Top Five Destinations to Start a Jiuzhaigou Tour

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Located in southwest China, the Jiuzhaigou Valley, which is a dreamlike tourist area being famous for its 6 beauties: green lake, banked waterfall, colorful forest, snowy peak, Tibetan culture, and blue ice, attracts millions of tourists every year. 

Stunning Jiuzhaigou
Stunning Jiuzhaigou

However, the remote mountainous location of Jiuzhaigou stopped considerable travelers for visiting. In order to accomplish your wish list, here are top 5 destinations to start your Jiuzhaigou Tour.

Top Five Destinations to Start a Jiuzhaigou Tour

1. Travel from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is the closest first-tier city near Jiuzhaigou. 80% of tourists starting their journeys from Chengdu, which has the most well-developed transportation web to Jiuzhaigou.

By Plane 
At present, there are 2 to 3 non-stop flights to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport every day. It just takes you around 40 minutes to complete the 240-km Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou flight. The average price of a ticket is about 1000 RMB. It is easy to get a discount air ticket in low seasons, such as winter. However, it is suggested to book your flight tickets from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou as soon as possible if you plan to visit Jiuzhaigou in peak season.

By Bus
Taking the bus is the most convenient and flexible way to go to Jiuzhaigou. There is a  considerable number of runs every day from 7:40 to 10:00 in the morning. You can take the bus at Xinnanmen Bus Station and Chadianzi Bus Station and arrived there in 10 hours. The view along all the way is beautiful. The ticket price varies from 141 RMB to 301 RMB.

By Train
There is no direct train connecting Jiuzhaigou yet. You can choose to take the train to Guangyuan, Jiangyou, Lueyang or Tianshui and then transfer to a bus to Jiuzhigou. This way could reduce some uncomfortable feelings for people who suffer from car sickness. 
After the Chengdu-Lanzhou high-speed rail opens in 2019, tourists can take a high-speed bullet train from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou.

2. Travel from Chongqing to Jiuzhaigou

Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities in China. As the most populous Chinese municipality and also the largest direct-controlled municipality according to the 2010 census, Chongqing welcomes more than 4 million tourists annually. 

By Plane
From Chongqing Jiangbei Airport, there are 2 direct flights by Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport. It would cost you about 1450 RMB for full price and a 70% off in low season, and you'll arrive at Jiuzhaigou in 90 minutes.
 
Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport
Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport

By Bus
There are only TWO buses from Chongqing to Jiuzhaigou in 8:00 at Chongqing Bus Station and 8:40 at Longtousi Bus Station. The ticket price is about 200RMB and it takes you 12 hours. Or you can take the train to Chengdu and then transfer to the bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou.

By Train
There is no direct train connecting Chongqing and Jiuzhaigou. If you don’t like the plane, you can take the bullet train from Chongqing to Chengdu and then take the bus to Jiuzhaigou.

3. Travel from Xi’an to Jiuzhaigou

Xi’an, one of the most famous and ancient city in China, is the capital of Shaanxi Province. Located in the north of Sichuan, it is not so far away from Jiuzhaigou when it can easily reach Beijing. It is suggested for tourists who come to China for the first time that sticking to Beijing-Xi’an-Jiuzhaigou route so that you can enjoy modern China, ancient China (including the terracotta army), and natural China.

By Plane
Easter Airlines and Sichuan Airlines offer 4 flights in total from Xi’an to Jiuzhaigou directly every day from 07:05 in the morning to 8:20 in the evening. The price is about 1200 RMB for one way and you may find some discounted ticket in 500 RMB in low season. It takes about 1.5 hours.

By Other Means
Since there is no direct train or bus from Xi’an to Jiuzhaigou, you can take the train or bus to Chengdu at first, and then transfer to 9-hour bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. It takes 2 days and about 400 RMB in total.

4. Travel from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

Lanzhou is the capital as well as the largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. The prefecture-level city, located on the banks of the Yellow River, is a key regional transportation hub, connecting areas further west by rail to the eastern half of the country. It is also an important city on the ancient Silk Road. Traveling from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou is the best way to enjoy the culture and landscape from Southern Gansu Province to Northern Sichuan Province.

By Bus
The most famous and charming choice is the travel route of Southern Gansu to Northern Sichuan which crosses 3 major cultural region of Islam, Tibetan, and Han with majestic view of the Yellow River, Grassland in southern Gansu, Ruoergai Prairie in northern Sichuan, and the world-famous Jiuzhaigou Valley. The total length of this route is 1480km and it takes you about 6 days on the way to Jiuzhaigou.

By Train
There is no direct train from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou until Chengdu-Lanzhou High-speed Rail is to completed in 2019. Since then, you can take a 2-hour train going to Jiuzhaigou.

5. Travel from Guangzhou to Jiuzhaigou

Guangzhou, or Canton, is the largest and most popular city in Guangdong and even in the northern China. Located on the Pearl River about 120 km north-northwest of Hong Kong and 145 km north of Macau, Guangzhou was a major terminus of the maritime Silk Road and continues to serve as a major port and transportation hub. This route benefits more for the tourists from Hong Kong or Southeast Asia as the most efficient, comfortable, and fastest way.

By Plane
Shenzhen Airline and China Airline provide direct flights from Guangzhou to Jiuzhaigou in 2.5 hours or so. The ticket price reaches to 2000 RMB, but in low seasons there always be a 50% off discount. 

Going to Jiuzhaigou from Guangzhou by the train or the bus are both not suggested for the long distance. You can take the plane from Guanghzou to Chengdu and then transfer to the bus. 

Top Five Destinations to Start a Jiuzhaigou Tour - and How to Get There

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