Jiu Zhai Gou (九寨沟) ; Valley of Nine Fortified Villages in English ; is a nature reserve and national park located in the north of Sichuan province, China. Honestly this year I want to go to Europe for my holiday but my dad insisted that he wanted to go to China (again) and so I suggested to go to Jiu Zhai Gou.
Jiuzhaigou Valley was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. I've heard about this beautiful place a year ago and it stuck in my my mind ever since cos I love beautiful natural scenery.
Tibetan people lives here and 7 of the 9 Tibetan villages are still populated today. To reach Jiu Zhai Gou area, I took a flight from Guang Zhou to JiuZhai HuangLong Airport and then took few hours of Bus ride to Huanglong. Or you can go directly to Jiu Zhai Gou.
Actually, I've visited Huanglong first on my second day but because of the bad weather I didn't manage to take any photos there. It was raining and the weather was not good, I didn't bring any sweater or umbrella. I can barely move my hand, haha. I only took a video in Huanglong and you can see it here.
I really can't stop admiring the scenery in Jiu Zhai Gou. If some photographers need to add some filters or editing their pictures here and there to look pretty, I don't need that because in real Jiu Zhai Gou is way prettier than all my pictures here.
I'm not sure how to express it but if you have the chance, you should visit this place someday. I'm not a fan of mainland people because they're (mostly) so impolite and rude. And 1 thing that I really don't like about China, the Toilet and their spitting habit. -___-
There were many times I feel sick with all the people and all the toilets (lol), but after arrived to this place.. all of my pique disappeared. But oh well, be careful with your shoes, they may step on it with guiltless feeling. lol
Jiuzhaigou is composed of three valleys arranged in a Y shape. They're Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley and Shuzheng Valley. To visit all of them in 1 day is impossible, I only visit 5 places cos that was had chosen for us.
To think that all of the beauty in Jiu Zhai Gou is real, I feel so grateful to be there. All of the nature are untouched by human and we must ride a special bus provided by the park. Because they use special what-I-don't-know to avoid contamination from car pollution.
If you travel by yourself, you can take the Bus at the Bus station but beware the line is very very long and you must fight with the mainland people to have your seat, lol. Book a travel and a guide, it's better and worth it.
It was too bad that the time I visited Jiu Zhai Gou was the peak season. It was a school holiday season for the kids in summer and all their parents want to bring their child to a holiday trip. The most popular place probably Jiu Zhai Gou and Zhang Jia Jie. My guide said that in March the visitor is lesser but still a lot. lol
No color editing for all the pictures here because no need, they're already beautiful and so vivid! I took my pictures with dslr and iphone, the result almost same.
There're few things you must bring when you want to travel to Jiuzhaigou:
1. Umbrella or Raincoat or a Hat, rain falls quite often here even in Summer, so prepare yours before it's all too late.
2. A comfortable shoes, to explore all the beautiful places you must walk!
3. A good stamina. If your body is prone to cold, make sure to wear thick clothes or bring a heat pack!
4. A bottle of water and Camera!
5. A toilet paper, wet tissue, body spray/perfume and a mask. lol these are your gears to the toilet.
During my visit the temperature was around 14-15 °C, it is really comfortable because the sun was shining brightly so the wind doesn't feel too cold.
I passed some lakes like Mirror Lake, Rhinos Lake and Tiger Lake. But it was too bad my group didn't stopped there because all of them already tired, lol. Even though I can't take some pictures there but I swear Mirror Lake is so amazing. I really want to visit Jiu Zhai Gou again someday (but not soon! lol) in not-too-high-peak-season so I can explore the place to the fullest.
It's impossible to explore all the valley because it's so big and they have so many secret lakes around. If you follow a tour, they will bring you to some popular and recommended places there. It's better if you can plan a private tour and request some places you want to visit to your guide.
Jiuzhaigou Valley was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. I've heard about this beautiful place a year ago and it stuck in my my mind ever since cos I love beautiful natural scenery.
The Tibetan guy, still in their traditional clothes to keep their body warm. |
Actually, I've visited Huanglong first on my second day but because of the bad weather I didn't manage to take any photos there. It was raining and the weather was not good, I didn't bring any sweater or umbrella. I can barely move my hand, haha. I only took a video in Huanglong and you can see it here.
Long Lake, is crescent-shaped and is the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou. |
I really can't stop admiring the scenery in Jiu Zhai Gou. If some photographers need to add some filters or editing their pictures here and there to look pretty, I don't need that because in real Jiu Zhai Gou is way prettier than all my pictures here.
I'm not sure how to express it but if you have the chance, you should visit this place someday. I'm not a fan of mainland people because they're (mostly) so impolite and rude. And 1 thing that I really don't like about China, the Toilet and their spitting habit. -___-
Five-Color Pond, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area. |
There were many times I feel sick with all the people and all the toilets (lol), but after arrived to this place.. all of my pique disappeared. But oh well, be careful with your shoes, they may step on it with guiltless feeling. lol
Jiuzhaigou is composed of three valleys arranged in a Y shape. They're Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley and Shuzheng Valley. To visit all of them in 1 day is impossible, I only visit 5 places cos that was had chosen for us.
Nuorilang Waterfalls, they are reportedly the widest highland waterfall in China, the widest travertine-topped waterfall in the world, and one of the symbols of Jiuzhaigou. |
The popular cave where Sun Wu Kong/Sun Go Kong lives with his monkey troops in Journey to the West movie. |
If you travel by yourself, you can take the Bus at the Bus station but beware the line is very very long and you must fight with the mainland people to have your seat, lol. Book a travel and a guide, it's better and worth it.
It was too bad that the time I visited Jiu Zhai Gou was the peak season. It was a school holiday season for the kids in summer and all their parents want to bring their child to a holiday trip. The most popular place probably Jiu Zhai Gou and Zhang Jia Jie. My guide said that in March the visitor is lesser but still a lot. lol
No color editing for all the pictures here because no need, they're already beautiful and so vivid! I took my pictures with dslr and iphone, the result almost same.
Five Flower Lake, is a shallow multi-colored lake whose bottom is criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks. |
There're few things you must bring when you want to travel to Jiuzhaigou:
1. Umbrella or Raincoat or a Hat, rain falls quite often here even in Summer, so prepare yours before it's all too late.
2. A comfortable shoes, to explore all the beautiful places you must walk!
3. A good stamina. If your body is prone to cold, make sure to wear thick clothes or bring a heat pack!
4. A bottle of water and Camera!
5. A toilet paper, wet tissue, body spray/perfume and a mask. lol these are your gears to the toilet.
During my visit the temperature was around 14-15 °C, it is really comfortable because the sun was shining brightly so the wind doesn't feel too cold.
I passed some lakes like Mirror Lake, Rhinos Lake and Tiger Lake. But it was too bad my group didn't stopped there because all of them already tired, lol. Even though I can't take some pictures there but I swear Mirror Lake is so amazing. I really want to visit Jiu Zhai Gou again someday (but not soon! lol) in not-too-high-peak-season so I can explore the place to the fullest.
With my guide 'Dong-Dong', he is really kind and funny lol. Luckily I got him as my local guide so my journey wasn't boring in Jiu zhai gou. |
It's impossible to explore all the valley because it's so big and they have so many secret lakes around. If you follow a tour, they will bring you to some popular and recommended places there. It's better if you can plan a private tour and request some places you want to visit to your guide.