7-Day Chengdu Chongqing Jiuzhaigou Itinerary and Private Tour

The Experience:

Arrive in Chengdu, a city known for its slow pace and rich food culture.

Depending on your arrival time, take a relaxed walk through Kuanzhai Alleys or Jinli Ancient Street. Lantern-lit streets, local snacks, and traditional architecture offer the perfect soft landing in Sichuan.

Tips:

• Jinli is more lively at night; Kuanzhai is better for daytime strolling
• Keep this day light to recover from travel

The Experience:

Start your day early with your guide and driver, heading to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It’s best to arrive before 7:30 AM, when the pandas are at their most active during feeding time.

Afterward, transfer back to the city center and visit Wenshu Monastery, a peaceful Buddhist temple where monks and local visitors create a calm, everyday spiritual atmosphere.

Later, enjoy a few relaxing hours in a traditional teahouse nearby. Surrounded by locals chatting and playing mahjong, you’ll experience Chengdu’s laid-back lifestyle firsthand.

If you’re interested, your guide can also take you to try the monastery’s vegetarian cuisine, a simple yet well-loved option among residents.

Highlights:

• Panda encounters
• Cultural & spiritual experience
• Authentic local lifestyle

Tips:

• Arrive at Panda Base before 9 AM
• Try ear-cleaning or mahjong in teahouses for a local touch

The Experience:

Today, you’ll travel from Chengdu to the Jiuzhaigou region by high-speed train, a fast and comfortable way to reach northern Sichuan.

Early in the morning, your guide and driver will escort you to Chengdu East Railway Station. After about 1.5–2 hours, you’ll arrive at Huanglongjiuzhai Station, where your local driver will be waiting. From there, continue by private transfer to Huanglong National Park (around 1–1.5 hours’ drive).

Huanglong is famous for its surreal terraces of colorful limestone pools. To make the visit easier, you can take the cable car up and then walk downhill at a relaxed pace, enjoying the scenery along the way.

After the visit, your driver will take you to your hotel near the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Valley. Check in and rest, preparing for a full day of exploration tomorrow.

Highlights:

• Huanglong’s unique landscapes
• Scenic mountain journey

Tips:

• Altitude is over 3,000m. Walk slowly.

The Experience:

Today, you’ll spend a full day exploring Jiuzhaigou National Park, one of China’s most breathtaking natural landscapes.

The park is shaped like a “Y”, with three main valleys: Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley, and Shuzheng Valley.

After entering, you’ll take the eco-friendly shuttle bus to the top sections first (either the left or right branch). Then, you’ll gradually explore your way down.

You’ll visit:

• Five Flower Lake: Famous for its vibrant turquoise colors and underwater tree trunks.
• Pearl Shoal Waterfall: A wide, cascading waterfall flowing over limestone terraces.
• Long Lake: A deep alpine lake surrounded by mountains,
• Five-Color Pool: A smaller but incredibly vivid lake known for its intense blue and green hues.

As you move down into Shuzheng Valley, the scenery becomes more layered and dynamic, with a series of lakes and waterfalls, including the impressive Nuorilang Waterfall, one of the widest highland waterfalls in China.

Throughout the day, you’ll combine shuttle bus rides (to cover long distances) with easy walks along wooden boardwalks, allowing you to get close to the lakes and enjoy the scenery at a relaxed pace.

Highlights:

• Five Flower Lake
• Nuorilang Waterfall
• Mirror-like alpine lakes

Tips:

• Enter early to avoid crowds
• Use shuttle buses + short walks to optimize time

The Experience:

Today is a transfer day.

After breakfast, your local driver will transfer you to the high-speed train station. Then, you’ll travel back to Chengdu.

After a simple lunch near Chengdu East Railway Station, you’ll continue onward to Chongqing by high-speed train. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will transfer you to the city center and check in your hotel.

In the evening, step into the vibrant atmosphere of Chongqing with a visit to Hongyadong. Built along the riverside cliffs, its multi-level stilted buildings light up after dark, creating a stunning, almost cinematic scene. As you walk through the glowing streets, you’ll experience the unique energy of this mountain city.

Highlights:

• Chongqing night skyline

Tips:

• Hongyadong is best after sunset

The Experience:

Today, you’ll explore Chongqing’s dramatic terrain and vibrant local culture with your guide.

Begin at Chaotianmen, where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet, offering sweeping views of the city’s layered skyline and bustling river traffic.

Next, head to the famous Liziba monorail station to witness the unique sight of a train passing directly through a residential building. It’s one of Chongqing’s most iconic urban moments.

In the afternoon, continue to Ciqikou Ancient Town, where narrow streets, traditional shops, and local snacks reflect the city’s historical charm. As evening falls, wrap up the day with a classic Chongqing hotpot experience.

Highlights:

• Iconic urban landmarks
• Local food experience

Tips:

• Wear comfortable shoes, as Chongqing is built with lots of stairs
• Prepare for spicy food (or ask for mild)

The Experience:

Enjoy a relaxed morning before departure. Your journey ends with a deep impression of China’s diversity, from pandas and peaceful tea culture to alpine landscapes and futuristic skylines.