6-Day 5-Night Independent Trip to Chengdu and Surroundings (Chengdu City + Jiuzhaigou + Huanglong + Sanxingdui + Giant Panda Base + Dujiangyan)

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Sichuan, a treasure land that brings together majestic landscapes, a long history, and diverse ethnic cultures. Here, the ancient and the modern intertwine, nature and humanity reflect each other, every step feels like traveling through the river of time, and every scenery tells a unique story.

Day 1: Shuangliu Airport -> Sanxingdui Museum -> Chengdu city, stay in Chengdu

Day 2: Chengdu city -> Songpan Station -> Huanglong Scenic Area -> Jiuzhaigou entrance, stay in Jiuzhaigou

Day 3: Depart from hotel -> Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area -> stay at Jiuzhaigou hotel

Day 4: Depart from hotel -> Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station | Songpan -> Chengdu city -> Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, stay in Chengdu

Day 5: Chengdu city -> Giant Panda Base -> Dujiangyan -> Chengdu city, stay in Chengdu

Day 6: Explore Chengdu city: People's Park, Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli Ancient Street, stay near Tianfu Airport

Day 7: Return trip

1. Pay attention to weather and temperature, bring appropriate clothes, umbrella, and sunscreen.

2. For buses and metro, you can use WeChat and Alipay to scan. WeChat mini-program "Chengdu Bus Riding Code" and enable quick payment for buses and metro.

I had been longing for this trip for a long time, and finally got the chance. Departing two days before National Day, I avoided the crowds at major attractions. The autumn weather was comfortable, and overall, I was quite satisfied.

After the rain, the lake water in Jiuzhaigou became even clearer, like huge mirrors reflecting the sky, mountains, and green trees. The colorful hues made me feel like I was in a fairy tale.

Huanglong, with its colorful travertine pools, looked like God's palette. The layered pools shimmered under the sunlight. Blue, green, and yellow intertwined, breathtakingly beautiful.

Chengdu, an ancient yet modern city, is full of lively atmosphere. In Kuanzhai Alley, the antique buildings complement stylish shops. People stroll leisurely here, tasting various foods, experiencing Chengdu's slow lifestyle. Jinli Ancient Street is bustling, with red lanterns hanging high and a dazzling array of traditional handicrafts.

Sichuan's cuisine is irresistible. The spicy and numbing hotpot, the variety of Sichuan dishes, and the delicious snacks – every bite leaves a lasting impression.

Itinerary: Shuangliu Airport -> Sanxingdui -> Chengdu

After landing at Shuangliu Airport, since I didn't want to waste the remaining half day, I checked the weather forecast and saw it would rain heavily that day, suitable for indoor activities. So I headed to Sanxingdui. I booked a pick-up driver in advance and waited. The whole trip took 1 hour 30 minutes, the road was a bit congested, so...

From the airport to Sanxingdui, other travel options take 40 minutes:

High-speed train: D1726, Shuangliu Airport -> Guanghan North, time: 15:18~15:57, Guanghan North -> taxi to Sanxingdui Visitor Center

High-speed train: C6320, Shuangliu Airport -> Guanghan North, time: 18:02~18:43, Guanghan North -> taxi to Sanxingdui Visitor Center

Sanxingdui booking guide: Reserve 5 days in advance via official WeChat account: Sanxingdui Museum

Regular days: 8:30~18:00 (last admission at 17:00)

Holidays: 8:30~20:00 (last admission at 18:00) (Golden Week, short holidays, winter/summer break)

Visit time: 3.5 hours

Luggage storage: Can be left at the visitor center, large suitcases also accepted.

1) 1F: Century Dream

2) 1F: Magnificent Royal Capital (Golden Scepter, Bronze Standing Figure)

3) 2F: Heaven, Earth, and Humans (Bronze Sun-shaped Ornament, Bronze Mask, Bronze Sacred Tree, Money Tree)

Return from Sanxingdui to Chengdu East:

Option 1: Bus + high-speed train

Bus: Sanxingdui Museum to Guanghan North (Bus: Guanghan Line 13, or taxi, though it's very hard to get one in rainy weather), takes 30 minutes

High-speed train: Guanghan North to Chengdu East (C6233, G8785, C6217, and other trains), takes 30 minutes

Option 2: Taxi the whole way

Accommodation: Can be arranged based on the itinerary. Since I was going to Huanglong Scenic Area the next day, I chose a hotel near Chengdu East Station.

Travel mode: High-speed train + scenic area shuttle bus

High-speed train: From Chengdu East to Songpan Station or Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station. Songpan is farther from the scenic area, Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station is closer.

(Reference: C5762, C5782, C5792)

Scenic area shuttle bus:

You can buy tickets in advance on the WeChat mini-program "Jiu Lv Yue Xing". Upon arriving at the station, take the scenic area shuttle bus directly, seamless transfer.

Songpan Station -> Huanglong Scenic Area, takes 1 hour

Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station -> Huanglong Scenic Area, takes 30 minutes

Luggage storage: Free storage on the first floor of the Huanglong Scenic Area Visitor Center (right next to the exit)

Alternatively, pay to store luggage at Se Er Cuo International Hotel (some distance from the exit)

Lunch: Self-service buffet on the second floor of the Huanglong Scenic Area Visitor Center

Going up the mountain: Cable car + sightseeing car (after getting off the cable car, there is still a distance to the highest point, Five-Color Pond; taking the sightseeing car saves energy)

Visit time: Recommended 4 hours

Note: The sightseeing car requires advance reservation. Only 5,000 tickets per day; tickets go on sale after 16:00.

Sightseeing car reservation method: WeChat official account, A Ba Travel Network -> Huanglong Scenic Area -> Huanglong Scenic Area Sightseeing Car Ticket

After the visit, head to Jiuzhaigou:

Huanglong Scenic Area -> Jiuzhaigou entrance

Takes 2 hours

Boarding point: Parking Lot 3, scenic area shuttle bus (not available online)

Since I was going to Jiuzhaigou on the third day, after visiting Huanglong, I took the shuttle bus in the afternoon to the hotel near the Jiuzhaigou entrance.

Accommodation: Hotels near the Jiuzhaigou entrance.

For example, in my itinerary, because I didn't want to start too early or too late:

Morning: Chengdu East -> Songpan Station: High-speed train C5762, time: 09:39~11:18, takes 1 hour 40 minutes.

Noon: Songpan Station -> Huanglong Scenic Area: Shuttle bus, get off at visitor center, store luggage on first floor, eat buffet on second floor, take bus to cable car entrance.

Afternoon: Huanglong Scenic Area -> Jiuzhaigou entrance: Left the scenic area at 17:30, took shuttle bus from Parking Lot 3 to Jiuzhaigou entrance, arrived at Jiuzhaigou at 19:30 in the evening.

Scenic area opening hours: 07:30~17:30, last admission at 14:00.

You can go early to line up. I went on October 1, and there weren't many people. I arrived at 8:40 and was checked in soon.

If you want to enter the scenic area early, accommodation the night before is important – stay within 5 km of the scenic area.

It's impossible to visit all of Jiuzhaigou in one day, so you have to focus on highlights. The scenic area has three valleys, forming a Y shape:

They are: Zechawa Valley (18 km), Rize Valley (17 km), Shuzheng Valley (14 km).

Visit mode: Scenic area sightseeing bus + walking. Walking at least 30,000 steps. Get good rest at night.

Zechawa Valley: Long Lake -> Five-Color Pond -> Nuorilang Center. Nothing else worth seeing.

Rize Valley: Arrow Bamboo Lake (take the loop boardwalk) -> Panda Lake -> Five Flowers Lake (take the left loop) -> Pearl Shoal -> Pearl Shoal Waterfall -> Mirror Lake -> Nuorilang Center.

Shuzheng Valley: Nuorilang Center (lunch) -> Nuorilang Waterfall -> Nuorilang Waterfall Observation Platform -> Rhinoceros Lake -> Tiger Lake -> Shuzheng Group Lakes

-> Shuzheng Group Lakes Observation Deck -> Wolong Lake, Spark Lake -> Reed Lake -> Exit.

Accommodation: Hotels near the Jiuzhaigou entrance.

Travel mode: Scenic area shuttle bus + high-speed train

Scenic area shuttle bus: Buy tickets in advance on the WeChat mini-program "Jiu Lv Yue Xing" to go to Songpan Station or Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station.

Jiuzhaigou -> Songpan Station, takes 2.5 hours

Jiuzhaigou -> Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station, takes 2 hours

High-speed train: From Songpan Station or Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station to Chengdu East.

Huanglong Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu East: C5794, takes 2 hours

Songpan to Chengdu East: C5764, C5788, etc., takes 2 hours

Note: To be safe, it's best to depart at least three hours before the train departure.

After returning to Chengdu, you can go to Chunxi Road for hotpot in the evening and take a photo of the panda butt (statue).

1) Shuttle bus, Chengdu East Bus Station, Platform 1

Visit time: 3.5 hours

Visit route: You can choose a route on the WeChat mini-program "Panda Base", but plans may change; go where there are fewer people. Recommended to enter from the South Gate.

Note: The famous panda Hua Hua is in Villa No. 6; queue for 2 hours, photo for 2 minutes. Also, the Giant Panda Sun Nursery has long queues.

Transfer to the next attraction:

There doesn't seem to be a direct shuttle bus from Giant Panda Base to Dujiangyan. You can share a taxi at the South Gate exit, takes 1.5 hours, cost 50 RMB.

Visit time: 4 hours

Visit route: Li Dui Gate -> Qingxi Garden -> Yan Gong Road (Zhang Song Ginkgo) -> Fu Guan Temple (Bao Ping Kou) -> Feisha Weir -> Fish Mouth -> Anlan Suspension Bridge -> Qin Yan Tower -> Er Wang Temple -> Songmao Ancient Road -> Yu Lei Pass -> City God Temple -> Yu Lei Mountain Square -> Nan Qiao

Reminder: Feisha Weir to Fish Mouth, queue for sightseeing car for 30 minutes; Anlan Suspension Bridge, extremely long queue, at least 30 minutes.

People's Park: Exit B of Metro Line 2, enter from the East Gate of the park. You can also visit Heming Teahouse for a bowl of covered tea, take a boat ride, see the matchmaking corner, and walk through the air-raid shelter.

Kuanzhai Alley: After exiting the East Gate of People's Park, walk to Kuanzhai Alley – very crowded...

Jinli Ancient Street: After visiting Kuanzhai Alley, take the Jincheng Sightseeing Line to Jinli Ancient Street. Suitable for visiting at night.

Tianfu Airport has more flights than Shuangliu, but it's farther from the city center.

The airport is very large; it's best to stay near the airport at night, and be sure to arrive at the airport two hours early the next day.

The fastest way from Chengdu East Station to Tianfu Airport:

Option 1: High-speed train (G9553, G8735, D2237, C6169), takes 30 minutes

Option 2: Airport bus, takes 1 hour 30 minutes

Travelogue Directory

1. Preface

2. Itinerary Overview

3. Preparation in Advance

4. About This Trip