A high national park of clear blue lakes, waterfalls and forest in northern Sichuan, best in autumn and booked well ahead.
A high national park of clear blue lakes, waterfalls and forest in northern Sichuan, best in autumn and booked well ahead.
The southwest branch, with Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake, Five Flower Lake and Mirror Lake along boardwalks and bus stops. The park's one-day route rides the bus to the Primeval Forest at the top first, then works down.
A shallow lake of turquoise and green over pale lime deposits, with fallen trunks visible through the water.
A wide waterfall where the valleys meet, beside the central bus station and the park's restaurant, the usual lunch stop.
The southeast branch, about 30 minutes by bus from Nuorilang, climbing to Long Lake at its head. The small Five-colour Pond is a 15-minute walk down from Long Lake.
The lower valley nearest the gate: a chain of stepped lakes, Shuzheng Falls, Sleeping Dragon Lake and Reed Lake, done with short walks between bus stops on the way out.
A separate scenic area of yellow travertine terraces and coloured pools below snow peaks, about 27 km and 35 minutes by road from Huanglong Jiuzhai station. The top pools, the Five-colour Pond, are at 3,576 m; a cable car saves much of the climb.
Tea churned with yak butter and salt, served hot in Tibetan homes and restaurants outside the park.
Lean meat from highland yaks, served stewed on the bone or dried, often with mutton at Tibetan family-style dinners.
A mild, slightly sour drink brewed from highland barley; go easy on it at altitude.
Jiuzhaigou is a national park in the mountains of northern Sichuan rather than a city: three forested valleys in a Y shape, strung with lakes in deep blues and greens, lime shoals and wide waterfalls. All three valleys are open. The park closed after a mudslide on 26 July 2026 and reopened in full on 30 July. No one may stay inside, so hotels cluster in Zhangzha town by the gate.
It suits visitors who can manage a long day on boardwalks at altitude and who book early. Most come from Chengdu on the new high-speed line, and many pair the park with the terraced pools of Huanglong on the way back.
Arrive the day before and sleep near the gate. On a single day, enter early and ride the park bus to the top of Rize Valley, then work down past Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake and Five Flower Lake to Nuorilang for lunch. In the afternoon take the bus up Zechawa Valley to Long Lake and the Five-colour Pond, and finish in Shuzheng Valley on the way out. With two days, the park suggests the gentler Zechawa and Shuzheng valleys first while you adjust to the altitude, and Rize on the second.
On the way back, stop at Huanglong, about 35 minutes by road from Huanglong Jiuzhai station, before the train back to Chengdu. Book trains with our high-speed train guide, set up phone payment with paying in China, and check the entry rules for your passport in visa-free entry.
Checked on 29 October 2026. Opening times and ticket rules change; confirm on the official site before you go.
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