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The Shenxianchi Scenic Area is located in the southern section of the Minshan Mountains on the northwestern Sichuan Plateau. Its main attractions are situated within a 3,000-meter-long and 311-meter-wide alpine canyon. Over 2,000 colorful travertine pools are scattered throughout the area like terraces. Travertine dams, formed over many years of sedimentation, resemble coral, agate, and even pearls. Visiting the area feels like being transported to Huanglong. Geologists recently conducted a comprehensive investigation into the formation and geology of Shenxianchi. The resulting survey report states: "The calcification rate at Shenxianchi is 10 times that of Huanglong Scenic Area, the highest in the world in modern times, making it of great scientific value." Given the high calcium content and rapid calcification rate of the area's water, researchers are developing a unique calcified tourist souvenir. Visitors can simply select their desired item (such as a stone, rock fragment, or leaf) within the scenic area, place it in the water, and then, after specialized processing, remove it and take it home. What's particularly striking is that Shenxian Pool not only possesses the wonders of Huanglong Lake but also the beauty of Jiuzhaigou. Qinglong Lake and Shenwa Lake, located within the pool, mirror the larger and smaller lakes of Jiuzhaigou: dead trees lie quietly at the bottom, moss blankets the banks, and there's no trace of calcification, a phenomenon that even geologists struggle to explain. Shenxian Pool is not only just over 2,000 meters above sea level, but also boasts a drop of just over 300 meters, making it highly accessible to visitors.
Attractions Location: Near Z127, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Opening hours:
09:00-16:30 (Monday to Sunday, November 17th - May 31st of the following year)
08:00-18:00 (Monday to Sunday, June 1st - November 16th)
Official phone number: Ticketing Inquiry
0837-8899939
Time reference: 1-3 hours
Spend a day immersed in the crystal-clear pools, waterfalls, and lush forest scenery of Shenxianchi, one of Jiuzhaigou’s most enchanting valleys.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Jiuzhaigou town or nearby hotels. Try Tibetan and Sichuan cuisine at local restaurants.
Souvenirs: Tibetan handicrafts, local medicinal herbs, natural minerals, and traditional Tibetan jewelry.
Combine the stunning water features of Shenxianchi with the iconic Pearl Beach for a fuller Jiuzhaigou water scenery experience.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Jiuzhaigou town hotels. Sample yak butter tea and local beef dishes.
Souvenirs: Tibetan wool textiles, local honey, and stone carvings.
Explore Jiuzhaigou’s major highlights: Shenxianchi’s pools, Pearl Beach’s waterfalls, and the scenic Panda Lake.
Accommodation/Food: Comfortable stays in Jiuzhaigou town. Try local barley wine and Tibetan dumplings.
Souvenirs: Hand-painted Tibetan scrolls, local teas, and prayer flags.
In addition to main water attractions, add the breathtaking Five Flower Lake with its colorful underwater flora and clear waters.
Accommodation/Food: Mix of guesthouses and mid-range hotels. Enjoy hotpot and Tibetan butter tea.
Souvenirs: Colored stones, handcrafted jewelry, and Tibetan incense.
Spend a relaxed five days to deeply explore Jiuzhaigou’s scenic valleys, including Shenxianchi and surrounding areas.
Accommodation/Food: Jiuzhaigou town guesthouses and boutique hotels. Try local yak meat dishes and homemade breads.
Souvenirs: Local embroidered bags, Tibetan-style hats, and natural skincare products.
Extend your stay by visiting Huanglong Scenic Area, famous for its colorful ponds and limestone formations, complementing Jiuzhaigou’s beauty.
Accommodation/Food: Comfortable hotels with Tibetan-style decor. Sample local trout and wild mushrooms.
Souvenirs: Tibetan crafts, local herbs, and colorful stone jewelry.
A full week to enjoy Jiuzhaigou’s natural wonders, nearby cultural sites, and Tibetan heritage villages.
Accommodation/Food: A mix of town hotels and traditional guesthouses. Experience Tibetan hospitality and traditional meals.
Souvenirs: Handwoven textiles, prayer wheels, Tibetan jewelry, and local artisan goods.
Shenxianchi (Fairy Pond) is located in Jiuzhaigou County, just 58 kilometers from the main entrance to the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. The road to Shenxianchi is excellent and traffic is light, making it ideal for self-driving tours. Its 28 turns are as thrilling as the 18 bends on National Highway 318 along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The scenery along the way is picturesque, and the fresh air is refreshing.
Fairy Pond, known in Tibetan as "Nen'ensangcuo," means "where fairies bathe." Its main attractions are located within the 3,000-meter-long and approximately 300-meter-wide Black River Canyon. Take a small sightseeing bus to the Fairy Bridge, beneath which the Black River flows. After crossing the Fairy Bridge, slowly ascend the mountain along a wooden plank path through the primeval forest. As you walk, you'll finally spot numerous colorful prayer flags amidst the dense forest, and arrive at Mofu Cave.
At Mofu Cave, the plank road forms a three-way intersection. You can turn right and continue up, or turn left and return to the Fairy Bridge at the bottom of the valley.
Most tourists will choose to turn left and go down to return to the Fairy Bridge at the bottom of the valley; a few tourists will also choose to turn right and go up to continue their tour.
Shenxian Pool, a quintessential combination of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Scenic Areas, resembles a fairy hidden deep in the mountains, untouched by worldly desires, pure and unworldly, tranquil and elegant... Every corner is a scene of exceptional beauty. Among them: Yaochi, Lotus Terrace Pool, Fairy Pool, Qinglong Sea, Shenwa Sea, and the rare calcified coral formations at Wancengtan... all offer unparalleled scenery.
A hybrid of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, it also boasts travertine pools and clear plateau lakes, but its overall size is smaller and offers far fewer attractions than Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. If you have time, it's worth a visit. It's much less crowded than Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, and many people take wedding photos there, but don't expect the scenery to rival those of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong.
Located in Jiuzhaigou County, in the southern section of the Minshan Mountains on the northwestern Sichuan Plateau, Shenxianchi Scenic Area faces Jiuzhaigou Valley from afar. Known in Tibetan as "Nenensangcuo," it means "the place where fairies bathe." Its main attractions are situated within a 3,000-meter-long and approximately 300-meter-wide alpine canyon.
Within the Shenxianchi Scenic Area, you'll see alpine lakes, vast calcified landscapes, and vast primeval forests. Shenxianchi, known as "Nen En Sang Cuo" in Tibetan, means "the place where fairies bathe." Within the scenic area, attractions such as the Lotus Terrace Pool, the Twin Dragon Pool, the Blue Dragon Lake, the Shenwa Lake, and the Golden Silver Beach each possess unique charm. A must-see! It's truly a miniature version of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong combined. It's only an hour's drive from Jiuzhaigou, and the entrance fee is affordable. If you find Huanglong inconvenient, don't bother going there! During peak season, there are very few crowds, allowing for a leisurely stroll and photo opportunities. I wonder why it's so under-the-radar. The reflections in the largest lake, Shenwa Lake, are truly stunning. Yaochi Lake is also a vibrant, layered wonderland of shades of blue.
Every place in Jiuzhaigou is so beautiful that it is beyond words. It is really so beautiful that it has no friends.
It faces Jiuzhaigou from afar and combines the scenery of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong.
There are very few people going to Shenxian Pool to play, the road is difficult to walk on and there is no signal!
Located in Jiuzhaigou County, in the southern section of the Minshan Mountains on the northwestern Sichuan Plateau, Shenxianchi Scenic Area faces Jiuzhaigou Valley from afar. Known in Tibetan as "Nen'ensangcuo," it means "the place where fairies bathe." Its main attractions are situated within a 3,000-meter-long and approximately 300-meter-wide alpine canyon.
The entire scenic area is surrounded by vast primeval forests and the terrain is steep. There are more than 10 mountains with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters. The peaks are stacked, the streams are deep, and the clouds are shrouded in mist, giving people a feeling of ethereality, mystery, tranquility and remoteness.
Bad review. There is no sign along the map that the scenic area is closed. I drove for two days to the entrance of the scenic area and was told that it was closed.
In fact, it is exactly the same landscape as Huanglong. Although the current scale of the calcification pool is much smaller than that of Huanglong, it is much more complete than that of Huanglong. According to the survey, the scale here will definitely surpass Huanglong in the future, but how long it will take is unknown.
The biggest advantage of Shenxianchi over Huanglong is its much lower altitude. Walking from the bottom to the top of the scenic area is effortless. It's perfect for those who can't go to Huanglong due to health reasons. Personally, I prefer Shenxianchi.
This is another attraction inside the pot. It's not at the entrance, so it's a bit far and requires a battery car to get there. However, the lake inside the pot is so monotonous that it's a bit boring to look at.
The attractions in Huanglong Scenic Area are good and beautiful.
The location is relatively remote, and compared to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, it is not as famous, and there are relatively few tourists. If you catch a holiday and come here, it should be easier to breathe...
Shenxianchi combines the best features of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, but is smaller. Due to its more remote location, it's less well-known than Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. It's sparsely populated, making for a leisurely and enjoyable stroll. The entire walk, including photo opportunities, takes about three and a half to four hours.
Although it was off-season, I still thought it was beautiful.
The Shenxianchi Scenic Area is located in the southern section of the Minshan Mountains on the northwestern Sichuan Plateau. Its main attractions are situated within a 3,000-meter-long and 311-meter-wide alpine canyon. Over 2,000 colorful travertine pools are scattered throughout the area, resembling terraced fields. The travertine dams, formed through years of sedimentation, resemble coral, agate, and even pearls, creating a feeling of being transported to Huanglong Mountain.
The clear blue is very beautiful, but there was not much water when I went there.
Shenxianchi is the Chinese translation of the Tibetan word "Nen En Sangcuo", which combines the beauty of Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou, and means the place where fairies bathe.
The Fairy Pool is magical and beautiful, with mountains surrounding the colorful pool and terraced fields, and the emerald green holy water competing for beauty.
In Huanglong, there are many large and small colored pools, which can be seen all the way
Jiuzhaigou has different charms that you can find in different places, making it a magical "dream world" that tourists from home and abroad yearn for. It is the most beautiful waterscape in China and a beautiful fairy tale world.
I feel like I would be sorry for this beautiful scenery if I don’t take a photo.
It is a smaller version of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, which is also good, especially when you pass through the mountain road and see the beautiful snow-capped mountains.
When I went to Jiuzhaigou in late October 2016, I stopped by the Fairy Pool. Along the way, the mountains were covered with red leaves, the sky was blue and the clouds were white. In the distance, there were snow-capped mountains. The road was winding and the wind blew over the pass. When I entered the scenic area, there were few tourists, but the scenery was superb. The various attractions were also very compact. I didn’t feel tired after the whole tour. It is a good place for taking pictures.
There is no point in saying more. If you have never been to Jiuzhaigou, you must arrange to go there once in your life. The lakes here are all must-sees, without a doubt. If you don’t see them enough, you will feel like you are missing out.
It's not as pretty as the pictures online, maybe I went there in the wrong season
Unified reply, the scenery is beautiful and worth a visit
Because of the wrong season, there was not much water when we went there, but the colorful calcified pools were like terraces and very beautiful.
There are five colors of water in the pool, which is really the work of nature. It is very beautiful and you must go.
You absolutely must visit the Fairy Pool! It's truly a miniature version of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong combined. It's only an hour's drive from Jiuzhaigou, and the entrance fee is affordable. Even during peak season, there are very few crowds, allowing for a leisurely stroll and photo opportunities. I don't know why it's so underrated. The reflections in the largest lake, Shenwa Lake, are simply stunning. Yaochi Lake, with its vibrant shades of blue, is also a dazzling array of shades. There are plenty of photo spots, and unlike the crowds of Jiuzhaigou, once you're inside, you'll feel completely relaxed. A leisurely stroll and photo-taking experience like this will take you no more than four hours. You don't have to buy a ticket for the sightseeing bus; the ticket seller will buy it for you. Be sure to ask for it. The sightseeing bus only takes two minutes to get to the scenic area, so it's completely unnecessary!
It looks like a calcified terraced field, just like a fairyland! So beautiful!
Jiuzhaigou's scenery is truly stunning, and the tourist facilities are well-equipped. Be sure to breathe in the fresh air! It cleanses your lungs, haha!
It's true that after returning from Jiuzhaigou, I didn't see the sea. The weather was great when I went there, which was very suitable for seeing the colorful scenery.
Shenxianchi combines the best of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, but is smaller. Due to its more remote location, it's less well-known than Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. Highly recommended! The area is sparsely populated, allowing for leisurely, undisturbed viewing and immersion. A leisurely stroll, complete with photo opportunities, takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. Although 49 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou, it's inaccessible by car, requiring either a private car or a chartered vehicle. The road is primarily winding and requires climbing over the mountains. The most scenic route, with its 28 turns, is steep and full of sharp curves, so drive carefully. The journey takes 1.5 hours one way. The entire hike is surprisingly comfortable. The only drawback is that the accommodation is 45 kilometers from the scenic area, and the road is quite narrow. However, the journey is a breathtaking journey of breathtaking scenery: peaks and peaks, highland meadows, and misty clouds create an ethereal, mysterious, and tranquil atmosphere—a true delight for photography enthusiasts. In addition, it is not convenient to eat and buy things in the scenic area, so it is recommended that friends who want to go there bring their own dry food.
It is very beautiful when there is a lot of water in the rainy season. It is recommended to come in summer.
1. Located in Jiuzhaigou County, near Jiuzhaigou.
2. From Chuanzhusi to Jiuzhaigou fork, go in 42 kilometers and you will arrive.
3. Enter from the fork in the road, and the car journey takes nearly 2 hours.
4. The road surface is OK, with big bends and occasional flying rocks. The most typical section is the 28 turns.
5. The scenery in the scenic area is very beautiful, with the mountains and waters and lakes of Jiuzhaigou, the beautiful scenery of Huanglong, and the colorful travertine pool.
6. In the golden autumn, the surrounding primeval forests are full of brilliant colors.
7. There are not many tourists here, making it a great place for a leisurely tour.
8. The recommended tour time is half a day, including entry and exit, which takes a whole day.
Shenxianchi combines the best of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, but is smaller. Due to its more remote location, it's less well-known than Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. Highly recommended! The area is sparsely populated, allowing for leisurely, undisturbed viewing and immersion. A leisurely stroll, complete with photo opportunities, takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. Although 49 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou, it's inaccessible by car, requiring either a private car or a chartered vehicle. The road is primarily winding and requires climbing over the mountains. The most scenic route, with its 28 turns, is steep and full of sharp curves, so drive carefully. The journey takes 1.5 hours one way. The entire hike is surprisingly comfortable. The only drawback is that the accommodation is 45 kilometers from the scenic area, and the road is quite narrow. However, the journey is a breathtaking journey of breathtaking scenery: peaks and peaks, highland meadows, and misty clouds create an ethereal, mysterious, and tranquil atmosphere—a true delight for photography enthusiasts. In addition, it is not convenient to eat and buy things in the scenic area, so it is recommended that friends who want to go there bring their own dry food.
Jiuzhaigou is a place you won't want to leave after visiting it once. The dreamlike valley is so beautiful that it's beyond words. Everywhere you go is colorful and a beautiful experience.
It was cloudy and rainy when I went there, so the scenery was just average.
If you've been here, you don't need to go to Huanglong. The altitude is low, the crowds are few and the scenery is beautiful. There's no crowding, so you can take pictures as you like. The scenery along the way is so beautiful that it makes you cry. The disadvantages are that it's remote, there are many mountain roads, and the risk factor is high. I recommend Xiao Yang, 133-2067-5643. He is a good driver and will stop at any time to take pictures. However, he took us to the specialty store on the last day.
It's very beautiful, but unfortunately many attractions are closed for some reason. I finished the tour in an hour and there is no need to buy sightseeing bus tickets. It's a different beauty from Jiuzhaigou.
It takes more than an hour to get there from Jiuzhaigou. The road conditions are poor and most tourist buses cannot drive there, so there are no tour groups going there. Most people charter a car or drive themselves. Along the way, because the altitude is higher than Jiuzhaigou, the leaves are basically yellow. We will pass by the pass, but because it rained on the day we went there, we didn't see anything except the fog. Haha
There are very few people in the whole scenic area, it feels like there are less than a hundred people! I can finally pose for photos as I like and take as long as I want. I can find the good mood I lost in Jiuzhaigou here.
You can take an electric car to enter the scenic area, but the distance is actually quite short, so you can save the money and walk on your own. The route that goes up right and then down left is better. The right side offers better scenery and is shorter, as it's uphill after all, so the shorter the route, the better. There are basically no forks on the up-right path, so just follow it all the way to the end. Our entire walk took us just over three hours.
There is no shop in the scenic area, so you have to bring your own hot water and lunch. It was super cold when I went there, and I regretted not bringing a thermos like others = =
The scenic area's signature calcified pool is incredibly beautiful. Just looking at the pool itself, it's even better than the one at Huanglong! (Although Huanglong is nestled against the snow-capped mountains, so that comparison isn't quite right...) The pool is incredibly clean, and the colors are beautiful, like a luxury swimming pool. The fallen leaves are especially beautiful, and because there aren't many people around, they're clean and artistic, giving it a fresh, clean feel, unlike the Huanglong one, which is all trampled and dirty. The Shenwa Pond is my favorite spot. Along the way, we passed many smaller pools without viewing platforms, each with its own unique charm, and well worth a closer look.
A very quiet scenic spot with views of Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou. The best feature is the stunning scenery along the way!
Recommend to go, recommend to go, recommend to go, recommend to go,
As the name suggests, it is probably the pool where the gods bathe... The most distinctive scenery of Huanglong is the yellow stones and light blue water, arranged one level after another like terraces, which is very beautiful and shocking.
The scenery is very average, the scenic area is small, the road conditions are bad, it is expensive to charter a car, and the cost performance is extremely low
Although I found that these colorful pools are unique and everywhere, I still felt shocked after returning home. I signed up for a local tour in Chengdu and played in Huanglong Jiuzhaigou for 4 days. It was unforgettable, especially the Jiuzhaigou at 6 o'clock. I took a car up and walked all the way down. It was really like a fairyland. It was so beautiful.
The colorful water is clear and transparent, worthy of being the place where gods live.
It seems to be solidified magma, forming the appearance of terraces, and the colors are very layered.
Fairy Pool is one of the famous attractions in Huanglong.
It's so beautiful! Every view from any location is a superb view.
When these turquoise pools appeared before us, we were truly stunned! The water was calcified, giving it a turquoise hue. The name "Shenxianchi" (Fairy Pool) in Tibetan means "Nen En Sangcuo," meaning "where the fairies bathe." This bathing spot is truly beautiful, rivaling Huanglong Lake in beauty because Huanglong also boasts numerous large pools. But most importantly, there were no people here! Take as many photos as you want! Take as many photos as you want!
Sometimes, places with few people are the best corners to get close to nature, sing with the birds in the forest, look at the clear reflections in the water, pass by the fluttering prayer flags, play with the white clouds, and then hug the mountains.
The water here is green. I was mesmerized by the scenery. If I wasn’t in a hurry, I really wanted to stare at this beautiful scenery.
On our first day in Jiuzhaigou, we didn't go to Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong first. Instead, someone recommended Shenxianchi. It's over 40 kilometers to Shenxianchi, and there's no public transportation, so we had to hire a car. They asked for 300 yuan, but I bargained it down to 260. The driver was very nice and accompanied us throughout the tour, stopping at photo-worthy spots. Recommended: Yang Wenhua, 13320675643. Shenxianchi is a smaller version of Huanglong, so the entrance fee is half the price, 100 yuan. The sightseeing bus is 24 yuan, but it's really unnecessary. The walk-in isn't that far, and the entire site isn't very large, so it takes about 2-3 hours to enjoy the view. Since we visited during the dry season (Huanglong is also dry season), the scenery wasn't great. However, the air was pleasant, and the crowds were few, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
I went there in 2011 when I was still in school. I was so poor that I didn’t even have a camera or a phone that could take pictures, but the scenery was really beautiful.
The vegetation is very rich and the niche scenic area is not crowded. Going down is a Tibetan village, which can be visited together.
Very beautiful, it really feels like the place where gods live!
The colorful rapids, the seas dotted with primitive mills and piers, and the majestic waterfalls are so dazzling that one can't help but admire the magic of nature.
I went to Jiuzhaigou three years ago. I can’t remember the specific names of the attractions, but I still have an impression that every attraction in Jiuzhaigou is fascinating.
Due to physical problems, I did not reach the final peak, but the scenery along the way was still great.
Just one word: praise. The weather is good at the bottom of the mountain, but when the fog comes up, you can't see anything.
It's so beautiful, it's like a paradise on earth. If I have the chance, I will come again.
Jiuzhaigou Fairy Pool has beautiful scenery,...
If you're not planning on visiting Huanglong, you can visit the Fairy Pond. It's a short 15-20 minute walk from the main entrance to the scenic area, so I don't think it's worth the extra expense of a sightseeing bus. While not as spectacular as Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, it's still quite good. The winding mountain road to the Fairy Pond is especially scenic as it climbs higher in altitude. The journey from Jiuzhaigou to the Fairy Pond takes about an hour, and chartered buses are generally recommended.
A must-visit for Jiuzhaigou is the Lower Fairy Pool. The scenery there is breathtakingly beautiful, and it's known as the Little Yellow Dragon. I saw adorable squirrels there. They seemed completely unafraid of people. Get up close and they'll just stare at you, so I took some cute photos. I also saw wild Ganoderma lucidum at the pool. I can only say I was incredibly lucky! Locals say it's rare, even for tourists. I was secretly delighted to see that I was the only one lucky enough! Walking along the path to the pool, I occasionally encountered elderly Tibetan women. They were so welcoming, even offering us "Zhaxi Delek" (traditional Chinese: 扎西德勒). I politely responded, and they even gave me homemade cookies. They were dry and probably multi-grain pancakes, but they were delicious and you can't get them anywhere else! I spent a day at the pool. The scenery was breathtaking. I went at the end of October, and even at the highest point, I saw snow. It was truly unforgettable!
I will never regret going to Jiuzhaigou, the super beautiful Jiuzhaigou
It doesn't look like it was formed naturally but was artificially constructed. The scenery is really nice.
This is the most beautiful lake in Huanglong Scenic Area. It is colorful and very beautiful.
Fairy Lake is very beautiful, the colors are very beautiful, the air is very fresh, it is really good to experience nature. But there are many people taking pictures.
The planks and stairs along the way are well built, making climbing the mountain convenient and safe.
The layers are stacked like lotus flowers, very beautiful.
I remember I was only 12 years old when I went to the Fairy Pool, but the beauty is unforgettable. The pool is made up of pieces connected together, it is very beautiful, and it is comparable to the Pamukkale in Turkey. The light blue water is really spectacular. A beautiful view worth seeing
A classic attraction, you must go and see it. It was snowing at the time, which was really nice for people from the south.
[Secret Fairy Ponds in Western Sichuan] Hidden deep within Aba, Nenensangcuo is a veritable paradise on earth. At an altitude of 2,800 meters, travertine pools blend with pristine forests, interspersed with golden seas of flowers, and the vibrant colors of the snow-capped mountains and pools create a picturesque scene. Stroll along the wooden plank paths and watch the water's hues shift with the light, transforming into shades of emerald, amber, and peacock blue. This spot combines the elegance of Jiuzhaigou and the breathtaking beauty of Huanglong, without the hustle and bustle of crowds, offering a tranquil and natural haven. It's recommended to drive or charter a car, as the autumn colors are at their peak. UV rays are strong on the plateau, so remember to wear sunscreen and protect the environment by avoiding litter. Photography enthusiasts shouldn't miss the morning mist-shrouded Lotus Terrace!