Dec 7 Days/6nights Itinerary

Question

Hi everyone, I hope can get feedback as to my itinerary works or not as this year there seemed to be new buses and HSR running, which leaves me confused.

This is the first time my family and I will be going to Chengdu. 6 of us altogether.

Day 1 - 5pm reach TFU. Take airport bus to Chengdu East Railway Station. HSR to Xi'An.

Day 2 - Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarters, dinner with local friend.

Day 3 - Checkout hotel, HSR back to Chengdu, check-in hotel, Wide Narrow Alley.

Day 4 - Panda Base, Takoo Li, Chunxi Road.

Day 5 - Xiling Snow skiing

Day 6 - HSR to JiuZhaiGou and back.

Day 7 - Checkout hotel, go TFU.

TIA for all your replies!

Answer

Your 7-day, 6-night itinerary covering Chengdu, Xi’an, and Jiuzhaigou is ambitious but feasible, though there are a few points to consider regarding travel times and logistics to make it smoother for a family of six.

Day 1 – Arrival in Chengdu, HSR to Xi’an:

Arriving at TFU (Tianfu International Airport) around 5pm and taking the airport bus to Chengdu East Railway Station is reasonable. The bus ride takes about 1–1.5 hours depending on traffic.
Evening HSR from Chengdu to Xi’an is possible, but trains may be limited in the evening. Ensure you book tickets in advance to avoid sold-out trains.
Consider travel fatigue; a late HSR after a flight may be tiring for your group.

Day 2 – Xi’an sightseeing:

Visiting the Terracotta Warriors and Muslim Quarters is standard and achievable in one day.
Include buffer time for transport between sites, as Xi’an traffic can be heavy.
Dinner with a local friend is great; make sure to plan transportation in advance.

Day 3 – Return to Chengdu:

HSR back to Chengdu will take around 3.5–4 hours.
Check-in at your hotel and visit Wide Narrow Alley (Kuanzhai Xiangzi) in the afternoon/evening is feasible.

Day 4 – Chengdu city exploration:

Panda Base: Best visited in the morning when pandas are most active. Allocate 2–3 hours.
Takoo Li and Chunxi Road: Both are shopping and dining areas; easy to combine after the Panda Base.

Day 5 – Xiling Snow Mountain skiing:

Xiling Snow Mountain is around 2–3 hours from Chengdu. A day trip is feasible but will be long; consider starting early.
Check snow conditions and ski lift schedules in advance. Travel back to Chengdu in the evening.

Day 6 – Jiuzhaigou day trip:

Traveling to Jiuzhaigou by HSR for a same-day return is not realistic. The Chengdu–Jiuzhaigou HSR or bus connections still take around 8–10 hours one way. For a day trip, it would be too exhausting.
Recommended alternatives:

Stay overnight near Jiuzhaigou and explore the park the next day.
If only one day is possible, consider using a flight from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou Airport (JZH) for a faster option.

Day 7 – Departure:

Checkout and travel to TFU is straightforward if you are back in Chengdu the night before.

Overall tips:

Book all HSR and flights well in advance, especially for a group of six in December.
Factor in realistic travel times and avoid squeezing too many long-distance trips into single days.
Consider an overnight in Jiuzhaigou rather than a same-day HSR round trip to make the visit enjoyable.
Use local taxis or ride-hailing apps (Didi) to move efficiently within cities.

In summary, the itinerary works for Chengdu and Xi’an, but Day 6 requires adjustment due to travel times to Jiuzhaigou. Planning an overnight there or flying instead of HSR will make the trip more comfortable for your family.

Dec 7 Days/6nights Itinerary

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