Jiuzhaigou is located beside Provincial Highway 301 in Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a World Natural Heritage, a World Biosphere Reserve, and a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
Jiuzhaigou is characterized by the saying "No need to view other waters after returning from Jiuzhaigou," boasting diverse water landscapes including lakes, waterfalls, and shoals. The lake waters are colorful, resembling a fairy-tale world. The scenic area is rich in forest resources, with a large area of primeval forest, diverse plant species, and many rare wild animals.
In terms of scenic architecture, the newly built Goukou three-dimensional tourist service center covers 8.98 hectares with a total construction area of about 30,000 square meters. Designed by the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University, it can serve up to 41,000 visitors per day.
The total area of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area is approximately 642.53 square kilometers, mostly covered by forests.
History and Culture
The "Nanping County Chronicle" compiled in the early Republic of China already has written records about Jiuzhaigou. The archaeological excavation of the Ashaonao Site in 2008 proved that the history of human habitation in Jiuzhaigou can be traced back to the Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. The Tibetan residents who have lived here for generations believe in Bon, the primitive religion of Tibet.
In the 1950s, surveyors from the Ministry of Forestry entered Jiuzhaigou and found its total forest reserve was 4 million cubic meters, with an exploitable area of 59,340 hectares.Thereafter, Jiuzhaigou experienced a timber harvesting stage. Forest felling led to the drying up of haizi (lakes) and frequent geological disasters such as mudslides. It was not until the late 1970s that some visionary people and officials launched a protection appeal. In 1978, Qing Jianhua, Director of the Protection Department of the Ministry of Forestry, applied to the State Council for establishing a nature reserve in Jiuzhaigou, and Jiuzhaigou gradually embarked on the path of protection and development.
Main Attractions
Five-Color Pond
The Five-Color Pond is the smallest but most colorful haizi in Jiuzhaigou, located in the southern section of Zechawa Gully, at an altitude of 2,995 meters. The pond is 100.8 meters long, 56.8 meters wide, and 6.56-9.43 meters deep. The lake water is colorful under the sun, like a gem.
Long Lake
Long Lake is the highest and widest haizi in Jiuzhaigou, at an altitude of 3,060 meters, with an area of about 2 million square meters. It is distributed in an "S" shape, with blue lake water. The surrounding mountains are stacked, and the distant snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake, presenting a magnificent view.
Shuzheng Group Sea
The Shuzheng Group Sea consists of 19 haizi of different sizes and is the gateway to the beautiful scenery of Jiuzhaigou. The lake water is crystal clear, showing different colors with the change of light angle and lake depth. Between the group seas, there are low travertine embankments, forming cascade waterfalls and drop landscapes.
Nuorilang Waterfall
Nuorilang Waterfall is one of the large travertine waterfalls in China, with a width of 270 meters and a height of 24.5 meters, at an altitude of 2,365 meters. The top of the waterfall is flat like a platform, and water flows down evenly from above, forming rainbow stripes under the sun, very spectacular.
Five-Flower Lake
Five-Flower Lake is known as "the best of Jiuzhaigou" and "the essence of Jiuzhai," located at the end of the upper reaches of the Peacock River in Rize Gully, at an altitude of 2,472 meters and a water depth of 5 meters. The lake water shows colorful colors like an oil painting, and the trees on the shore are reflected in the water, contrasting with the lake water, extremely beautiful.
Food
Potato Ciba
Potato Ciba is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them into a paste in a stone mortar with a wooden pestle, and then shaping them into cakes or balls. It can be fried, baked, or deep-fried, with a soft and glutinous taste and a fragrant smell.
Highland Barley Cake
Highland Barley Cake is made of highland barley flour. The baked cake is golden in color, crisp in texture, and has the unique aroma of highland barley, being one of the local characteristic staple foods.
Cold Noodles with Walnut Flowers
Cold Noodles with Walnut Flowers are made by picking walnut flowers, processing them, and mixing them with seasonings. They have a fresh and refreshing taste, rich nutrition, and a unique flavor.
Cold-Water Fish
The cold-water fish in Jiuzhaigou is fresh and delicious, rich in nutrition. Common cooking methods include steaming and braising, allowing visitors to taste the original flavor of fresh fish.
Wild Vegetables
There are rich types of wild vegetables locally, such as wild leeks and wild garlic. These wild vegetables grow in a pollution-free natural environment, taste delicious, and can be stir-fried, served cold, or made into soup.
Tickets
Ticket + sightseeing car: 280 yuan/person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "九寨沟" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Peak season (May to October): 7:00-18:00; Off-season (November to April of the following year): 8:00-17:00. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tour Route
The attractions of Jiuzhaigou are mainly distributed in the three gullies of the "Y" shape. The recommended classic tour route is: take a sightseeing car from the gully entrance to the primeval forest, successively visit Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake, Five-Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, Nuorilang Waterfall, then go to Zechawa Village to view Long Lake and Five-Color Pond, and finally go down the mountain from Shuzheng Gully to visit Shuzheng Group Sea, Shuzheng Village, Reed Lake, and other attractions.
Transportation
- Airplane: Jiuhuang Airport is located in Chuanzhusi Town, Songpan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, 88 kilometers away from the Jiuzhaigou entrance, with a driving time of 1.5 hours. Currently, direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, and other cities are available.
- High-speed Railway: The fastest train from Chengdu East to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station takes 1 hour and 39 minutes. From Huanglong Jiuzhai Station to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, you can take a direct scenic bus.
- Bus: There are buses from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station and Xin Nanmen Bus Station to Jiuzhaigou; Lanzhou in Gansu has daily buses to Jiuzhaigou; Mianyang Pingzheng Bus Station has direct buses to Jiuzhaigou.
- Self-driving:
- West Jiuhuan Line: Chengdu→Dujiangyan→Wenchuan→Maoxian→Songpan→Jiuzhaigou, about 440 kilometers in total.
- East Jiuhuan Line: Chengdu→Mianyang→Jiangyou→Pingwu→Jiuzhaigou County→Jiuzhaigou, about 480 kilometers in total.
- Gansu Lanzhou Line: Lanzhou→Linxia→Hezuo→Luqu→Ruoergai→Chuanzhusi→Jiuzhaigou, 711 kilometers in total.
Must-See Attractions
- Five-Color Pond: The smallest but most colorful haizi in Jiuzhaigou, at an altitude of 2,995 meters. The lake water is colorful under the sun, like a gem, and is an iconic attraction of Jiuzhaigou.
- Long Lake: At an altitude of 3,060 meters and an area of about 2 million square meters, it is the highest and widest haizi in Jiuzhaigou. Snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake, presenting a magnificent view.
- Nuorilang Waterfall: With a width of 270 meters and a height of 24.5 meters, it is a large travertine waterfall in China. Water flows down evenly, and rainbows form when exposed to sunlight, creating a spectacular landscape.
- Five-Flower Lake: Known as "the best of Jiuzhaigou," at an altitude of 2,472 meters. The lake water is colorful like an oil painting, and the reflection of trees on the shore contrasts with the lake, being the essence of Jiuzhai's landscape.
Tour Tips
- Book tickets and hotels in advance through the scenic area's official website or platforms. During the peak season (May-October), make reservations early to avoid affecting your itinerary.
- Jiuzhaigou has a high altitude (up to 3,060 meters), and the temperature difference between morning and evening is large. Prepare warm clothes such as down jackets and scarves, and it is recommended to carry a portable oxygen bottle in case of altitude sickness.
- Ultraviolet rays are strong at high altitudes. Bring sunscreen (SPF50+), sunglasses, sun hats, and other sunscreen products, and prepare rain gear for changeable weather.
- Attractions in the scenic area are scattered. It is recommended to combine sightseeing cars with walking. Give priority to taking a sightseeing car to the end point, then hike downward to save energy.
- Respect local Tibetan customs. Take off your hat and sunglasses when entering temples, and do not take photos casually; when encountering Mani piles, walk around from left to right.
Notes
- Smoking is prohibited throughout the scenic area, and carrying fire sources is strictly forbidden to avoid forest fires.
- Do not feed or chase wild animals at will, especially pay attention to avoiding Tibetan macaques to prevent scratches; do not pick wild plants to protect the ecological environment.
- Follow scenic area signs, and do not swim, climb, or camp in non-designated areas. Maintain a safe distance from dangerous areas such as Nuorilang Waterfall.
- Newcomers to high altitudes should avoid strenuous exercise. If symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea, and difficulty breathing occur, go to the scenic area's medical room or rest at lower altitudes in a timely manner.
- Take good care of personal belongings, especially in crowded areas such as sightseeing car pick-up/drop-off points and attraction entrances/exits. It is recommended to carry valuables with you.