Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station (黄龙九寨站) is the closest train station to both Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong Scenic Area — and the single biggest game-changer for visiting these two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Opened on August 30, 2024 and currently undergoing a major expansion (through mid-2026), it handles 10–13 train pairs daily from Chengdu and beyond. Here’s everything you need to know in 2026.
Huanglongjiuzhai Station at a Glance
Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station (黄龙九寨站, Huánglóng Jiǔzhài Zhàn) is the closest train station to both Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong Scenic Area — and the single biggest game-changer for visiting these two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Opened on August 30, 2024, it cut the Chengdu–Jiuzhaigou journey from an 8-hour bus ride to a ~1.5–2.5 hour train + 2 hour bus combo.
Latest News: Station Expansion Underway (2025–2026)
🚧 The station is currently undergoing a major expansion — while staying open for passengers.
Here’s the short version: Huanglongjiuzhai Station was built for ~800 passengers at a time. Within one year of opening, it was handling ~21,000 passengers daily (arrivals + departures combined), with peak days hitting 29,000+. The station handles 75.7% of all train passengers arriving in Songpan County’s four stations. It was simply too small from day one.
– The station remains open during construction — trains run as normal
– Construction zones are physically separated from passenger areas
– Some train tickets have a 5-day pre-sale window instead of the usual 15 days (due to schedule adjustments during construction)
– Expect some temporary congestion — arrive a bit earlier than usual
– By mid-2026, the expanded station should be fully operational with separate arrival/departure flows
Alternative during construction: If Huanglongjiuzhai tickets are sold out or you want to avoid construction chaos, Songpan Station (松潘站) is just ~20 km away and serves the same scenic areas — see the Songpan Station alternative section below.
Why This Station Matters
Before August 2024, reaching Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu meant either:
– An 8–10 hour bus ride through winding mountain roads
– A flight to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (JZH) — expensive (~¥1,500+ one-way), often delayed by mountain weather, and still a 1.5-hour drive to the park
Huanglongjiuzhai Station changed the equation completely:
Route
Old Way (pre-2024)
New Way (via HSR)
Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou
8–10 hrs by bus
~1.5–2h train + 2h bus = ~4 hrs total
Chengdu → Huanglong
6–7 hrs by bus
~1.5–2h train + 40 min bus = ~2.5–3 hrs total
Cost (one-way)
~¥150 bus
~¥128–148 train + ¥28–51 bus = ~¥156–199
Distances from the station:
– To Huanglong Scenic Area: ~26 km, ~40–50 min by bus, ¥28
– To Jiuzhaigou Valley entrance: ~90 km, ~2 hrs by bus, ¥51
– To Jiuzhaigou county town: ~130 km, ~3 hrs by car
– To Songpan County / Songzhou Ancient Town: ~17 km, ~20 min
– To Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (JZH): ~12 km, ~15 min
The station sits at 2,977 meters (9,767 ft) above sea level — higher than Cusco, Peru. If you’re flying in from sea level, altitude sickness is a real risk. See the tips section below.
Train Routes & Live Schedule
The station is served by C-class and D-class high-speed trains on the Sichuan–Qinghai Railway (design speed: 200 km/h). As of 2025–2026, 10–13 pairs of trains run daily, varying by season — more in summer/autumn peak, fewer in winter.
Note: D280 continues beyond Chengdu East all the way to Kunming (昆明), making it a direct train from Kunming to Huanglongjiuzhai (~10 hours total). C-class trains marked with C94xx are seasonal extra services — not guaranteed daily.
Chengdu East (成都东) ↔ Huanglongjiuzhai: The main route. 8–10 trains/day each direction. Fastest is 1h 33min.
Chengdu South (成都南) → Huanglongjiuzhai: 1–2 trains/day (C16/C18). Useful if you’re staying in southern Chengdu.
Shuangliu Airport (双流机场) ↔ Huanglongjiuzhai: ~3 trains/day direct from the airport. Perfect if you fly into Chengdu and want to head straight to Jiuzhaigou without entering the city.
Kunming (昆明) ↔ Huanglongjiuzhai: D280/D282, one pair daily, ~10 hours. Passes through Chengdu East. Connects Yunnan travelers directly to Jiuzhaigou.
Sanxingdui (三星堆) → Huanglongjiuzhai: 1–2 trains/day. Combine the Sanxingdui Museum with your Jiuzhaigou trip.
Emeishan / Leshan → Huanglongjiuzhai: Occasional seasonal direct trains. Otherwise, transfer at Chengdu East.
Bus Transfer: Station → Jiuzhaigou / Huanglong
Once you step off the train at Huanglongjiuzhai, you’re still ~2 hours from Jiuzhaigou Valley and ~40 minutes from Huanglong. Here’s how to get there:
Buses are timed to meet arriving trains — you’ll find them waiting in the station square. Look for official buses with “九寨沟旅游” (Jiuzhaigou Travel) signage.
Booking options:
– Station ticket office — buy on the spot (risk sell-outs in peak season)
– Online via Trip.com: www.trip.com/bus/huanglongjiuzhai-jiuzhaigou-ticket
– WeChat Mini-Program “九旅悦行” — official channel (requires Chinese phone number)
Shared Vans / Private Transfers
If you miss the official shuttle or are traveling in a group:
Shared van to Jiuzhaigou: ¥60–70/person, ~1.5–2 hrs. Usually 6-seater business vans.
Charter car: ¥600–850 for the full route (station → Huanglong → Jiuzhaigou or vice versa). Worth it if you’re visiting both scenic areas in one day.
Ride-hailing (Amap/Didi): ~¥116 reported for 2 people to Jiuzhaigou. Availability can be spotty.
Pro tip: Many Jiuzhaigou hotels offer free or discounted pickup from Huanglongjiuzhai Station — ask when booking.
Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong both require timed-entry tickets — you can’t just show up. Especially during peak season (July–October, Golden Week), tickets sell out days ahead.
Jack’s 2-Day Mini Itinerary: Huanglong & Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu
Traveler: Jack | Dates: March 30–31, 2025 | Season: Late winter / early spring (snow still on the ground)
Jack says: “I did this exact trip in late March 2025 — one day Huanglong, one day Jiuzhaigou. It’s tight but totally doable if you follow this schedule. March means snow on the trails and fewer crowds, but also fewer shuttle buses. June–October is the sweet spot.”
Morning: Take the park shuttle bus to the upper valleys — Rize Valley (日则沟) for Five Flower Lake (五花海) and Pearl Shoal Waterfall (珍珠滩瀑布).
Afternoon: Zechawa Valley (则查洼沟) — Long Lake (长海) and Five-Color Pond (五彩池) — these are at higher elevation.
Late afternoon: Walk Shuzheng Valley (树正沟) on your way out — Nuorilang Waterfall (诺日朗瀑布) is a must-see.
Key Tips:
Jiuzhaigou is huge — you cannot see everything in one day. Prioritize the upper valleys.
The park shuttle buses are hop-on hop-off — use them strategically.
Bring snacks and water — food options inside the park are limited and overpriced.
Altitude inside the park ranges from 2,000m to 3,100m — pace yourself.
Evening option: If you planned ahead, catch an evening train back to Chengdu (C5814 departs 21:37, arrives 23:12). Otherwise, stay a second night near the park.
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Alternative: Songpan Station (松潘站)
If Huanglongjiuzhai Station tickets are sold out — which happens often during summer holidays, Golden Week (Oct 1–7), and weekends — Songpan Station (松潘站) is your best backup. It’s only ~20 km from Huanglongjiuzhai and serves the same scenic areas.
Huanglongjiuzhai (Preferred)
Songpan (Alternative)
Distance to Jiuzhaigou
~90 km
~110–126 km
Bus to Jiuzhaigou
~2 hrs, ¥51
~2.5 hrs, ¥56
Bus to Huanglong
~40–50 min, ¥28
~1 hr, ¥33
Train from Chengdu East
~1h 33m–2h 54m
~1h 33m–2h
Platforms / Tracks
2 / 4
4 / 10 (larger station)
Nearby attraction
—
Songzhou Ancient Town (松州古城), ¥2 bus, ~15 min
Bottom line: Songpan adds ~30 extra minutes to your bus ride but has a bigger station with more capacity. Bonus: you can visit the 1,300-year-old Songzhou Ancient Town on the way. During the Huanglongjiuzhai construction period (through mid-2026), Songpan is worth considering even if tickets are available — it’s less chaotic.
Check Chengdu to Songpan train schedule on Trip.com
Key Tips & Reminders
⚠️ Altitude sickness is real: The station sits at 2,977m (9,767 ft). Huanglong’s Five-Color Pool is at ~3,570m. Symptoms: headache, dizziness, shortness of breath. Carry oxygen canisters (¥20–30, sold at the station and at Huanglong). Move slowly. Spend a night at lower altitude (Songpan or Jiuzhaigou entrance area) before attempting Huanglong if you’re sensitive.
🎫 Book train tickets 15 days ahead: This is one of China’s hottest tourist train routes. Tickets sell out within minutes during peak periods. Use 12306.cn or Trip.com. Set an alarm for the 15-day pre-sale window. Note: during construction, some trains only open 5 days ahead — check Trip.com for current availability.
📅 Best season: June–October for vibrant pools, green forests, and reliable weather. September–October has the best autumn colors. Winter (Dec–Feb): frozen waterfalls and snow — beautiful but cold and some trails close. March–May: snow melt, fewer crowds, but trails can be icy.
⏰ Last entry times: Huanglong 16:00 (earlier in winter). Jiuzhaigou 14:00 (check current rules — they change seasonally). Plan your train to arrive before noon.
🚌 Bus vs. shared van: Official shuttle (¥51) is cheapest and reliable. Shared vans (¥60–70) are faster and more flexible. Charter car (¥600–850) makes sense for groups of 3+ or if you want to visit both Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou in one day.
💰 Cash vs. app: WeChat Pay and Alipay work everywhere. Carry some cash (¥200–300) as backup — foreign cards sometimes glitch in remote areas.
📱 Offline maps: Download Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps offline before you go. Cell signal is patchy in the mountains.
Option 1: Trip.com is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc
Option 2:China Highlights is a reliable online agency for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.
