The ideal itinerary is one and a half day trek plus a half day visit to Long Lake and Five-Color Lake in Zechawagou Gully if you manage to sneak into a hotel or a Tibetan's home in the park. (See Where to Stay). But one day's walk is still feasible if you start from Panda Lake to Heyezai Village. (See planked path on the map).

The raised plank path is running parallel to the main road, at another side of streams, cascades or lakes, away from noisy buses and group tourists who usually walk along the main road in order to catch a bus for visiting other sites. At an intersection, always take the path running away from the main road.

I did the trek from Panda Lake to Heyezhai Village (near the park's gate) during my second trip. Walking on the raised plank, listening to the steam passing by or under the plank, or enjoying the amazing colors of the lake, one has to admit that this is indeed a fairyland.

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How to avoid the crowd:
Tourists, most of them guided by various travel agencies, are usually packed in the following areas :

Zhechawagou Gully : Multicolor (Five-Color) Lake with the most surprising colors in the valley, and Long Lake (3103m). If you visit the park just for one day and want to trek along the plank path, you wouldn't have time to visit these two crowded places. Otherwise try to visit late in the afternoon. Ask for the last bus schedule in advance.

Rezegou Gully : Panda Lake fall, Five Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal, Pearl Shaol Falls. The plank path which provides a shortcut in the gorge of Panda Lake Fall to Five Flower Lake is always packed with tourists. So is the path from Pearl Shoal to Pearl Shoal Falls, the only way to visit these two famous sites in the park. Try either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Shuzheng Gully : Nuorilang Falls, the widest falls in the park. Shuzheng lakes and falls. Sleeping dragon lake. The plank path in Suzheng Gully is usually avoided by Chinese tourists as the view from the main road is better.