The Ultimate Guide to Jiuzhaigou—Everything You Need to Know!
Hey friends! Jiuzhaigou, known as a "fairytale world," is absolutely stunning! You'll regret it if you don't visit. Save this super practical travel guide now!
I. Tickets and Opening Hours
1. Ticket Prices: From April 1 to November 15 is peak season. Tickets are CNY 190 per person, and bus tickets are CNY 90 per person. From November 16 to the end of March the following year is the off-season. Tickets are CNY 80 per person, and bus tickets are also CNY 80 per person. You can book tickets 14 days in advance on the "Aba Tourism" WeChat official account. There are no ticket windows on-site, so remember to book in advance!
2. Opening Hours: Peak season: 7:00–18:00, entry stops after 14:00. Off-season: 8:00–17:00, entry also stops after 14:00.
3. Free Admission and Discounts: Children under 6 years old or under 1.2 meters tall, seniors over 65, active military personnel, veterans, martyrs' families, people with disabilities, and firefighters are all exempt from ticket fees. Seniors aged 60–64 are exempt from ticket fees on non-holidays and receive half-price tickets on holidays. Tourists registered in Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Taizhou, Shaoxing, Jiaxing, and Jinhua in Zhejiang Province enjoy free admission until June 11, 2026. Holders of Tianfu Yingcai Card A, Chongqing Yingcai Service Card A, and Aba Yingcai Green Card are also exempt from ticket fees.
II. Best Time to Visit
1. Seasonal Features: From March to May, the ice and snow melt, and peach blossoms bloom. There are fewer people, and hotels and tickets are cheaper, but the scenery is slightly less impressive. From June to August, the average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, making it an excellent summer resort with abundant water, but there are many people, and hotel and dining prices increase. From September to November is the colorful season, with mid-to-late October being the recognized best time for viewing the colorful forests. From December to February of the following year is the icy fairytale world, but it is also the coldest time.
2. Length of Stay: If you have plenty of time, a 5–6 day trip is recommended, allowing you to visit Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Mount Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha, and other attractions. If time is limited, 3–4 days in Jiuzhaigou is enough.
III. Transportation Guide
1. Airplane: You can fly to Chengdu or Chongqing first, and then transfer to a bus or drive to Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhuang Airport also has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Mianyang, and other cities. There are also connecting flights from Guangzhou and Shenzhen via Chengdu (Chongqing) to Jiuzhaigou. There are shuttle buses from Jiuzhuang Airport to Jiuzhaigou, departing regularly, for CNY 45 per person, and round-trip tickets are CNY 80 per person.
2. High-Speed Rail: Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East Station for an hour and a half to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, then transfer to a bus for two hours to reach Jiuzhaigou.
3. Bus: There are direct buses to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu, Chongqing, and other places. Buses depart from Chengdu Xinnanmen Station daily at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, and 8:10, with tickets costing CNY 145 per person. Buses depart from Mianyang Pingzheng Station at 7:00 and 7:20, with tickets costing CNY 101 per person. Buses depart from Lanzhou at 7:00, with tickets costing CNY 237 per person. Buses depart from Chongqing at 7:30, with tickets costing CNY 200 per person. Buses depart from Guangyuan at 6:30, with tickets costing CNY 90 per person. Buses depart from Deyang at 6:00, with tickets costing CNY 145 per person. Buses depart from Yibin on even-numbered days at 7:40, with tickets costing CNY 222 per person. Buses depart from Wudu on odd-numbered days at 7:00, with tickets costing CNY 80 per person, and insurance is an additional CNY 3.
4. Self-Driving: Driving from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou takes seven hours. The roads are winding and narrow, so self-driving is not recommended for novice drivers. From Chengdu, the route passes through Dujiangyan, Wenchuan, and Maoxian, reaching Jiuzhaigou, a total distance of about 400 km.
IV. Accommodation Recommendations
1. Accommodation at the Entrance: Staying at the entrance is recommended for convenient access to food, entertainment, and the Jiuzhaigou entrance. The Jiuzhaigou Tianyuan Howard Johnson Resort is a five-star hotel with a great environment and excellent service. The Jiuzhaigou Gesan Grand Hotel is a four-star hotel with good value for money.
2. Jiuzhaigou County: Staying here is not recommended, as it is 40 km from Jiuzhaigou.
3. Note: Accommodation is not allowed inside the scenic area, and you will be fined if caught.
V. Recommended Routes
Jiuzhaigou is "Y" shaped, consisting of three main valleys: Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley, and Shuzheng Valley.
1. One-Day Tour Route:
- Morning: After entering the park at 8:00, take the sightseeing bus directly to the primeval forest in Rize Valley, then visit Fangcao Lake, Swan Lake, Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake, Panda Lake Waterfall, and Five Flower Lake in turn. This section is the essence of Jiuzhaigou, with stunning scenery perfect for taking photos.
- Noon: Have lunch at the Nuorilang Tourist Service Center, which offers a variety of cuisines, but the prices are a bit high. You can also bring your own snacks if you prefer.
- Afternoon: Take the bus from the Nuorilang Tourist Service Center to Long Lake and Five Color Pool in Zechawa Valley. Then return to Nuorilang and travel down Shuzheng Valley, visiting Nuorilang Waterfall, Rhinoceros Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Shuzheng Mill, Shuzheng Village, Shuzheng Lakes, Sleeping Dragon Lake, Sparkling Lake, Double Dragon Lake, Reed Lake, and Bonsai Beach, before finally exiting the scenic area.
2. Two-Day Tour Route:
- Day 1: In the morning, visit Rize Valley, following the same itinerary as the one-day tour. In the afternoon, go to Zechawa Valley, visit Long Lake and Five Color Pool, return to the Nuorilang Tourist Service Center, walk to Zechawa Village and Nuorilang Waterfall, and then take the bus out of the scenic area.
- Day 2: In the morning, take the sightseeing bus from the entrance to Mirror Lake to see the morning reflections, then visit Nuorilang Waterfall, Rhinoceros Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Water Mill, Shuzheng Village, and Shuzheng Lakes. Have lunch at the Nuorilang Tourist Service Center. In the afternoon, take the bus from the Nuorilang Tourist Service Center back to Shuzheng Village, visit the Shuzheng Water Mill, enjoy a panoramic view of Shuzheng Village, and then visit Shuzheng Lakes, Sleeping Dragon Lake, the three-tiered Sparkling Lake Waterfall, Sparkling Lake, Double Dragon Lake, Reed Lake, and Bonsai Beach, before taking the bus out of the scenic area.
VI. Photo Spots
1. Five Flower Lake: The lake water is colorful, like an overturned palette, and looks great no matter how you photograph it. Standing by the lake with the water and distant mountains as a backdrop is stunning.
2. Pearl Shoal Waterfall: The waterfall is magnificent, and the water droplets sparkle like pearls in the sunlight. Taking photos on the boardwalk in front of the waterfall is super Instagrammable.
3. Nuorilang Waterfall: This is the widest waterfall in Jiuzhaigou and is very spectacular. Taking silhouette photos with the waterfall as a backdrop creates a great atmosphere.
4. Five Color Pool: Small and exquisite, but the pool water is rich in color. When the sun is shining, taking photos of the pool water and the surrounding mountains and forests is breathtakingly beautiful.
VII. Precautions
1. Altitude Sickness: Jiuzhaigou is at a high altitude, so strenuous exercise is not advisable. You can take Rhodiola and other medicines in advance to prevent altitude sickness. Don't run or jump when you first arrive; acclimatize slowly.
2. Weather and Clothing: The weather in the plateau area is changeable, with large temperature differences between day and night. Even in summer, bring a thick coat. If it's winter, warm clothing such as down jackets and cotton-padded clothes are essential.
3. Anti-Slip Measures: When walking in the mountains, the elderly and children should pay special attention to anti-slip measures. It's best to wear non-slip shoes, as the boardwalk can be slippery when wet.
4. Sightseeing Bus Tips: It's recommended to sit on the left side of the sightseeing bus in Shuzheng Valley and Zechawa Valley, and on the right side in Rize Valley, to see more of the scenery.
5. Responsible Tourism: Don't litter, protect the environment, and don't use flash when taking photos to avoid disturbing wildlife.