Tianfu Fairyland | 5-Day High-Speed Rail Tour of Chengdu Panda Base + Huanglong Scenic Area + Jiuzhaigou Valley

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas. Our driver will greet you at the exit of the airport/train station and escort you to the hotel for check-in and rest. You can arrange the remaining time freely. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to relieve travel fatigue. If it is still early, you can also stroll around the area, or consult your guide for travel suggestions according to your time and interests. Suggested Ways to Arrive 1. By plane: Chengdu has two airports - Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU). They have many direct domestic routes, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Chongqing, Wuhan, Guiyang, Xiamen, etc., as well as direct international routes, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, etc., making transportation very convenient. 2. By train: Chengdu has four railway stations. You can take high-speed rail to Chengdu from cities such as Beijing (7-11 hours), Xi'an (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Shanghai (12.5-14.5 hours), Kunming (6-6.5 hours), and Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours).

After breakfast, you will drive about 17 kilometers to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, to see China's adorable national treasure, the giant panda, and learn about their living habits and conservation status. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, or Chengdu Panda Base for short, is home to more than 100 giant pandas, making it the base with the largest number of captive giant pandas in the world. Here, you can see giant pandas of different ages playing, eating, climbing hills, climbing trees, sleeping, and other cute and interesting scenes in the park, and you can also follow your guide to visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum to learn more stories about pandas. In addition, if you visit in autumn, you may also have the chance to see adorable giant panda cubs at the Moon Nursery and Sun Nursery. Moreover, the famous Chinese panda star Huahua lives here. She is known for her cute appearance and unique personality and is called a "top female celebrity." In addition to giant pandas, at the Chengdu Panda Base you can also see red pandas (rarer than giant pandas), Baer's pochards, golden pheasants, collared scops owls, and other rare animals. (Note: 1. Giant pandas prefer cool weather and are more active in the morning, so it is recommended that you arrive early to see more natural panda behavior; 2. Admission to the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum is free, but advance reservation is required, and it is closed every Monday.) Afterward, visit Wenshu Monastery, a famous Buddhist temple in Chengdu. It is a Buddhist temple with a history of more than 1,400 years and an excellent place to experience Chengdu's culture and history. You can stroll leisurely through it and admire in turn the Hall of Heavenly Kings (dedicated to Maitreya Bodhisattva and the Four Heavenly Kings, one of the main buildings of Wenshu Monastery), Wenshu Pavilion (with a Buddhist pagoda and Buddhist library, a good place to learn about Buddhist culture), the Mahavira Hall (touch the iron "Fu" character in the hall, symbolizing taking good fortune with you), the Sutra Library (housing Buddha relics), and the Hall of the Three Great Beings (dedicated to Guanyin, Wenshu, and Samantabhadra, a holy place for praying for blessings), and feel the Buddhist Zen spirit and peaceful atmosphere. In addition, the gray tiles and red walls of Wenshu Monastery are a popular spot for photos. You can find a good angle and capture beautiful moments. In the afternoon, go to People's Park, hailed as one of the "most beautiful parks in Chengdu," to experience Chengdu's leisurely culture up close and the slow life of local people. Here, in a century-old teahouse, you can order a cup of fragrant gaiwan tea, sit on bamboo chairs with a few friends and chat leisurely, experience intangible cultural heritage ear cleaning and enjoy the "little comfort" of a tingling sensation rushing to your head, or watch locals playing mahjong, and visit the famous marriage market. If you are lucky, you may also encounter locals dancing square dances, practicing Tai Chi, or playing traditional Chinese instruments. When the sun sets, it is a good time to visit Jinli. Jinli is known as the "First Street of Western Shu" and the "Chengdu version of Along the River During the Qingming Festival." It is one of Chengdu's most representative historical and cultural districts and was once rated by CNN as one of the 21 most beautiful streets in the world. Strolling among the ancient streets and alleys, you can admire antique Ming and Qing architecture and the beautiful scene of red lanterns hanging high, appreciate the profound Three Kingdoms culture and unique Western Sichuan customs, watch wonderful Sichuan opera face-changing performances, capture beautiful moments during your trip, slowly browse specialty handicraft shops (Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, paper-cutting, calligraphy and painting, etc.), taste authentic old Chengdu food snacks (dan dan noodles, ice jelly, sugar-oil fruit, etc.), and immersively feel the lively everyday atmosphere unique to Chengdu's old streets. After the tour, our driver will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu for rest. Recommended Evening Activities (Optional) 1. Sichuan opera performance: Teahouses or special performance venues in Jinli offer wonderful Sichuan opera performances, including face-changing, fire-spitting, shadow puppetry, puppet shows, dance, singing, and acrobatics. The performance time is usually from 20:00 to 21:30. You can enjoy it while sipping tea and experience a strong Chengdu cultural atmosphere. 2. Jinjiang night cruise: Taking a night cruise on the Jinjiang River is a highlight of Jinli's evening activities. The cruise time is usually from 18:00 to 23:30 and lasts about 30 minutes. You can enjoy the night view of downtown Chengdu and feel the beauty of the brilliant lights on both banks of the Jinjiang River complementing the antique architecture.

This morning, we will take you to Chengdu East Railway Station to board a high-speed train to Huanglongjiuzhai Station (journey time about 1.5–3 hours). Our local driver will greet you at the exit of Huanglongjiuzhai Station and take you to visit the Huanglong Scenic Area. (PS: Huanglongjiuzhai Station is about 26 km from Huanglong Scenic Area, a drive of about 30 minutes; it is about 90 km from Jiuzhaigou, a drive of about 1.5 hours.) [Huanglong Scenic Area] is renowned for its unique surface travertine landscapes, majestic snow-capped mountains and gorges, pristine forests and meadows, and rich flora and fauna. It has long been praised as a "Jade Pool on Earth," "Fairyland Huanglong," and "World Wonder," and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992. Moreover, the karst landforms within Huanglong Scenic Area are extremely rare, forming breathtakingly beautiful travertine pool groups in a riot of colors—blue, green, orange, yellow, and white—arranged in layer upon layer, like terraced fields meticulously carved by nature. Viewed from afar, it resembles a giant golden dragon spanning the valley and coiling atop the snow-capped mountains, sparking endless imagination. Recommended route for today: Take the cable car to the summit viewing platform (overlooking the panoramic view of Huanglong Scenic Area) → walk downhill (about 3–4 hours on foot, along the way you can see Huanglong Ancient Temple, Five-Color Pool, Mirror Reflection Pool, Welcome Pool, waterfalls, and other travertine pools and cave landscapes, experiencing the beauty of Huanglong's nature and culture) Recommended highlights in Huanglong Scenic Area 1. Five-Color Pool: At an elevation of about 3,576 meters, this is the essence of Huanglong Scenic Area, composed of 693 travertine pools of varying sizes, shapes, and colors. The water is crystal clear and displays rich colors under the sunlight, like nature's palette, surrounded by green mountains, with a truly magnificent scene. In the early morning or at dusk, you can capture the most beautiful light and shadow effects of the Five-Color Pool. 2. Huanglong Ancient Temple: First built in the Ming Dynasty, it is said to have been constructed to commemorate Huanglong Zhenren, who helped Yu the Great control the floods. It is a Taoist temple with a long history, with flourishing incense. You can burn incense and pray for blessings, and learn about the legend of Huanglong Zhenren and Taoist culture. 3. Mirror Reflection Pool: Its unique mirror-like reflections and travertine pool scenery make it one of the must-see sights in Huanglong Scenic Area. You can photograph the reflections in the pools and capture the stunning moments of sky light, cloud shadows, snow peaks, and dense forests. After sightseeing, you will leave Huanglong Scenic Area and drive about 2 hours to Jiuzhaigou to check into your hotel and rest. Tips for Huanglong Scenic Area 1. The altitude of Huanglong Scenic Area is higher than that of Jiuzhaigou, with the core area at 3,200 to 3,600 meters. Some visitors may experience altitude sickness. It is recommended to avoid strenuous exercise, keep walking at a leisurely pace, and prepare oxygen canisters or use the oxygen stations in the scenic area. 2. The Huanglong cable car may be closed in winter (usually from November to March of the following year) due to weather conditions. The specific schedule is subject to the scenic area's announcements.

After breakfast, head to [Jiuzhaigou], known as a "fairyland on earth." This is one of the most beautiful natural scenic areas in China and the world, and a famous World Natural Heritage Site. It is renowned for its unique alpine lake groups, waterfalls, colorful forests, snow peaks, blue ice, and Tibetan customs—the "Six Wonders of Jiuzhaigou." It has long been praised as a "fairy-tale world" and the "king of waterscapes." Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area consists of three main valleys—Zechawa Valley, Rize Valley, and Shuzheng Valley—arranged overall in a "Y" shape. The easiest and most energy-saving way to explore is by sightseeing bus. At the entrance of the scenic area, there are buses to various attractions. After arriving at an attraction, you can walk along the wooden boardwalks to enjoy the scenery, then transfer to another sightseeing bus at designated spots to head to the next attraction. Our guide can customize a more reasonable touring route based on your time, energy, and group size, allowing you to explore the highlights of Jiuzhaigou at the most comfortable pace and enjoy the stunning natural scenery along the way. Recommended classic route: Take the sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance → Nuorilang Waterfall (the widest travertine waterfall in China) → take the bus to Zechawa Valley → hike to Five-Color Pool (the smallest lake in Jiuzhaigou) and Long Lake (the largest lake in Jiuzhaigou) → take the bus to Rize Valley → hike to Panda Lake (named for the pandas that appear there), Five-Flower Lake (one of the famous lakes in Jiuzhaigou and one of its wonders), Pearl Shoal (a unique calcified shoal landscape), and Mirror Lake (the third-largest lake in Jiuzhaigou, with stunning scenery) → return to Nuorilang Visitor Center to rest → take the bus to Shuzheng Valley (along the way you can enjoy Shuzheng Lakes, Shuzheng Waterfall, Sparkling Lake, traditional Tibetan villages, and other attractions) → return to the entrance Practical tips for Jiuzhaigou 1. Arrive early: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area has a daily visitor cap of 41,000. It is recommended to arrive early to avoid the peak of tour groups and enjoy a quieter experience. 2. Wear comfortable shoes: Jiuzhaigou involves long walking distances. It is recommended to choose comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes with good grip to avoid discomfort affecting your visit. 3. Dining options in the park: Nuorilang Restaurant is the only restaurant in the scenic area, offering buffet lunch, but prices are relatively high and it is crowded. It is recommended to bring your own food and choose a scenic spot for a picnic, which saves money and avoids the crowds.

After breakfast, our driver will take you to the airport/railway station. With this, your wonderful and unforgettable 5-day Chengdu, Huanglong, and Jiuzhaigou tour comes to an end. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan, Harbin, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Tibet, Guilin, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.