qin Yan Tower – Erwang Temple – Anlan Bridge. Despite its great significance, this park is really small. We finished in a leisurely 2 hours, including time for lunch at Luodai Ancient Town outside. We arrived at 9:00 and were already waiting for the bus to Qingcheng Mountain by 11:00.
Qingcheng Mountain: We chose to take the cable car, so it was just one mountain to quickly explore. We were more looking forward to the Yulin Chuan Chuan Xiang in the evening.
Since the bus stopped at Kuanzhai Alley, we took the chance to stroll around. There were few people—a typical post-development commercial street. At the Panda Post Office, we bought some interesting postcards and small panda pendants. The alley's yogurt was good—the only thing we bought to eat in Kuanzhai Alley.
Then came the highlight of the evening: Yulin Chuan Chuan Xiang. This is a must-recommend. Great flavor, very affordable. Although Beijing has it too, the price and taste are vastly different. We ate until we were full for less than 100 yuan, and the aftertaste lingered.
[Day 7] Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Huanhua Creek Park, Sichuan Museum, Qingyang Palace
On our last day in Chengdu, it was drizzling. We slowly strolled to Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Huanhua Creek Park, and Sichuan Museum. These places are close together, so walking didn't take much time. Du Fu Thatched Cottage is small, right next to Huanhua Creek Park. With plenty of time, I recommend slowly experiencing Chengdu's slow pace at Huanhua Creek Park. The Sichuan Museum is small, only three floors, no reservation needed—just bring your ID. There aren't many exhibits, but there were many people, including elderly and children carefully viewing them. On the way back, we passed Qingyang Palace. We had enough time, so we strolled in. Ticket: 20 yuan. If you're interested and have time, you can visit.
You can't go shopping in Chengdu without buying something. Our last stop was Wenshu Monastery. For our final meal, we chose Chengdu snacks and Zhong Dumplings: Dan Dan Noodles, Ye Er Ba, Brown Sugar Guokui, Tang You Guozi, and Bang Bang Chicken. After eating to our hearts' content, we headed straight to the Palace Pastry Shop, recommended by a friend. There was a long line. Highly recommend the peppery small peach cakes—strong Sichuan pepper flavor, a bit off-putting at first but addictive; they're a bit oily, so dieters beware. Honey bean cake and mung bean cake were also good; my mom loved them when I brought them home. Of course, we couldn't miss Hongqi Supermarket and Carrefour. Since I can't eat spicy food, I only bought Zhang Fei beef. My friend bought Sichuan pepper, spicy hot pot base, Pixian bean paste, etc. Hongqi Supermarket and Carrefour have everything, and there's also a market in the city center where my friend bought local green Sichuan pepper with a strong aroma, cheaper than the supermarket. Very satisfied, we headed back with bags full!
