Visit Jiuzhaigou from Lanzhou - Go Off The Beaten Path to Jiuzhaigou

As one of the most attractive scenic spots in China, Jiuzhaigou Valley is famous for its changeless landscapes, crystal-liked lakes and surging waterfalls. No matter which season you arrive, Jiuzhaigou will surprise you in different way. Generally speaking, represented by golden forest, crystal clear lakes and pleasant sunshine, the autumn scenery is regarded as the best. However, the pure white fairyland in winter, soft world teeming with life in spring, and lush green scenery in summer is also spectacle not to be missed.

Surging waterfall in Jiuzhaigou

Given to its high popularity, many routes to enter Jiuzhaigou are well-known to tourists, but what follows is off the beaten path, visiting Jiuzhaigou from Lanzhou by chartered car.

Regular Routes to Jiuzhaigou

The most famous driving route is from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. There are two choices available driving from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou, regarded as east route and west route. The east route, having a stretch of 450km, drives through Guanghan, Mianyang and Pingwu, while the west route, having a total long of 430km, has better traffic condition and less time. Though you will meet many scenic spots along the way, the winding road and natural disaster, usually landslide especially in summer may cause inconvenience.

3 Days Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong National Park Local Tour

Another driving rout starts from Mianyang or Guangyuan. Unlike Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou route, it has fewer scenic spots, but a shorter journey (nearly 350km).

Why to Choose the Unusual Way from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

First of all, the Lanzhou-Jiuzhaigou route is more spacious and maintained. The provincial capital of Gansu province, Lanzhou, which is also a traffic artery and business center of The Silk Road, is nearly 746km far away from Jiuzhaigou. The better roads on the route are an offset for the greater distance. The road from Lanzhou to Jiuzaigou is surrounded with grassland, rather than mountains, a sign of no threat of natural disasters. The road from Lanzhou to Hezuo is expressway, and along with grassland, the national highway from Hezuo to Langmu Temple is too beautiful to be absorbed all at once.

The road from Lanzhou to Jiuzaigou is surrounded with grassland

Secondary, it is a rich itinerary. The journey involves most of the scenic spots of Gannan area, such as Langmu Temple, Labrang Monastery, Flower Lake, and the eighteen bends of Yellow River. With strong amorous feeling of Hui and Tibetan, the Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou route is unique and worth exploring.

Sun buddha in Langmu Temple

Last but not least, the prices of the flights, with the destination of Lanzhou Airport and originated from Beijing or Shanghai, are generally lower than Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport.

Lanzhou Airport

The Best Way to Get to Jiuzhaigou from Lanzhou

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Flight and Train

To get Jiuzhaigou by flight is lost than gained. There is no direct flight from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport. By flight, you need to transfer at Chengdu airport or Xian airport, and it will take you at least 8 hours in total. However, the Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou-Lanzhou high-speed railway will be operated in 2019, and before that, there is no train from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou.

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Bus

There are two classes of buses from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou, and each takes 222 RMB and 230 RMB. Though cheap, it is not suggested because of its inflexibility. Without visiting scenic spots, the long-distance bus will be boring.

The bus from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou by Chartered Car

Compared to taking long-distance bus, taking chartered bus is more popular and comfortable. You can totally enjoy the beautiful scenery along with your driving. If you want, you can explore more beautiful but unknown spots and control your driving space as you wish. The spacious expressway and national highway are also suitable for those who are not very familiar with the route from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou.

The road from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou is spacious

What’s the best way from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou, and why? The best way would be chartered car. You can totally enjoy the beautiful scenery along with your driving. The spacious expressway and national highway are safer and more convenient. To take chartered car, you can stay locally, and have a better experience of local ethnic culture.

4 Days Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Overland Tour

Price From: USD 490

Attractions along the Way from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou

To visit from Lanzhou to Jiuzhaigou carefully, at least 5 days are needed. Starting from Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu province, it will take you 4 hours and a half of 380km to Langmusi Town. In this section of the road, you will cross an ethnically Tibetan region, Xiahe, where you can take a break and enjoy the Tibetan culture. Located at 1km west of Xiahe, Labrang Monastery attracts many tourists. While another is also famous for its temples, Langmusi Town, known as Eastern Switzerland, is located at the border of Sichuan province and Gansu province. Divided by a river, Langmu Temple is formed by Geerdi Temple of Sichuan province, and Saichi Temple of Gansu province. It charges 30 RMB per person, and you can stay one night in Langmusi.

Labrang Monastery

On the second day of your driving journey, after one hour driving from Langmusi, you will arrive at Zhagana, a natural rock city known as “The Palace of Hell”. Between Langmusi and Ruoergai Grassland, beside national highway 231, Flower Lake is a natural lake with flourish flowers blooming in May and June. Next you will arrive at Tangke. The second day is ended in Tangke, but the first among eighteen bends of Yellow River is an important spot that you could ever wish to see. Setting off by clear blue sky and white cloud, the river just likes a soft belt of life, which breads the culture of China.

Ruoergai Grassland

Starting from Tangke, after 50 minutes driving for 40km, Waqie is reached. Waqie is famous for is Pagoda Forest, which is 60km north from the First Bend of the Yellow River and surrounded by crowded prayer flags. Praying for good luck and peace, prayer flags are common totems in Tibetan area. As to its large area, it is rare even in whole Tibetan area. After another 3 hours and a half driving, next you would be reaching Chuanzhusi Temple. As a transit station, Chuanzhusi temple is also full of atmosphere and well worth visiting. Itis opened all day and free-charged.You could spend one night here.

The First Bend of the Yellow River

Given that Chuanzhusi Temple is at the fork to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport, you could arrange another day to visit Huanglong, which is only one hours driving from Chuanzhusi Temple. After 2.5 hours driving starting at Chuanzhu Temple, finally you will reach the destination of the trip, Jiuzhaigou Valley. You could spend all day long to visit Jiuzhaigou, and staying one night at the entrance of the valley is suggested.

Chuanzhusi Temple

Culture Differences between Lanzhou and Jiuzhaigou

As a melting pot of various ethnic nationalities, Lanzhou has a strong character of multi culture, especially Hui culture. Famous for beef noodles, Lanzhou is well-known throughout China. While as a traffic artery and business center of The Silk Road since Tang Destiny, Lanzhou has deep and sincere historical culture.

Lanzhou beef noodles

However, the culture of Jiuzhaigou is traditional Tibetan culture. Prayer flags are ubiquitous along the road to Jiuzhaigou, which is made by local Tibetans. The foods used to entertain visitors by local Tibetans are traditional food, such as Butter tea, Zanba, Qingke Barley Liquor and so on.

Prayer flags along the road to Jiuzhaigou

All in all, the cultural differences are distinctive between Lanzhou and Jiuzhaigou. Along the way, you will have a strong feeling of cultural blending between different ethnic groups.