The only thing that can beat Jiuzhaigou in summer is Jiuzhaigou in autumn
Is Jiuzhaigou in summer a "paradise on earth"? Jiuzhaigou in autumn is simply divine! 🔥 Have you ever seen the colorful forests reflected in the Tiffany blue lakes? Have you seen the layered forests and cascading waterfalls flowing like gold under the sunlight? Jiuzhaigou in autumn is stunning beyond words! Just returned from this painted world and painstakingly put together this nanny-level guide to avoid crowds and enjoy exclusive empty scenes. Miss it and wait a whole year!
📍Why is autumn the peak beauty of Jiuzhaigou?
🔸Color explosion scene: Starting from mid to late October, over 2,000 plant species change their colors! Golden yellow, fiery red, dark green, sapphire blue... intertwined among 108 lakes, saturation maxed out, the visual impact is many times that of summer!
🔸Water quality peak: Crisp autumn air + less rainfall, lake water visibility reaches the highest of the year! The "Jiuzhai Blue" is so pure it’s breathtaking, with submerged deadwood and calcite clearly visible.
🔸Light and shadow magician: Sunlight penetrates the colorful forests, sprinkling golden fragments on the lake surface, morning mist lingers like a fairyland, every shot looks like a National Geographic cover!
🔸Off-peak small happiness: After National Day, tourists sharply decrease (especially in November), securing empty scenes is not a dream! Hotel and flight prices also drop, cost performance soars!
📸Autumn exclusive “Seven Absolutes” check-in spots & unique shooting tips:
🍁Colorful forests + lakes · The ultimate combo!
🔸Five Flower Lake: The king of center stage! Submerged deadwood dances with colorful forests on the shore, best shot in the morning with front light, the lake water shows a dreamy blue-green gradient. Hidden spots: Tiger Mouth Viewing Platform (overhead panoramic shot), boardwalk low angle for reflections.
🔸Shuzheng Group Lakes: 19 lakes linked like an emerald necklace, best shot in the afternoon with side backlight, layered colorful forests perfectly match the sparkling water! Walk along the boardwalk to the opposite side of Shuzheng Village, fewer people and great depth of field.
🔸Rhinoceros Lake: Wide and mirror-like water surface, a must-go on windless mornings! Perfect reflection of colorful forests and snow-capped mountains, a budget version of the "Mirror of the Sky." Fewer people on the northern boardwalk.
💦Golden waterfalls · Dynamic blockbusters!
🔸Nuorilang Waterfall: The widest waterfall in China! Moderate water flow in autumn, after 3 PM sunlight slants, golden maple leaves decorate both sides of the waterfall, water flows like golden silk. Use wide-angle + slow shutter (bring a tripod!) for grandeur.
🔸Pearl Shoal Waterfall: Filming location of "Journey to the West"! Water leaps over calcite shoals, best shot in the morning with front light, water droplets fall like pearls among colorful forests. Shoot from below the waterfall looking up for explosive layering.
❄️Blue ice first appearance · Niche surprise! (Mid to late November only)
🔸Changhai Lake: The highest lake in Jiuzhaigou! Be the first to enter early morning, thin frost on the shore, first snow on distant mountains + dark blue lake water + golden pine shoreline, the cold and sophisticated vibe maxed out. (High altitude, dress warmly!)
🔸Five Color Pond: The smallest but most vibrant! Deep autumn waters still bright blue, surrounded by colorful forests, like a sapphire set in gold. Use telephoto to compress space and highlight color contrast.
🌅Secret hiking · Exclusive autumn colors!
🔸Primeval Forest - Fangcao Lake Boardwalk: Avoid tourist bus crowds! About 1.5 hours hiking through tall original colorful forests, sunlight filters through leaves, full of tranquility, occasional squirrel sightings! (Best for morning visit to Rize Valley)
🔸Zharu Valley (extra ticket required): Truly a niche secret spot! Tibetan villages, streams, colorful forests, temples, a blend of culture and nature, shoot a different Jiuzhaigou. Unique horseback trail hiking experience.
🍂Best autumn viewing time & off-peak guide (2025 forecast):
🔸Early autumn (mid to late October): Colorful forests just appearing, yellow, green, and red intertwined, more tourists (especially weekends).
🔸Peak autumn (late October to early November): Golden period! Colors most intense, lake water clearest. Strongly recommend visiting on weekdays, rush in at 7:30 when the park opens!
🔸Late autumn (mid to late November): Falling leaves, first snow on mountains, blue ice appears, very few tourists, maximum chance to enjoy empty scenes! (But some boardwalks may close due to frost)
‼️Super hardcore tips:
🚥Transportation:
🔸Plane: Direct flight to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (JZH), fast and convenient, about 1.5 hours from airport to park entrance.
🔸Self-drive: About 8 hours from Chengdu, good road conditions but many curves, recommend 2 days 1 night, stay in Songpan or Chuanzhusi.
🔸Inside the park: Sightseeing buses are essential! Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Zechawa Valley form a Y shape, plan your route reasonably (suggest Rize Valley in the morning, Zechawa/Shuzheng Valley in the afternoon).
🏘️Accommodation:
🔸Park entrance hotels: Many options, convenient walking to the park gate, book 1-2 months in advance during peak season!
🔸Inside the park (only some residential areas): Can play for 2 days, deeply experience dawn and dusk beauty (need 2-day ticket), but limited and few, must comply with regulations.
🎫Tickets: Buy real-name tickets in advance on Aba Tourism website! Enter with ID card. Peak season limits visitors, book at least 3 days ahead!
👗Clothing: After late October it’s like winter! Gore-Tex jacket + fleece/thin down + thermal underwear is standard! Waterproof and slip-resistant hiking shoes are a must. Bright scarves/hats (red, white) add a finishing touch.
🏔️Altitude sickness prevention: The highest lake Changhai is 3100m, move slowly, bring glucose and ibuprofen. Don’t wash your hair the first night.
🌟Others:
🔸Bring your own snacks and water, few and expensive restaurants inside the park.
🔸Protect the environment! Don’t step on calcite shoals or litter!
🔸Download offline maps, some areas have weak signal.
📌Conclusion:
Jiuzhaigou in autumn is the ultimate romance of color and light. This guide helps you avoid crowds, enjoy picture-perfect empty scenes, and witness China’s top autumn feast! Quickly save this, and let Jiuzhaigou’s brilliance heal you this autumn! ✨