Jiuzhaigou - Once you've seen Jiuzhai's waters, no other waters will do

“Once you've seen Jiuzhai's waters, no other waters will do” is a widely circulated praise, describing the ultimate purity and colorfulness of the waters of Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, implying that after seeing them, the landscapes of other places "no longer cause a stir." The following is a detailed introduction and travel advice about Jiuzhaigou: --- ### **Overview of Jiuzhaigou** - **Location**: Located in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, it is named for the nine Tibetan villages within the valley. - **Uniqueness**: Known for its plateau travertine lakes, waterfall groups, colorful forests, and snow-capped mountains, it is praised as a "fairyland on earth" and was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1992. - **Core Scenery**: - **Five-Flower Lake**: The lake water shows a gradient of blue and green due to mineral deposits and algae distribution, and the reflections are like oil paintings. - **Long Lake**: The highest lake in Jiuzhaigou, frozen like a mirror in winter. - **Nuorilang Waterfall**: The widest alpine travertine waterfall in China, with a majestic momentum. - **Pearl Shoal Waterfall**: The water flow splashes on the travertine beach like pearl-like water flowers (the filming location for the end credits of "Journey to the West"). --- ### **Why "Once you've seen Jiuzhai's waters, no other waters will do"?** 1. **Fantastic Colors**: The lake water presents gradient colors such as blue, green, and yellow due to minerals, algae, and light refraction, and is crystal clear. 2. **Beauty in Motion and Stillness**: The tranquil lakes (such as Mirror Lake) and dynamic waterfalls (such as Shuzheng Waterfall) are intertwined into a scene. 3. **Seasonal Changes**: - **Spring**: Snow-capped mountains are reflected, and wildflowers begin to bloom. - **Summer**: Lush greenery, abundant waterfall water volume. - **Autumn**: Colorful forests and blue waters reflect each other, which can be called a must-see. - **Winter**: Covered in silver, ice waterfalls are crystal clear like a fairy tale. --- ### **Travel Tips** - **Best Season**: Late September to mid-October (the most prosperous autumn scenery), July-August for summer heat (but beware of landslides during the rainy season). - **Tickets and Opening**: Peak season (April-November) tickets + sightseeing bus are about CNY 280; reservations are required in advance, and the daily flow is limited. - **Transportation**: About 8 hours by car from Chengdu (you can take a bus, charter a car, or choose a Jiuhuang Airport flight). - **Precautions**: - The altitude is 2000-3000m, avoid strenuous exercise to prevent altitude sickness. - Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area, and you must take the designated sightseeing bus. - Some areas are under repair after the earthquake, and you need to confirm the opening status before the trip (such as Spark Lake, etc.). --- ### **Cultural Experience** - **Tibetan Customs**: The prayer flags, white pagodas, and Tibetan homestays in the village can experience folk customs, and try butter tea and highland barley wine. - **Nearby Recommendations**: If you have enough time, you can connect to Huanglong Scenic Area (travertine pool group) or Songpan Ancient City. --- The landscape of Jiuzhaigou is a masterpiece of nature's ingenuity. Whether it is a first visit or a revisit, you can feel the shock of the "water scenery ceiling". If you have travel plans, it is recommended to make arrangements early, avoid the peak tourist season during holidays, and calm down to feel the beauty of this secret place.