9 Days Jiuzhaigou & Zhangjiajie National Parks In-depth Tour

Nihao! Welcome to Chengdu, the Hometown of Giant Pandas! Your private driver and guide will be ready for you when you arrive in Chengdu. Enjoy a trouble-free transfer to your hotel. The rest of today is yours to relax in panda city on your own.

Arrival Ideas:
Chengdu is well connected by air and high-speed rail. There are two airports - Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport operating many international and domestic airlines. Travelers can go to Chengdu by air from most cities in China, like Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Guiyang, Chongqing… In addition, travelers can take high speed train to Chengdu from Xian (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours), Kunming (6-6.5hours), etc.

Free Time Ideas:
You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interest.

In the morning, you will meet your guide early at the appointed time in your hotel lobby. Since pandas prefer cool weather and are more active in the morning, we advise you to arrive early at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base), located only about 17 kilometers away from the city center. This is the closest panda base around Chengdu for you fulfill your panda dream.

Chengdu Panda Base is the base with the largest population of captive giant pandas in the world, accommodating over 100 pandas of different ages. You can watch pandas playing, eating, climbing, sleeping, and in autumn, even see the pink newborn giant panda cubs in the Sunshine Nursery House and the Moonlight Nursery House. Discover the charming panda stars at this base, such as Hua Hua, the most adored and celebrated panda who has captured the hearts of the nation, and Zhi Ma, the real-life inspiration behind the panda mascot of the World University Games. Besides giant pandas, the cute red pandas (rarer than giant pandas) at the Red Panda Playgrounds are also the highlight of the Chengdu Panda Base. Nowadays, the panda base has also become an urban birding spot for local birders and kids to search for Red-billed Leiothrix, Black-throated Tit, Chinese Blackbird, Spotted Dove, White-browed Laughingthrush, and more. If you're interested, you can follow your guide to discover more about pandas' secrets through the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum, which is free to enter but requires advance reservation, and closed on Mondays.

After lunch, drive about 2.5 hours from Chengdu to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world. Carved into a cliff face overlooking the confluence of three rivers: the Dadu, Min, and Qingyi, the 1200-year-old Grand Buddha at a towering height of 71 meters (233 feet) and 28m (92ft) wide. His shoulders span 28m, and each of his big toes is 8.5m long. His ears are 7m. The Buddhist monk Haitong conceived the project in AD 713, hoping that Buddha would protect the boats and calm the lethal currents.

To witness this architectural marvel from a unique and captivating perspective, you can enjoy a boat trip (about 20~30 minutes) to view the statue from the water. This allows you to fully appreciate the grandeur of the Leshan Giant Buddha. The play of light and shadow, coupled with the surrounding natural beauty, enhances the ethereal experience. Immersed in this extraordinary setting, one can't help but be reminded of the local saying: "The mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain.” Indeed, he is grand.

After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu downtown.

On this day, you will be escorted to Chengdu East Railway Station for a high-speed train to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station (about 1.5-2 hours). Upon arrival at Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, the local guide and driver will meet you there and escort you to Huanglong National Park, about 27 km away, with a 30-40 minutes' drive.

Huanglong National Park is a stunning valley with terraces of colored limestone ponds in blues, greens, oranges, yellows, and white. Huanglong, which means “Yellow Dragon”, got its name for its special geographical features. Seen from a distance, Huanglong's numerous travertine formations look like an enormous golden dragon arching across the valley, winding its way between the snowy mountain peaks. Huanglong Valley is also renowned for its superlative scenery of snow-topped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, virgin forests, wild animals, etc. The area, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, has been called a "World Wonder" and "Fairy Land on Earth."

Instead of a 6-hour hike, you are suggested to take a quick cable car directly to the top and then walk down the valley to enjoy the scenery (usually 3 to 4 hours). Walking down the mountain, you can see the main sites of Honglong Monastery, Five-Colored Ponds, Mirror Ponds, Welcoming Guest Ponds, a waterfall, as well as some temples and caves.

At the top (3556 m) of the valley lies the best highlight - Five-Color Ponds, consisting of almost 700 ponds of different sizes, shapes, and colors. It is well arranged and noted for the most graceful, bright, and distinct colors. Cobbles on the bottom shape into prisms of clearly visible chromatism between the texture and water plants. Water in the pools overflows, which makes all the colorful pools look like pieces of azure green jade plates from a distance.

After sightseeing, you will leave the park and drive for about 2 hours (104km) to Jiuzhaigou to check in at your hotel.

Useful Tips for Visiting Huanglong National Park:

1. The altitude of Huanglong is higher than that of Jiuzhaigou, ranging from 3,200 to 3,600 meters (10,500 to 11,800 feet), which may cause high altitude sickness for some travelers. You'd better avoid any strenuous exercises. It is recommended to prepare an oxygen bottle, or there are also many oxygen stations in the park.

2. The Huanglong cable car is closed in winter.

After breakfast at your hotel, set out for the full-day exploration of Jiuzhaigou National Park. Your guide will accompany you to hop on a sightseeing bus to enter the park to explore the fairyland landscape of Jiuzhaigou.

With some of the most beautiful and inspiring scenery on earth, Jiuzhaigou was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is even one of China’s most enchanting attractions. Jiuzhaigou (literally “Nine Settlement Valley”) takes its name from the nine Tibetan settlements along its length, which is most renowned for its bluer-than-blue lakes, rushing waterfalls, colorful forests, and deep woodlands backlit by snowy mountain ranges.

The park is a Y-shaped valley with three main sections: the Zechawa, Rize, and Shuzheng valleys. The relaxing and wise visiting way is to take advantage of sightseeing bus. There are sightseeing buses running from the entrance to the three valleys. Travelers hop off the bus, walk along wooden plank roads to enjoy the sights, then hop on another bus to the next attractions. Our tour guide will design a smart route according to your time, energy, and crowd level, and accompany you to explore the essence of Jiuzhaigou at a comfortable pace.

The classic visit route is to take a sightseeing bus to Nuorilang Waterfall. After that, take a bus to Zechawa Valley. From there, have a short hike to Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Beach. And then move to Rize Valley to visit Panda Lake, Five Flowers Lake, Pearl Shoal, Mirror Lake, etc. Lastly, get back to Nuorilang. Have a rest at the joining point of the "Y" - Nuorilang Tourist Center. After a good rest, Afterwards, spend your time visiting Shuzheng Valley. Then, descend along Shuzheng Valley to the park entrance and enjoy the great natural scenery interspersed with traditional Tibetan villages,etc. on the route.

Useful Tips:
1) Get to the park earlier to escape the crowds of tourists groups;
2) Wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking& trekking shoes;
3) Dining options inside park are limited and expensive. Buffet lunch is provided in Nuorilang Restaurant (the only restaurant in the valley). If you bring your own food you can picnic far away from the masses and avoid spending any longer at the busiest points.

After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station for your high speed train back to Chengdu.

Upon arrival at Chengdu East Railway Station, your guide will meet and escort you to your hotel for check-in. Next, visit Chengdu's Renmin Park to experience the city's laid-back lifestyle. Sip fragrant green tea at a historic teahouse while watching locals play mahjong and socialize. Then, take a leisurely stroll through Jinli Old Street, a 1,800-year-old thoroughfare that celebrates the rich culture of the Ancient Shu Kingdom. Explore the traditional stone-paved streets lined with local delicacies, handcrafted artifacts, and vibrant folk performances. (Optional Activity: Sample local spicy specialties like chuanchuan, dandan noodles, or for the adventurous, try the local delicacy of rabbit's head!)

Today, you will be escorted to the airport for a flight to Zhangjiajie (about 2 hours).

Welcome to Zhangjiajie, an incredible place where you can see Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in reality! Welcome to Zhangjiajie, an incredible place where you can see Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in reality! Upon your arrival in Zhangjiajie, the local guide and driver will greet you at the exit of the train station, and then escort you to your hotel in Wulingyuan Area. Have a good rest tonight.

(Please note: Since the flights between Chengdu to Zhangjiajie are few and may not be available for every day in low season. If there are no tickets available, we may change your transfer via Changsha, where you can take a high-speed to Zhangjiajie which needs only 2 hour.)

After breakfast, you will visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan, where you will explore Yuanjiajie and behold the awe-inspiring Hallelujah Mountains (乾坤柱). Following lunch, you will be transferred to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve in Wulingyuan, where you will have the opportunity to explore Tianzi Mountain (天子山). Throughout the day, you will have ample time to immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a captivating haven of nature adorned with over 3,000 slender quartz sandstone pillars.

In the morning, your first destination will be Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is the first national forest park in China. This park showcases a unique landform characterized by towering stone peaks in various shapes, abundant vegetation, and a majestic landscape. You will board a sightseeing bus to reach the Bailong Elevator, widely known as the "World's No.1 Ladder". This elevator holds the Guinness World Records for being the tallest, fastest, and heaviest outdoor elevator for sightseeing. In just 66 seconds, you will ascend 326 meters from the valley bottom to the pinnacle of the pillar. Next, you will hike into a mysterious Pandora World - Yuanjiajie (袁家界), the actual filming location of the movie "Avatar" and the renowned Hallelujah Mountains (哈利路亚山) in reality. Don't miss the chance to capture the South Sky Pillar (南天一柱; Avatar Mountain), the Floating Mountain (1,074m;悬浮山), a towering vertical peak standing approximately 150 meters high from the deep valley, resembling a giant standing upright under the heavens. Take your time to walk along the Yuanjiajie Scenic Trail, which spans 3,500 meters and is built on the edge of a precipice. The trail is adorned with red prayer ribbons, and as you journey, you will be able to admire breathtaking natural wonders such as the Backyard Garden (后花园), Lost Soul Platform (迷魂台; The Best Natural Viewing Platform in Yuanjiajie), and the First Bridge Under Heaven (天下第一桥, a natural stone bridge and the landmark of Yuanjiajie). While immersing yourself in the extraordinary beauty, you will also deepen your understanding of Zhangjiajie's sandstone peaks and forest landform. This unique landscape is the result of specific geological structures, tectonic movements, and external forces, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable phenomenon.

Next, board the sightseeing bus to reach the second tourist site - Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, which derives its name from Xiang Dakun (Xiang Tianzi), the leader of the local Tujia ethnic group who referred to himself as “Tianzi” (天子), meaning the Son of Heaven or the emperor in Chinese, during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Tianzi Mountain (天子山) is currently in the prime stage of its peak forest evolution and is renowned as the "King of Peaks". It gained fame as a fairyland in the popular Chinese TV Series - Journey to The West. Tianzi Mountain (1,262m) is well-known for its magnificent sunrise, the sea of clouds, red moon, winter snow, red leaves, and grand forest of peaks. You can proceed to Dianjiangtai Platform (点将台) to overlook the West Sea Peaks Forest (西海峰林), where rugged rocks rise from the depths of a misty canyon. You will not like to miss a view of the Imperial Writing Brush Peaks (御笔峰) which are a row of six stone pillars, each standing approximately a hundred meters tall. They are arranged in a square shape, intricately connected, and exhibit varying thicknesses from top to bottom, resembling the shape of a pen. According to legend, it is believed to be the pen used by Xiang Tianzi. Afterward, hike to He Long Park (贺龙公园) to visit the bronze statue of Marshal He Long and his warhorse, as well as the Tianzige Pavilion(天子阁). The Tianzige Pavilion, standing at 30 meters, offers a panoramic view of Tianzi Mountain, with its peaks and mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. The scene is truly spectacular. After the tour, return to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Notes: If you are traveling during the peak season, your guide may consider reversing the itinerary to avoid the largest crowds of tourists.

After breakfast, you will be transferred from Wulingyuan to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, which is approximately 56 km away and takes about 1.5 hours by car. There, you will have the opportunity to experience the breathtaking Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. Following that, enjoy a delicious lunch before proceeding to Baofeng Lake for a relaxing boat trip. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred back to Zhangjiajie City.

Well-known for its numerous waterfalls and fresh air in the valley, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is a must-visit scenic spot in Zhangjiajie, especially for photographers and adventurers. The Glass Bridge is the highlight of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, as it is the world’s longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, stretching between two dramatic cliffs. It spans 375 meters in length and stands 300 meters high. Designed by Israeli Haim Dotan Architects, the bridge is capable of accommodating up to 800 people at a time. It is entirely made of glass, with no steel structure. In the middle of the bridge, there is a bungee jumping platform, which is the highest in the world. Here, you can experience the thrill of the highest bungee jump and fulfill your dream of flying like Spider-Man (bungee jump fees are self-pay). Exploring the Glass Bridge typically takes about 1 hour. People from around the world are excited to take on the challenge of walking on the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. While walking on the bridge, you can look down through the crystal-clear base, which hovers above a lush forest and a mist-filled canyon. Standing on the transparent glass feels like floating in the air, offering a superb panoramic view of the entire Grand Canyon. Come and take the skywalk on the glass bridge to showcase your courage to the world!

After you “tremble” on the glass bridge, move to the mirror-like Baofeng Lake to restore your inner peace. From the entrance, you will take a shuttle bus to reach the pier. Then, take a wooden boat ride on Baofeng Lake, a crystal-clear alpine lake. Spanning 2.5 kilometers in length, 200-1000 meters in width, and with an average depth of 72 meters, Baofeng Lake is nestled in a basin amidst the surrounding mountains. It is adorned with lush green trees and unique rock formations, creating an idyllic atmosphere for relaxation. As you leisurely cruise on the boat, you will be captivated by the reflections of the magnificent peaks in the water and serenaded by traditional folk songs performed by the local minority people.

After the tour, return to Zhangjiajie City, which is approximately 35 kilometers away and takes about 1 hour by car, for an overnight stay.

Today, you will spend a half-day tour of Tianmen Mountain in Tianmenshan National Forest Park, known as as the "Soul of Zhangjiajie" and the "No.1 Sacred Mountain of Western Hunan Province". Located only 8 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie city center, the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area is unique in that it is suitable for people of all ages, and climbing is not necessary. There is the world's longest cable car, spanning 7,455 meters, which takes you directly to the mountaintop. Additionally, there is a small cableway available on the mountaintop. The only section that requires walking is the Tianmen Cave staircase, but don't worry, there is also an elevator available.

First, take the 30-minute cable car (7,455 meters) ride from Zhangjiajie City to the top of Tianmen Mountain. As you ascend, you'll be treated to a panoramic view of the winding mountain road with 99 bends (the Road to Heaven) and the breathtaking beauty of the bonsai gardens. Now, brace yourself for a thrilling challenge. Take a deep breath and step on the cliff path hanging on the mountainside. Walk along the Glass Walkway, a transparent glass path that stretches for 60 meters and hovers 1,430 meters above the bottomless valley, giving you a thrilling sensation of walking in the sky. Additionally, experience the 1.6-kilometer-long Cliff-Hanging Walkway, which is built along the edges of the mountain's summits. It's truly an amazing adventure! Next, you have the option to visit Tianmen Temple, a Buddhist structure that embodies the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912). It is surrounded by lush green forests, providing a serene atmosphere. And, you can also visit Yunmenxianding (云梦仙顶; 1,518m), the highest point in Tianmenshan National Forest Park, to enjoy a bird's eye view of the surroundings.

Afterward, go down by escalator from the mountaintop to Tianmen Cave, the world's highest natural mountain through the cave which spans 131.5 meters. Tianmen Cave, also known as Heaven's Gate Hole (天门洞), is frequently enveloped in swirling clouds and mist, and at other times, it is illuminated by ethereal rays of sunlight, resulting in a mesmerizing and ever-changing display of light and shadows. Take your time there to capture some beautiful photographs. Following that, you have the option to either walk down the 999 steps or take the elevator. Then, welcome back to another cable car station.

Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high-speed train to your next destination. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia.

Notes:

Walking on the glass skywalk requires a shoe cover fee of 5 yuan per person, and it is an optional expense.