Jiuzhaigou—Hidden Wonderland in Western Sichuan: The Ultimate Guide

I. Preparation • Documents: Bring your ID card. Students and seniors can enjoy ticket discounts with valid credentials. • Clothing: Jiuzhaigou has significant temperature differences between day and night. Bring a light jacket in summer, and down jackets, scarves, and gloves are essential in autumn and winter. • Items: The area has strong UV rays, so pack high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, moisturizer, and lip balm. • Medicine: Prepare medication for altitude sickness (some people experience mild reactions), cold medicine, stomach medicine, and other commonly used drugs. II. Scenic Spots and Must-See Locations 1. Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area: A World Natural Heritage site, featuring turquoise lakes, diverse waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and lush forests. • Pearl Shoal Waterfall: The waterfall is divided into several streams by crescent-shaped rocks, cascading down like silver curtains or rolling white waves. Under the sunlight, the splashing water droplets shimmer like countless pearls. • Five Color Pool: The smallest but most colorful lake in Jiuzhaigou. The water changes color with the light and angle, like a dreamy palette. • Five Flower Lake: Known as the most beautiful lake in Jiuzhaigou, it is praised as "the best of Jiuzhaigou" and "the essence of Jiuzhaigou." Reflections of different plant communities create a kaleidoscope of colors in the lake, especially stunning in autumn when the surrounding colorful forests are mirrored in the water. Entrance ticket: CNY 169/person, sightseeing bus ticket: CNY 90/person. 2. Zechawa Village: One of the nine Tibetan villages in Jiuzhaigou. Ancient and tranquil, with Tibetan-style buildings scattered in an orderly fashion, offering an authentic experience of Tibetan culture and life. Free admission. 3. Fairy Pool: Combining the calcified colorful pools of Huanglong and the emerald lakes and cascading waterfalls of Jiuzhaigou, it is known as "the Heavenly Pool on Earth." Unique landscapes include calcified pool clusters, alpine lakes, and water curtain caves. Entrance ticket: CNY 100, sightseeing bus ticket: CNY 90. III. Local Snacks 1. Yak Meat: Tender and nutritious, available as dried yak meat or in hot pot. Dried yak meat is approximately CNY 80–120/500g, yak meat hot pot is CNY 80–120/person. 2. Highland Barley Cake: Baked with highland barley flour, it has a rich wheat aroma and is crispy and delicious. CNY 2–5/piece. 3. Butter Tea: A traditional Tibetan drink with a rich flavor, perfect for warding off the cold. Generally CNY 15–30/pot. IV. Transportation 1. External Transportation: Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport is about 88 km from Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area. You can take the airport shuttle bus for CNY 40–50. During peak season, there are special tourist buses to the scenic area. A taxi ride costs around CNY 200–300. 2. Internal Transportation: It is mandatory to take the sightseeing bus within the scenic area. A taxi from Jiuzhaigou County to the scenic area costs about CNY 50–80. V. Accommodation Recommendations (Budget-Friendly and Comfortable) 1. Howard Johnson Resort Jiuzhaigou: Conveniently located, offering comfortable rooms and complete facilities. CNY 200–400/night during the off-season, prices double during peak season. 2. Jiuzhaigou Xingyu International Hotel: Beautiful environment, clean rooms, breakfast included. CNY 200–500/night during the off-season, prices increase during peak season. VI. Budget 1. Tickets: Jiuzhaigou CNY 259 + Zechawa Village Free + Fairy Pool CNY 190 = CNY 449 2. Transportation: Airport transfer CNY 100 + Internal transportation CNY 100 = CNY 200 3. Accommodation: Based on two nights, CNY 400–1000 during the off-season, CNY 800–2000 during peak season. 4. Food: CNY 80–150 per day, CNY 160–300 for two days. 5. Total: CNY 1209–1949 during the off-season, CNY 1509–2749 during peak season. Actual expenses depend on the season, off-season/peak season, and personal spending habits. Peak season costs will increase due to higher accommodation and transportation prices.