Introduction
Traveling from Jiuzhaigou to Zhangjiajie is not a direct journey but it involves several transfers: a bus trip to the nearest high-speed rail station (Huanglongjiuzhai Station), then a train to Chengdu East, another train to Huaihua South, and finally, a train to Zhangjiajie West. This journey usually is not doable in a single day, and it would be better to stay a night in Chengdu.
Route: Jiuzhaigou – Huanglongjiuzhai – Chengdu East – Huaihua South – Zhangjiajie West.
Railway Map
Train Schedule Overview
Due to the complex nature of this journey, the following is a simplified schedule overview for the trip:
Route: Jiuzhaigou – Huanglongjiuzhai – Chengdu East – Huaihua South – Zhangjiajie West.
| Steps | Departure Station | Arrival Station | Duration | Frequency | Fares | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Huanglongjiuzhai Station | Chengdu East Station | 1.5 hrs | 3 Daily | 116 | ||
| Step 2 | Chengdu East Station | Huaihua South | 5.5-6 hrs | 10 Daily | 434 | ||
| Step 3 | Huaihua South | Zhangjiajie West | 1.5 hrs | 17 Daily | 123 | ||
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For a live schedule, refer to www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/ & www.trip.com
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Firstly, you need to take a bus to Huanglongjiuzhai Station to catch a train to Chengdu East, then a high speed train to Huaihua South, again another train to Zhangjiajie West. This is a long rail journey. It is better to split the journey and stay a night in Chengdu.
 | Chengdu to Huanglongjiuzhai train (nearest station to Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong). Bus from Huanglongjiuzhai Station to Jiuzhaigou Valley (Through bus, carpool, Book online). |
 | 253 Hotels in Jiuzhaigou for foreign tourists, |
 | Huanglong National Park (entrance ticket, cableway) |
 | Flights to or from Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (JZH) |
Local Transfers:
From Zhangjiajie West to Wulingyuan:
Read about: From Zhangjiajie West Station to Wulingyuan by bus
- Operation Time: Roughly 08:30 – 17:00
- Duration: About 40 minutes
- Estimated Fare: CNY 13 per person
From Zhangjiajie West to Tianmen Mountain:
On arrival at Zhangjiajiexi Railway Station, you can either take a taxi to Tianmenshan Mountain (approximately 18 minutes drive) or take Bus 17 to Wuling Mountain Treasure Museum Station.
- Take a taxi for a direct and quick route.
- Alternatively, take Bus 17 for a budget-friendly option.
How to Buy Tickets Online
There are several ways to book your train tickets online. Just remember that booking herizon for train tickets opens 15 days before your travel date. It is recommended to book you tickets as soon as possible in advance to secure your seat at your desired departure time.
1. Book with 12306 China Railway
www.12306.cn is the offcial website of China Railway, which now has supported English. It also provides an offcial ticketing (English version) App – Tielu 12306 for both iOS and Android.
Jack’s friendly reminder: In the official site www.12306.cn, you can enter “huaihuanan” or as Huaihua South Station; and “chengdudong” as Chengdu East Railway Station, or enter “Huanglongjiuzhai” as Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station, Zhangjiajiexi as Zhangjiajie Wes Station.
2. Book with China Highlights
www.chinahighlights.com is a trusted online ticket agent who get possitive reviews & is often recommended on Trip Advisor forum. They offer real-time train schedule online, English-language support, They can also provide assistance in case of any issues with your tickets or travel or when you’re running into trouble. Even they can deliver tickets to your hotel in advance. You can place orders with them any time. They are helpful, especially when you’re not familiar with the China’s transportation system or do not speak Chinese.
When to Buy Tickets
Tickets can be booked up to 15 days on the official 12306 China Railway website. It is always advisable to buy tickets in advance to secure ticket availability or seat assignment. Ticets tend to sell out quickly on this popular route especially during the bussy travel peak period, such as the public National Days (Gold Week), Labour’s Days, Chinese Moon Festival or Qingming Festival. But if you use an online ticket agent www.chinahighlights.com, you can order tickets any time with them and they will book it for you once the tickets are released online.
Trusted Online Ticket Agents:
Option 1: 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.
Option 2: 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
