Live Your Best Lives
Jiuzhaigou isn't just a tourist attraction or a photo location for me; it's one of the most important experiences I've had in my life. Coincidentally, I first visited when I was a university student, and now, four years later, I'm fortunate enough to be back in this fairytale world!
Jiuzhaigoucheck the details
Jiuzhaigou, located in Zhangza Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is named after the nine Tibetan villages that inhabit it. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for its "Six Wonders of Jiuzhaigou": emerald lakes, cascading waterfalls, colorful forests, snow-capped peaks, Tibetan sentiment, and blue ice. Jiuzhaigou's scenery has been described as "unearthly beauty": rich in diverse flora and fauna, with pristine forests home to over a dozen rare and precious wildlife, including giant pandas. From afar, snow-capped peaks tower over the landscape, while up close, the clear, turquoise waters reveal the bottom. Combined with the cultural landscape of Tibetan wooden houses, prayer flags, trestle bridges, mills, and Tibetan customs and legends, Jiuzhaigou is a fairytale-like destination, a breathtaking sight in all seasons. It is also a popular filming location for domestic television dramas and movies.
Recommended month: All seasons
3897 recommendations, 3267 visits
Jiuzhaigou Valley is composed of three Y-shaped gullies: 1. Shuzheng Valley; 2. Rize Valley (only opens to the Wuhua Lake scenic spot); 3. Zechawa Valley.
Hand-drawn Chinese and English version map - How to play in the scenic area (bus stop form tour)
The sightseeing bus will take you directly from the gate to Changhai, and you can tour from top to bottom. You can get on and off at every scenic spot, and each scenic spot has an observation deck!
There are not too many commercial stores and the route planning is relatively reasonable. The daily flow is limited to 5,000-8,000 people. In 2015, at least 20,000 people have visited the scenic spot once!
For photography enthusiasts, I recommend the following spots: 1. Changhai Lake; 2. Wucai Pool; 3. Wuhua Lake; 4. Pearl Beach; 5. Luorilang Waterfall; 6. Reed Sea; 7. Mirror Sea; 8. Primeval Forest (currently closed).
【Clothing Suggestions】
Bring thick clothes, especially in the morning when it is very cold when entering the scenic area. If you are taking pictures, it is recommended to bring some plain-colored clothes!
Jiuzhaigou Valley Tickets
Ticket price: 169/person + sightseeing bus: 90/person
【Notes】
After the earthquake, Jiuzhaigou only accepts group ticket purchases, and strenuous exercise is not allowed in the plateau area!
【How to play 📣】
1️⃣Morning: Changhai → Wucai Pool
2️⃣ Have lunch at Sunset Restaurant🍔
3️⃣ In the afternoon, visit Wuhua Lake → Pearl Beach → Mirror Lake → Sunset Lang Waterfall, Shuanglonghai Waterfall (a new post-earthquake attraction hidden deep in the jungle), Reed Sea (panies of alpine reeds grow around the lake, a golden color at sunset), Rhino Sea (the largest lake in Shuzhenggou).
Changhai, with its highest point at 3,100 meters above sea level, literally means "very long sea." Early in the morning, you can see rime, and it's always crowded. However, there are two plank roads, one going up and one going down. It's recommended to go to the lower plank road before you arrive. Many people stop at the upper one to take photos, so it's hard to get any good ones. It's better to wait until you've finished taking photos at the lower one, then take your time at the upper one.
Through the water, you can see the lines of the rocks at the bottom of the pool, turning the originally azure lake into a colorful spectacle. It is known as the Eye of Jiuzhaigou! Many of the plank roads here are not very wide, so it is recommended to take pictures at the exit and entrance (which are also the most crowded areas).
The only dining place in the scenic area is to go directly to the Sunset Lang Waterfall for a buffet for 88/person. If you have time, go to this conspicuous place to take a few different photos. You can come to the Sunset Lang Restaurant to take pictures of light and shadow when the sun is shining!
Known as "Jiuzhaigou's unique wonder" and "Jiuzhaigou's essence," it is the pride of Jiuzhaigou. Wuhua Lake is also a breathtakingly beautiful spot, one of Jiuzhaigou's three wonders. Within the lake, you can clearly see trees growing horizontally in the water!
Here you can see the three wonders of Jiuzhaigou: 1. Trees growing horizontally in the water; 2. Fish without scales; 3. The calm water surface that reflects the entire sky and mountains.
Tip: You can explore different angles here, and taking photos in places with few people will definitely be a great success!
It is one of the large calcified waterfalls in China and also the widest waterfall in China. In 2015, the Nuorilang Waterfall only had a plank road above it, and the viewing area was very limited. Now you can follow the plank road all the way down, which has been widened a lot and the viewing range is also wider.
The alpine reeds grow in patches around the lake, turning it golden at sunset. The yellow-orange reeds, set against the backdrop of the mountains, blue water, and greenery, create a sense of paradise.
Rhino Sea is a natural lake about 2.2 kilometers long, 17 meters deep, 2,400 meters above sea level, and with the deepest part reaching more than 40 meters. It is also the largest lake among the Shuzheng Group of Seas. The aerial view of Rhino Sea is undoubtedly the most beautiful!
The glassy green lake, set against the backdrop of the surrounding green plants, is a scene that could never be more charming than the one you see here.
In the evening, I went to the enthusiastic Tibetans' home, experienced the real Tibetan life, let myself go, drank big bowls of wine, ate meat with big mouthfuls, and had fun. There are no so-called social customs here, not so many... After eating and drinking enough, you can go dance with the Tibetans!
Huanglong is famous for its "Four Wonders" of colorful pools, snow-capped mountains, canyons and forests, and its "Seven Wonders" together with rapids, ancient temples and folk customs.
The beauty of Jiuzhaigou is the beauty of a family trip, and the delicious food of Huanglong is the beauty of a fairyland. If you come early in the morning or if the weather is gloomy, you will see the clouds and mist entwined in the mountains, which looks like a fairyland on earth!
[Suggestion] Huanglong's highest point is the Five Color Pool, which is about 4,000 meters above sea level (due to the lush vegetation, I did not experience any altitude sickness). It is recommended to take the cable car up the mountain and then hike to the secret place to take photos. The hiking time is about 4 hours.
[Distance] 360 kilometers from Chengdu, 7 hours drive
[Address] Huanglong Scenic Area is located in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province
The time for visiting scenic spots is limited, so how can we save time and take photos without regrets!
Every time we go to a scenic spot, we must check in at the crowded attractions (because it is difficult to show our performance due to the large number of people). So after we finish taking pictures at some crowded attractions, we must give up immediately and go to discover the secrets of the scenic spot.
These are some photos I found in the woods around the Huanglong Scenic Area. Although I didn’t go to the primeval forest of Jiuzhaigou this time, I was very satisfied to find such a quiet place!
Huanglong Five-Colored Pool (about 3800-4000 meters above sea level), the blue sky, white clouds and grass next to the Huanglong Temple, and Huanglong Valley (don’t take it literally, it is very beautiful when photographed with the front, middle and large scenes).
【Note】There are woods on both sides of the road. You will find a different world when you go in.
【Clothing suggestion】 In autumn and winter, you can choose some brightly colored clothes (for example, orange, orange-red) to highlight the theme.
No one is born with the ability to find their own direction. Direction can only be achieved through continuous efforts! Only by experiencing things that others have never experienced can you better shape yourself.
Traveling will definitely help you get to know yourself better. There will always be a day when we can find the balance in our lives, whether traveling or in life!
