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Aba — China travel

14 Days in Aba

Two weeks for the full loop: Siguniang's gullies, Barkam, the Zoige grasslands, Zhagana in neighbouring Gansu, Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Dagu Glacier and the Qiang valleys of the Min river.

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Best time: September-October for autumn color, June-August for the grasslandsBudget: mid-range

Quick Answer

Is 14 days enough for Aba?

14 days lets you go beyond Aba's core into neighborhoods, food markets, and one or two day trips at a relaxed pace.

Source: NihaoVisit Aba guide

14-day Aba itinerary at a glance

Use our full Aba travel guide as the base and adapt it to 14 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Mount Siguniang's gulliesFirst Bend of the Yellow RiverZhagana's stone villageJiuzhaigou & HuanglongDagu GlacierTaoping Qiang Village
1
Day 1

Chengdu to Wenchuan — Yingxiu & Shuimo

Leave Chengdu early on the Duwen expressway; the Yingxiu memorial and Shuimo's riverside lanes set the tone; overnight in Wenchuan.

Scenes from Aba, China
  1. aba yingxiu earthquake memorial
  2. aba shuimo ancient town
2
Day 2

Taoping Qiang Village & Bipenggou

Taoping's stone towers before lunch, then Bipenggou's shuttle up to the lakes and glacier walls; overnight in Li County.

Scenes from Aba, China
  1. aba taoping qiang village
  2. aba bipenggou
3
Day 3

Miyaluo & on to Barkam

Autumn turns Miyaluo's valleys red; continue over the pass to Barkam for the Zhuokeji tusi manor at golden hour.

Scenes from Aba, China
  1. aba miyaluo
  2. aba zhuokeji tusi manor
4
Day 4

Barkam to Tangke via Hongyuan

Moon Bay's oxbows on the way across the Hongyuan grasslands; sunset at the Yellow River's First Bend near Tangke.

Scenes from Aba, China
  1. aba moon bay
  2. aba first bend of yellow river
5
Day 5

Tangke to Langmusi via Flower Lake

Late morning at Flower Lake's boardwalks, then the border town of Langmusi straddling Sichuan and Gansu.

  1. aba flower lake
  2. aba langmusi
6
Day 6

Zhagana day in Gansu

An honestly labelled neighbouring-prefecture day — Zhagana sits in Diebu County, Gansu; stone ridges, Tibetan villages and terraces, with a night in the village.

  1. aba zhagana
7
Day 7

Zhagana to Zhangzha across Zoige

Sunrise mist over Zhagana, then the long grassland crossing past Zoige county town to Chuanzhusi and up to Zhangzha.

  1. aba zoige grassland
8
Day 8

Jiuzhaigou — Rize & Shuzheng gullies

Bus straight up to Primeval Forest, then descend past Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Shoal to Nuorilang Falls.

  1. aba jiuzhaigou valley
  2. aba five flower lake
  3. aba nuorilang falls
9
Day 9

Jiuzhaigou — Zechawa gully

The left fork at an easy pace — Long Lake and the Five-Color Pond, with time for Mirror Lake's reflections on the way down.

  1. aba long lake
  2. aba jiuzhaigou five color pond
10
Day 10

Huanglong travertine terraces

Cableway up, boardwalk to the Five-Color Pond, slow descent; overnight in Chuanzhusi or Songpan.

  1. aba huanglong valley
  2. aba huanglong five color pond
11
Day 11

Songpan old town & Munigou

Zhaga Falls and Erdaohai in the morning, the Ming walls and gate towers in the afternoon; overnight in Songpan.

  1. aba songpan ancient town
  2. aba munigou
12
Day 12

To Heishui for Dagu Glacier

Drive west to Heishui; the cableway lifts you to a 4,860-metre viewing terrace under the glacier — move slowly at altitude.

  1. aba dagu glacier
13
Day 13

Naizigou color forests & Sergu village

Naizigou's autumn color forest on the way down, and the ancient stone houses of Sergu Tibetan Village before Maoxian.

  1. aba naizigou
  2. aba sergu tibetan village
14
Day 14

Guqiang City & return to Chengdu

Morning at Maoxian's Guqiang City complex, then down the Min valley to Chengdu for evening departure.

  1. aba guqiang city

Budget for 14 days in Aba

TierPer day14 days total
BackpackerUSD $50–$80USD $700–$1,120
Mid-rangeUSD $100–$200USD $1,400–$2,800
LuxuryUSD $300+USD $4,200+

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Frequently asked questions

What is the daily budget for Aba?
Budget travelers: USD $50–$80/day. Mid-range: $100–$200/day. Luxury: $300+/day. These cover hotel, three meals, transit, and one paid attraction per day.
Do I need a visa to visit Aba?
It depends on your passport — see our <a href="/china-visa-2026/">China visa guide</a> for the latest country-by-country list. Most Western passport holders can enter visa-free for 30 days as of 2026.
How do I get from the airport to the center of Aba?
Aba's main airport connects to the city center via airport bus, taxi, or metro where available. See the airport transfer section of our Aba guide.
Can I use 14 days for both Aba and a side trip?
Yes — with 14 days you can pair Aba with one nearby city (e.g. a short rail or bus side trip) and still have buffer days.
Is Aba safe for tourists?
Yes. Aba has very low violent crime rates and is widely considered safe for foreign tourists. Standard petty-theft precautions apply. See our <a href="/is-china-safe-2026/">is China safe</a> page.

See also: Aba travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.