If you’re like me and you’re totally confused when looking for Jiuzhaigou on a map for the first time, don’t panic! Today I’m going to tell you in the simplest way possible: where is jiuzhaigou on a map? How to get there most conveniently, and what pits don’t step on.
Geographic location:
- Deep mountains in southwestern China: located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, near the border of Gansu and Qinghai (similar to the terrain on the border of Colorado and Utah in the United States) , .
Looking at it with a satellite map, it looks like a blue-green gem surrounded by mountains, as the minerals in the lake change color in the sunlight, a fantastical effect that can be seen from space. why is the water in Jiuzhaigou so blue? - Latitude and longitude coordinates: 33.2 degrees north, 103.9 degrees east (higher latitude and colder climate than Los Angeles)
- Nearby major cities:
- Chengdu (450 kilometers northeast, 8 hours by car) What is the nearest city to Jiuzhaigou?
- Lanzhou (500 kilometers to the north, 10 hours by car)
- Satellite map features: Y-shaped canyons can be seen on Google Earth, and the 114 lakes look like scattered blue-green glass beads
How to get there:
If you are traveling to Jiuzhaigou from the United States, there are three routes to choose from:
Route 1: Direct flight to Chengdu + connecting flight/bus
- From USA: New York/Los Angeles→Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (13-15 hours direct flight, $1000-$1500 round trip)
- From Chengdu:
- Airplane: Fly from Chengdu to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport at 7:00 am (1 hour, ¥500-¥1000) , you can get off the plane to the scenic spot, which is the fastest option.
- Bus: Chengdu Cha Dianzi Station → Jiuzhaigou (8 hours, ¥150), choose the left window seat to see the Minjiang River Canyon, this is the most cost-effective program.
Related reading: How Can I Get to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu?
Route 2: Transit from Chongqing/Xi’an
- Suitable for people who want to play other cities along the way, there are many attractions along the way, you can play all the way to Jiuzhaigou, suitable for self-driving tourists.
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport→Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (3 flights per week, 2 hours)
Route 3: Self-driving tour, high risk for foreigners, best to bring a local guide.
- Chengdu rental car → Dujiangyan → Wenchuan → Songpan → Jiuzhaigou (430 kilometers, 9 hours) , along the way can stop to shoot Qiangzhai and snowy mountains, remember to rent SUV with anti-skid chains.
- WARNING: mountain roads with many sharp curves, easy to collapse in the rainy season, provided you have a Chinese driver’s license or international driver’s license.
Weather and Best Season to Visit
- Spring (April-May):
- Temperatures 5-15°C, snow-capped mountains not yet melted + wildflowers in full bloom
- Pros: fewer people and cheaper hotels (¥200 for 4 stars)
- Disadvantages: some waterfalls are low in water volume
- Summer (June-August):
- Summer (June-August): 15-25°C, often rainy in the afternoons.
- Summer (June-August): temperature 25-25°C, often rainy in the afternoon Pros: green screens, waterfalls in full bloom
- Weaknesses: the waterfalls are very crowded with tourists.
- Fall (September-October):
- Autumn (September-October): Temperatures 5-20°C, mainly sunny.
- Pros: Red leaves and blue lakes.
- Disadvantage: prices triple during the National Day.
- Winter (November-March):
- Winter (November-March): Temperatures -5-10°C, dry, little rain.
- Advantages: packages to see the blue ice, half-price tickets
- Cons: some attractions are closed
Personal advice: go in the last two weeks of September or late May for less crowds and better views without getting ripped off!
Here is a detailed Weather in Jiuzhaigou from January to December
Transportation in Jiuzhaigou
Because the scenic area is so large, foreign tourists visiting Jiuzhaigou for the first time may not be familiar with it, so here’s how to get around without getting tired.
Jiuzhaigou is like a “Y” shape, and the three ditches are connected by scenic buses. Remember these 3 tips:
Early in the morning at 7:30 to grab the first bus: straight to the mirror sea of Rizegou, this time the lake like a mirror
Noon staggered meal: 11:00 on the Norilang service center, to avoid the tour group army
Afternoon walk trestle: Shuzheng ditch of the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of Sparks section, the afternoon light is most suitable for photography
⚠️ Note: you can’t drive yourself in the scenic area, and you must wear non-slip shoes for hiking!
Must-See Attractions:
The following five attractions are the hottest local attractions, belonging to the must-visit attractions.
- Five Flowers Sea : the lake has five colors, the dead trees at the bottom of the lake calcified into white, sunny day to see is a color palette (the best time to shoot: before 9:00 a.m.)
- Pearl Beach Falls: the width is more spectacular than Niagara Falls, remember to shoot the panoramic view from the second level of the observation deck.
- Changhai: 3100 meters above sea level, the whole lake will turn blue in winter when it freezes.
- Norilang waterfall: 1986 version of the Journey to the West, the end of the film set place
- Shuzheng Zhai: stay in Tibetan-style lodging, stargazing at night (overnight stay in the scenic area is required)
- Zaru Monastery: You must go to play the 108 barrels, which is a local specialty!
Related reading: What Are the Six Wonders of Jiuzhaigou?
Local specialties and shopping:
Don’t buy them in the scenic spots, they are very expensive!
- You can buy:
- Dried yak meat: ¥50/catty, recognize the “Highland Ranch” label.
- Tibetan silver jewelry: ¥ 80-¥ 200, go to Songpan Old Town to find a master hand-beaten, cheaper than the scenic area half!
- Dried wild mushrooms: October to buy the most fragrant matsutake mushrooms, remember to cut the price to 80 yuan / bag!
- Not recommended to buy:
- “wild asparagus” (most are planted, there is no wild)
- Oxygen tanks in front of the entrance to the scenic area (twice as expensive as in the village)
- Roadside peddling “dzi” are basically glass, want to buy the real thing to go around the temple
- Shopping: ditch mouth Pengfeng village night market, Songpan Old Town
Food & Dining:
- Must Eat Cuisine:
- Yak and beef hot pot (clear soup + spicy dish, ¥80/person)
- Barley Cake with Ghee Tea (¥15/set), must be eaten while hot.
- Sichuan Cuisine Recommendation:
- Spicy Hot Pot (¥50/serving, mildly spicy is enough!)
- Handmade yogurt with honey:
- More sour than supermarket yogurt, but super creamy!
- Avoid stepping on the pit:
- Wild Mushroom Soup” (¥100/bowl, probably just mushrooms) at the restaurant in the scenic area.
Accommodation:
- High-end players: Intercontinental Jiuzhai Paradise (glass dome to see the snowy mountains, ¥1500/night)
- King of Cost-Effective: Holiday Inn (walk to scenic spot, ¥500/night)
- Backpacker: Jiuzhaigou International Youth Hostel (bed ¥50, carpooling is super convenient)
Peak Season Tips: Book a room 1 month in advance! Room rates can triple during the National Day!
where to stay in jiuzhaigou?10 hotels recommended
Safety Tips:
High reflex: take rhodiola rosea in advance, buy oxygen canisters at the entrance of the scenic area (30 RMB/bottle).
Rainy season: July-August beware of mudslides, see the warning signs and go back immediately!
Animals: don’t touch the Tibetan macaques! They will snatch food and even scratch people.
Photography: The edge of the trestle is very slippery, last year some tourists fell into the lake for taking photos.
Park Regulations:
Don’t do any of the following things, you will be fined for violating the rules!
Limit flow policy: up to 41,000 people per day, peak season tickets are sold out in seconds, reserve tickets 1 day in advance on the official website (no tickets on site!)
No-fly zone: except for designated areas, flying drones elsewhere will be confiscated, drones need to be reported in advance.
Environmental rules: littering or smoking will be fined 500 yuan, smoking can only go to Nuorilang service center, garbage please bring their own out of the scenic area, the scenic area within the classification of garbage cans are few!
Take pictures: When you see local Tibetans and want to take a picture, you must ask “Can I take a picture?”
Final words of advice
The beauty of Jiuzhaigou is definitely worth traveling halfway around the world, but be sure to check the weather, book accommodations, and download offline maps in advance (there is often no signal in the mountains). If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment – I’ll tell you about all the potholes I’ve stepped into!
