Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Jiuzhaigou is one of the most unique and beautiful nature reserves in China. It contains many snow-capped mountains, oxygen saturated forests, massive waterfalls, Tibetan style villages, and dozens of lakes that are different shades of blue and green (caused by calcium carbonate).
Type:  wild animal, Nature Reserve
Chinese Name: 九寨沟国家级自然保护区
Best Time to Visit: March-May,  September-November
Recommended Visiting Time: two days
Open Hours:Peak Season: Apr.1 to Nov.15 7:30 - 19:00; ticket sale stops at 14:00.
Low Season: Nov.16 to Mar.31 08:30- 18:00; ticket sale stops at 14:00.
Fee:Peak Season: entrance ticket CNY 220
Low Season: entrance ticket CNY80
Address in English: Jiuzhai Valley National Park is located in Jiuzhaigou County， Sichuan.
Address in Chinese:九寨沟国家级自然保护区位于四川省九寨沟县

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Chinese Name:四川九寨沟国家公园
Jiuzhaigou is one of the most unique and beautiful nature reserves in China. It contains many snow-capped mountains, oxygen saturated forests, massive waterfalls, Tibetan style villages, and dozens of lakes that are different shades of blue and green (caused by calcium carbonate).

Features

World Natural Heritag
National Key Scenic Area
National AAAAA Tourism Scenic Area
National Nature Reserve
National Geological Park
World Biosphere Reserve Network

Location

Jiuzhai Valley National Park (Jiuzhaigou) situated in a high mountain range along the northern border of Sichuan Province near the province’s border with Gansu Province.

Transportation

Travel with YChina Tours (top recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Jiuzhai Valley National Park (Jiuzhaigou) with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on visiting.

Independent travel

For Independent travelers you can

• Take plane:

 Jiuhuang Airport is about 88 kilometers (55 miles) from the mouth of the valley and about 53 kilometers (33 miles) from Huanglong. It takes 40 minutes to fly from Chengdu to the airport and a half hours’ ride from the airport to the scenic area.

• Take bus:

Regular buses from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station and Xinnanmen bus station depart around 7:00, 8:00 in the morning. It is suggested to buy the bus ticket in advance. It takes about 10-11 hours from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou.
There are approximately two buses every day between Jiuzhaigou and Songpan, 7:00, 13:00 from Songpan and 7:30, 12:50 vice versa. In addition, there are regular buses from Guangyuan, Jiangyou and Mianyang to Jiuzhaigou. The bus schedule is adjusted to changes. Here is the travel time information by bus from some surrounding places to the scenic area:
from Jiangyou: 7 hours;
from Songpan: 2 hours;
from Huanglong: 3 hours;
from Mianyang: 8 hours

• Take train:

Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou Train will be operated between the two places by the end of 2019. By then, one can make a quick rail travel within 2 hours between Jiuzhai Valley and Chengdu.

Introduction

Rize Valley
The 18-kilometre-long Rize Valley (日则沟) is the south-western branch of Jiuzhaigou. It contains the largest variety of sites and is typically visited first. Going downhill from its highest point, one passes the following sites:

• The Primeval Forest is a preserved ancient woodland. It is fronted by views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs, including the 500-metre-high, blade-shaped Sword Rock .
• Swan Lake(天鹅海, Tiān’é Hǎi) is a 2250-metre-long, 125-metre-wide lake named for its visiting swans and ducks.
• Grass Lake(草海, Cǎo Hǎi) is a shallow lake covered in intricate vegetation patterns.
• Arrow Bamboo Lake(箭竹海, Jiànzhú Hǎi), covering an area of 170,000 m², is a shallow lake with a depth of 6 m. It lies at an elevation of 2,618 m.
• Panda Lake(熊猫海, Xióngmāo Hǎi) features curious color patterns of blue and green. Giant Pandas were said to have come to this lake to drink, though there have been no sightings for many years. The lake empties into the multi-stream, multi-level Panda Waterfalls, dropping 78 m in three steps.
• Five Flower Lake(五花海, Wǔhuā Hǎi) is a shallow multi-colored lake whose bottom is criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks.
• Pearl Shoal(珍珠滩, Zhēnzhū Tān) is a wide, gently sloping area of active calcareous tufa deposition covered in a thin sheet of flowing water. It empties into the famous Pearl Waterfalls, where the shoal drops 28 m in a 310-metre-wide broad curtain of water.
• Mirror Lake(镜海, Jìng Hǎi) The clear water reflects the valley when the air is still of a morning, just like the treasured mirror of a goddess of local legend.

Zechawa Valley
The Zechawa Gully (则查洼沟, Zécháwā Gōu) is the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou. It is approximately the same length as Rize gully (18 km) but climbs to a higher altitude (3150 m at the Long Lake). Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites:

• Long Lake(长海, Cháng Hǎi) is crescent-shaped and is the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou, measuring 7.5 km (5 mi) in length and up to 103 m in depth. It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from snowmelt and losing it from seepage. Local folklore features a monster in its depths.
• Five-Color Pond(五彩池, Wǔcǎi Chí) is one of the smallest bodies of water in Jiuzhaigou lakes. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area.According to legend, the pond was where Goddess Semo washed her hair and God Dage came daily to bring her water.
• The Seasonal Lakes(季节海, Jìjié Hǎi) are a series of 3 lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper) along the main road, that change from empty to full during each year.

Shuzheng Valley
The Shuzheng Valley (树正沟, Shùzhèng Gōu) is the northern (main) branch of Jiuzhaigou. It ends after 14.5 km at the Y-shaped intersection of the three gullies. Going downhill from the intersection to the mouth of the valley, visitors encounter the following:

• Nuorilang Falls(诺日朗瀑布, Nuòrìlǎng Pùbù), near the junction of the valleys, are 20 m high and 320 m wide. They are reportedly the widest highland waterfall in China, the widest travertine-topped waterfall in the world, and one of the symbols of Jiuzhaigou.
• Nuorilang Lakes(诺日朗群海, Nuòrìlǎng Qúnhǎi) and Shuzheng Lakes (树正群海 Shùzhèng Qúnhǎi) are stepped series of respectively 18 and 19 ribbon lakes formed by the passage of glaciers, then naturally dammed. Some of them have their own folkloric names, such as the Rhinoceros, Unknown, and Tiger lakes.
• Sleeping Dragon Lake(卧龙海, Wòlóng Hǎi)A milky white travertine dyke lies in the midst of the lake and looks like a huge dragon lying across the bottom of the lake. This phenomenon gives the lake its name of Wolong Lake.
• Reed Lake(芦苇海, Lúwěi Hǎi) is a 1375-metre-long, reed-covered marsh with a clear turquoise brook (known as the “Jade Ribbon”) zigzaging through it. The contrast is particularly striking in the autumn when the reeds turn golden yellow.

Zharu Valley
The Zharu Valley (扎如沟, Zhārú Gōu) runs southeast from the main Shuzheng gully and is rarely visited by tourists. The valley begins at the Zharu Buddhist Monastery and ends at the Red, Black, and Daling lakes.

Zharu Valley is the home of tourism in Jiuzhaigou. The valley has recently been opened to a small number of tourists wishing to go hiking and camping off the beaten track. Visitors can choose from day walks and multiple day hikes, depending on their time availability. Knowledgeable guides accompany tourists through the valley, sharing their knowledge about the unique biodiversity and local culture of the national park. The Zharu Valley has 40% of all the plant species that exist in China and it is the best place to spot wildlife inside the national park.

The main hike follows the pilgrimage of the local Benbo Buddhists circumnavigating the sacred 4,528 m Zha Yi Zha Ga Mountain.

 Accommodation

You can choose to accommodate at hotel at Jiuzhaigou downtown, where has different level of hotel.

Please check out at our website.

Nearby Attractions

Huanglong National Scenic Reserve-known as the ‘World Wonder’ and ‘Fairy Land on Earth’, and it’s famous for colorful lakes, snow clad mountains, valleys and virgin forest.

 Useful Travel Tips

Jiuzhai Valley is now closed due to an earthquake on Aug. 8th 2017. We kindly remind you to postpone your travel plan there. It is estimated to reopen in 2020. Traveling to Huanglong, Chengdu and other surrounding areas is not affected.
fee
1. Age 6 -18, 60 -70   half price of the entrance ticket
2. Age younger than 6，above 70 ，those under 1.2 m, free.