Taking a bullet train from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou is one of the fastest ways currently. On the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, Huanglong Jiuzhai Station in Chuanzhusi Town, Songpan County (2,977 meters above sea level) is only 90 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou, making it the closest and top choice for tourists. Other stations include Songpan, Zhenjiangguan and Huangshengguan, which differ greatly in distance and transfer access. Picking the wrong station may extend your trip by 1–2 hours. This article clarifies each station’s location, transfer options and selection advice to help tourists book tickets and arrive smoothly.
Introduction to Jiuzhaigou Railway Station
The Zhenjiangguan-Huangshengguan section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway is located in Songpan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. There are 4 stations in total along this section, namely Zhenjiangguan, Songpan, Huanglong Jiuzhai and Huangshengguan. Zhenjiangguan Station is an existing station, and the rest are newly built. The following introduces each station in turn, with Huanglong Jiuzhai Station as the key recommended one.
Huanglong Jiuzhai Station (Preferred, Closest to the Scenic Area)
Located in Chuanzhusi Town, Songpan County, the station covers 4,000 square meters, with a layout of 2 platforms and 4 tracks, and a maximum passenger capacity of 800 people. Built as a tourist transport hub, the station offers scenic area through trains, urban buses, taxis, car rentals and other transfer options. The fastest bullet train from Chengdu East Railway Station to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station takes only about 1 hour and 39 minutes. It is the closest railway station to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area on the bullet train route and the best stop. The station is about 90 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, with a ride of about two hours, and sends more than 10,000 passengers per day during peak hours.
Key Points for Huanglong Jiuzhai Station:
- Distance to the scenic area: About 90 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, with the shortest transfer time.
- Distance to Huanglong Scenic Area: About 26 kilometers from Huanglong Scenic Area, with a ride of about 30 minutes.
- Station altitude: 2,977 meters. Slow down after exiting the station to adapt to the plateau.
- Transportation transfer: There is a bus stop on the right side of the station square, providing various transfer ways.
Songpan Station (Station Along the Line, Mature Transfer Conditions)
Located near Songpan County seat, the station covers 5,000 square meters, with a layout of 4 platforms and 10 tracks. The fastest bullet train from Chengdu East Railway Station to Songpan Station takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. It is about 110 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, about 20 kilometers farther than Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, and the transfer ride takes half an hour to one hour longer. You can take a bus to Songzhou Ancient Town after exiting the station (fare: 2 CNY per person, about 15 minutes). This station also runs bus routes to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
Zhenjiangguan Station (Existing Station, Free Transfer Shuttle Available)
Located on the Qingbaijiang East-Zhenjiangguan section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, it is an existing station on this section. It has a free shuttle bus to Songpan County seat, departing according to train arrival times. Shuttle buses leave Zhenjiangguan High-speed Railway Station for Songpan County seat punctually at 12:30 and 17:50 every day. Tourists then transfer to a bus to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, and the whole transfer takes a long time.
Huangshengguan Station (Terminal Station, Far from Jiuzhaigou)
Located in Lianghekou Village, Chuanzhusi Town, Songpan County, at an altitude of 3,156 meters, it is the terminal station of this section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway. The fastest bullet train from Chengdu East Railway Station takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes. It is far from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and is generally not recommended as a stop for tourists heading to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
Huanglong Jiuzhai Station
How to Choose the Railway Station for Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area
Tourists going to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area should choose the stop based on the distance between each station and the scenic area, transfer conditions and travel plans. The specific selection tips are as follows:
- Prioritize Huanglong Jiuzhai Station: Huanglong Jiuzhai Station is the closest railway station to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area along the line and the preferred stop for most tourists. It is about 90 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area with the shortest transfer time, and you can walk to the through train boarding spot a few minutes after exiting the station.
- Take Songpan Station as an alternative: Songpan Station is about 110 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, and the transfer ride takes half an hour to one hour longer than Huanglong Jiuzhai Station. It has a bus to Songzhou Ancient Town (fare: 2 CNY per person, about 15 minutes), suitable for tourists planning to visit the ancient town, and can be an alternative when tickets for Huanglong Jiuzhai Station are sold out.
- Transfer needed at Zhenjiangguan Station: Zhenjiangguan Station has a free shuttle bus to Songpan County seat, but you need to transfer to a bus to the scenic area, and the whole transfer takes a long time, so it is generally not the first choice.
- Huangshengguan Station is not recommended: Huangshengguan Station is the farthest from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area with inconvenient transfers, so it is usually not recommended as a stop to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
Songpan Station
Exit Transfer Guide for Huanglong Jiuzhai Station
A bus stop and parking lot are built on the right side of the square in front of Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, and you can transfer to the scenic area through train to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area right after exiting the station. The station plans to provide scenic area through trains, urban buses, taxis, car rentals and other transfer methods.
Exit Transfer Information for Huanglong Jiuzhai Station:
- Through train fare: About 51 CNY per person to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, about 28 CNY per person to Huanglong Scenic Area.
- Departure time: Through trains run circularly from 6:00 to 23:00 every day, adjusted in real time according to bullet train schedules.
- Ticket channels: You can buy tickets online in advance via the WeChat mini-program “Jiulv Yuexing”, or buy tickets on site at the tourist service center in the station.
- Carpooling reference: About 60 CNY per person to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. The exact price can be negotiated with the driver face to face. It is recommended to choose the front seat.
- Prepare motion sickness medicine: The road from the station to the scenic area has many curves, so tourists who get carsick easily are advised to prepare motion sickness medicine in advance.
- Confirm return trip in advance: The traffic flow back to the station from the scenic area is relatively concentrated in the afternoon, so it is recommended to book return tickets early.
Accommodation Choices Near Huanglong Jiuzhai Station
If your bullet train arrives late, staying near the station overnight can reduce the rush that day. Chuanzhusi Town is next to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, reachable on foot or by a short ride. There are many homestays and inns in the town, priced at about 150 to 300 CNY per night, lower than the accommodation cost at the scenic area entrance. Chuanzhusi Town is at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. Staying here for one night helps you adapt to the plateau environment and reduce possible discomfort during the tour the next day.
Accommodation Choices and Plateau Adaptation Tips:
- Chuanzhusi Town: Closest to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, suitable for tourists arriving by late bullet trains.
- Songpan County seat: Rich catering and accommodation choices with low accommodation costs, about 15 minutes’ ride from Songpan Station.
- Book rooms in advance: Rooms are in short supply during peak seasons (July to August, mid-October), so it is recommended to book at least one week in advance.
- Confirm heating equipment: Nights are cold in high-altitude areas. Confirm whether the hotel has floor heating or air conditioning when booking.
- Avoid strenuous activities: Rest for several hours after arriving at the plateau, do not take a bath or do strenuous exercise right away.
Expansion of Huanglong Jiuzhai Station
Huanglong Jiuzhai Station is under expansion and is scheduled to be fully completed at the end of June. The expansion project will greatly improve the station’s passenger capacity and services, including the following contents.
Expansion Content and Travel Reminders:
- Capacity upgrade: After expansion, the station’s peak-hour capacity will be increased to 4,500 people, and the waiting space will be significantly enlarged. The parking building and station square will also be renovated at the same time, with new parking spaces added to ease the parking shortage.
- Construction impact and check info before travel: During construction, you can check real-time transfer information of Huanglong Jiuzhai Station via the WeChat mini-program “Jiulv Yuexing”or the announcement page of the railway 12306 platform.
- Follow on-site transfer guides and reserve exit time: After exiting the station, please pay attention to signs and broadcasts to confirm the departure area of the day. Extra time is recommended during construction for exiting the station, finding vehicles and waiting for departure.
Important Transport Tips to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area
The following points are worth noting before your trip:
- Prioritize Huanglong Jiuzhai Station: Huanglong Jiuzhai Station is the closest station to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area along the line. Songpan Station has a longer transfer ride, Zhenjiangguan Station requires a transfer, and Huangshengguan Station is the farthest from the scenic area, so it is generally not recommended as a stop.
- Buy tickets through official channels: Buy through train tickets via the “Jiulv Yuexing”mini-program or on site, and do not take unlicensed vehicles.
- Stay safe when carpooling: Confirm the price in advance when carpooling and fasten your seat belt. Do not urge the driver to speed up in rainy, foggy or snowy weather.
- Carry necessary items: The road to the scenic area has many curves, so it is recommended to bring motion sickness medicine, coats and a small amount of food with you.
- Book return tickets in advance: Book return tickets to the station early on the day of your tour in the scenic area to avoid long waits due to ticket shortages.
Choosing the Right Jiuzhaigou Train Station Makes the Entire Trip Easier
At present, Huanglong Jiuzhai Station is still the preferred arrival station for most travelers visiting Jiuzhaigou. It offers the shortest transfer distance to the scenic area, more convenient shuttle connections, and better-developed tourism facilities nearby. During peak seasons, understanding station transfers and booking transportation in advance is often just as important as securing train tickets themselves.
For first-time visitors to Jiuzhaigou, train station selection is only one part of the overall travel planning process. Altitude adjustment, hotel locations around Chuanzhusi, Huanglong sightseeing arrangements, and return transportation also deserve careful consideration. China Dragon Travel provides customized Jiuzhaigou transportation and tour services, including railway station transfers, hotel arrangements, train ticket assistance, and western Sichuan travel planning, helping travelers enjoy a smoother and more efficient journey.
