1.12 Jiuzhaigou Live Update, It’s Really a Disaster
Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide: The Lakes Are Breathtakingly Beautiful, But I Fell Into These Traps and Wanted to Curse💧
Just got back from Jiuzhaigou, where I was “tormented to tears by altitude sickness + scammed by a shady tour guide,” and I’m still immersed in the “vibrant Five Flower Lake + the stunning Nuorilang Waterfall”! Jiuzhaigou is literally a “real-life fairy tale world” — lakes like palettes, waterfalls like white silk, colorful forests like oil paintings, snow-capped mountains like cream cakes… But the altitude sickness made me want oxygen, the illegal taxis made me want to call the police, and the sky-high prices in the park made me want to smash my bowl… However! As long as you avoid these traps, you can definitely snap fairy-tale photos that will blow up your social media and have a blast! 📸
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⛰️ Climate: The mountaintop is “like an ice cellar,” dress warmly like an Antarctic explorer!
Jiuzhaigou is located in Aba, Sichuan, with a “highland humid climate” and high altitude (up to 3100 meters), showing very obvious “vertical climate differences”!
• Spring and Summer (May to September): Short sleeves at the foot of the mountain, windbreaker at the top (temperature difference of 15°C!), lots of rain (bring a raincoat), colorful forests start to appear (super beautiful in September-October).
• Autumn and Winter (October to April): Sweaters at the foot, thick down jackets at the top (temperature difference of 20°C!), snow possible from November to February (blue ice is stunning!), but roads can be icy (non-slip shoes are a must). ⚠️ Warning: Don’t believe “wearing just a single layer at the foot is fine for going up”! I went in summer, sweating at the bottom but shivering at the top… Recommended “layered dressing” — quick-dry shirt (moisture-wicking) + fleece (warmth) + windbreaker (windproof) + thermal pants (fleece-lined for the top), easy to add or remove layers anytime! 🧤 Must-haves: sunglasses (prevent snow blindness) + sunscreen (strong UV) + thermos (hot water) + motion sickness pills (winding roads) + power bank (hard to charge in the park) + oxygen tank (altitude sickness prevention) + heat packs (stick on belly/soles) + raincoat (strong wind at the top, umbrellas flip easily).
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🚗 Transportation: Avoid illegal taxis and overpriced park shuttles, here’s the efficient way!
Long-distance transport:
✈️ Fly to “Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport” (few flights, prone to delays), then take the airport shuttle bus to “Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area” (2 hours, 45 RMB/person).
🚌 Take a bus to “Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station,” then a direct bus from “Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou” (8 hours, 150 RMB/person).
⚠️ Warning: Don’t take “illegal taxis outside the station”! I took one, the driver said “we’ll take a shortcut,” but ended up detouring for 2 hours and charging 100 RMB extra… Choose “official buses” or “direct park shuttles”!
City/Park transport:
🚌 Park sightseeing buses: You must take the sightseeing bus inside Jiuzhaigou (included in the ticket), but the frequency is low (every 20 minutes), waiting is exhausting!
🚗 Car rental: Renting a car inside the park (300 RMB/hour) is good for families/groups, but don’t trust “driver-recommended restaurants”! I met a driver who said “this restaurant’s yak meat is authentic,” but I got ripped off… Choose “high-rated restaurants on Dianping”!
🚶 Walking: If you have good stamina, you can walk “Shuzheng Village → Five Flower Lake → Pearl Shoal → Nuorilang Waterfall” (about 4 hours), but don’t carry too much luggage! I carried a 12-pound bag and was exhausted to the point of questioning life…
✅ Best plan:
• Stay in Zhangzha Town (convenient for food and lodging, close to the park), explore “Jiuzhaigou (lakes + waterfalls + colorful forests) + Huanglong (calcium pools)” over 3 days and 2 nights.
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🗺️ Recommended itinerary: 3 days to fully enjoy the highlights (easy version)
Day 1: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area (Y-shaped left route) → Stay in Zhangzha Town
🕙 8:00 AM depart hotel, taxi to “Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area” (10 minutes, 20 RMB), take sightseeing bus to “Primeval Forest” (1 hour), visit “Arrow Bamboo Lake → Panda Lake → Five Flower Lake (palette!)”, super stunning!
🕛 12:00 Lunch at “Nuorilang Center” with self-heating rice + snacks (about 50 RMB/person), rest!
🕒 2:00 PM take sightseeing bus to “Long Lake (largest lake in Jiuzhaigou)”, visit “Long Lake → Five Color Pool (mini palette)”, super healing!
🕓 4:00 PM return, taxi back to “Zhangzha Town” (15 minutes, 30 RMB).
🏨 Accommodation: Choose “budget hotels in Zhangzha Town” (300-600 RMB/night), convenient for Tibetan food!
Day 2: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area (Y-shaped right route) → Stay in Zhangzha Town
🕙 8:00 AM depart hotel, take sightseeing bus to “Rhinoceros Lake,” visit “Rhinoceros Lake → Tiger Lake → Shuzheng Waterfall → Shuzheng Lakes → Spark Lake (sunlight refraction is beautiful)”, super fairy-tale!
🕛 12:00 Lunch at “restaurant near Shuzheng Village” with yak meat hot pot (about 70 RMB/person), rest!
🕒 2:00 PM visit “Bonsai Beach → Reed Lake,” see “water bonsai + reed marsh,” very atmospheric!
🕓 4:00 PM return, stay in Zhangzha Town!
Day 3: Huanglong Scenic Area → Return trip
🕙 8:00 AM taxi from Zhangzha Town to “Huanglong Scenic Area” (1.5 hours, 200 RMB), visit “Huanglong (calcium pools + snow mountains),” take “cable car (80 RMB) up, walk down,” see “Five Color Pool (heavenly fairyland),” very sacred!
🕛 12:00 Lunch at “restaurant inside Huanglong” with Tibetan steamed buns + butter tea (about 40 RMB/person), rest!
🕒 2:00 PM return!
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⚠️ Pitfall guide: I’ve stepped into these traps so you don’t have to!
1️⃣ Altitude sickness traps:
❌ Don’t “exercise vigorously right after arrival”! I ran immediately and got dizzy and nauseous… Better “adapt for 1 day in Zhangzha Town” before entering the park!
❌ Don’t “forget oxygen tanks”! I didn’t bring one and had to buy oxygen at Long Lake… The park sells it for 50 RMB/bottle, city shops for 20 RMB/bottle!
2️⃣ Illegal taxi traps:
❌ Don’t take “illegal taxis outside the park”! I took one, the driver said “we’ll help you avoid the ticket,” but got caught by the park, had to pay fines and ticket fees… Choose “official taxis” or “park buses”!
3️⃣ Price traps:
❌ Don’t buy snacks “inside the park”! I did, and they were 3 times more expensive than in town… Bring your own “self-heating hot pot + chocolate + water,” saves money and fills you up!
4️⃣ Shopping traps:
❌ Don’t buy “souvenirs inside the park”! I bought a “yak horn comb,” but found it half price in town… Buy at “Zhangzha Town supermarket,” cheaper and authentic!
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📸 Photo tips: These spots are breathtaking!
1️⃣ Five Flower Lake (palette):
🕙 Best time: 10:00-11:00 AM (soft light, most colorful water).
👗 Outfit tip: Wear white/light-colored jackets to contrast with the lake’s colors.
📷 Composition tip: Use a wide-angle lens for “lake + surrounding colorful forest” panorama, or telephoto for underwater deadwood details, super healing!
2️⃣ Long Lake (snow mountain reflection):
🕙 Best time: 3:00-4:00 PM (soft light, clear snow mountain reflection).
👗 Outfit tip: Wear red/bright jackets to contrast with the cool tones of the snow mountains.
📷 Composition tip: Stand on the viewing platform, use wide-angle for “lake + snow mountain + sky” panorama, or telephoto for snow peak details, super stunning!
3️⃣ Nuorilang Waterfall (white silk):
🕙 Best time: 12:00-1:00 PM (direct sunlight, waterfall glows golden).
👗 Outfit tip: Wear blue/green jackets to blend with the white waterfall.
📷 Composition tip: Stand in front of the waterfall, use wide-angle for “waterfall + surrounding colorful forest” panorama, or telephoto for water droplet details, very dynamic!
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🍖 Food: Must-try local delicacies!
1️⃣ Yak Meat Hot Pot:
📍 Location: Tibetan restaurant in Zhangzha Town (about 70 RMB/person).
😋 Taste: Tender yak meat, super fresh broth, tastes great with barley cakes!
2️⃣ Tibetan Steamed Buns:
📍 Location: Snack stalls inside Huanglong Scenic Area (about 15 RMB/person).
😋 Taste: Thin bun skin, filling of yak meat + scallions, amazing with spicy sauce!
3️⃣ Butter Tea:
📍 Location: Tibetan restaurant in Zhangzha Town (about 20 RMB/person).
😋 Taste: Rich butter flavor, slightly salty tea, warms the stomach and fights cold!
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👗 Outfit tips: Practical + photogenic, avoid the mistakes I made!
❌ Don’t wear “short skirts”! It’s freezing at the top, choose “long skirts (below the knee) + leggings,” warm and photogenic!
❌ Don’t forget “hats”! The wind is strong at the top, I forgot mine and my head hurt from the wind… Choose “wool hats (warm) + trapper hats (windproof),” great for photos!
❌ Don’t wear “high heels”! Lots of stone steps in the park, easy to twist ankles, choose “hiking shoes (non-slip) + sneakers (versatile),” easy to walk!
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Final summary: Jiuzhaigou is definitely worth visiting! But be sure to avoid altitude sickness traps + illegal taxi traps + price traps! Follow my guide, and you’ll blow up your social media and save money! 💥 Save this now and just go for your holiday! 💧
MoonlightMelody12345678
21
Ctrip offers convenient ticketing; simply scan your ID card to enter the park. Nestled among the mountains of Songpan in western Sichuan, you'll encounter Huanglong, a paradise favored by nature. The snow-capped peaks of Xuebaoding are perpetually covered in snow, their silvery light like jade inlaid in the sky. Mountain winds pierce through the clouds, carrying the crisp, high-altitude air, brushing against the primeval forests. The pines and firs stand tall, the birches verdant, their branches intertwined, letting in dappled sunlight that casts dappled shadows on the winding boardwalks. Millions of years of geological sculpting have created unique travertine wonders on this land. Golden sands carpet the ground like a giant dragon lying on the slope, and snowmelt flows gently through the golden travertine terraces, its shimmering surface resembling a cascading silver river. A light touch of the water envelops you in the cool high-altitude air; the murmuring water murmurs in the valley, becoming the gentlest natural rhythm.
Winter is off peak season but still a lot of people. Mainly snow and ice scenery. But the walk/hike is refreshing.
Woww .. Huanglong ( I Ned more oxygen 🤣) very2 tired . I choose the wrong time to come. It’s beautiful .. wait I will come again
Visiting Huanglong Scenic Area in winter is like stepping into a snowy wonderland that is isolated from the rest of the world. The white snow covers the travertine pool, and the azure water and pure white snow complement each other, just like a fairyland that has fallen into the mortal world. In the cold air, the colorful pool glows with the luster of glass in the sun, the steaming mist lingers in the forest, and icicles hang from the branches, and every step seems to crush jade. The cold wind carries the cold fragrance of cedar, and the only sound you can hear in the silence is the rustling of ice crystals, as if you are in a secret place that is out of this world, which is very exciting.
Huanglong Scenic Area is located in Songpan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. People can reach here by self-driving, high-speed rail, and airplane. The transportation is extremely convenient. The scenic area is dominated by more than 3,000 terraced colored pools, among which the five-color pool and the golden sand paving are the most famous. These pools will show blue, green, and yellow gradient colors under the sun, and are known as the Yaochi on earth. In addition to these colored pools, the scenic area also has four unique landscapes such as wetlands, snow-capped mountains, forests, and canyons, which look beautiful. However, the scenic area is 3,900 meters above sea level, so be careful to prevent altitude sickness. The whole hike here is about 7 kilometers, but you can choose a combination of cableway up the mountain and walking down the mountain, which can take into account both efficiency and sightseeing. In general, Huanglong Scenic Area is still worth a visit.
Although the water in Huanglong is not as colorful as that in Jiuzhaigou, the numerous large and small calcified pools along the way flow down the hillside, reflecting the green mountains, green trees, blue sky and white clouds, and are also very beautiful, not inferior to the colorful pools at the top of the mountain. It is recommended to take the cable car up the mountain and walk down the mountain, which will save some effort and you will not miss the calcified pools and waterfalls along the way.
Huanglong Scenic Area is very friendly and free tickets for the elderly. There are two ways to visit the scenic spot, 1. Take the scenic spot center by sightseeing bus. 2. Hike the scenic spot center 43 kilometers. We choose to hike and experience the plateau climate, and you can see ancient trees and plants for hundreds of years or even thousands of years along the way. It coincides with the bloom of rhododendrons, and the flowers are all the way forward. You can also watch the Huanglong Snow Mountain on the observation deck. Although a little tired, you can enjoy it. Finally, I boarded the colorful pool at an altitude of 3576 meters and saw the Dianchi Lake on earth. There are countless pieces of different sizes, and the color pools of different shapes are like watercolor boards full of colorful pigments, blue and green, sea blue, light blue, etc., gorgeous and wonderful. As if the fairy sprinkled in the mountains of emerald, strange and fantasy, like the eyes of Huanglong. Finally, on foot down the mountain, many tourists around the altitude sickness, bought oxygen tanks, reducing the altitude hypoxia reaction. We took the Rhodiola capsule one day in advance. The altitude sickness was not great. We insisted on hiking and met the Yanchi, Boro Yingcaichi, Spiegel Reflection Pool, and Yingbin Pool on the way down the mountain. Let us enjoy the beauty of different Dianchi Lakes and marvel at the magical work of nature.
A thousand years of sight, encounter Huanglong, the fairyland on earth Stepping into the Huanglong Scenic Area is like starting a dream date with nature. The continuous snow-capped mountains, the clear blue sky, the dense forests, everything is so beautiful that it seems to be in a fairyland. Walking along the plank road, I encountered the Five-Colored Pool, a dreamland composed of countless colorful pools. The water in the pool is clear and bottom-to-bottom. Under the refraction of the sun, it presents a variety of colors, as if it is a palette carefully overturned by nature, and every color makes people intoxicated. Walking down from the Five-Colored Pool, there are scenic spots such as the Competition Pool and the Bonsai Pool, each with its own characteristics, one step at a time, and a painting at every step. The calcified beach shines with golden light under the sun, like a golden dragon winding through the mountains, which is amazing. However, the scenic area is at a high altitude, so you have to take it easy when playing, avoid strenuous exercise, and prevent altitude sickness. It is definitely right to prepare oxygen cylinders in advance. In addition, there are few dining options and the prices are high, so it would be more appropriate to bring some food to replenish energy. Huanglong is not only a natural landscape, but also a spiritual baptism. Every landscape here makes people feel the uncanny craftsmanship and infinite charm of nature. This trip is a romantic encounter between me and Huanglong, and it is also an unforgettable spiritual journey that makes me deeply intoxicated and reluctant to leave.