If you think Jiuzhaigou is all about colorful pools and Nuorilang Waterfalls, you’re missing out on a lot of surprises! National Geographic calls Jiuzhaigou the “Wonderland of the Earth”, and the gems of Jiuzhaigou are not only hidden in the postcard classics, but also in the lesser-known valleys, villages, and secret places. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the hidden ways to play Jiuzhaigou that even the local guides may not tell you about – ready to shake up your perceptions of this “fairy tale world”?
I. Explore the secret places beyond the tourist spots.
- Enjoy the secrets of the Mirror Sea early in the morning.
When a large number of tourists are still squeezing the sightseeing bus, the real players have quietly touched the observation deck of the Mirror Sea. The Sea of Mirrors before 7 a.m. is like a piece of liquid emerald, and the water is so calm that it can reflect every fold of the snow-covered mountains. Quietly tell you: from the Nuorilang center station 15 minutes walk Pearl Beach upstream trestle, hides a rarely walked viewing trail, standing here can be photographed in the mirror sea and the snow mountain in the same frame of the perfect angle . - Discover the B-side story of the Sea of Flowers.
Don’t crowd the Tiger’s Nest viewing platform for standard tourist photos! 300 meters west from the Panda Sea waterfall, there is a Peacock River Road viewing platform known only to the locals. From here, you can see the gradient blue-green color of the Sea of Flowers unfolding like a peacock’s open screen, and when the sun is shining at 3pm, the lake takes on an oil painting-like quality. Want to get a little wilder? Try renting a Tibetan costume (about 50 RMB/hour) and let the local amahs teach you the most authentic photo poses.
2.Hidden routes that are not even written in guide books
- The Microcosm of Shuzhenggou
90% of tourists will go straight to the Y-shaped main ditch, but miss the treasure play of Shuzheng Qunhai. On the hillside behind Shuzheng Zhai, there is a transmigration trail full of sutra streamers that can be seen along the way:
- Hidden in the cypress forest of the millennium Mani pile
- An old-fashioned Buddhist scripture roller that you can turn with your own hands.
- Private viewpoints overlooking 18 emerald-colored seas.
Remember to bring a pack of barley cakes (5 RMB/bag) to feed the Tibetan pigs that follow you around, as they are more photogenic than the cats in the Internet cafes!
- Avoid the crowds of VIP channel
Want to take a photo without a passerby during peak season? Try this cold route: - 1.7:00 a.m., head straight to the Changhai in Zechawa Gully to capture the morning mist of “China’s deepest alpine lake” before the tour group arrives!
- 10:00 turn to the next season of the sea (Note: only April-October water)! The calcified beach here will be glittering pink in the sunlight.
- 2:00 pm sneak to Zarugou (need to buy extra tickets), visit the original Tibetan village without even cell phone signal.
Third, more stunning than the attractions of the cultural eggs
- Learn to be a Tibetan for half a day
In Zhangzha Town’s Luoyi Zhai (a non-open scenic spot), you can experience it for 200 yuan:
- The ancient art of making ghee tea in a wooden bucket
- Learn to draw thangka drafts with a non-heritage artist.
- Listen to an old lama recite the Ganjur in his low voice in the scripture hall.
Special Tips: On Wednesday morning, you can buy handmade Tibetan silver jewelry at the Longkang Village Market, remember to bargain down to 1/3 of the marked price. 2!
- Campfire storytelling under the starry sky
Jiuzhaigou’s nightlife is more than just watching the Tibetan Riddle show! Reserve a grass camping under the stars (about 300 RMB/person) through the B&B owner, and you will:
- Watch the Milky Way spinning in the meadow at an altitude of 3,000 meters.
- Listen to the shepherds tell the legend of the love between the mountain goddess Dago and the ugly woman.
- Grill Tibetan lamb kebabs wrapped in cliff honey.
IV. Private Tips for Smart Travelers
- Transportation hacking skills
- Chengdu flights to Jiuzhai often temporary price cuts, Tuesday 3 p.m. brush tickets most likely to pick up the leakage
- Want to drive but afraid of plateau reaction? Choose a hybrid model (such as BYD Song PLUS), there are more charging ports than gas stations along the way.
- Scenic area of the VIP chartered car (1200 yuan / day) can actually spell 4 people, than crowded sightseeing bus experience ten times better!
- photographer’s golden timetable
Photography Spots Best Time Equipment Suggestions Secret Camera Positions
Pentaphyllum 14:00-15:30 Polarizer Peacock River Road Upstream Boulders
Norilang Waterfall Before 11:00 Light Reducing Lens + Tripod Second Floor of the Observation Deck on the Left Side of the Waterfall
Reed Sea 1 hour after sunrise Polarizer Telephoto Lens Basin Beach 300 meters south of the corner of the trestle Five, you may not know the Jiuzhai cold knowledge- Scenic area to sell 10 yuan / root of the “plateau sausage” is actually a horse intestines irrigation
- Jiuzhaigou lake water will bring good luck (but do not throw coins!)
- Those seemingly randomly fallen trees are actually well-designed water features.
- The embroidered pattern on a Tibetan mom’s apron hides the historical code of her family’s migration.
