Hey Leosquad! Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong 3 days travel guide: Imagine waking up to turquoise lakes, golden travertine pools, snow-capped peaks, and Tibetan villages hidden in the mist. These two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are among China’s most breathtaking natural wonders—but here’s the question: can you really explore Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong in just 3 days?

My mom and I just completed a trip of a lifetime to Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) and Huanglong (黄龙), and I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy. We braved the rainy mornings, queued forever, and even got altitude sickness. But every single challenge was made worthwhile by the breathtaking scenery that surrounded us.

To help you plan your own journey, I’m sharing a 3-day, 2-night itinerary, complete with practical tips to make your adventure as smooth as possible.

In this Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) itinerary and Huanglong (黄龙) travel guide, I’ll provide a step-by-step breakdown of our trip so you can follow it for your own unforgettable adventure in Huanglong and JiuZhaiGou.

Learn more about what each attractions offers in our detailed post: Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide: Magical Valley and Exploring Huanglong: A Breathtaking Experience article.

🎥 Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong: Ultimate 3D2N Itinerary!

Most travelers start their journey in Chéngdū (成都), Sichuan’s lively capital. From here, you have two main options:

• Fly to Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟) (faster, but flights are often delayed due to mountain weather).
• Take the new bullet train: Chengdu East → Huanglong-Jiuzhai Station (~2 hrs).

We chose the train, and here’s why: it’s smooth, scenic, and far more reliable than flights. Plus, the new HuánglóngJiǔzhài (黄龙九寨) Railway Station (opened in 30 August 2024) makes the journey a breeze compared to the old 8-hour bus ride.

Tibetan Houses view

👉 Booking Tip: (I’ve consolidated my booking links on my vlog page: check there for easy access!)

Bullet Train & Shuttle Bus

Our day began at Chéngdū (成都) East Railway Station, buzzing with travelers. We boarded train C5792 (coach 10) at 10:29 a.m., snacked on supermarket goodies (egg tarts, sponge cakes, even pomegranates peeled by mom), and reached HuánglóngJiǔzhài (黄龙九寨) Railway Station two hours later.

HuánglóngJiǔzhài (黄龙九寨) Railway Station

Escalator outside HuánglóngJiǔzhài (黄龙九寨)

Once you arrive, hop on the 9 AM shuttle bus to Huánglóng (黄龙).Just take the escalator up, turn right, and you’ll see a pool of buses waiting. Ask the staff which one is heading your way. From the station, it’s a one-hour shuttle bus ride into Huánglóng (黄龙). You can purchase the shuttle bus ticket either here or directly at the station.

🎫 Huanglong Entry + Shuttle Bus Tickets
👉https://leotrails.me/huanglong-ticket

Plenty of shuttle buses above the escalator.

Huanglong Scenic Area

Go early to avoid queues. We went at the afternoon , Ours lasted nearly two hours in drizzle just to board the cable car. A cable car can only take up to 8 person once.  You can store your bags at the Huanglong (黄龙) Tourist Center, located right at the main entrance. That way, you don’t have to haul heavy luggage up in the attraction!!! Bring snacks! (We survived on cassava, corn, boiled eggs, and sausage.)

Huanglong Tourist Center

Me eating corn while queueing for the cable car

At over 3,000+ meters altitude, the air hits hard. you’ll want to pace yourself. Once at the top, Huánglóng (黄龙)’s dreamlike scenery unfolded: turquoise travertine pools shimmering like glass, misty pines, squirrels darting through lichens known as “old man’s beard.” Our guide advised skipping the Five Color Pool at the very top to save energy for Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟) the next day. But if you’re determined, book the scenic bus via WeChat.

🚍 Scenic Bus Hack: Use the WeChat “阿坝” mini program to book bus tickets (limited to 5,000 per day).

Transfer & Check In

By 5 PM catch the shuttle to Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟) and check into your hotel. That night, we checked into our hotel. Stay here

🏨 Where to Stay in Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟) :

It’s the best location for easy access to the park, with plenty of shops nearby. I stayed at Howard Johnson, which was a bit pricey but very comfortable. If you’re on a budget, you can check out other options from the Orange button above!

Howard Johnson Tianyuan Resort entrance view

Entering the Park

Time for Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟)! Take a taxi to the park entrance, grab your ticket and passport. Expect crowds (up to 30,000 visitors a day), but buses inside the park keep things moving.

Sea of visitors in Jiǔzhàigōu entrance

Suggested Route (Efficient & Scenic)

FOLLOW MY TRAILS

• Start at Long Lake (长海) – the deepest lake, framed by snow peaks.
• Five Color Pond (五彩池) – dazzling blues and greens, sacred to locals.
• Transfer at Nuorilang (诺日朗) Station – bustling hub with shops and snacks.
• Virgin Forest (原始森林) – Jiuzhaigou’s highest, freshest point.
• Walk downhill, stopping at waterfalls and lakes.

Highlights

• Nuorilang Waterfall (诺日朗瀑布) – wide and powerful, a highland icon.
• Five Flower Lake (五花海) – crystal-clear, with submerged trees like frozen sculptures.
• Mirror Lake (镜海) – perfectly reflecting the sky and mountains.
• (Regret: we missed Pearl Shoal Waterfall 珍珠滩瀑布—don’t skip it like we did!)

This park is enormous, expect a full day of walking. But every step is worth it for the dazzling turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks.

Optional Show

If you still have some energy left in the evening, wrap up your day with the Romantic Show of Jiuzhai (九寨) — a dazzling cultural performance featuring dance, local legends, and emotional earthquake tributes. If you’ve never seen a theatrical show in China before, this one’s a great introduction. It was actually my first theater experience in China, and it gave me a deeper understanding of the culture… although I have to admit, I dozed off for a few minutes — the long queue at Huanglong totally drained me!

After enjoying the Romantic Show of Jiuzhai (九寨), return to your hotel and rest.

Time to head back! Take the morning shuttle from Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟) to HuánglóngJiǔzhài (黄龙九寨) Railway Station and board your return train to Chéngdū (成都).

Train back to Chéngdū (成都) in ~2 hours. (Book return tickets in advance, they sell out fast!)

• Best Season: Autumn (October) for fiery colors; spring for fewer crowds.
• Altitude Tips: Stay hydrated, walk slowly, avoid alcohol.
• Packing: Layered clothing, comfy walking shoes, power bank, rain poncho.
• Booking Hacks: Buy train tickets early, reserve hotels in Zhāngzhā Town (漳扎镇), and pre-book scenic bus passes via WeChat.
• Buy some snacks to eat halfway through the attractions — whether it’s Huanglong or Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhaigou has better facilities. Having a few snacks with you really helps when you need a quick energy boost. Just remember: don’t litter. Always throw your trash in the bins provided. 😉

• Chéngdū (成都)→ Jiǔzhàigōu’s (九寨沟) train and roundtrip: 300 RMB ($42 USD)
• Shuttle bus (round trip): 40–60 RMB ($5-7 USD)
• Huanglong Entrance + cable car ropeway is 140 RMB ($44 USD)
• Altitude Meds : 100 RMB ($13.7 USD)
• Scenic Buses : 20 RMB ($2.8 USD)
• taxi around Zhangzhatown : 20-30 RMB ($3-4 USD)
• Jiǔzhàigōu’s (九寨沟) entrance + bus: 300 RMB ($42.17 USD)
• Romantic Show of Jiǔzhài (九寨) ticket : 263 RMB ($37 USD)
• Hotel : 800 RMB/ 2 nights ($112 USD)
• Meals: 100 RMB/day ($14.06 USD)

Total: ~2113 RMB (~$297 USD) for 3D2N (excluding souvenirs).

So, can you see Jiǔzhàigōu (九寨沟) and Huánglóng (黄龙) in just 3 days? Absolutely. It’s exhausting, the altitude is no joke, and queues test your patience but the scenery feels straight out of a fairytale.

If you’re planning your own Jiuzhaigou itinerary from Chengdu (成都), I hope this travel guide helps you make the most of your trip. Have questions or need booking links? Drop them in the comments or check my vlog for extra resources.

Follow Leotrails for more exciting adventures and insider tips from China

That’s it for this blog post! If you found this helpful, give it a thumbs up! See you in the next post! Love you all! Thank you!
Travel Deeper, Eat Bolder, Live the Moments, and Follow the Trails.✈️🍜🔥🌏
Bye Bye!

🎥 Watch The Full Video Here:

Source: Trip.com

Where I Stayed: Howard Johnson Tianyuan Resort

Howard Johnson Tianyuan Resort feels like a proper place to rest after a long day out, with spacious rooms and a calm, resort-style setting that makes everything slow down a bit. It’s comfortable, quiet, and really nice when you just want to relax and recharge without thinking too much.

Source: Trip.com

Other Recommended Stays: Banshan Xuanjing • Kuobo Qiongxi Private Hot Spring Homestay (Jiuzhaigou)

Banshan Xuanjing • Kuobo Qiongxi Private Hot Spring Homestay (Jiuzhaigou) feels truly special, almost like a hidden mountain escape. Waking up to fresh air, soaking in your own private hot spring, and enjoying the peaceful surroundings makes it easy to forget about everything else and just enjoy the moment.