The 5 best things to see in jiuzhaigou
The things you will see in jiuzhaigou.
① The Sea of Five Flowers
Jiuzhaigou’s “net red attraction”, the lake water due to minerals and light refraction presents blue, green, yellow and other five colors, like a palette overturned by God.
It is recommended to arrive before 9:00 a.m. to avoid the crowds, and the lake is more translucent under the sun.Why is Five-Color Pool Rainbow?
② Pearl Beach Waterfalls
The place where the end credits of “Journey to the West” were filmed! The waterfall is 320 meters wide, wider than Niagara Falls. The water splashes against the calcified rocks like pearls. Remember to wear a waterproof jacket – the water spray will make your clothes wet,Nuorilang Falls.
③ Changhai
The highest lake in Jiuzhaigou (3,100 meters) looks like a giant sapphire when it freezes in winter. There are Tibetan prayer streamers around the lake, suitable for taking postcard photos of “snowy mountains + lake”.
④ Mirror Sea
The name comes from the fact that the surface of the lake is as calm as a mirror, and on a clear day, it can clearly reflect the snow-capped mountains and forests. The best time to take photos is before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm when there is no wind.
⑤ Juzhengqunhai
A “water forest” consisting of 19 lakes, with wooden walkways running through it, suitable for walking slowly to observe the changing colors of the lake. If you have children with you, you can play “Find the Different Colors”.
The 6 best things to do in jiuzhaigou sichuan china
① Hike 70 kilometers of trestle paths
The essence of Jiuzhaigou is in the details! It is recommended to walk the primitive forest section of Rizegou, where you can see squirrels, Tibetan monkeys, and even wild pandas along the way (probability about 5%).
② Take a picture of the “no one”
Tip: Go on Wednesday! Tours are concentrated on weekends, and the Sea of Mirrors and the Sea of Five Flowers are almost deserted on weekday mornings. Bring a portable tripod and use long exposures to capture the silky flow of water.
③ Experience the Tibetan culture
In Shuzhengzhai or Songpan Ancient City, pay ¥50 to rent a set of Tibetan clothes for a photo shoot, and attend a bonfire party to learn how to dance the Pot Zhuang Dance. You can also make tsampa (barley flour + ghee tea), which tastes like peanut butter cookies.
④ Take a dip in the snowy mountain hot springs
Jiuzhaigou’s Jiuzhai Paradise Hot Spring is ¥198 per person, where you can soak in the hot spring while looking at the snow-capped mountains. The water contains sulfur and is good for the skin, but don’t wait more than 20 minutes – the plateau is prone to dizziness.
⑤ Photographing the reflection of the Mirror Sea
Bring a tripod and polarizer! The lake is as translucent as glass in the early morning when there is no wind. Wear bright color clothes (red/yellow) to shoot the reflection and break the circle of friends!
⑥ Watch Tibetan song and dance show
Don’t lie flat at night! Zhangzha town has the “Jiuzhai Thousand Years of Love” show, with super stunning lights and Tibetan songs and dances, and you can learn about local myths.
8 Must-Eat Cuisines in Jiuzhaigou
① Yak and Beef Hot Pot
Local herdsmen’s free-range yak meat is firm and free of stink. We recommend the clear soup base (¥80/person), dipped in chili sauce. Tibetan-style hot pot restaurant “Tibetan Yak” is the most authentic.
② Hot & Sour Noodles + Ghee Tea
A combination of Sichuan spiciness and Tibetan flavor! Hot and sour noodles ¥15/bowl, ghee tea ¥10/pot (savory version like butter milk tea). Eat with it to relieve plateau reaction.
③ Tibetan barbecue
“Veteran Barbecue is a 20-year old restaurant with yak kebabs ¥5/kebab, smoked with pine branches and paired with barley beer (5% alcohol). There’s a line after 6pm.
④ Barley cakes
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with light wheat flavor. ¥5/pc at the stall in front of the scenic spot, suitable for hiking as dry food. The locals taught me a way to eat it: dipping it in honey as a dessert.You can also try qingke wine.
⑤ Ghee tea
The energy drink of Tibetans! It’s made from yak butter + tea + salt, and is savory and rich. Can’t get used to it? Try it with sugar, it’s perfect with barley cakes.
⑥Hand-held yak meat
Eating yak meat in your hand is the best way to enjoy it! The yak meat is fat and lean, and roasted with Tibetan spices to make it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Recommended to be dipped in chili powder and served with pickled radish.
⑦Monk’s Buns
Strange name but super delicious! The juicy yak meat is wrapped in a thin skin, and the soup spews out when you bite into it. A must at Tibetan restaurants, so be careful of burning your mouth.
⑧Taro patties
A street food made of potatoes! Crispy on the outside, soft and sticky on the inside, sprinkled with chili noodles and scallions, $5 a piece to eat while walking.
The 3 best things to do around jiuzhaigou
① Huanglong Scenic Spot (1 hour drive)
Must see the “Colorful Pools” – the calcified pools look like spilled paint trays, shimmering gold in the sunlight. Altitude of 3570 meters, it is recommended to take the cable car up the mountain (¥ 80), walk down the mountain.
② Songpan Ancient City (2 hours by car)
Songpan Ancient City is a major town on the “Ancient Tea and Horse Road” in the Tang Dynasty, with well-preserved city walls. Spend ¥50 to ride around the city, and buy handmade Tibetan silver jewelry (cut the price to 30% of the list price).
③ Ruoergai Grassland (3 hours drive)
In summer (June-August), this place transforms into a sea of flowers, horseback riding ¥50/hour, staying in yurts ¥200/night. Shoot the Milky Way at night with a DSLR, with nebulae visible to the naked eye.
Practical Tips for American Tourists
- Plateau Reaction: Take Rhodiola Rosea 3 days in advance and bring portable oxygen tanks.
- Payment methods: scenic only WeChat / Alipay, prepare ¥ 1000 cash emergency.
- Ticket reservation: peak season (April-November) need to book tickets 1 day in advance on the official website, limited to 41,000 people per day.
The beauty of Jiuzhaigou needs to be experienced in person – book your tickets, take this guide and go witness the “Wonderland on Earth”! If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave a comment.
