Did you know that Jiuzhaigou is the most beautiful wonderland in China? China hides a “palette of the earth” that even Hollywood directors have marveled at – Jiuzhaigou. Located five hours from Chengdu, this secret place attracts millions of tourists every year who travel halfway across the world. Today, we’re going to unveil the secret of its global popularity through the familiar lens of Americans.
1. A lake more magical than a rainbow
Jiuzhaigou’s most famous feature is its photoshopped lakes. There are 114 high mountain lakes here, and every one of them looks like it has been enchanted:
- The water in the Sea of Five Flowers can show five colors at the same time, and the dead trees at the bottom of the sea look like they’ve been sealed in amber for a thousand years.
- Changhai is the highest glacial lake in Sichuan, with blue ice cracks in winter.
- When the Mirror Sea is calm, the reflection is so clear you can’t tell the sky from the earth.
Geologists say this is the miracle of calcium deposition – calcium carbonate in the water meets sunlight, like a natural filter for the lake. There are fewer than 20 such landscapes in the world, and Jiuzhaigou accounts for the largest one.
2. Waterfalls are wilder than you think
The waterfalls here never go out of their way. The Pearl Beach Waterfall is 310 meters wide, and the water bounces off the Calcium Beach like a handful of moving pearls. The most stunning waterfall, Norilang Falls, is the setting for the end credits of the 86th edition of Journey to the West, with 2 tons of water per second crashing down from a height of 24 meters.
3. Dress-up show for all seasons
Yosemite, familiar to our American friends, has four distinct seasons. Jiuzhaigou compresses all four seasons into one day:
- In spring, the snow is still on the mountain tops, but the wildflowers at the foot of the mountains are already in bloom.
- In summer, the forests are bright green and the temperature stays at 18 degrees Celsius.
- In the fall, the maple leaves turn the valley into a blaze of color, and photographers are desperate to see it.
- In winter, the waterfalls freeze into ice sculptures, and you can soak in the snowy hot springs.
My local guide told me, “It’s the best deal to come in October, it’s equivalent to seeing all four seasons at the same time.”
4. An Ecosystem More Immersive Than Disney
There are rare animals here that you can’t see in the US:
- Pandas that walk in a figure eight (the nearest observation point is 40 kilometers away from the scenic spot).
- Golden monkeys that bounce in the snow.
- The antelope, regarded as the god of the mountains by the locals.
What’s even more amazing is the vertical distribution of plant belts: from the broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 2,000 meters to the fir forests at 3,000 meters, it’s like taking a cable car to read a whole botany textbook.
5. Mysterious culture hidden in the scenery
Jiuzhaigou was originally called “Yangdong”, but was later renamed because of the nine Tibetan villages. Nowadays, you can still meet Tibetan and Qiang people wearing traditional costumes, which they still believe in:
- The sacred mountain cannot be pointed at indiscriminately
- There is a dragon king living at the bottom of the lake.
- Every time a streamer flutters, they recite a sutra.
It is recommended to go to Shuzheng Zhai to drink ghee tea, the village has a 135-year-old old mill is still in operation. Remember not to touch people’s transepts – it’s as rude as messing with a church cross.
6. The miracle of rebirth after disaster
A 7 magnitude earthquake in 2017 had wiped out the Sea of Sparks. But miraculously, 2 years later, the lake itself “repaired” the gap, and new growth of the Double Dragon Sea waterfalls. Now the scenic area is used:
- Daily flow limit of 41,000 people
- All tour buses are electrified
- 80% of the area is protected by rotational rest
UN experts say, “This is a textbook case of ecological self-healing.”
Practical tips for American travelers
- Best Season: Late September – Late October
- Necessary items: sunscreen + oxygen tanks (3000 meters above sea level in some areas)
- Hidden Play: Grab the reflection of the Mirror Sea at 7:00 am, and shoot the backlight of the Reed Sea at 3:00 pm
- lightning reminder: don’t buy “Tibetan silver jewelry”, basically are Yiwu goods!
Now Jiuzhaigou opened a direct virtual reality tour to New York (official website can be booked), but believe me, see the shimmering Calcium Hua Beach, you will understand why it was National Geographic rated as “50 places you must go in a lifetime” – and this ranking, the Chinese people actually feel that the evaluation of the low.
Next time you plan a trip to Asia, remember to put Jiuzhaigou ahead of Yellowstone. After all, the water here does magic, and magic is always more mesmerizing than volcanoes, isn’t it?
