5 Days in Aba Sichuan: A Local Guide's Honest Itinerary

I’ve been leading tours in western Sichuan for over a decade. I’ve seen travelers fall in love with the turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou, get breathless at the altitude of Huanglong, and tear up over a bowl of yak butter tea with a Tibetan family. This 5-day itinerary is the exact route I’ve fine-tuned for foreign visitors who want the best of Aba without rushing like a package tour.

Aba (also called Ngawa) is about 400 km from Chengdu. The roads are good now – most are paved and well-maintained. But the altitude jumps from 500m in Chengdu to over 3000m in Jiuzhaigou. Altitute sickness is real. I’ll tell you exactly how to handle it.

Why 5 Days in Aba?

Most Chinese tourists do Jiuzhaigou in 3 days, but they miss the grasslands and the real Tibetan life. With 5 days, you can cover:

• Jiuzhaigou Valley (UNESCO World Heritage) – 1 full day
• Huanglong National Park – 1 day
• Zoige Grassland & Tibetan monasteries – 1 day
• 2 travel days with scenic stops

If you try to cram more, you’ll spend all your time in the car. I’ve seen it happen. Stick to this loop and you’ll thank me later.

Day 1: Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou – The Road Trip

Getting There

You have three options: fly, bus, or private car. Flying from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport (JZH) takes 1 hour, but the flights often get delayed due to weather. The airport is at 3,400m, so you’ll feel the altitude immediately. I recommend a private car or a comfortable minibus from Chengdu. It’s 7–8 hours on the road, but the scenery is incredible.

My advice: Leave Chengdu by 7am. Use a licensed driver from a local agency (I always book through Trip.com or a recommended private contact). Avoid the tourist bus – they stop at every souvenir shop and you’ll lose 2 hours.

Arrival in Jiuzhaigou Town

You’ll arrive at Jiuzhaigou Town (also called Zhangzha) around 3–4pm. Check into your hotel, rest, and take a short walk around the old town. The altitude here is about 2,500m – not severe, but don’t run. Visit the Jiuzhaigou Tibetan Art Center for an early cultural show (tickets at the door, around 150 RMB).

Day 2: Jiuzhaigou Full Day – Beat the Crowds

Jiuzhaigou officially opens at 8am, but I always tell my groups to be at the entrance by 7:15am. Why? Because the first shuttle buses leave at 7:30, and you can be at the most famous lake – Shuzheng Lakes – before the tour groups flood in.

Ticket & Entry

• Peak season (April–November): 280 RMB per person + 90 RMB for the shuttle bus = 370 RMB total. Children under 6 or 1.2m tall are free (bring passport).
• Off-peak (December–March): 160 RMB + 80 RMB shuttle = 240 RMB.
• Where to buy: WeChat mini-program “Jiuzhaigou Travel” or the official site. You must book at least one day in advance during peak season. Afternoon entry is not allowed after 2pm.

My Recommended Route

Enter at 7:30am, take the shuttle bus directly to Primeval Forest (原始森林) at the top. Work your way down. The bus drops you off; you walk down along the wooden boardwalks. The lakes here are the best: Five Flower Lake, Panda Lake, and Arrow Bamboo Lake. By 10am, the crowds start to arrive, so you’re ahead.

Take another shuttle from the junction to Long Lake (the highest lake in the valley, 3,060m). Have a quick lunch at the snack station near Long Lake – they sell instant noodles and cold yak meat skewers. Price: 25 RMB for a noodle cup – bring your own if you’re on a budget.

Afternoon: Shuttle back down to Nuorilang Waterfall and the Three Arches Bridge area. The water levels are highest in June–November. In winter, the falls partially freeze – a different kind of beauty.

Day 3: Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong – Stunning Travertine

From Jiuzhaigou Town to Huanglong is about 2.5 hours by car. Leave at 7am to be at the entrance by 9:30am.

Huanglong Entry Details

• Ticket: 200 RMB peak season (April–November), 80 RMB off-peak. Cableway one-way: 80 RMB (I recommend taking the cableway up, then walking down).
• Opening hours: 8am–5pm (last entry at 3pm).
• Altitude: The entrance is at 3,100m, the highest point is 3,580m. You’ll feel it. Walk slowly.

The Highlight

The Five-Color Pond (Wucai Chi) at the top is the reason people come. The travertine pools look like abstract paintings. But here's a secret: the lower pools (e.g., Yingbin Pool) are less crowded and equally stunning. Most tourists rush to the top, take a photo, and leave. I like to spend an hour at the middle section – it’s where the water shows a gradient of blue and green that you just can’t capture on a phone.

Lunch: There’s a restaurant at the summit, but it’s overpriced. I pack a Tibetan-style lunch – a few pieces of dried yak jerky and a steamed bun from the hotel. You can do the same.

By 3pm, head down and drive to Songpan Ancient Town (30 min from Huanglong). This is a hidden gem with Ming dynasty walls and horse-riding tours. Stay overnight in Songpan – there are guesthouses run by local Hui Muslims. The grilled lamb skewers on the main street are just 3 RMB each.

Day 4: Zoige Grassland – Tibetan Culture & Wild Beauty

From Songpan to Zoige (Ruoergai) is 3 hours. The road passes through Chuanzhusisichuan (川主寺) and then opens up to endless grasslands. This is where I see the most “wow” faces. Stop at Mugetang Grassland for photos with yaks and prayer flags. There’s a small entrance fee of 30 RMB.

Tibetan Culture Immersion

Visit Langmu Temple (郎木寺) – actually two temples divided by a stream, one in Sichuan, one in Gansu. Entry is 30 RMB. The temple has a peaceful atmosphere and you can see monks debating in the courtyard around 4pm. No photography inside the halls, but the exterior is fine.

Lunch: At the temple gate, look for a nondescript shop selling yak bone soup (zhu gu tang) – it’s 25 RMB for a big bowl, a bit spicy. The best meal I’ve had in Aba.

In the afternoon, drive 1 hour to Hua Lake (花湖), a wetland filled with migratory birds. Entry: 100 RMB + 30 RMB shuttle. Skip the shuttle – walk the boardwalk; it’s only 2 km and you’ll see more birds. The best months are July–August when the flowers bloom.

Stay overnight in Zoige County town. I recommend Zoige Sky Guesthouse (on Booking.com) – they have heaters and good wifi. The owner speaks limited English but is very helpful.

Day 5: Drive Back to Chengdu – Last Stops

It’s a 7-hour drive back to Chengdu, but we break it up. Start at 8am.

• Stop 1: Hongyuan County – See the Red Army Memorial (free) and take a photo of the vast grassland.
• Stop 2: Li County – Lunch at a small restaurant near the Biandu Bridge. Try the Sichuan-style mapo tofu – even though it’s a classic, the local take uses yak meat instead of pork.
• Stop 3: Yingxiu – The 2008 earthquake memorial. It’s sobering but important to understand the region’s history. Free entry.

Arrive in Chengdu around 5pm. Drop off at your hotel or airport. You’ll have time for hotpot in the evening.

Where to Stay

What to Eat

Don’t leave Aba without these three dishes:

1. Yak Butter Tea – Salty, buttery, not sweet. Most foreigners hate it at first sip. Give it two tries. At Langmu Temple’s Tea House (8 RMB per cup), it’s served fresh.
2. Grilled Yak Steak – Found at street stalls in Songpan. Spicy, chewy, 10 RMB per skewer. I always get three.
3. Qiang Sausage – Smoked, dense, and a little sour. Buy a stick at the Maoxian market for 15 RMB.

Payment note: Most places accept WeChat Pay or Alipay. Cash is still necessary for small stalls and temples. I bring 500 RMB in small bills.

FAQ – Your Questions Answered

This article has been fact-checked based on my personal experience leading over 30 tours in Aba. Prices and details reflect the most recent season.