Chengdu
3 nights · People’s Park / Tianfu Square
Tea, old-city walks and metro connections fit around a central base.
Chengdu · 3 nightsJiuzhaigou · 2 nights
Chongqing · 2 nightsSichuan’s lakes between two food cities
Pandas and tea in Chengdu, a full day among Jiuzhaigou’s coloured lakes, then Chongqing’s hotpot and river lights.
Why this itinerary works
The new fast train makes Jiuzhaigou a short ride from Chengdu, so the lakes fit between two city stays.
Jiuzhaigou gets one whole, unhurried day. Huanglong is a separate high-altitude outing; add a night for it rather than rushing both.
Fly in to Chengdu and out of Chongqing, so the mountain detour never doubles back.
The itinerary
Chengdu East (成都东) → Huanglong Jiuzhai (黄龙九寨)
About 1 hour 40 minutes aboard, then about 40 minutes by shuttle to the valley.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Jiuzhaigou
2 nights · Near the Jiuzhaigou valley entrance (沟口)
Walk or take a short ride to the gate at opening time; the station is about 40 minutes away by shuttle.
Huanglong Jiuzhai (黄龙九寨) → Chongqing North (重庆北)
Plan on most of the day, usually changing in Chengdu.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Chongqing
2 nights · Jiefangbei, near a metro entrance
A practical base for riverfront nights; choose road-level vehicle access to avoid hauling bags up steps.
See the itinerary on a map
The moments you’ll remember
A bamboo chair at Heming, hot tea filling the afternoon.
People's Park (Heming Teahouse) ›A young panda tumbles off a log and tries again.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding ›The music swells; a mask changes in a flick of the sleeve.
Watch face-changing at Shufeng Yayun ›
The first lake of the morning, so clear the fallen trees look close enough to touch.
Follow the colour of the water ›From mountain lakes to Hongyadong’s stacked lights in one day.
Hongyadong (Hongya Cave) ›
The train slides into the building above your head.
Liziba Monorail Station (Train Through the Building) ›
Hotpot steam rises beneath the rock.
Eat hotpot deep inside the hillside ›7 moments · swipe →
Before you go
- Hongya Cave Yejing Sightseeing Platform — arrange admission before your visit.
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — Official WeChat channels: ticket sales open up to 14 days before the visit.
- Follow the colour of the water — Official reservation platforms: returned-ticket inventory is released at 08:00 and 17:00 China time; a waitlist is offered when a date is full.
- Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum — Official website and WeChat account: tickets can be booked up to 14 days before the visit.
Choose a dated rail or flight service before booking.
Day by day
MorningAfternoonEvening
Chengdu · 3 nights
Day 1
A first bowl of tea
Arrive and settle in before a short People’s Park stop; skip it if arrival is late.
A first bowl of tea
Free
Day 2
Pandas, then an evening on stage
Keep the afternoon for the return and rest before the show.
Free
Day 3
Wuhou and Jinli, a free evening
Pack light for the mountains tonight; leave the big bag with the Chongqing plan in mind.
Free
Jiuzhaigou · 2 nights
Day 4
Up into the mountains
The fast train climbs to Huanglong Jiuzhai station, then a shuttle runs to the valley gate. Arrive, eat early and sleep; you are above 2,000 metres.
Free
Free
Free
Day 5
A whole day in Jiuzhaigou
Enter at opening time and give the valley the whole day. Use the park buses between lakes and walk the boardwalks in between. Keep the evening empty.
Free
Free
Chongqing · 2 nights
Day 6
Down from the mountains to Chongqing
The rail journey via Chengdu takes most of the day. Hongyadong is one short, removable evening look.
Free
Free
Day 7
A city that keeps changing levels
Watch one train slide through Liziba, then cross the river to Longmenhao. Allow time for stairs and road levels.
Day 8
Leave from Chongqing
Keep the day for your onward connection.
Leave from Chongqing
Free
Free
Comes with the plan
Before you go
- Hongya Cave Yejing Sightseeing Platform — arrange admission before your visit.
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — Official WeChat channels: ticket sales open up to 14 days before the visit.
- Follow the colour of the water — Official reservation platforms: returned-ticket inventory is released at 08:00 and 17:00 China time; a waitlist is offered when a date is full.
- Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum — Official website and WeChat account: tickets can be booked up to 14 days before the visit.
Rail or flight legs need a dated service before booking.
Perks on this itinerary
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