Home
Aba
7 days

7 Days in Aba

A week overland from Chengdu: earthquake-memorial Yingxiu, Songpan, Huanglong, two days in Jiuzhaigou, Munigou, and the Qiang villages of Maoxian and Taoping on the way back.

Browse all itineraries →

Best time: September-October or April-JuneBudget: mid-range

Quick Answer

Is 7 days enough for Aba?

7 days is the sweet spot for Aba: enough time for the must-sees plus one day trip or food/rest day.

Source: NihaoVisit Aba guide

7-day Aba itinerary at a glance

Use our full Aba travel guide as the base and adapt it to 7 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Jiuzhaigou's lakes and waterfallsHuanglong's travertine terracesFive-Flower LakeSongpan Ancient TownTaoping Qiang VillageMunigou's Zhaga Falls

Day 1

Chengdu to Songpan via the Min River valley

Leave Chengdu early; pause at the 2008 earthquake memorial in Yingxiu and the riverside old town of Shuimo, then follow the Min valley up to Songpan.

aba yingxiu earthquake memorial
aba shuimo ancient town

Day 2

Huanglong travertine terraces

Enter at opening for the Five-Color Pond under clear skies; walk down past the pool terraces and continue to Zhangzha for the night.

aba huanglong valley
aba huanglong five color pond

Day 3

Jiuzhaigou — Rize & Shuzheng gullies

Bus straight up to Primeval Forest at the head of the right fork, then descend past Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Shoal to Nuorilang Falls.

aba jiuzhaigou valley
aba five flower lake
aba nuorilang falls

Day 4

Jiuzhaigou — Zechawa gully

Take the left fork slowly — Long Lake and the Five-Color Pond are the core, and Mirror Lake rewards patience on the way down.

aba long lake
aba jiuzhaigou five color pond

Day 5

Munigou & Songpan walls

Zhaga Falls and Erdaohai near Songpan, then the old-town walls and teahouses; overnight in Songpan.

aba munigou
aba songpan ancient town

Day 6

Down the Min valley — Diexi lakes & Maoxian

Look over the landslide lakes of Diexi on the way down; in Maoxian, the Guqiang City complex shows Qiang tower houses and culture; overnight Maoxian.

aba diexi lakes
aba guqiang city

Day 7

Taoping Qiang Village & return

Detour to Taoping's stone towers and labyrinth lanes, then continue past Yingxiu to Chengdu for evening departure.

aba taoping qiang village

Budget for 7 days in Aba

Tier	Per day	7 days total
Backpacker	USD $50–$80	USD $350–$560
Mid-range	USD $100–$200	USD $700–$1,400
Luxury	USD $300+	USD $2,100+

Useful tools

Calculate your trip budget Build your custom China itinerary

Book your Aba trip

TRIP.COMRecommended

Hotels, flights & tours

One-stop China trip booking · Foreign cards accepted

Hotels from $25/night

We may earn a commission when you book through these links. This does not affect our editorial recommendations.

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 7 days for both Aba and a side trip?

Yes — with 7 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.