The position of the Jiuzhaigou County in a mountainous area once made people think that maybe it’s difficult to get there, but actually, to travel to the Jiuzhaigou County, there are various and convenient means of transportation to choose, and the journey is quite smooth. By virtue of the relatively close distance to Jiuzhaigou and an advanced transportation network, Chengdu has become the most popular departure hub for tourists heading there.
How to Get to Jiuzhaigou County?
1. By Intercity High-speed Train - The Most Suggested Way
Huanglong Jiuzhai Railway Station is the closest high-speed train station to the Jiuzhaigou County, followed by Songpan Railway Station. From dawn to dusk every day, there are nearly 30 intercity high-speed trains from Chengdu East Railway Station to these two stations. The train ride takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and the fare varies from CNY 117 to 230 depending on your seat class. In view of the sufficient train schedules and relatively short travel time, it’s the most recommended to take an intercity high-speed train to travel from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou.
In addition, there are 5 intercity high-speed trains from Shuangliu Airport Railway Station under the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to the two stations mentioned above, which depart at 06:29, 11:19, 13:19, 14:11, and 15:57. To ensure you can board the train in time, please reserve at least 40 minutes for transfer.
By the way, it takes you about another 2 hours to reach the Jiuzhaigou National Park after getting out from each railway station.
Read more: Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou Train
2. By Long-distance Bus - Cost-friendly Plan B
Since the Jiuzhaigou National Park is extremely popular, in the ultra-peak season such as Chinese holidays, high-speed train tickets are prone to selling out. In this case, to take a long-distance bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou is a good option.
You can take a long-distance bus from Chadianzi or Chengdu East Long-distance Bus Station, and after a 5.5-to-6-hour drive, you will get to Jiuzhai Goukou Long-distance Bus Station, which is just a 10-minute drive away from the Jiuzhaigou National Park. In this way, you spend the fare of CNY 116 to 188 and directly get to the surrounding area of the park, and have a convenient and cost-friendly journey.
Plus, long-distance buses further drive between Jiuzhaigou and Lanzhou of Gansu Province / Mianyang of Sichuan Province.
3. By Car Rental - Suitable for A Leisurely Family Tour
To rent a car with a local driver is suitable for those traveling with lots of luggage and in family tours. The rental car can not only provide a comfortable journey, but also enable the family to plan their own travel itinerary and explore attractions in and around Jiuzhaigou, such as the Jiuzhaigou National Park, the Huanglong National Scenic Reserve, and the Songpan Ancient Town.
It generally takes 5 to 7 hours to travel from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou by rental car, and the rental fee including the payment for the professional driver is CNY 700 to 1,200.
4. By Air - Suggested Only for Those Coming from Beijing
The Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (JZH) is the closest airport to the Jiuzhaigou County. The number of flights of JZH is quite limited, and currently, there are only one flight between Beijing and Jiuzhaigou, which doesn’t operate every day. In the off season from November to March, there may be only 1 or 2 flights each week, or even none at all.
It’s worth noting that JZH lies in the plateau area featuring unexpectable weather, and the flight is prone to delay or cancellation. But if it operates normally, it means that people travelling from Beijing to Jiuzhaigou can skip the stopover in Chengdu and directly arrive at Jiuzhaigou after a 2.5-hour flight journey, saving the travel time. What’s call for special attention is that people may get altitude sickness upon arrival at JZH at an altitude of more than 3,400 meters (11,150 feet), so slow movement after getting off the plane is necessary.
How to Get Around Jiuzhaigou?
1. By Direct Tourist Bus - Chosen by the Majority of Tourists
Direct tourist buses drive between railway stations and attractions, and between attractions. Rows of direct tourist buses are on standby outside the railway stations, and the fare for the bus is relatively low. Hence the direct tourist bus is the most-chosen means of transportation to travel around Jiuzhaigou.
From Huanglong Jiuzhai Railway Station, it takes you 2 to 2.5 hours and costs CNY 51 to the Jiuzhaigou National Park, and about 2.5 hours and CNY 56 from Songpan Railway Station; to visit the Huanglong National Scenic Reserve, the direct bus journey from Huanglong Jiuzhai / Songpan takes about 40 minutes / 1 hour, with the fare of CNY 28 / 33; the direct bus journey between the Jiuzhaigou National Park and the Huanglong National Scenic Reserve lasts for about 2.5 hours and costs CNY 33.
2. By Taxi - Fast and Convenient Way
Those traveling in pairs or small groups and with lots of luggage can alternatively choose to take a taxi from the railway station / airport to the hotel / attraction, to gain a more comfortable and faster drive. From Huanglong Jiuzhai Railway Station to the Jiuzhaigou National Park, the taxi ride is 1.5 to 2 hours long and costs CNY 200 to 300. To make sure a safe and smooth journey, it’s suggested to take an officially licensed taxi, which is overall in white with red, yellow, green, and blue stripes.
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Read more:
Best Way to Travel between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou
How to Travel between Xi’an and Jiuzhaigou
