Located in the far northeast of Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Area lies isolated from other cities in the province, however the construction of the Jiuhuang Airport in Chuanzhusi Town and a new road link between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou has meant that the journey to Jiuzhaigou has become a great deal easier for today's traveler.

Chengdu remains the starting point for visitors to Jiuzhaigou, as there is no direct plane or long-distance bus service to the region from elsewhere within China. The city itself can be easily arrived at through international and domestic flights or by train and long-distance bus services.

In 1999 the Jiuzhaizhou Ring Way was opened in an effort to encourage further tourism in the area, although even with this new link, the journey time by road is still 10 hours. Fortunately, the beautiful natural scenery along the route is such that it is easy to forget the immediate surroundings of coach or bus. Most long-distance buses depart in the early morning and arrive at dawn, and now even provide a service throughout the winter months. Traveling by bus can also help with gradual acclimatization to the local high altitudes (it is recommended that those prone to altitude sickness take appropriate medication before departure).

For those visitors who want to save time on travel there is the Jiuhuang Airport, located in Chuanzhusi Town. First opened in 2003, it takes just 40 minutes to fly between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou.

Since there are a number of attractions around Jiuzhaigou, some visitors prefer to drive there by themselves or hire a car. The advantage of this is that you can plan your journey freely without too many limitations. However, unless you are skilled driver, it is recommended that you hire someone who is familiar with the local conditions, since some sections of the road are hazardous and especially dangerous at night.