1.12 Jiuzhaigou Live Update, It’s Really a Disaster
Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide: The Lakes Are Breathtakingly Beautiful, But I Fell Into These Traps and Wanted to Curse💧
Just got back from Jiuzhaigou, where I was “tormented to tears by altitude sickness + scammed by a shady tour guide,” and I’m still immersed in the “vibrant Five Flower Lake + the stunning Nuorilang Waterfall”! Jiuzhaigou is literally a “real-life fairy tale world” — lakes like palettes, waterfalls like white silk, colorful forests like oil paintings, snow-capped mountains like cream cakes… But the altitude sickness made me want oxygen, the illegal taxis made me want to call the police, and the sky-high prices in the park made me want to smash my bowl… However! As long as you avoid these traps, you can definitely snap fairy-tale photos that will blow up your social media and have a blast! 📸
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⛰️ Climate: The mountaintop is “like an ice cellar,” dress warmly like an Antarctic explorer!
Jiuzhaigou is located in Aba, Sichuan, with a “highland humid climate” and high altitude (up to 3100 meters), showing very obvious “vertical climate differences”!
• Spring and Summer (May to September): Short sleeves at the foot of the mountain, windbreaker at the top (temperature difference of 15°C!), lots of rain (bring a raincoat), colorful forests start to appear (super beautiful in September-October).
• Autumn and Winter (October to April): Sweaters at the foot, thick down jackets at the top (temperature difference of 20°C!), snow possible from November to February (blue ice is stunning!), but roads can be icy (non-slip shoes are a must). ⚠️ Warning: Don’t believe “wearing just a single layer at the foot is fine for going up”! I went in summer, sweating at the bottom but shivering at the top… Recommended “layered dressing” — quick-dry shirt (moisture-wicking) + fleece (warmth) + windbreaker (windproof) + thermal pants (fleece-lined for the top), easy to add or remove layers anytime! 🧤 Must-haves: sunglasses (prevent snow blindness) + sunscreen (strong UV) + thermos (hot water) + motion sickness pills (winding roads) + power bank (hard to charge in the park) + oxygen tank (altitude sickness prevention) + heat packs (stick on belly/soles) + raincoat (strong wind at the top, umbrellas flip easily).
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🚗 Transportation: Avoid illegal taxis and overpriced park shuttles, here’s the efficient way!
Long-distance transport:
✈️ Fly to “Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport” (few flights, prone to delays), then take the airport shuttle bus to “Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area” (2 hours, 45 RMB/person).
🚌 Take a bus to “Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station,” then a direct bus from “Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou” (8 hours, 150 RMB/person).
⚠️ Warning: Don’t take “illegal taxis outside the station”! I took one, the driver said “we’ll take a shortcut,” but ended up detouring for 2 hours and charging 100 RMB extra… Choose “official buses” or “direct park shuttles”!
City/Park transport:
🚌 Park sightseeing buses: You must take the sightseeing bus inside Jiuzhaigou (included in the ticket), but the frequency is low (every 20 minutes), waiting is exhausting!
🚗 Car rental: Renting a car inside the park (300 RMB/hour) is good for families/groups, but don’t trust “driver-recommended restaurants”! I met a driver who said “this restaurant’s yak meat is authentic,” but I got ripped off… Choose “high-rated restaurants on Dianping”!
🚶 Walking: If you have good stamina, you can walk “Shuzheng Village → Five Flower Lake → Pearl Shoal → Nuorilang Waterfall” (about 4 hours), but don’t carry too much luggage! I carried a 12-pound bag and was exhausted to the point of questioning life…
✅ Best plan:
• Stay in Zhangzha Town (convenient for food and lodging, close to the park), explore “Jiuzhaigou (lakes + waterfalls + colorful forests) + Huanglong (calcium pools)” over 3 days and 2 nights.
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🗺️ Recommended itinerary: 3 days to fully enjoy the highlights (easy version)
Day 1: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area (Y-shaped left route) → Stay in Zhangzha Town
🕙 8:00 AM depart hotel, taxi to “Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area” (10 minutes, 20 RMB), take sightseeing bus to “Primeval Forest” (1 hour), visit “Arrow Bamboo Lake → Panda Lake → Five Flower Lake (palette!)”, super stunning!
🕛 12:00 Lunch at “Nuorilang Center” with self-heating rice + snacks (about 50 RMB/person), rest!
🕒 2:00 PM take sightseeing bus to “Long Lake (largest lake in Jiuzhaigou)”, visit “Long Lake → Five Color Pool (mini palette)”, super healing!
🕓 4:00 PM return, taxi back to “Zhangzha Town” (15 minutes, 30 RMB).
🏨 Accommodation: Choose “budget hotels in Zhangzha Town” (300-600 RMB/night), convenient for Tibetan food!
Day 2: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area (Y-shaped right route) → Stay in Zhangzha Town
🕙 8:00 AM depart hotel, take sightseeing bus to “Rhinoceros Lake,” visit “Rhinoceros Lake → Tiger Lake → Shuzheng Waterfall → Shuzheng Lakes → Spark Lake (sunlight refraction is beautiful)”, super fairy-tale!
🕛 12:00 Lunch at “restaurant near Shuzheng Village” with yak meat hot pot (about 70 RMB/person), rest!
🕒 2:00 PM visit “Bonsai Beach → Reed Lake,” see “water bonsai + reed marsh,” very atmospheric!
🕓 4:00 PM return, stay in Zhangzha Town!
Day 3: Huanglong Scenic Area → Return trip
🕙 8:00 AM taxi from Zhangzha Town to “Huanglong Scenic Area” (1.5 hours, 200 RMB), visit “Huanglong (calcium pools + snow mountains),” take “cable car (80 RMB) up, walk down,” see “Five Color Pool (heavenly fairyland),” very sacred!
🕛 12:00 Lunch at “restaurant inside Huanglong” with Tibetan steamed buns + butter tea (about 40 RMB/person), rest!
🕒 2:00 PM return!
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⚠️ Pitfall guide: I’ve stepped into these traps so you don’t have to!
1️⃣ Altitude sickness traps:
❌ Don’t “exercise vigorously right after arrival”! I ran immediately and got dizzy and nauseous… Better “adapt for 1 day in Zhangzha Town” before entering the park!
❌ Don’t “forget oxygen tanks”! I didn’t bring one and had to buy oxygen at Long Lake… The park sells it for 50 RMB/bottle, city shops for 20 RMB/bottle!
2️⃣ Illegal taxi traps:
❌ Don’t take “illegal taxis outside the park”! I took one, the driver said “we’ll help you avoid the ticket,” but got caught by the park, had to pay fines and ticket fees… Choose “official taxis” or “park buses”!
3️⃣ Price traps:
❌ Don’t buy snacks “inside the park”! I did, and they were 3 times more expensive than in town… Bring your own “self-heating hot pot + chocolate + water,” saves money and fills you up!
4️⃣ Shopping traps:
❌ Don’t buy “souvenirs inside the park”! I bought a “yak horn comb,” but found it half price in town… Buy at “Zhangzha Town supermarket,” cheaper and authentic!
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📸 Photo tips: These spots are breathtaking!
1️⃣ Five Flower Lake (palette):
🕙 Best time: 10:00-11:00 AM (soft light, most colorful water).
👗 Outfit tip: Wear white/light-colored jackets to contrast with the lake’s colors.
📷 Composition tip: Use a wide-angle lens for “lake + surrounding colorful forest” panorama, or telephoto for underwater deadwood details, super healing!
2️⃣ Long Lake (snow mountain reflection):
🕙 Best time: 3:00-4:00 PM (soft light, clear snow mountain reflection).
👗 Outfit tip: Wear red/bright jackets to contrast with the cool tones of the snow mountains.
📷 Composition tip: Stand on the viewing platform, use wide-angle for “lake + snow mountain + sky” panorama, or telephoto for snow peak details, super stunning!
3️⃣ Nuorilang Waterfall (white silk):
🕙 Best time: 12:00-1:00 PM (direct sunlight, waterfall glows golden).
👗 Outfit tip: Wear blue/green jackets to blend with the white waterfall.
📷 Composition tip: Stand in front of the waterfall, use wide-angle for “waterfall + surrounding colorful forest” panorama, or telephoto for water droplet details, very dynamic!
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🍖 Food: Must-try local delicacies!
1️⃣ Yak Meat Hot Pot:
📍 Location: Tibetan restaurant in Zhangzha Town (about 70 RMB/person).
😋 Taste: Tender yak meat, super fresh broth, tastes great with barley cakes!
2️⃣ Tibetan Steamed Buns:
📍 Location: Snack stalls inside Huanglong Scenic Area (about 15 RMB/person).
😋 Taste: Thin bun skin, filling of yak meat + scallions, amazing with spicy sauce!
3️⃣ Butter Tea:
📍 Location: Tibetan restaurant in Zhangzha Town (about 20 RMB/person).
😋 Taste: Rich butter flavor, slightly salty tea, warms the stomach and fights cold!
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👗 Outfit tips: Practical + photogenic, avoid the mistakes I made!
❌ Don’t wear “short skirts”! It’s freezing at the top, choose “long skirts (below the knee) + leggings,” warm and photogenic!
❌ Don’t forget “hats”! The wind is strong at the top, I forgot mine and my head hurt from the wind… Choose “wool hats (warm) + trapper hats (windproof),” great for photos!
❌ Don’t wear “high heels”! Lots of stone steps in the park, easy to twist ankles, choose “hiking shoes (non-slip) + sneakers (versatile),” easy to walk!
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Final summary: Jiuzhaigou is definitely worth visiting! But be sure to avoid altitude sickness traps + illegal taxi traps + price traps! Follow my guide, and you’ll blow up your social media and save money! 💥 Save this now and just go for your holiday! 💧
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