Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong & Chengdu in six days

Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong & Chengdu - travel planning:

For the round trip Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong & Chengdu from the Beijing I planned in total six days.

You will arrive by plane. The airport Jiuzhai – Huanglong can be reached from Beijing after a flight of round about three hours. The airport is located at 3448 meters and is the third highest airport in China.

From the airport it is advisable to either take the hotel's own shuttle service or take a taxi to the accommodation. The drive takes about an hour, or longer depending on the season and the weather.

For me the most recommendable time of year is autumn. I visited the national parks in October and the colored leaves of the trees, the snow-capped mountains in the background and the temperatures that were still bearable despite the altitude made the trip an unforgettable experience. It is highly advisable to visit the parks outside of the Chinese national holidays.

Nevertheless, warm, weatherproof clothing and sturdy shoes are mandatory. The damp paths are sometimes extremely slippery and require steady-footing.

Due to the altitude, it is imperative to plan enough time. The low oxygen levels at altitudes of 3500 - 4200 meters should not be underestimated.

Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong, the accommodations:

It is recommended to choose the accommodation near the Jiuzhaigou National Park. In addition to some hotels, numerous hostels, mostly along the main street, can be booked at relatively low prices. It should be noted that the nights in particular can get very cold there, but most hotels are not heated. Sichuan Province is located in southern China and these areas are not heated all year round. Only the beds are preheated with an electric blanket. Most accommodations offer a morning shuttle service to the park entrance. In the afternoon you can return to your accommodation either by taxi or by walking (around 40 minutes).

The arrival in Jiuzhaigou:

When we arrived at Jiuzhai - Huanglong Airport at sunset, it was snowing slightly. The taxi ride to the accommodation was unproblematic. When we arrived at the hotel it was already dark, so we had to use the time to plan the next few days with the hotel.

The trips to the entrance of Jiuzhaigou National Park as well as the drive to Huanglong National Park with subsequent transfer to the airport were organized by the hotel. In some cases it is also possible to get entry tickets through the accommodations.

After all ambiguities had been resolved and the tours for the next few days had been fixed, it was time for a refreshment in one of the small but fine restaurants in the area.

Hotpot and yak skewers are perfect for the season and the cool, wintry temperatures. The correspondingly fiery spicy taste is typical for the province of Sichuan. Traditionally grilled, also very spicy bread is served here with hotpot and skewers.

In order to be lively and fit for the tour the next morning, the evening ended early after dinner. The shuttle service to the park was announced for 05:00 o'clock.

The Jiuzhaigou National Park:

General information:

The Jiuzhaigou National Park is a nature reserve and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1992 and has also been a world biosphere reserve since 1997. Arrived at the park before sunrise, an overwhelming crowd of people formed in front of the still closed gates.

The advice of the locals to go to bed early and get up early is well justified. As huge as the crowd at the entrance may seem, in the park itself the visitors spread out quickly and well, so that you can really enjoy the landscape and nature.

Only at the stops of the shuttle buses that go to the various highlights you do have to accept certain waiting times.

Due to the size of the park, it is advisable to plan two full days for the visit in order to have enough time to visit the most important and beautiful sections.

Once you have finally made it to the park and with the shuttle bus to the end of the line, you need a moment to get used to the height on the one hand and to let the landscape work its magic on you on the other. Nature shows its most breathtaking side here.

It is advisable to take the bus directly to the highest point, the terminus, and to hike back towards the valley. The descent is much more pleasant due to the altitude.

Colorful leaves, snow-capped mountain peaks in the surrounding, almost 5000 meter high mountains, crystal clear, colorful lakes, breathtaking waterfalls paired with the hope of encountering a giant panda in the wild make a visit to the Jiuzhaigou National Park a real adventure.

Unfortunately, my wish to meet and photograph a panda in its natural habitat has not been fulfilled, but I was able to observe the pandas at close range in the breeding station in Chengdu.

As soon as the sun has risen behind the mountain peaks and shines on the lakes, they shine in their full glory. The panorama in Jiuzhaigou Park is simply unique.

Narrow wooden plank paths lead through forests, passing impressive waterfalls and untouched, absolutely bizarre nature. The reflections of the surroundings in the calm lakes are truly spectacular. Around every corner there are new, impressive views of the fairytale and picturesque landscape.

Sometimes the path also leads over bridges and footbridges over the lake shores and along beautifully colored, golden-yellow trees. The temperature is pleasant in the sunshine and makes the hike an absolutely perfect pleasure.

Along the banks of the lakes, the full color of the autumn-colored trees unfolds. From golden yellow to purple to deep red, the entire range is represented in Jiuzhaigou.

The lakes themselves, whose color spectrum ranges from light, shining turquoise to deep dark blue, integrate seamlessly into the landscape. The blaze of colors of the picturesque nature is a real feast for the eyes.

Further down the valley you pass the largest, thundering waterfalls in the park. Suddenly there is a big hole in the landscape and the water rushes over the cliff into the depths. The sight of the waterfall from above is majestic.

In the area around Jiuzhaigou, which is what the translation of Jiuzhaigou also means, there are nine Tibetan villages.

Distingtive for Tibet are the prayer wheels, which are also decorated with the typical flags and can be seen again and again in the park.

They are tirelessly driven by the flowing water.

Driving from Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong National Park:

The drive from Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong National Park is another highlight of the trip. Up over the pass roads it goes to about 4500 meters.

On the way you will meet yaks crossing the road and looking for food in the barren landscape.

When you stop on one of the high plateaus you have a fantastic view of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.

The Huanglong National Park:

The hike:

The tour in Huanglong National Park is a circular route. As in Jiuzhaigou, you cannot comfortably take the bus to the top, but have to cope with the ascent to almost 3600 meters on foot, which is quite exhausting due to the altitude and the thin air associated with it.

From the entrance to the highest point, a good 400 meters in altitude must be overcome, each of which is absolutely worth seeing.

Once you have overcome the first few meters, the differently shaped pools filled with crystal clear water begin to stretch up the mountain. With every meter the pools become more imposing and the view more spectacular.

After a few more meters of altitude, which are now becoming increasingly strenuous, the view opens up to the horizon and reveals the snow-capped mountain peaks in the background.

Almost countless pools, one more magnificent than the other, form an absolutely fascinating and unique landscape with a breathtaking mountain backdrop in the background.

At the highest point are the colorful pools, which consist of 693 individual pools. You should arrive here before dusk, as the colors are most intense when the sun is shining.

The colorful pools above the old Huanglong Temple are also the turning point of the tour. The way back is downhill on the opposite side. This is much less energy and time consuming.

Nevertheless, it was necessary to adhere to the given time, because on the way back the transfer to the airport and the onward flight to the provincial capital Chengdu took place.

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province:

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is about 300 km from Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong National Parks. A short flight of around 45 minutes will take you to Chengdu.

A detour is definitely worth it, because on the one hand there is the breeding station for the giant pandas, which are raised there in a species-appropriate manner and saved from extinction. On the other hand, the historic old town has a lot to offer that you shouldn't miss in the afternoon and evening.

The panda breeding station in Chengdu:

A visit to the panda hatchery in Chengdu is an absolute must when in town. Autumn is the best time of year to visit. The pandas, which normally have their habitat in the highlands, feel most comfortable in cool autumn morning hours and become really active.

In addition to the scuffles of the tough teenage bears, you can also marvel at the climbing skills of the funny bears. The cooler the weather, the more action is on offer here.

Less action-packed, but my personal highlight in the panda park are the young animals. A few months old, they lie asleep almost all day long under the watchful eyes of the keepers who take care of the little bears.

The historical city center of Chengdu:

After visiting the panda breeding station, it was time to stroll a little in the old town center of Chengdu, to relax, to recall the experience and to round off the trip.

Here you can try the freshly prepared local specialties and experience the enormous spiciness of the dishes from Sichuan. Local, old-fashioned customs, such as professional ear cleaning, can also be tried over a mug of tea.

Conclusion:

The journey from Beijing to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Chengdu in six days was absolutely fantastic for me.

After two days of relaxed hiking in Jiuzahgou National Park, the most strenuous day came with a hike to the brightly colored pools of Huanglog Park.

The capital Chengdu offered a welcome relaxation when visiting the panda breeding station and strolling through the historic city center.

All in all, this was a trip that I can highly recommend in this form. I am happy to pass on tips and suggestions.