Jiuzhaigou Valley: Plan Your Visit in Sichuan
Jiuzhaigou's 114 lakes, ticket prices and hours, the Chengdu train in 1 hour 39 minutes and what to know about altitude.
Photo: Jon Geng / Unsplash
Contents
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a fairyland of clear, strangely coloured blue, green and purplish lakes, waterfalls and limestone terraces, set below jagged alpine peaks in northern Sichuan.[1] The park holds 114 lakes spread over more than 1,000 metres of altitude. Local legend says they are the pieces of a mirror made of wind that a young boy gave to the goddess Woluo Semo. She broke it, and 114 pieces fell to earth.[2] Forest covers more than half of the area, and the park counts 5 major waterfalls.[3][4] The protected area spans 72,000 hectares, and about 140 bird species live here, along with giant pandas and Sichuan takin.[1]
Choose your route by the whole journey
Train from Chengdu: The fastest train from Chengdu East reaches Huanglong Jiuzhai station in 1 hour 39 minutes. Up to 30 trains a day run from Chengdu East to Huanglong Jiuzhai, Huangshengguan and Songpan stations. Huanglong Jiuzhai station sits at 2,977 metres, 93 kilometres and about 2 hours by road from the park. Direct buses to the scenic area run from Songpan and Huanglong Jiuzhai stations. Look up trains and fares on China Railway's 12306.[5]
Fly: Jiuhuang Airport is 88 kilometres from the park entrance, about 1.5 hours by road. It is one of China's three high-plateau airports, and winter snow can stop flights, so leave slack on the way home. Airport buses run straight to the main sights.[5]
Go overland: From Chengdu it is 440 kilometres and 9 to 10 hours by road. From Mianyang it is 377 kilometres and 5 to 6 hours, and from Lanzhou in Gansu 719 kilometres and 10 to 12 hours. Long-distance buses leave Chengdu from Xinnanmen and Chadianzi stations. The Xinnanmen bus departs at 7:00 and runs to the park entrance. The Chadianzi bus stops at Zhangzha town and goes on to Jiuzhaigou county seat. Direct buses from Mianyang's Pingzheng station reach the scenic area twice a day, and a third goes to the county seat only, so ask for the exact destination when you buy.[5]
Things to Do
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GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Hours, tickets and rules
From April 1 to November 15 the park is open from 7:30 to 18:00. From November 16 to March 31 it opens at 8:30 and closes at 18:00. You must leave the scenic area before 18:00, and staying overnight inside is prohibited, so sleep outside the park.[3] Reserve tickets through the park's official WeChat account.[6]
| Season | Adult entrance ticket | Sightseeing vehicle ticket |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 to November 15 | CNY 190 per person[3] | CNY 90 per person[3] |
| November 16 to March 31 | CNY 80 per person[3] | CNY 80 per person[3] |
Accident insurance costs CNY 10 per person and you can add it on arrival. In the off-season, teenagers aged 15 to 18 pay CNY 40 for entrance plus CNY 80 for the vehicle. Visitors over 60 skip the entrance fee and pay CNY 80 for the vehicle. Children aged 6 to 14, or between 1.2 and 1.5 metres tall, pay CNY 40 for each. Children under 6 or up to 1.2 metres enter free. In winter, areas such as the primeval forest close.[3]
Shape your day around the highlights
The lakes are the reason you come, and the Nuo Ri Lang waterfall is the park's showpiece. The park calls it the widest travertine-topped waterfall in the world.[4] Pick a few areas and leave time for the park's shuttle buses and for walking. A second day takes the pressure off.
Winter has its own show. The Pearl Shoals and Nuo Ri Lang waterfalls freeze into giant blue icicles.[7] You see them only when the cold is deep enough, and forest areas may be closed then.
Plan for altitude
The valley climbs past 4,700 metres, and the nearest train station already sits near 3,000 metres.[1][5] Ascend gradually, keep exercise mild and avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours at altitude. A headache with nausea, dizziness or fatigue after you arrive points to altitude sickness, which feels like a hangover. Never go up to sleep higher while you have symptoms, and go down if they get worse despite rest. Confusion or trouble walking can signal brain swelling, and breathlessness at rest can signal fluid in the lungs. Both are emergencies: descend at once and get medical help.[8] If you have heart or lung conditions, see a doctor before you travel.
Add Huanglong
Huanglong is a separate park, 27 kilometres and 35 minutes by road from Huanglong Jiuzhai station.[5] It lies at about 3,500 metres and has a boardwalk only: you must not step on the travertine. Book entry online with your real name up to 14 days ahead. Daily visitors are capped at 25,000, and summer weekends sell out 2 to 3 days early.[9] For local planning, see our Huanglong guide.
For more route ideas across the country, see our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [2] Jiuzhai Valley National Park: Lakes. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [3] Jiuzhai Valley National Park: Visitor information. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [4] Jiuzhai Valley National Park: Waterfalls. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [5] Jiuzhaigou National Park: Arrival and transport to Jiuzhaigou. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [6] Jiuzhaigou Administration: Ticket purchase FAQ. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [7] Jiuzhai Valley National Park: Frozen Waterfalls. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [8] US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Yellow Book 2026: High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [9] Songpan County People’s Government (credited to Sichuan Online): Huanglong visitor tips (17 July 2026). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
One day covers the highlights if you pick a few areas and keep time for the shuttle buses and walking. With a second day you can slow down.
From April 1 to November 15 an adult pays CNY 190 for entrance plus CNY 90 for the sightseeing vehicle. From November 16 to March 31 it is CNY 80 plus CNY 80. Optional insurance is CNY 10.
The fastest train from Chengdu East to Huanglong Jiuzhai station takes 1 hour 39 minutes. From the station it is 93 kilometres, about 2 hours by road, to the park.
Yes, to Jiuhuang Airport, 88 kilometres and about 1.5 hours by road from the entrance. Snow can stop flights in winter, so leave slack on the way home.
7:30 to 18:00 from April 1 to November 15, and 8:30 to 18:00 from November 16 to March 31. You must leave before 18:00.
No. Staying overnight inside the scenic area is prohibited. Sleep outside the park and enter in the morning.
It can. Ascend gradually, keep exercise mild and skip alcohol for the first 48 hours. Never go higher to sleep while you have symptoms, and descend if they get worse. Confusion, trouble walking or breathlessness at rest are emergencies.
Yes, as a separate visit. It is 27 kilometres and 35 minutes by road from Huanglong Jiuzhai station. Entry is booked online with your real name.
