In this vibrant season, I finally embarked on a journey to Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhaigou, a place touted as the “fairyland on earth,” attracts innumerable tourists with its distinctive natural landscape and enormous biological resources. This journey not only allowed me to admire the beautiful beauty of Jiuzhaigou, but also left me with everlasting memories.
The itinerary was well-arranged. In the morning and afternoon, there are trains from Chengdu to Zhenjiangguan Town. After arriving at Zhenjiangguan Town, one can take a bus directly to the hotel at the foot of the picturesque area. The whole transit is fairly convenient. The drive from Chengdu to Zhenjiangguan takes around 1.5 hours, and from Zhenjiangguan to the scenic area takes 3 to 3.5 hours, totaling about 4 to 5 hours. As the bus route may run through lunchtime, I bought two hot corns before boarding, priced at 5 yuan each. It is suggested to have your own disposable raincoat as they are available for 10 yuan apiece here until outside the picturesque region. Additionally, the bus will go through varied altitudes, which may cause moderate altitude sickness. (The return travel is the same, via bus to the intercity train station or immediately by air.)
Upon arrival, I checked into the pre-booked accommodation in Jiuzhaigou. The bus stopped along the way as needed. We stayed at the Four Seasons Fairy Tale Hotel, which was decent. There are many hotels around, not too far from the entrance of the scenic area. The surrounding area offers local delicacies such as yak soup pots, Tibetan cuisine, and music restaurants. About 4:30 p.m., we got at the hotel and rested half-hour before descending to investigate the dinner choices. We selected the Roblingka Tibetan Restaurant and delighted in the yak soup pot made locally. Though there were numerous radishes, the yogurt tasted great.
Rain had made the day of arrival cooler, hence an outer clothing was needed. Wearing a rain jacket would not be overdone. We acquired a cheap rain jacket for forty yuan instead of a rain jacket before coming, so acting as our overcoat. Generally speaking, rain jackets sold by several stores close to the hotel cost about 100 yuan and are reasonably waterproof, warm, and windproof. We bought then started using them right away.
Although the weather eased the following day, one still had to wear a rain jacket in the morning and evening. As the sun shone and we strolled inside the picturesque region, we could progressively drop our layers.
Three valleys mostly define the picturesque area: Shuzheng Valley, Zechawa Valley, and Rikaze Valley. Visitors must ride the sightseeing bus of the scenic area, which has two routes to the highest points (Left Route: Changhai, Right Route: Primitive Forest), assigned by the scenic area depending on crowd density and pragmatic circumstances upon arriving.
We went to the Primitive Forest following the Right Route in June. Panda Lake is a stop midway, where some tourists can’t resist the temptation to admire the scenery. However, I highly recommend visiting the Primitive Forest. It’s a natural oxygen bar at an altitude of 3,060 meters. Despite the slight altitude sickness I felt on the scenic bus, after getting off and taking a few breaths of fresh air, I almost felt “oxygen-intoxicated.” As my partner commented, it felt like the Twilight Forest. Moreover, with mountains in the background and a small amount of snow visible on the summits in June, the vista was breathtaking.
Walking down to Fangcao Lake and Swan Lake, we loved the panorama of grass meeting streams, gorgeous flowers, and emerald-green little lakes reflecting each other. Swan Lake used to have swans, per what I heard, but this time we only happened to see a duck by accident.
Following the Swan Lake tour, we boarded the picturesque bus to view Jianzhu Lake and Falls. I wasn’t sure if the little vegetation were arrow bamboo. We later visited Panda Lake and Panda Lake Falls following Jianzhu Lake. Pandas are apparently most fond of Panda Lake.
Panda Lake boasts an attractive bus station as well. We arrived at Wuhua Lake, which, in my view, was amazing, after descending hillside. Everything was blooming and flourishing in an undersea world like clarity. It was brilliantly indescribable, clean and laden with silt.
We next came upon Pearl Beach and Pearl Beach Falls. The 1986 “Journey to the West” production filmed near Pearl Beach Falls. In retrospect, the snow-capped mountain looks even more breathtaking.
By now it was past 1:30 p.m. Jing Lake was next, but time limits prevented us from visiting. From the lovely bus, Jing Lake really reflected like a mirror. We arrived at the highest point of the Left Route, Changhai, straight from Nuorilang Center and boarded the Left Route transfer bus. Changhai is the biggest lake in the park at [certain altitude deleted; the whole lake looks to be a piece of agate].
Approaching Wucai Pool, sometimes referred to as the “eye of Jiuzhaigou,” we were walking downhill. That lake was the smallest among them. As it was June, the Left Route mostly displayed vistas of dried-up streams, hence we only visited Wucai Pool and Changhai.
Following our completion at Wucai Pool, we boarded the picturesque bus back to Nuorilang Center and strolled to the widest waterfall in China, Nuorilang Falls. The Tibetan language Nuorilang translates “majestic and spectacular.” Here we could sit and relax while appreciating this petrified waterfall. (My legs were about giving out after traversing 25,000 steps.)
We rested then came back to Nuorilang Center. It was beyond 4:30 p.m already. Rhinoceros Lake, Tiger Lake, Spark Lake, Shuzheng Group of Lakes, Penjing Beach lie along the original path—that of Shuzheng Valley. Every location would be introduced in real-time by the tour guide on the beautiful bus together with where to get off and what sights to visit.
Our last place was Penjing Beach. It was already six o’clock; the picturesque neighborhood shuts at that time. Our one-day excursion to Jiuzhaigou came to an end at the picturesque bus stop returning to the tourist hub.
After half an hour of recuperation back at the hotel, we descended downstairs for a tomato and yak soup pot dinner. Western Sichuan’s dusk falls rather late. We sat by the window, took in the view outside, and spoke with friends about the landscape of today, remembering the unexpected trip Jiuzhaigou offered.
Jiuzhaigou picturesque Area is, all things considered, the most gorgeous, fairly priced, cleanest, most comfortable-to-navigate water picturesque site I have ever visited. “After visiting Jiuzhaigou, you won’t need to see any other water,” it really does live up to the proverb. Clear lakes leave a pure soul by cleansing the dirt of the world and surpassing the purity of a child’s heart. Leaving love in Jiuzhaigou and imprinting beauty in our minds, I hope the landscape of Jiuzhaigou will enthralls everyone who has visited.
