Summer Graduation Trip by High-Speed Rail: Explore Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Jiuzhi, and Aba, See Myriad Rapeseed Flowers and Sunrise/Sunset at Langyi Temple

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

Langyi Temple is nestled in a valley on a high mountainside, appearing and disappearing in the mist, creating a series of natural masterpieces. From here, you can see the full view of Langyi Temple and the river valley of Aba County. Wait for the sun to rise, as sunlight pierces through the thin mist and cooking smoke, creating a scene like a fairyland.

Day 1: Zhenjiangguan – Jiuzhaigou

Morning: Take the high-speed train around 7 AM. It takes about 3 hours by car from Zhenjiangguan to Jiuzhaigou. Note that you cannot enter the valley after 14:00. Plan your time carefully.

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

Afternoon: Check into your homestay tonight. Check-in must be completed before 6 PM. After that, you can take a stroll around the village.

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

Morning: Have breakfast at the homestay between 8-9 AM. Today, spend the entire day exploring Jiuzhaigou. Take the sightseeing bus to the attractions you haven't visited yet.

Lunch: Nuorilang Lakes → Nuorilang Center Station (the only restaurant in the scenic area; you can eat and rest there). It's recommended to bring your own snacks or self-heating meals to avoid long queues and since the food may not suit your taste.

Afternoon: Gather at the Jiuzhaigou entrance around 5:30 PM and depart for Chuanzhusi. The journey from Jiuzhaigou to Chuanzhusi takes over 2 hours. Stay in Chuanzhusi for convenience to visit Huanglong the next day.

Day 3: Chuanzhusi – Huanglong – Wachie Pagoda Forest – Jiuzhi (watch sunset)

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

Morning: Recommended to take the cable car to the upper station, then walk to Five-Color Pond (this section has gentle altitude and you can enjoy the primeval forest along the way). When walking downhill, there are many attractions: Zhengyan Colorful Pond, Suoluo Yingcai Pond, Mingjing Daoying Pond, Penjing Pond, Jinsha Pudi, Xishen Cave, Liantai Flying Waterfall, Feipu Liuhui, Yingbin Pond.

Lunch: The lunch location and standard are entirely up to you; the driver will fully cooperate. Wachie Pagoda Forest is a relatively niche attraction, with endless prayer flags. It is quiet and dilapidated—if you are timid, don't go alone. Drone aerial shots would probably be more stunning!

Afternoon: Stay tonight within the Jiuzhi Yellow River Scenic Area. After dinner, you can hike to the hilltop to watch the sunset, which is around 19:30-20:30. It offers a unique view.

Day 4: Jiuzhi – Hongyuan – Maikun Township's Myriad Rapeseed Flowers in July-August – Langyi Temple – Aba County

Morning: Get up early today to enjoy the sunrise over the First Bend of the Yellow River at Jiuzhi. Of course, weather is important. If you want to see the sunrise from the summit, allow time to climb the boardwalk (about 15-20 minutes). Sunrise is usually around 6:00.

Morning: From Jiuzhi to Aba County, the grasslands stretch endlessly, lush green with blooming flowers, clouds of sheep, herds of yaks. Wildflowers bloom in patches of gold or red, offering an unforgettable visual feast. You can stop anytime to take photos of beautiful scenery.

Lunch: In Maikun Township on the outskirts of Aba County, large fields of rapeseed flowers and meadows contrast with red Tibetan-style buildings, set against the blue sky and white clouds, creating a grand pastoral landscape painting.

Afternoon: If you arrive in Aba County around 5:30 PM, you can head to Langyi Temple to watch the sunset (your luck for sunrise/sunset will be tested).

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 Buddha hall building in China (eight huge columns made of uncarved African nanmu wood) and the tallest indoor sitting Maitreya Buddha in China (37 meters tall, made of brass, weighing 332 tons). The hall's museum enshrines the true relic of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Morning: Lianbao Yeze generally takes about 3-5 hours to visit. It is recommended to head straight to 4520 first, then visit Zhaga'er Cuo after coming down. There are also many beautiful scenery along the return route.

Lunch: Arrange lunch according to driving time. The standard is based on the guest's own needs.

Afternoon: Spend the whole day exploring Gemo Monastery and Lianbao Yeze in Aba. Manage your own time. The drive from Lianbao Yeze back to Aba County is about 1 hour.

Day 6: Aba County – Li County – Chengdu

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

Lunch: You can have lunch in Li County. Common Tibetan delicacies include Qiang-style bacon, local wild vegetables, beef soup pot, potato mashed cake, etc.

Afternoon: Arrive in Chengdu around 5-6 PM. Tonight you can enjoy hotpot, poached chicken in chili sauce (Boboji), Sichuan cuisine, husband-and-wife lung slices (Fuqi Feipian), dan dan noodles, and other delicacies in Chengdu.

✅ Plateau Travel Tips:

1. People who should not travel to Daocheng Yading: Those with obvious diseases of the heart, lungs, brain, liver, or kidneys, or with severe anemia or high blood pressure should not enter the plateau blindly. If you have never been to the plateau, it is recommended to undergo a thorough physical examination before entering. Tourists with organic diseases, severe anemia, or severe high blood pressure have poor adaptability to the plateau environment. In the early stages of entering the plateau, the risk of acute altitude sickness is significantly higher for them; if staying too long on the plateau, they are also more prone to various chronic altitude diseases. Moreover, as the body needs to adapt to the plateau environment, the compensatory activities of important organs such as the liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys increase, putting more burden on these organs. If these organs develop diseases, the condition will worsen. If you are unsure whether you can participate in the Huanglong Ruoergai activity, it is recommended to consult an experienced doctor and adhere to a cautious principle.

2. Precautions during the journey to the plateau (key points):

① Be sure to prepare oxygen and medications for acute altitude sickness, such as nifedipine (also known as Adalat) and aminophylline. Also bring cold prevention medications, antibiotics, and vitamins just in case. Because of the cold climate and large temperature differences between day and night, prepare enough warm clothing to prevent catching a cold. Cold and respiratory infections can trigger acute altitude sickness.

② If severe altitude sickness symptoms occur during the journey to the plateau, take immediate action: promptly take aminophylline or place 20 mg nifedipine under the tongue. In severe cases, inhale oxygen. If you experience severe chest tightness, intense cough, difficulty breathing, coughing up pink frothy sputum, or slow reactions, apathy, or even coma, besides the above measures, seek medical help at the nearest hospital as soon as possible, or transfer to a lower altitude area for treatment and recovery.