Chengdu Jiuzhaigou itinerary 4 days. Suggested 4 days itinerary to visit Chengdu & Jiuzhaigou

Do you know where to go and what to see on your upcoming vacation? If not, check out our suggested 4 days itinerary (Chengdu Jiuzhaigou itinerary 4 days) to visit Chengdu & Jiuzhaigou in this article!

Located in the majestic mountains of Sichuan, China, Jiuzhaigou is memorable for its clear blue lakes, soft waterfalls and colorful forests all year round. To fully explore the enchanting beauty of Jiuzhaigou, a reasonable itinerary is essential.

A Chengdu Jiuzhaigou itinerary 4-day 3-night trip will help you enjoy every moment, from the journey, the highlights to many memorable experiences. How to arrange your time reasonably? What places can’t be missed? Let’s explore the detailed Jiuzhaigou travel itinerary below!

Day 1: Depart from Vietnam to Chengdu – Explore Jinli Ancient Town (#Chengdu Jiuzhaigou itinerary)

The first destination in the 4-day, 3-night tour will be Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. From Vietnam, you can choose to fly directly from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Chengdu with Vietnam Airlines or choose transit flights from airlines such as Air China, Shenzhen Airlines. If you want to save time, a direct flight is the optimal choice with a time of about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Hanoi, with ticket prices ranging from 4,000,000 VND/way.

Arrive at Chengdu airport, you can travel to the center by taxi or subway. Taxi is a more convenient option if you have a lot of luggage, but the price is often quite high. If you want to save money, the metro is the ideal choice with prices starting from only 7 yuan (about 24,500 VND).

After checking into the hotel, spend the afternoon walking around Jinli Ancient Town – where the traditional beauty of Chengdu is preserved. This 350m long street takes you back in time with houses with architectural styles from the Qing Dynasty. Wandering among embroidery shops, handicrafts or calligraphy paintings, you will feel the ancient but still very lively atmosphere.

In addition to exploring the culture, cuisine in Jinli is also something you should not miss. Chengdu is famous for its spicy Sichuan dishes, from stinky tofu, Sandabao rice cakes to the famous Dan Dan noodles. Street food costs only 10-20 yuan (35,000 – 70,000 VND), enough to satisfy your taste buds without worrying about the cost.

In the evening, stop at a traditional teahouse, sip a cup of jasmine tea in a peaceful space, listen to gentle folk melodies. Chengdu at night has a very different beauty – sparkling but still calm, perfect for starting the journey to explore Jiuzhaigou tomorrow.

Day 2: Travel to Jiuzhaigou – Visit Tibetan Village

Leaving Chengdu, you begin your journey to Jiuzhaigou – a land that is considered a paradise on earth. With a distance of 420 km, you have many ways to travel, depending on your time and budget. If you want to save time, you should choose to take the high-speed train from Chengdu East Station to Huanglong – Jiuzhai Station. The train takes about 2 hours, with a ticket price of 128 – 225 CNY (450,000 – 790,000 VND). From here, you continue to take the bus for about 2 hours (ticket 51 CNY – about 180,000 VND) to Jiuzhaigou.

If you want to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, you should choose an inter-provincial bus. The bus departs from Xinnanmen Bus Station, Chadianzi or Chengdu East Railway Station, taking 8-10 hours with ticket prices ranging from 168-238 CNY (590,000-835,000 VND). Alternatively, you can also choose to fly directly from Chengdu to Jiuhuang Airport in 55 minutes, but the ticket price ranges from 1,000-1,500 CNY (3.5-5.2 million VND). After landing, you take a bus or taxi to the tourist area.

After arriving at Jiuzhaigou, the journey continues with a visit to the Tibetan village, which preserves the unique Tibetan cultural identity. The village is located in the Jiuzhaigou area, featuring colorful wooden houses, majestic natural scenery and the sacred space of ancient monasteries.

The Tibetans here follow Bon – an ancient religion that predates Buddhism. When walking around the village, visitors can easily see colorful prayer flagpoles, prayer wheels spinning in the wind and stone walls engraved with scriptures. Customs such as releasing lungta (pieces of paper with prayers written in the wind) or butter lamp offerings have been preserved through many generations.

In the evening, you can stop at a homestay or hotel in the center of Jiuzhaigou. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy rich Tibetan butter tea or try tsampa – barley flour mixed with butter tea, a familiar dish of the local people!

Day 3: Jiuzhaigou – Five Flower Lake, Nuorilang Waterfall, Mirror Lake, Swan Lake

After enjoying breakfast, go to Jiuzhaigou Park to admire the beautiful nature like “heaven on earth”. The park’s opening hours and ticket prices vary depending on the season, please refer to the information below to plan your visit accordingly:

Jiuzhaigou Park opening hours:

• Peak season from April 1st to November 15th: 7:30am to 6:00pm
• Low season from November 16th to March 31st: 8:30am to 6:00pm

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area Entrance Fee:

• Peak season: 190 CNY (~668,000 VND)
• Low season: 80 CNY (~281,000 VND)
• Sightseeing bus: 90 CNY (~316,000 VND) high season and 80 CNY (~281,000 VND) low season

Get on the bus, the journey takes you to Five Flower Lake – the place known as the “heart” of Jiuzhaigou. The lake’s surface is crystal clear, reflecting countless shades of blue, green, and golden yellow, intertwined like a vivid picture. Seen from above, the lake looks like a sparkling gem in the middle of the majestic mountains and forests. Standing in front of this scene, you just want to raise your camera and take some beautiful photos!

Continuing to move, the majestic Nuorilang waterfall appears with a white stream of water pouring down from a height of 25m. When the sun rises, the light passes through the water curtain, creating brilliant rainbow streaks, making the waterfall look even more magical. If you want to fully enjoy the scenery, stand still for a while, listening to the sound of the flowing water and the wind.

After a morning of exploring, it’s time to recharge for the next journey. Nuorilang Restaurant – the only restaurant in the Jiuzhaigou tourist area, is an ideal stop. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes from fast food, Sichuan dishes to local cuisine. If you want to eat buffet, you can choose the price of 60 CNY (~211,000 VND), 98 CNY (~344,000 VND) or 138 CNY (~485,000 VND) depending on your needs.

After lunch, you should head to Mirror Lake, with the water surface so calm that it clearly reflects every branch and cloud. The most beautiful moment is in the early morning or at sunset, when the lake turns into a giant mirror reflecting the entire sky. In particular, there are times when looking down at the lake, you will see fish swimming in the sky, birds flying underwater, extremely magical.

Leaving Mirror Lake, the journey continues to Swan Lake, a peaceful land in the middle of Nhat Tac Valley. This is home to flocks of pure white swans, gently gliding on the water surface. Coming here, it feels like everything slows down, with only the sound of flowing water and chirping birds. If you are lucky, you will catch a beautiful moment when the sunset reflects on the pure white wings of flying swans.

Day 4: Return to Chengdu – Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding – Return to Vietnam

On the Day 4, you will leave Jiuzhaigou to return to Chengdu to prepare for the flight back to Vietnam. If you want to be quick and convenient, the direct flight takes about 1 hour and costs from 2,800,000 VND to 5,300,000 million VND. Or, if you prefer sightseeing and save money, you can take a bus to Huanglongjiuzhai Station (about 2 hours, 180,000 VND), then continue by high-speed train to Chengdu (2 hours, from 400,000 VND). If you are not in a hurry, the long-distance bus is the most economical option (7.5 – 10 hours, 590,000 VND).

If you have time, spend the morning or afternoon visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding – known as the “Cradle of the Giant Panda”. To get here, you can choose to take a taxi, the subway to Panda Avenue, or take bus lines 87, 655, 198, 661A, and G6. The entrance fee to the center is 55 CNY (about 193,194 VND), free for children under 6 years old or under 1.3m tall, as well as seniors over 65 years old.

This place recreates the natural habitat of pandas, helping them grow and develop best. In particular, this is a rare opportunity for you to see with your own eyes the cute pandas eating and playing in a large reserve with cool green space. This area also nurtures many other rare animals such as black-necked cranes or white storks, creating a diverse ecosystem. Don’t forget to buy lovely panda souvenirs at the store in the center as gifts for your loved ones!

After having fun and shopping, you should go straight to the airport to check in for your flight back to Vietnam, ending the 4-day, 3-night trip.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Jiuzhaigou Tourism

How many days do you need to go to Jiuzhaigou?

It usually takes 2-3 days to explore all the beautiful scenery in Jiuzhaigou Reserve. If combined with Chengdu or Huanglong, you should spend 4-5 days.

When is the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou?

Autumn (September – November) is the best time because the forest turns bright yellow and red. However, summer is also ideal thanks to the pleasant weather and clear lake water.

What to eat in Jiuzhaigou?

Jiuzhaigou specialties include yak hotpot, grilled lamb, Tibetan butter tea and typical spicy Sichuan dishes.

Is Jiuzhaigou cold?

Jiuzhaigou is located at an altitude of more than 2,500m so it is quite cold. In winter there is snow and the temperature can drop to -6°C, while in summer it is only 19-22°C.

Do you need to prepare anything special when coming to Jiuzhaigou?

You should bring warm clothes, comfortable shoes, anti-dry skin cream, cold medicine and a mini oxygen tank to avoid altitude sickness.

Should you travel to Jiuzhaigou on your own or choose a tour?

You can absolutely travel to Jiuzhaigou on your own if you prepare well. For those who have never been to China or are not fluent in the language, you should choose a tour for convenience and savings.

Traveling to Jiuzhaigou not only gives you the opportunity to set foot on a new land but also gives you a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy the fresh nature. Hopefully after this article, you will have a clearer view of Jiuzhaigou and a reference schedule to prepare for your upcoming trip. This place is not only a paradise with enchanting scenery but also brings memorable experiences of its own unique culture and cuisine.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu you can refer to

• [Klook Exclusive] Sichuan Stunning Jiuzhaigou 3-Day + X Private Tour
• Jiuzhaigou Valley Ticket with Shared Bus Transfer (3 Day Route) in Chengdu
• Jiuzhaigou High-speed Rail 3 Days (Songpan Ancient City + Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area)
• 3-day tour of Jiuzhaigou in western Sichuan
• 6-Day Tour of Jiuzhaigou Valley in Sichuan
• 5.5-day free travel in-depth tour of Jiuzhaigou in Chengdu, Sichuan Province
• Jiuzhaigou & Chengdu Giant Panda Base Three-Day Tour-Private Group Minimum Booking of 3 People
• 3-day 2-night round-trip train tour of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong in Chengdu, Sichuan

• Dujiangyan Panda Base and Mount Qingcheng Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Gourmet Night Group Tour
• Chasing Dawa for 3 days and 2 nights (free Tibetan travel photography + Gedi Ram +
• Dawa Gengza + Shenmu Lei)
• Chengdu Radio and TV Tower Admission Ticket
• Essence of Chengdu City Private Day Tour
• Chengdu Downtown Private Car Charter
• Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class
• Dujiangyan Admission Ticket Chengdu
• Chengdu Food Day Tour with Chengdu Giant Panda Base Ticket
• Dufu’s Thatched Cottage Ticket Chengdu
• Classic Chengdu One Day City Tour
• Giant Buddha and Tea Terrace Town Day Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Private Day Tour (With Visit to Chengdu Panda Base and Hotpot Experience)

Read more top places to visit in Chengdu here. Read more China guide here.