Jiuzhaigou Entrance Fee, Ticket Price & Opening Hours (2026)
For 2026, the Jiuzhaigou entrance fee is ¥190 in peak season (Apr 1 – Nov 15) and ¥80 off-peak, plus a mandatory ¥90 sightseeing bus — so the real ticket price per adult is ¥280 or ¥170. The park runs roughly 07:30 to 18:00 in peak season and 08:30 to 17:00 off-peak, with last entry at 14:00 either way. The part that catches people out: you book a specific entry time slot, not just a date.
I found that out the hard way. On my first visit I ended up scrambling on the morning of the trip, trying to work out why my “confirmed” booking wasn’t quite as confirmed as I thought.
This guide covers everything about the Jiuzhaigou entrance ticket for 2026: prices, the time-slot reservation system, opening hours, and how to actually book it. For getting from Chengdu, see the transport guide; for how many days to spend, see the itinerary guide; and for what’s actually inside the park, see the routes guide.
2026 Tickets & Opening Hours at a Glance
| Peak (Apr 1 – Nov 15) | Off-peak (Nov 16 – Mar 31) | |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance fee | ¥190 | ¥80 |
| Sightseeing bus (mandatory) | ¥90 | ¥90 |
| Total per adult | ¥280 (≈$39) | ¥170 (≈$24) |
| Entry time slots | 07:30–10:00 / 10:00–12:00 / 12:00–14:00 | 08:30–10:00 / 10:00–14:00 |
| Last entry | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Park closes | 18:00 | 17:00 |
| Booking opens | 14 days ahead, 8am local time | |
Children under 6 (or under 120cm) enter free. Everything below is the detail behind those numbers — what the bus actually gets you, how the time slots work, and how to book from outside China.
Jiuzhaigou Ticket Prices (2026)
| Season | Entrance | Sightseeing Bus (mandatory) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak (Apr 1 – Nov 15) | ¥190 | ¥90 | ¥280 |
| Off-peak (Nov 16 – Mar 31) | ¥80 | ¥90 (same as peak) | ¥170 |
(roughly $26–39 USD depending on season)
- The sightseeing bus is basically mandatory — the park is far too large to see on foot, so buying the entrance ticket alone doesn’t get you much.
- Booking the entrance ticket and bus together on Trip.com works out cheaper than buying separately.
- Kids under 6 (or under 120cm) get in free.
The Time-Slot Reservation System
This is the part I missed the first time — Jiuzhaigou doesn’t just make you pick a date, you have to book a specific entry time slot too.
| Season | Available Entry Windows |
|---|---|
| Peak (Apr 1 – Nov 15) | 07:30–10:00 / 10:00–12:00 / 12:00–14:00 (3 slots) |
| Off-peak (Nov 16 – Mar 31) | 08:30–10:00 / 10:00–14:00 (2 slots) |
- Book the earliest slot you can get (07:30–10:00 in peak season). The park takes 7–8 hours to see properly, so entering late means rushing the last stretch.
- Booking opens 14 days before your visit date, at 8am local time. During major holidays, slots can sell out within 10 minutes of opening.
- Entry uses facial recognition matched to your passport, so make sure the details you enter when booking match your passport exactly.
Opening Hours & Last Entry
The gate opens at 07:30 in peak season and 08:30 off-peak, and the park closes at 18:00 and 17:00 respectively. The number that actually matters is last entry at 14:00, in both seasons — miss it and there is no way in, regardless of what your ticket says.
Since a proper visit takes 7–8 hours (that timing is broken down in the itinerary guide), a 14:00 entry realistically means seeing one branch of the park and leaving. Aim to be through the gate well before noon, and treat the earliest slot as the default choice rather than a bonus.
Closing time is when the park empties, not when the last bus runs, so start heading back down from the far end of your route by around 16:00 in peak season.
The Basic Layout: A Y-Shape
Jiuzhaigou is shaped like a giant Y — from the entrance, the park splits into a left route, a right route, and a middle route. It’s far too spread out to explore on foot, which is exactly why the sightseeing bus is mandatory.
- You don’t get to choose left or right first — buses are assigned by boarding order, not by request.
- All three routes converge at Nuorilang Center, where most of the park’s restaurants are clustered — a natural lunch stop.
- Exactly what’s on each route and how to walk it is covered in detail in the routes guide — this is just the big-picture layout.
How to Book
- Book through the official channel (WeChat mini-program “九寨沟旅游官方平台”) or Trip.com
- Trip.com has English support and is foreigner-friendly, which is why it’s the go-to option throughout this whole series
- Booking the entrance + bus bundle means you just show your passport at the gate — nothing else to juggle
- Double-check that the passport details you enter match your actual passport exactly, since that’s what the facial-recognition gate checks against
FAQ
How much is the Jiuzhaigou entrance fee in 2026?
¥190 per adult in peak season (April 1 – November 15) and ¥80 off-peak. The ¥90 sightseeing bus is effectively compulsory, which brings the real cost to ¥280 and ¥170 respectively.
What are Jiuzhaigou’s opening hours?
Roughly 07:30–18:00 in peak season and 08:30–17:00 off-peak. Last entry is 14:00 in both seasons, and you can only enter during the time slot you booked.
Can I just buy the entrance ticket and skip the sightseeing bus?
Technically yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The park is a Y-shape stretching tens of kilometres and there is no realistic way to cover it on foot in a day.
What happens if I miss my time slot?
You can only enter during your booked window, so arrive with plenty of buffer. Slots are not interchangeable on the day.
Do I need to book Jiuzhaigou tickets in advance?
Yes. Booking opens 14 days before your visit date at 8am local time, and during Chinese public holidays the slots can be gone within ten minutes.
Does this ticket cover Huanglong too?
No — Huanglong is a separate park with its own ticket and hours. See the Huanglong guide for that, or the 4-day Chengdu itinerary if you’re combining both.
Related Guides
The full 4-day trip from Chengdu → Chengdu, Huanglong & Jiuzhaigou 4-Day Itinerary
Getting from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou by train → Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou by Train
How many days to plan → Jiuzhaigou Itinerary
What’s actually inside the park → Best Routes & Trails
Where to stay → Where to Stay Near Jiuzhaigou
Altitude & packing tips → Jiuzhaigou Travel Tips
Huanglong tickets & info → Huanglong Guide
