Summer Vacation Graduation Trip by High-Speed Rail to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Jiuqu, and Aba: Viewing Thousands of Acres of Rapeseed Flowers and Sunrise/Sunset at Langyi Temple

Strolling through Jiuzhaigou feels like entering another world. With picturesque mountains and clear waters, every spot makes you reluctant to leave. Here, I experienced the wonder and beauty of nature, and also felt inner peace and tranquility.

Langyi Temple is nestled in a valley halfway up the mountains, appearing and disappearing in the mist, creating breathtaking natural paintings. From here, you can see the full view of Langyi Temple and the river valley of Aba County. Wait quietly for the sun to rise, and watch as sunlight pierces through the thin mist and cooking smoke, presenting a scene like a fairyland.

Day 1: Zhenjiangguan – Jiuzhaigou

Morning: Take the high-speed train around 7 a.m. The drive from Zhenjiangguan to Jiuzhaigou takes about 3 hours. Note that you cannot enter Jiuzhaigou after 2:00 p.m., so be sure to manage your time well.

Lunch: Bring some snacks or self-heating meals. Today you can visit one of the valleys first (if the sightseeing bus takes you to the Primeval Forest, explore that valley; if it takes you to Long Lake, then visit Long Lake and the Five-Color Pond plus some spots in Shuzheng Valley).

Afternoon: Check into your guesthouse tonight. Check-in must be completed before 6:00 p.m. After that, you can take a walk around the village.

Day 2: Jiuzhaigou Full-Day Tour (Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley, or Shuzheng Valley) – Chuanzhusi

Early Morning: Have breakfast at the guesthouse between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. Spend the entire day exploring Jiuzhaigou.

Morning: Take the sightseeing bus from the platform to the attractions you want to visit. Today, visit the scenic spots you haven't seen yet.

Lunch: Nuorilang Lakes → Nuorilang Central Station (the only restaurant inside Jiuzhaigou, where you can eat and rest). It's recommended to bring your own snacks or self-heating meals to save time queuing, as the food may not suit your taste.

Afternoon: Around 5:30 p.m., gather at the entrance of Jiuzhaigou and depart for Chuanzhusi. The drive from Jiuzhaigou to Chuanzhusi takes about 2 hours. Stay overnight in Chuanzhusi for convenient access to Huanglong the next day.

Day 3: Chuanzhusi – Huanglong – Wachie Pagoda Forest – Jiuqu (Watch Sunset)

Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Huanglong cable car station and queue to take the cable car up Huanglong.

Late Morning: It is recommended to take the cable car to the upper station, then walk to the Five-Color Pond (this section is relatively flat in altitude, and you can enjoy the primeval forest scenery along the way). On the downhill walk, there are many scenic spots: Competing Color Ponds, Suoluoying Color Pond, Mingjing Reflection Pond, Bonsai Pond, Golden Sand Spread Ground, Bathing Body Cave, Lotus Terrace Waterfall, Flying Waterfall Gleaming, and Welcome Pond.

Lunch: You can choose the location and standard of lunch freely; the driver will fully cooperate.

Wachie Pagoda Forest is a lesser-known spot with endless prayer flags. It is quiet and dilapidated. If you are timid, don't go alone. A drone aerial view would be even more stunning!

Afternoon: Stay overnight in the Jiuqu Yellow River Scenic Area. After dinner, you can hike to the hilltop to watch the sunset (around 7:30–8:30 p.m.), which offers unique scenery.

Day 4: Jiuqu – Hongyuan – Maikun Township's Thousands of Acres of Rapeseed Flowers (July–August) – Langyi Temple – Aba County

Early Morning: Get up early to enjoy the sunrise over the First Bend of the Yellow River at Jiuqu. Of course, weather is important. If you want to see the sunrise from the hilltop, allow time for climbing the boardwalk (about 15–20 minutes). Sunrise is generally around 6:00 a.m.

Morning: The drive from Jiuqu to Aba County takes you across vast grasslands, lush green and full of flowers, with sheep like clouds and herds of yaks. Wildflowers bloom in patches of gold or fiery red, providing an unforgettable visual feast. You can stop anytime to take photos of beautiful scenery.

Lunch: On the outskirts of Aba County in Maikun Township, large expanses of rapeseed flowers and meadows contrast with red Tibetan-style buildings, and against the blue sky and white clouds, they create a grand pastoral landscape.

Afternoon: If you arrive in Aba County around 5:30 p.m., you can go to Langyi Temple to watch the sunset (it’s a matter of luck whether you catch a good sunrise or sunset).

Day 5: Aba County – Gemo Monastery – Lianbao Yeze – Aba County

Morning: After breakfast, drive to Gemo Monastery (about 20 minutes). Gemo Monastery is a temple comparable to the Potala Palace, holding two Guinness records: the largest connected Buddhist temple building in China (eight huge pillars made of unpolished African nanmu) and the tallest indoor Maitreya Buddha statue in China (37 meters high, made of brass, weighing 332 tons). The museum in the main hall enshrines a relic of Shakyamuni Buddha's true body.

Late Morning: Lianbao Yeze generally takes about 3–5 hours to visit. It is recommended to go straight to the 4520 viewpoint first, then down to Zhaga'ercuo Lake. Visit these two key spots first, and you'll find many beautiful views along the way back.

Lunch: Lunch will be arranged according to driving time; the standard depends on your preference.

Afternoon: Spend the whole day visiting Gemo Monastery and Lianbao Yeze in Aba. You can control the time yourself. The drive from Lianbao Yeze back to Aba County takes about 1 hour.

Day 6: Aba County – Li County – Chengdu

Morning: The total distance from Aba County to Chengdu is about 470 km, taking about 6–7 hours. After breakfast, start the journey home.

Lunch: Have lunch in Li County. Typical Tibetan delicacies include Qiang-cured bacon, local wild vegetables, beef soup hotpot, and potato glutinous rice cakes.

Afternoon: Arrive in Chengdu around 5–6 p.m. Tonight, you can enjoy hotpot, bobo chicken, Sichuan cuisine, husband-and-wife lung slices, dandan noodles, and other delicacies.

✅ Highland Travel Tips:

1. People unsuitable for traveling to Daocheng Yading (and similar high-altitude areas): Those with significant diseases of the heart, lungs, brain, liver, or kidneys, as well as severe anemia or hypertension, should not blindly enter high-altitude regions. If you have never been to high altitude before, it is recommended to have a thorough physical examination before going. Visitors with organic diseases, severe anemia, or severe hypertension have poor adaptability to the high-altitude environment. They have a significantly higher risk of acute altitude sickness in the initial stage, and if they stay long, they are more prone to chronic altitude diseases. Moreover, as the body adapts to the high altitude, the compensatory activities of vital organs such as the liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys increase, placing additional burden on them. If these organs have existing issues, the condition may worsen. If you are unsure whether you can participate in activities in Huanglong or Ruoergai, consult an experienced doctor and follow a cautious approach.

2. Important notes during the journey to high altitude (emphasis):

① Prepare oxygen and medications for preventing acute altitude sickness, such as nifedipine (also known as Adalat) and aminophylline. Also bring medicines for colds, antibiotics, and vitamins, just in case. Due to the cold climate and large temperature difference between day and night, prepare enough warm clothing to avoid catching a cold. Cold and respiratory infections can trigger acute altitude sickness.

② If severe symptoms of altitude sickness occur during the journey, treat them immediately: take aminophylline or place 20 mg nifedipine under the tongue. In severe cases, inhale oxygen. If symptoms include severe chest tightness, violent cough, difficulty breathing, pink frothy sputum, or sluggishness, apathy, or even coma, in addition to the above measures, seek medical help at the nearest hospital as soon as possible, or transfer to a lower altitude area for recovery.