D1 Chengdu – Huanglong – Jiuzhaigou
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Your journey begins in Chengdu. Your guide will accompany you to the railway station, where you will take a high-speed train to Songpan. The train journey takes approximately two hours, taking you from Chengdu at around 500 meters above sea level toward the high-altitude area of northern Sichuan.
Upon arrival, your guide will transfer you by car to Huanglong National Scenic Area, approximately 40 minutes from the railway station. Lunch will be arranged at a suitable location according to your train arrival time.
After lunch, begin your hiking tour through Huanglong’s spectacular alpine landscape. The trail starts at approximately 3,070 meters above sea level and gradually climbs toward Huanglong Temple at about 3,558 meters.
Along the way, you will walk through alpine forests and discover a series of colorful travertine pools and limestone formations created by mineral-rich water. The scenery becomes increasingly spectacular as you approach Five-Color Pond (Wucaichi), one of Huanglong’s most famous sights.
After enjoying the scenery, descend the mountain on foot in the late afternoon. The descent takes approximately one hour.
You will then drive for around two hours to Zhangzha Town, near Jiuzhaigou Valley. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Tibetan villages, mountains, and forests. If you are tired after the day’s journey, you can simply relax and enjoy the scenery from the car.
Overnight: Jiuzhaigou area
D2 Jiuzhaigou National Park Excursion
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Get up early and travel with your guide to the entrance of Jiuzhaigou National Park. After entering the scenic area, you will take the environmentally friendly sightseeing buses to explore its spectacular valleys.
Jiuzhaigou is famous for its distinctive Y-shaped valley system, formed by three main valleys: Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Zechawa Valley.
Each valley features beautiful alpine lakes, waterfalls, clear streams, and ancient forests. Many of the lakes have poetic names inspired by their appearance and local Tibetan traditions, including Panda Lake, Pearl Shoal, and Long Lake.
The crystal-clear water changes between shades of blue and green depending on the depth, sunlight, and surrounding landscape. Surrounded by forests and snow-capped mountains, the scenery explains why Jiuzhaigou is often described as a fairyland on earth.
In addition to its natural beauty, Jiuzhaigou also offers an opportunity to learn about local Tibetan culture. The name Jiuzhaigou means “Nine-Village Valley,” referring to the traditional Tibetan villages historically located within the valley. Your guide will introduce you to the local culture, traditions, and stories associated with the region.
Follow your guide through the three valleys, discovering beautiful lakes, waterfalls, forests, and Tibetan cultural sites along the way. A simple buffet lunch will be arranged at Nuorilang Restaurant.
In the late afternoon, leave the scenic area and return to your hotel for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Overnight: Jiuzhaigou area
D3 Jiuzhaigou – Ruoergai Grassland – Tangke
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will leave Jiuzhaigou and travel deeper into the Tibetan Plateau toward Ruoergai Grassland.
Your first stop is Flower Lake, a beautiful highland wetland surrounded by grasslands. During the warmer months, the area becomes an important habitat for wild birds and alpine flowers, creating a peaceful natural environment.
Continue across the vast Ruoergai Grassland. The open plateau stretches toward the horizon like a giant green carpet beneath the blue sky. Tibetan villages, grazing yaks, distant mountains, and winding roads create a quintessential Tibetan Plateau landscape.
The journey provides plenty of opportunities to appreciate the natural scenery and experience the slower pace of life on the high plateau.
In the afternoon, continue to Tangke, located near the famous First Bend of the Yellow River.
Here, the Yellow River makes a graceful bend through the grassland, creating one of the most striking landscapes in northern Sichuan. The broad river, open grassland, distant mountains, and Tibetan herdsmen create a peaceful and photogenic setting.
You will spend the night in Tangke so that you have time to experience the quiet atmosphere of the grassland. Depending on weather and local conditions, you can relax beside the river, walk across the grassland, take photographs of the sunset, or experience a short horseback ride with local Tibetan people.
Overnight: Tangke
D4 Tangke – Hongyuan – Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Wake up early today for the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the grassland. The changing colors of the morning sky and the wide-open plateau create a memorable final experience.
After breakfast, continue exploring the grassland for a short time before heading to Hongyuan Airport.
At noon, take your flight back to Chengdu.
Upon arrival in Chengdu, your 4-day Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou and Ruoergai Grassland tour comes to an end.
End of the tour.
