Chongqing and Chengdu with Jiuzhaigou

Question

Hi, travelling in Dec with family (youngest kid abt 8yo) to Chongqing & Chengdu and planning to do Jiuzhaigou as well. Is 14 days too long?

Would be travelling from Singapore, would spore-chengdu-chongqing-spore be better or spore-chongqing-chengdu-spore works better? Thanks in advance.

Answer

A 14-day trip covering Chongqing, Chengdu, and Jiuzhaigou with a family including an 8-year-old is not too long, but careful planning is needed to balance travel and sightseeing, especially in December when daylight hours are shorter and some areas (like Jiuzhaigou) can be cold or snowy.

Suggested itinerary structure:

Chongqing: 2–3 days to explore city highlights (Ciqikou Ancient Town, Jiefangbei, Hongya Cave, cable car over the Yangtze, or Dazu Rock Carvings nearby).
Chengdu: 3–4 days to visit Giant Panda Base, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli Old Street, and have a relaxed day with Sichuan cuisine experiences.
Jiuzhaigou: 3–4 days including travel time. Flights from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou are possible, though weather-dependent. Plan for 2 full days in the park for sightseeing and photography.
Extra days: 1–2 buffer days for travel, rest, or minor sightseeing (especially for the kids).

Route considerations:

Singapore → Chengdu → Chongqing → Singapore: This can be convenient if you want to start with Chengdu for pandas and acclimatize before heading to Jiuzhaigou, then finish with Chongqing city and departure.
Singapore → Chongqing → Chengdu → Singapore: This is also workable and might make sense if direct flights are more available or cheaper. You can explore Chongqing first, then move to Chengdu and do Jiuzhaigou as a day trip or overnight trip from Chengdu.

Key considerations:

December weather: Chongqing and Chengdu are relatively mild but humid, while Jiuzhaigou can be very cold with snow. Pack warm clothing and plan for shorter outdoor sightseeing sessions for kids.
Travel between cities: High-speed trains are comfortable, but flights to Jiuzhaigou might save time. Check flight availability and weather conditions, as snow can affect flights.
Rest days: With kids, ensure you include some downtime in Chengdu or Chongqing to avoid travel fatigue.

Overall, 14 days is reasonable. Both routing options work, but Chengdu-first is slightly preferable if you want to minimize long travel days before Jiuzhaigou and enjoy pandas earlier in the trip.

Chongqing and Chengdu with Jiuzhaigou

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