4-Day Songpan Jiuzhaigou and Zoige Grassland Scenic Tour from Chengdu

The Experience

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Chengdu and take you to the Chengdu East Railway Station. Here, you will take a high-speed train to Songpan.

On arrival at Songpan Station, your private driver will meet you and take you to the Songpan Ancient Town.

It is a historic town that once served as an important frontier stronghold and trading hub along routes connecting Sichuan with the Tibetan regions.

You can take a walk through the old streets and pass through the town's historic gates, traditional buildings, and sections of its ancient city wall.

After the visit, your driver will continue to transfer you to Jiuzhaigou, a drive of roughly 2–3 hours.

Once you arrive, check in to your hotel and take the rest of the day to settle in.

Highlights

• High-speed train journey from Chengdu to Songpan
• Explore the historic streets and city gates of Songpan Ancient Town

Tips

• Keep some warm layers handy, as temperatures can drop in the evening.

The Experience

After breakfast, head to the park entrance and board the park's sightseeing shuttle bus. You'll spend a full day exploring Jiuzhaigou National Park.

Jiuzhaigou is shaped like the letter Y, with three main branches: Shuzheng Valley at the bottom, Rize Valley on the right, and Zechawa Valley on the left. Shuttle buses connect the main scenic areas across all three valleys. You can get off at the attractions that interest you, walk along the wooden boardwalks to enjoy the scenery up close, and then hop on another bus to continue exploring.

Each valley has its own character. Rize Valley is famous for Five Flower Lake and Pearl Shoal Waterfall. Zechawa Valley is home to Long Lake, the park's largest lake, and the striking seasonal scenery around it. In Shuzheng Valley, you'll find a series of lakes and waterfalls, including Nuorilang Waterfall, one of Jiuzhaigou's best-known landmarks.

Highlights

• Five Flower Lake and Pearl Shoal Waterfall
• Long Lake and the mountain scenery of Zechawa Valley
• Nuorilang Waterfall and the lakes of Shuzheng Valley

Tips

• Arrive early to make the most of your day.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water, sun protection, and a light rain jacket.
• The order of visits may change depending on shuttle bus operations and crowd conditions.

The Experience

After breakfast, you will leave Jiuzhaigou and travel toward Zoige by private vehicle. The drive takes around 4-6 hours.

As you climb onto the eastern Tibetan Plateau, the enclosed mountain valleys give way to open grasslands, wetlands, and distant hills.

Zoige Grassland, also known as Ruoergai, is one of the most distinctive highland landscapes in Sichuan, with seasonal flowers, grazing yaks and sheep, and broad stretches of meadow. The region is also known for its wetlands, which provide important habitats for birds and other wildlife. If you enjoy nature photography or birdwatching, keep your binoculars and camera close at hand.

After your visit, continue to the First Bend of the Yellow River, where the river makes a sweeping curve through the vast plateau grasslands. From the viewing platform, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the river winding across the open landscape.

The sunset here is particularly famous, as the changing light casts warm golden tones over the river and grasslands, making it a favorite spot for landscape photography. If the weather and schedule are suitable, try to arrive in time to watch the sunset.

After your visit, continue to your hotel in the Zoige area for the night.

Highlights

• Drive across the open landscapes of Zoige Grassland
• Look for seasonal wildflowers, grazing animals, and birdlife
• Enjoy the sunset at the First Bend of the Yellow River

Tips

• Expect several hours of driving, with the exact duration depending on stops and road conditions.
• Bring binoculars if birdwatching interests you, but remember that sightings vary with the season.
• Zoige sits at a high elevation, so take it easy and dress for changing weather.

The Experience

After breakfast, you will transfer to Flower Lake (Huahu), one of the best-known wetland attractions in the Zoige region.

Depending on the season and opening conditions, you'll have time to walk along the boardwalks and enjoy views across the marshes, open water, and surrounding grasslands.

Flower Lake is particularly appealing to nature lovers and birdwatchers. Its wetlands support a variety of bird species, such as black-necked crane, common redshank, white-rumped snowfinch, common moorhen, great crested grebe, and others.

After visiting the lake, continue to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station. We'll arrange your transfer around your confirmed train departure, allowing a suitable buffer for the drive and station procedures.

From here, take a high-speed train back to Chengdu. Your driver will transfer you back to your hotel.

Highlights

• Explore Flower Lake's highland wetland scenery
• Enjoy opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography

Tips

• Confirm Flower Lake's seasonal opening dates before travel.
• Keep your binoculars and camera accessible, and avoid disturbing birds or leaving designated paths.