No water compares to Jiuzhaigou's—a lifetime must-visit fairyland on earth

Pre-Trip Preparation

• Documents: Bring ID cards and other possible documents like student or senior citizen cards for ticket discounts.

• Clothing: Pack a windbreaker for summer and a down jacket for winter. Wear non-slip shoes year-round for hiking.

• Medicine: Prepare ibuprofen, glucose oral solution for altitude sickness, as well as cold, stomach, and motion sickness medicine.

• Other items: Sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat, moisturizing skincare, power bank, etc. Plastic products are prohibited in the valley.

Transportation Guide

• Flight: Jiuhuang Airport offers direct flights from cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The airport is about 88 km from the valley entrance; take the airport shuttle or a chartered car.

• High-speed rail: After the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway opens, the fastest travel time from Chengdu East Station to Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou Station is just 1 hour 39 minutes. Transfer to a scenic area shuttle upon arrival.

• Bus: Multiple daily buses depart from Chengdu's Chadianzi/Xinnanmen Bus Stations to the valley entrance. Buses are also available from Lanzhou's East and South Bus Stations in Gansu.

• Self-drive: West route (from Chengdu): Chengdu → Wenchuan → Maoxian → Songpan → Chuanzhusi → Jiuzhaigou. East route (from Mianyang): Mianyang → Jiangyou → Pingwu → Jiuzhaigou.

Ticket Information

Peak season (Apr 1–Nov 15): ¥220/person for tickets, ¥90/person for sightseeing buses. Off-season (Nov 16–Mar 31): ¥80/person for tickets and sightseeing buses. Book in advance on the Aba Tourism website.

Accommodation Suggestions

• Luxury: Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, offers secluded natural beauty and immersive Tibetan-Qiang culture.
• Budget: Many guesthouses near the valley entrance cost ¥200–500/night, with convenient access.

Food Recommendations

• Tibetan hotpot: Features yak meat with vegetables and mushrooms in a flavorful broth.
• Potato mash: Steamed and mashed potatoes with seasonings, soft and sticky.
• Barley pancake: A sweet, traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour.

Itinerary Ideas

• 1-Day Highlights: Morning bus from the entrance to Long Lake, walk to Five-Color Pond. Lunch at Nuorilang Tourist Center, then take the sightseeing bus to Rize Valley for Five-Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, and Mirror Lake. Afternoon descent along Shuzheng Valley to the entrance, stopping at Reed Lake and Sparkling Lake.

• 2-Day In-Depth: Day 1—Hike from Shuzheng Village to Rhinoceros Lake for Tibetan village vibes. Afternoon bus to Long Lake, sunset at Five-Color Pond. Day 2—First bus to Primeval Forest, walk down to Arrow Bamboo Lake and Panda Lake. Afternoon explore Zaru Valley’s primeval forest and Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Photography Spots

• Morning mist at Long Lake: Best from 7:30–8:30 AM with delicate fog...