I was flipping through a National Geographic magazine in my office in Los Angeles when a picture of a blue-green lake caught my eye – and that was my first encounter with Jiuzhaigou. The 12-hour flight from California to the western Sichuan plateau in pursuit of natural wonders completely reshaped my perception of “beauty”.
A Living Teaching Material in the Geography Classroom
The moment I stepped into the scenic area, I suddenly understood why my geography teacher always said that “China's topography is a miniature model of the earth”. The vertical difference in elevation from 2000-4500 meters creates a textbook stepped landscape: the emerald-colored reed sea in the lower part is reminiscent of the Florida Everglades, the calcareous sediments in the middle part of the Wuhuahai Sea are similar to the petunia ponds in Yellowstone Park, and the U-shaped valley at the remains of the Changhai Glacier looks like a miniature version of the Alaskan fjords.
The color science of the water here overturned my perception – Norilang waterfalls in the sunlight refracted at least seven kinds of blue color spectrum, more magical than Hawaii's moonlight rainbow. Tibetan tour guide Zhaxi enlightened me with a scientific and poetic explanation: “This is a masterpiece of cooperation between alpine mineral water and algae plants, just like God overturned his watercolor box.”
A visual feast for the seasons
Jiuzhaigou in late fall is like a magic spell:
The golden birch forests remind me of New England's fall colors, but the snow-covered peaks in the background add a touch of Alpine flair.
The highest elevation of the Changhai Sea has formed a thin ice, reflecting the coniferous forest, like a winter postcard of the Colorado Rockies.
Tibetan villages with streamers fluttering in the morning mist, a similar aesthetic to the Christmas lights in every home after Thanksgiving.
Specialty experiences not to be missed
Secret Hike: 3 kilometers of wooden trestle from the virgin forest to Pearl Beach, along the way, you can see the rare Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys in North America.
Tibetan Home Visit: Enjoy the ghee tea with barley cake in Shuzheng Village, and the yak hair bracelet that owner Drolma taught me how to weave became the most special souvenir.
Stargazing at night: the luxury hotels in the scenic area are equipped with telescopes, and the clear night sky at an altitude of 3,000 meters makes the Milky Way so clear that you can reach it.
A practical guide to traveling in the U.S.
Best time to visit: Avoid the Chinese National Day holiday (October 1-7), late September or mid-October is recommended.
Altitude Adaptation: Prepare for Altitude Adjustment pills (available at Chengdu pharmacy) and avoid strenuous exercise for the first 48 hours.
Transportation options: Chengdu Shuangliu Airport has 3 direct buses to the scenic spots every day (about 8 hours), we recommend choosing the right window seat to enjoy the Minjiang River Canyon.
Photography Tips: The best way to capture the reflection of the Mirror Sea is before 10:00 a.m. Bring polarized lenses to eliminate reflections on the surface of the water.
Specialty souvenirs: Authentic Sichuan Fritillary Bulb can be purchased in Songpan Old Town for 60% cheaper than in Chinatown.
Cultural Observations
When I met a photography group from Shanghai in Rizhegou, I was surprised to find:
Chinese tourists preferred brightly colored outdoor clothing (which I later learned was used to highlight people in photos)
Almost everyone carries a collapsible selfie stick, creating a unique “selfie stick forest”.
Instead of the smell of energy bars, the lounge area smells of various flavors of hot pots.
Special Reminder
The scenic spot implements a reservation system with real names on the whole website (the official website supports English interface), and the daily flow is limited to 41,000 people. It is recommended to download the “Aba Tourism” APP in advance, electronic map with GPS positioning function. The operating hours of the environmental protection train are similar to those of the New York subway (7:00-18:00), but the punctuality rate is as high as 99.7%.
As I stood beside the Peacock River Road and watched the turquoise water meander down the colorful calcareous dykes, I was suddenly reminded of Mark Twain's famous quote, “Travel is the mortal enemy of prejudice, stubbornness and narrow-mindedness.” Jiuzhaigou, with its magical geological museum and warm human stories, made me, a traveler from the east coast of the Pacific Ocean, truly understand the deep meaning of “the unity of heaven and mankind” in the Eastern natural philosophy.
This journey of geographic discovery across the eastern and western hemispheres ended with a steaming bowl of yak meat noodle soup from an old Tibetan mom. Perhaps as the founder of lonely planet said, “The best travel guides are always written in the smiles of the locals.”
