Jiuzhaigou Valley

Welcome to Jiuzhaigou, the 'Valley of Nine Villages,' a name that honors the nine Tibetan villages scattered throughout this magical landscape. This UNESCO World Heritage site and Biosphere Reserve in Sichuan is widely considered…

We start our exploration at the Nuorilang Waterfall, situated near the center of the Y-shaped valley system. This is one of the widest travertine waterfalls in China, stretching approximately 300 meters across and dropping 20…

Continuing into the Rize Valley, we reach Five Flower Lake (Wuhuahai), widely considered the 'essence of Jiuzhaigou' and its most beautiful spot. The lake is famous for its 'vibrant colors'—shades of turquoise, yellow, and…

Further up the Rize Valley is Panda Lake, so named because wild giant pandas were said to come here to drink. While you're unlikely to see a wild panda today, the lake itself is a beautiful 'haizi' with white and blue water that…

We now transition to the Zechawa Valley to visit Long Lake (Changhai), the 'largest, widest, and highest elevation lake' in Jiuzhaigou. Sitting at over 3,100 meters, its water comes primarily from melted snow from the surrounding…

A short walk down from Long Lake brings us to the Five-Color Pond (Wucaichi), a small but 'brilliant' lake that is often considered the most 'jewel-like' in the park. Despite its small size, it exhibits some of the most intense…

Our final major stop is Shuzheng Village, the largest and busiest of the nine Tibetan villages in the valley. The village sits across from the Shuzheng Lakes, a series of '19 interconnected small lakes' that span over 5…

As you head back toward the park entrance, having explored the three main valleys of Jiuzhaigou, take a moment to reflect on the 'fairy world' you have experienced. You have seen 'water as soul' in its most vibrant forms—from the…