Jiuzhaigou is famous for its sparkling lakes, spectacular waterfalls, and colorful leaves. It is inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
There is a Chinese saying, "After visiting Jiuzhaigou, no other water landscapes compare". So, if you're looking to experience the natural beauty of China, Jiuzhaigou is undoubtedly one of the best destinations.
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- The Highlights of Jiuzhaigou
- How to Visit Jiuzhaigou
- How Many Days Are Needed
- Best Times
- How to Get to Jiuzhaigou
- Accommodation Tips
- Will I Get Altitude Sickness in Jiuzhaigou?
The Highlights of Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou is a Y-shaped valley with three main sections: the Zechawa (left line), Rize (right line), and Shuzheng (middle line) valleys.
Rize Valley: the Essence of Jiuzhaigou
Rize Valley is the most beautiful and diverse part of Jiuzhaigou's scenery. It would take about 3–4 hours to explore the essence of Rize Valley.
There are shuttle buses connecting all the spots in Rize Valley, making this line convenient for saving energy.
Its highlights include Five Flower Lake (considered the essence of Jiuzhaigou), Pearl Shoal Waterfall, and Mirror Lake (the best place to view reflections).
Other lakes, including Grass Lake, Arrow Bamboo Lake, and Panda Lake, are quite similar (about 80% similarity). While all are stunning, visiting too many may lead to visual fatigue. If you're short on time or don't want to expend too much energy, you could skip them or just choose one to visit.
If you enjoy hiking, there is a trail from the Primeval Forest to Swan Lake, a total length of about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles). Along the trail, you would encounter breathtaking views of the glacial lakes and wetlands.
Five Flowers LakeShuzheng Valley: Best for Seeing Colorful Forests
You would need about 2–3 hours to explore Shuzheng Valley's highlights.
The highlights of this valley include Nuorilang Waterfall (the largest waterfall in Jiuzhaigou) and the Shuzheng Lakes (the best place to view the colorful forests).
Insider tips:
Two recommended viewing points:
- A viewing point to overlook the entire Shuzheng Lakes area: ascend the stairs for about 500 meters (1,640 feet) to the right of the white pagodas in Shuzheng Village
- A viewing point to get a full panoramic view of the falls: it is in front of the waterfall (however, the stairs are quite steep, so it's important to assess your physical condition before attempting the climb)
Reed Lake, a hidden gem, is a clear turquoise brook surrounded by large areas of reeds that enhance its beauty.
If you have time or are interested in seeing the reed scenery, you could spend some time there.
To reach Reed Lake, you would need to walk as there's no shuttle bus stop there. You could take the shuttle bus to Penjing Shoal and then walk about 800 meters (0.5 mile) back to reach the lake.
Shuzheng Valley also offers a beautiful and less crowded hiking route from Shuanglong Lake to Penjing Shoal. The trek is about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) long and takes roughly 3 hours.
Zechawa Valley: Highest Point
Zechawa Valley boasts two must-visit attractions: Long Lake and Five-Color Lake. It would take about 1½ to 2 hours to explore the essence of Zechawa Valley.
Long Lake is the largest lake in the region where you could enjoy splendid views of a crystal-clear lake stretching toward the distant snowy mountains.
The scenery is especially beautiful on sunny days when the reflections of the snowcapped peaks glitter on the lake's surface.
Five-Color Lake is the smallest of the lakes but one of the most colorful and beautiful lakes in Jiuzhaigou Valley.
Insider tips:
After visiting Long Lake, you could only reach Five-Color Lake by foot, with the total walk being approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) long (20–30 minutes' walking) and includes steps, both ascending and descending.
If your physical condition does not permit many steps, we suggest you skip this valley and visit the other two valleys.
Zechawa Valley is the highest part of Jiuzhaigou Valley with an altitude of 3,101 m / 10,174 ft. Therefore, while walking and sightseeing, be sure to take it slow and avoid vigorous activities.
How to Visit Jiuzhaigou
In Jiuzhaigou, the primary way to explore the area is by using shuttle buses combined with short walks. The shuttle buses can reach most of the scenic spots within the valleys.
As mentioned earlier, Jiuzhaigou is shaped like a "Y" with three main touring routes (three valleys).
Upon entering the park, shuttle buses would take you to the starting point of one of the routes. Due to the high daily visitor volume (up to 40,000 people daily), the shuttle bus schedule is adjusted based on the real-time crowd flow.
This means you wouldn't have the option to choose which route to visit first. However, the order of visiting the routes does not significantly impact the experience, so there's no need to worry.
The central hub connecting the three valleys is the Nuorilang Center Station. After completing one route, you could transfer to another route by switching shuttle buses there.
Lunch tips: A buffet lunch could be arranged in Nuorilang Restaurant in Nuorilang Center Station, the only restaurant inside the park.
It could be quite crowded at lunchtime (10:30am to 2pm) in the peak season. Moreover, the food is overpriced but quite simple.
Therefore, a picnic lunch is helpful to avoid the long queues during peak season and guarantee a better food experience.
How Many Days Are Needed?
For a time-smart itinerary, it would take one day to tour Jiuzhaigou. (Time is tight if you want to fully explore the park in a day. Therefore, you need to focus on the key highlights, take advantage of shuttle buses, and control your schedule well.)
If you prefer a more relaxed and soothing pace or have a photography tour, 2 days are better. You could visit more spots or you could do some hiking activities.
Here is a suggested itinerary:
- Day 1: Jiuzhaigou arrival
- Day 2: 1-day Jiuzhaigou tour with the three main valleys
- Day 3: A trip to Huanglong and departure
Huanglong is a 2-hour drive from Jiuzhaigou. There, you could see one of the most outstanding travertine lake terraces in the world.
If you don't want to go to Huanglong, you could choose 2 days at a slower pace in Jiuzhaigou or head straight to the airport.
Our tours are customized. We would adjust or create an itinerary based on your requirements. Just contact us.
Insider tips:
People always give a 5-star rating to the scenery of Jiuzhaigou without any hesitation. However, if you check on Tripadvisor, 80% of uncomfortable experiences are due to crowds and communication problems.
Therefore, if you are not a Chinese speaker, an English-speaking tour guide is highly recommended. An experienced guide could help to maximize your time by avoiding the crowds, overcoming language problems, and even making in-depth cultural experiences with locals possible.
Check out our 3-Day Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Highlights Tour
Best Times to Visit Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou is beautiful in all four seasons. No matter which month you visit, you would be able to see stunning scenery. However, if you want to experience seasonal views, you could refer to our recommendations below.
Autumn (September to Early November): Top Recommendation
Jiuzhaigou in autumnTemperature: Averaging 18°C (64°F) at its warmest, it falls to below 8°C (46°F) at night.
Autumn is the best time to see the colorful forest. You would see the whole valley turn into a sea of colors with the orange sumac, golden birch leaves, red maple trees, and dark red wild fruit.
The color changes of the autumn foliage are as follows: the deepest hues occur from late October to early November, with lighter hues showing from mid to late October, while the foliage begins to show its colors from late September to early October.
As autumn is the most beautiful time in Jiuzhaigou, it is the peak season. Hotels, flights, and English-speaking guides are in high demand. If you are going to visit Jiuzhaigou in fall, we recommend booking at least 2 months in advance. Taking some photos while visiting is a good option — see some photography tips.
Spring (March to May): Verdant Mountains and Peach Flowers
Temperature: 9°C (48°F) to 18°C (64°F) in the day, dropping to 6°C (43°F) on average at night
Spring is also a good choice. At this time, the melting snow from the mountains flows into the lakes, resulting in abundant water and clearer lake water. On sunny days, the colors of the lakes become even more vibrant.
In addition to enjoying the lake scenery, if you visit Jiuzhaigou from late March to late April, you could see the blooming peach blossoms.
Summer (June to August): Green Forest Summer Retreat
Temperature: 20°C (68°F) to 25°C (77°F) in the day, but about 10°C (50°F) at night
Jiuzhaigou in summer is greener and the lakes are a deep dark blue. In addition, it is also a summer resort to escape the summer heat.
Summer is the rainy season. You may have a higher chance of encountering rainy days. Although the scenery in Jiuzhaigou on rainy days is also quite beautiful, it still doesn't compare to the views on sunny days.
If you plan to visit Jiuzhaigou in the summer, you may need to pay more attention to the weather forecast and try to choose a sunny day for your trip.
Winter (November to February): a Snow-Covered World
Temperature: 0°C (32°F) or below
Jiuzhaigou may see its first snow in mid-to-late November. It is the best time to see frozen waterfalls, especially the Pearl Shoal and Nuorilang waterfalls. The lakes on a clear day are even bluer against the surrounding snow.
Winter is the offseason, which means there would be fewer travelers and you could enjoy favorable prices.
How to Get to Jiuzhaigou
Chengdu is the best gateway to Jiuzhaigou.
After arriving in Chengdu, you could take a flight or high-speed train journey to Jiuzhaigou.
How to Get to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu
By Plane
The nearest airport is Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport. You could take a direct flight from Chengdu to the airport with a journey of about an hour.
When landing at the airport, you would need to drive for about 2 hours to reach the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot.
Insider tips:
We recommend taking a high-speed train. A train journey offers better value for money and takes about the same time as flying. A flight takes about 1 hour and a high-speed train trip takes about 1½–2 hours.
Moreover, flights during the offseason are not available daily.
By Bullet Train
There are three train stations near Jiuzhaigou:
- From Chengdu to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station (most recommended): The train journey takes about 2 hours. This is the nearest railway station to Jiuzhaigou, requiring about a 1½-hour drive to reach the valley.
- From Chengdu to Songpan Station (second recommendation): The train journey lasts about 1½ to 2 hours. From this station, it takes approximately 2½ hours to drive to Jiuzhaigou Valley.
- From Chengdu to Huangshengguan Station (third recommendation): The train journey takes about 2 to 2½ hours, followed by a 2-hour drive to Jiuzhaigou.
When booking a Jiuzhaigou tour with us, we will arrange the transportation between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou and the transfers from the station to Jiuzhaigou Valley.
Accommodation Tips
Staying inside the park is not allowed. Therefore, we recommend staying in Zhangzha Town, which is closest to the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
Zhangzha Town has a wide range of accommodation, from 5-star hotels to budget hostels. Three-star hotels or budget hostels are not recommended because of their low-quality service and lack of air-conditioning.
If you want some recommendations, you could refer to the following:
- Hilton Jiuzhaigou Resort (5-star)
- Howard Johnson Tianyuan Resort Jiuzhaigou (4-star)
- Sanroyal International Hotel (3½-star)
Will I Get Altitude Sickness in Jiuzhaigou?
For most travelers, altitude sickness is not a problem inside the valley. Most scenic spots in Jiuzhaigou are under 3,000 m (9,843 ft), with only Long Lake being situated at 3,101 m (10,174 ft).
However, outside the valley, the airport is at about 3,500 m (11,483 ft) and Huanglong ranges from 3,000 m (9,843 ft) to 3,600 m (11,811 ft). Therefore, you'd better prepare for possible altitude sickness before arriving.
Vulnerability to altitude sickness varies from person to person, so it's advisable to consult your doctor prior to your trip.
Anyone with heart disease or high blood pressure should be particularly careful and take precautions when traveling to Jiuzhaigou. Also, a breathing condition, such as asthma or a cold, could make mild altitude sickness feel far worse.
While there, it's advisable not to do any really strenuous exercise or to drink wine. Keep warm and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Nearby Attraction: Huanglong Valley
Huanglong ValleyJust an hour's drive from Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, Huanglong Valley is often the first stop for travelers who arrive by flight. After Huanglong Valley, they drive for 2 hours to reach Jiuzhaigou.
Like Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong Valley features crystal-clear waters and travertine lakes. Therefore, you're recommended to avoid the dry season between January and May, when the ponds are dry and lose their beauty. The best time is from June to October.
Huanglong is a steep and huge valley in which a river flows. You'd probably need 5–6 hours to walk up and down it. Therefore, most travelers take a cable car ride up the valley and walk for 3 hours to get back down.