Travel from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

Lanzhou stretching across the banks of Yellow River is the industrial city of Gansu Province. It is a key transportation hub connecting eastern areas of the country to the western part of the country. Lanzhou is also one of the most important stops in the Silk Road tour. It was once called the Golden city. So, if you are taking the Silk Road tour you can use Lanzhou as the starting point for the travel to Jiuzhaigou.

Another reason the Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou travel route is worth exploring is the Northern Sichuan- Southern Gansu overland route. With mountains, rivers, grasslands, and monasteries, it is a very simple and short route with enough scenic beauty to feast your eyes.

Labrang monastery

Here are some of the means through which you can reach Jiuzhaigou from Lanzhou.

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Flight

There is no direct flight from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou. All the flights have one stop, two stops and are mostly multi-air lined. Here are some of the schedules with one stop and single airline itinerary.

Lanzhou Airport

After arriving at Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport, there are frequent shuttle buses that take you to the Jiuzhai valley, Huanglong valley and few other scenic spots. One way ticket is CNY 45 and round trip is CNY 80.

3 Days Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong National Park Local Tour

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Train

Currently there is no train connection to Jiuzhaigou from Lanzhou. The Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou-Lanzhou high-speed railway project is completely finished in 2019 and Jiuzhaigou will the important midway station between the two.

The current options from Lanzhou are only buses, connecting flights and car. If you still want to go by train, there are roundabout routes. For example, you can take Z324 from Lanzhou to Baoji. From Baoji take D634 to Chengdu. From Chengdu you can take a flight, bus or car to Jiuzhaigou.

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Bus

Though there are two direct long-distance buses running from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou, it is not suggested to get to Jiuzhaigou from Lanzhou by bus. The bus journey is quite long and boring. If you want an overland experience from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou, an overland tour following the Southern Gansu and Northern Sichuan route by chartered car is suggested for you can travel at your own pace and explore the attractions along the way.

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Bus

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Chartered Car

Going by chartered car is a popular method among the tourists who want to explore at their own pace and explore other places around Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park. Should you decide to come by flight to Jiuzhaigou, this is a very convenient method. You can hire a car at the airport and go to see Huanglong scenery, Historic areas and then Jiuzhai Valley, or the other way around.

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Chartered Car

Overland Route from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

The Northern Sichuan- Southern Gansu route mildly explores the TAR (Tibetan Autonomous Region) too. This is a route that stretches from Chengdu through Jiuzhaigou and finishes is Lanzhou. Although the travel from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou is a pretty short one. It takes 13hrs to 15hrs depending on the number of stops you take in between. This route is recommended in warmer months, such as May, June and July when the wild flowers are blooming and the grassland are turning green.

The wild flowers are blooming

The distance from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou would be about 790km. Here is some of the attraction along the way:

First you start from Lanzhou which is the industrial provincial capital of Gansu. Next you will be crossing Xiahe, an ethnically Tibetan region in Gansu province. This place attracts tourists, pilgrims and the because of the Labrang Monastery. Next you would be reaching Langmusi Temple which is situated in the border of Sichuan and Gansu province. This place is surrounded by high mountains and is famous among the climbers, and trekkers. There is also horse trekking apart from the usual trekking in this place.

Langmusi Temple

Once you enter Sichuan you should not miss going to the First bend of Yellow River (9kms north of Tangke Township). Yellow River is one of the two most important rivers in China and is affectionately called the ‘Mother River of China.’. The First bend is the S-shaped bend formed by the yellow river and the white river of Tangke Township. What makes this bend special is not just the picturesque beauty it provides. The west side of the river is Gansu and the east side is Sichuan.

The First bend of Yellow River

Next is Ruoergai Grassland covering about 10, 500 sq. kms. It is known to be the fourth largest grassland in China. The First Bend of Yellow River is in this grassland making it a rich source of water. The attractions within the grassland are Flower Lake, First bend of Yellow River, and Langmusi temple. The total cost to visit all three places would be CNY108.

Flower Lake

Next you would be reaching your destination Jiuzhaigou which is famous for its Valley Park and the scenic beauty. Beyond Jiuzhaigou is the Huanglong valley which is an even higher altitude than Jiuzhaigou.

The scenic beauty in Jiuzhaigou

Find the Best Way to Travel from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

The easiest way to travel is definitely flight, even though it is only connecting flights, there is not much hassle. The cheapest way to travel is bus, the journey duration will be a couple of hours more than flight, but since it us a direct bus, you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery. The overland route is the most adventurous route with a lot of sightseeing in between and the journey duration will be a little more than bus, but the views are worth admiring.

4 Days Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Overland Tour

Price From: USD 490

All three modes of travel take more than 8hrs. If time is a luxury at hand, overland would be the best way to go, but bus might be cheaper.

Best Time to Go

Situated in the inlands, Lanzhou has a semi-arid continental monsoon climate. Even though the summers are short, there is plenty of warm sunshine and the super cold winters provide great temperature drops and cool winter fashion. The city experiences first snow every year in the months of late October or early November. The best time to visit Lanzhou is from May to October. But if you are a bit of an adventurer visiting to experience local culture at its truest form, you can visit during winters. A lot of local festivals happen around this time.

Statue of the mother of the Yellow River（Lanzhou）

Since Jiuzhaigou has an elevation of 3, 000m, it is influenced by highland humid climate. Although the temperature is variable all around the year, it is never known to be extreme. The best time to visit Jiuzhaigou is between late September and October - the autumn months. Yes, it is a very short duration and this is when the tourists also flock from all over the world. Nevertheless, the place is beautiful at any time of the year. The springs are always a breath of fresh air; summers are prettily yellow; autumns are photographers’ dream and winters are just a silver lining on top of every mountain.

Culture Differences between Lanzhou and Jiuzhaigou

Lanzhou is known as the cultural centre of Gansu. With different ethnic groups and growing Muslim minority, Lanzhou is as diverse as it can get. Tasting out local cuisine is important when it comes to any tour and Lanzhou is known for its beef noodles throughout China and for its many kinds of mutton dishes. There are more than 1, 000 beef noodle shops in Lanzhou.

Beef noodles in Lanzhou

In Jiuzhaigou, the food is of Tibetan cuisine and some of the most popular dishes are Butter tea, Zanba, Qingke Barley Liquor (Tibetan Beer,) and Blood sausage. If Jiuzhaigou is known for its fierce and raw beauty, Lanzhou is known for its strong historical significance.

Butter tea

Elevation Changes from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou is at an elevation of 3,000m, whereas Lanzhou is an elevation of 1,525m. Although the altitude difference is exactly half, it might seem like there is not much difference. But there is altitude difference even within Jiuzhaigou which makes it harder for people. So you should more mindful of altitude sickness in Jiuzhaigou than in Lanzhou. But since Lanzhou itself is in a high elevation, you will be better acclimatized when you leave to Jiuzhaigou and the effects might not be very severe.

Where to Live in Jiuzhaigou

There are hotels for all budgets in Jiuzhaigou, including youth hostels. You will find star hotels like Sheraton, Intercontinental, and Minjiangyuan International and small bed and breakfast inns. It is a pity that tourists cannot camp inside the valley due to environmental issues. However, tourists can stay with local Tibetan families. During the peak seasons it is important to book rooms in advance as they get booked 3-5 months in advance. The food is expensive than other areas, as all the resources and raw materials needed are bought in from other places.

Sheraton Hotel in Jiuzhaigou