It is said that if there should be wonderlands on the earth, Jiuzhaigou Valley must be one of them. There is no equal elsewhere that has sceneries and fables of dreamlike eloquence, or natural purities like a fairyland as Jiuzhaigou Valley. 
Jiuzhaigou Pictures
Jiuzhaigou Valley is located in Nanping County, 450 kilometers (about 280 miles) to the north of Chengdu City. Its name is due to the existence of nine stockaded villages of Tibetan origin, and it is always regarded as a holy mountain and watercourse by the Tibetan people.
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a great masterpiece of nature having dreamlike scenery and abundant natural resources. It combines blue lakes, waterfalls, verdant forests, snow-covered mountains, and the folk customs of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples.
This region covers more than 600 square kilometers (about 230 square miles), and includes areas such as Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley and Zharu Valley, etc. The main beauty spots such as calc-sinter lake groups, waterfalls, and other waterscapes, as well as 12 summits make Jiuzhaigou Valley a wonderful appearance.
Legend has it; that long, long ago the deity of mountain named Dago had a crush on the goddess Semo, and he gave a mirror that was made from wind and cloud to the goddess. However, the devil appeared and made trouble to Semo. Inadvertently, Semo broke the mirror into 108 pieces, which fell down to the earth and then turned to 108 colorful lakes. The lake is also called Haizi by local people.
| Admission Fee: | CNY220 in peak season (Apr.1 to Nov.15); CNY80 in low season (Nov.16 to Mar.31) |
| Opening Hours: | 07:00 to 19:00 in peak season; 08:00 to 18:00 in low season |
Transport:
![]() |
| Map of Jiuzhaigou |
By bus: Besides tourist buses operated by travel agents, Chengdu Xinnanmen Coach Station, Chadianzi Coach Station and coach stations in Mianyang and Guangyuan have buses to Jiuzhaigou everyday.
Self-drive-tour routes:
1. Chengdu => Dujiangyan => Wenchuan => Maoxian => Songpan => Jiuzhaigou (upgraded smooth road) (total length: 315km)
2. Chengdu => Mianyang=>Jiangyou => Pingwu => Jiuzhaigou (upgraded smooth road) (total length: 475km)
3. Chengdu => Ya'an => Luding => Danba => Siguniangshan =. Ma'erkang => Hongyuan = Chuanzhusi => Jiuzhaigou (upgraded smooth road) (total length: 792km)
4. Guangyuan => Zhaohua => Bikou => Wenxian => Jiuzhaigou (smooth road without firn in winter) (total length: 315km)
5. Lanzhou => Linxia => Hezuo => Luqu => Ruo'ergai => Jiuzhaigou (smooth road) (total length: 804km)
6. Lanzhou => Baoji => Fengxian => Luoyang => Wudu => Wenxian => Jiuzhaigou (smooth road) (total length: 699km)
7. Xi'an => Baoji => Fengxian => Luoyang => Wudu => Wuxian => Jiuzhaigou (smooth road) (total length: 816km)
8. Xi'an => Hanzhong => Ningqiang => Qingmuchuan => Qingmuyaodu => Bikou => Wenxian => Jiuzhaigou (smooth road) (total length: 697km)
Getting Around:
Green environmental-friendly tourist buses serve the whole scenic area.
| Operation Hours: | Summer: 07:00 to 19:00; Winter: 08:00 to 18:00 |
| Ticket Price: | Summer: CNY90/single; Winter: CNY80/single |
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Shuzheng Valley
Rize Valley
Zechawa Valley
Jiuzhaigou Travel Tips
Jiuzhaigou Map

Q & A on Jiuzhaigou Valley
1.
Feb. 2,2010 03:45 Reply
Mr.Paritosh(India) said:
Hi,
I am planning to visit Jiuzhaigou Valley from chengdu between 13th - 20th Feb. Can anyone tell me how to get there and where I can find some nice and cheap place to stay.
Feb. 2,2010 23:10
Mr.Kevin replied:
The easiest way is to take a plane to Jiuzhaigou at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. But it is more expensive. Or you can take a bus to Jiuzhaigou. You can take a bus at Chengdu Xinnanmen (New South Gate) Bus Station, Ximen Bus Station or Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station. Remember to buy your bus ticket in advance.
Check this page to learn the locations of those bus stations:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/sichuan/chengdu/getting-there.htm
You needn’t worry about your lodging. You may find many hostels near the entrance of Jiuzhaigou.
Feb. 3,2010 21:20
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
There are not so many hotels open during the winter around Jiuzhaigou. There are a few expensive places like the Sheraton (probably good discount) and a few cold Chinese hotels! There is an Intercontinental as well. You can fine their information on the internet. There is also a home stay that I believe is open all year around. There is a review on CNNgo's website http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/play/tibetan-home-stay-jiuzhaigou-167132 and they have a facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=236045717395&ref=ts
2.
Jan. 27,2010 00:17 Reply
Ms.Celestine(Malaysia) said:
Hi,
i'm planning to go Jiu Zhai Gou with friends, may i know this place - 若尔盖大草原 is nearby jiu zhai gou area? how can we get there?
thank you.
Feb. 2,2010 20:42
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
The Ruo Er Gai Grasslands are about a 4 hour drive from Jiuzhaigou National Park. They are about 2 hours from the airport....and very beautiful!
You can rent a private car from a travel agent or a taxi to get there.
Feb. 3,2010 18:54
Ms.Celestine(Malaysia) replied:
Thanks Mr Kai Wen, thanks for your information. I'm going to Chengdu for 7 days, plan to go jiu zhai gou, huang long, ruo er gai grassland and chengdu city including to visit the pandas reservation base, do u think isit enough of time? i plan to take the flight from chengdu to jiu zhai gou coz can save a lot of time even though a bit expensive.
3.
Jan. 26,2010 02:40 Reply
Ms.Elsa(Malaysia) said:
Hi,
my friends and i will travel to chengdu on 20/09/10 - 27/09/10, the time that we arrive chengdu airport is about 11pm, so i am thikning to take the earliest flight on 21/09 to Jiu Zhai Gou which can save time for travel by bus. unfortunately the air ticket is about RNB1080, will it be expsnive or it just standard price? the period of we travel isit the peak season? so should we book the air ticketn now? we plan to spend 3 days 2 nights in jiuzhaigou and hualong national park, is that enough of time?
this is my temporary itinerary:
20/09 - reach chengdu at 11pm
21/09 - Huanglong national park
22/09 - jiuzhaigou
23/09 - jiuzhaigou / chengdu
24/09 - visit panda resarch and centre
25/09 - er mei shan / ching cheng shan
26/09 - Chengdu
27/09 - Chengdu
the flight back to malaysia is at 11.55pm, we plan to take bus back from JiZhaigou to Chengdu, do anyone know that the last bus will depart from JiuZhaiGou?
how's is the itinerary? is that ok? where can we spend our time in chengdu? is there enough of time for us travel to Chong Qing? coz i heard that is about 1.5hours journey from Chengdu to Chong Qing right? is there any thing interesting in Chong Qing?
Jan. 26,2010 20:10
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
Hi Elsa,
Your itinerary looks good to me. That is the normal flight price to Jiuzhaigou but if it is going to get cheaper, about 1 or 2 weeks before the departure is the best time to check. It is not likely to be much cheaper so you might feel more secure if you just book early at that price.
3 days and 2 nights in Jiuzhai, Huanglong is ok. In such a beautiful place 2 or 3 weeks would also be nice - although ticket prices would be a bit much! You would have to buy two entrance tickets to Jiuzhaigou if you want to enter on two days. They have prices etc. on their website http://www.jiuzhai.com/language/english/visit.html
There is a 2hr train between Chengdu and Chongqing but book your tickets early as the fast train sells out fast. You could also fly from Jiuzhaigou to Chongqing. In Chongqing there is the Dazu stone carvings that might be of interest. You could also extend your E Mei Shan trip to cover E Mei, Qing cheng Shan and Leshan and spend one day in Chengdu and leave Chongqing for next time.
Jan. 26,2010 23:48
Ms.Elsa(Malaysia) replied:
Thanks Kai Wen, your reply is much appreciate.
how long should we spend for the trip to E Mei, Qing Cheng Shan and Leshan as you suggested? 2 days 1 night or can be done by day trip? Is it recommended us to stay overnight and catch the sunrise in either E Mei or Qing Cheng Shan?
Thanks :)
Jan. 27,2010 22:02
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
The buses from Jiuzhaigou all leave in the morning time. There are no afternoon buses. There used to be a 1pm one but that has not been available since 2008.
Jan. 28,2010 00:40
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
In Chongqing there are the Dazu stone carvings that might be worth visiting. It might be easier to centre your trip closer to Chengdu and visit Leshan and perhaps Emei Shan.
Those flight prices are the standard full fare prices. They could come down but it doesn't usually happen until the last 2 week or so.
There is now a 2hr train from Chengdu to CQ but you will need to book it in advance because it sells out very quickly.
Feb. 1,2010 19:08
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
I don't know how I managed to reply so many times before! I think for Leshan and Emei you would need at least 2 full days. 3 would be better. Day 1 - Leshan, overnight at Emei. Day 2 Emei, overnight on the mountain, see the sunset and come down on day 3. Qing Chen Shan I'm not too sure how much time but at least one full day.
4.
Jan. 23,2010 19:28 Reply
Mr.Norman(Australia) said:
We wish to visit Jiuzhaigou in May for 3 days including arrival and departure days in and out from Chendgu. It seems the hotels are some distance from the Airport.
1. How do we travel from airport to hotel area? Bus, Taxi
2 Do we need to arrange tour to visit the scenic valley area or take taxi to entrance?
3 Are the 3 days there ok? it's really depends on flight times I guess.
Any assistance much appreciated.
Regards
Max
Jan. 25,2010 19:38
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
Hi Max, 3 days should be ok. You should get an early morning flight to Jiuzhaigou on day 1 and go straight to Huanglong National Park. Then that evening go to Jiuzhaigou and overnight in Jiuzhaigou.
Then on day 2 go into Jiuzhaigou for the full day. On day 3 book a late evening flight if you can and spend day 3 either in the national park (you could do a hiking trip) or you could visit a local home stay and go hiking in traditional villages outside of the national park.
You should book in plenty of time for this period though because it is one of the Chinese national holidays and always very busy - especially the 1st - 5th or so.
To travel from the airport there are shuttle busses that will leave if there are a min of 5 people. This costs 45 RMB per person to Jiuzhaigou or 100 RMB each to Huanglong and then Jiuzhaigou.
A taxi to Jiuzhaigou costs 200 and you will have to bargain to go to Huanglong and then Jiuzhaigou. It could cost between 300 and 500. The drive from the airport to Jiuzhaigou is around 80mins and that's where the hotels are. I would advise against booking a tour inside the park. Pick up some literature at the park entrance and explore yourself.
5.
Jan. 15,2010 01:39 Reply
Ms.Ning(Thailand ) said:
I have a plan to visit Jiuzhaigou in FEB.
Could you pls give me some information..
- Due to bad weather in China now,does the Jiuzhaigou national park still open ?
- The fare for enter 2 days in Jiuzhaigou.
- I heard "Chunjie" is on Feb,14th. Could u pls advise which period between Feb,3rd-5th or Feb,17th-19th
is better to visit ? (less people)
Thanks in advance for your kindness
Ning
Jan. 15,2010 03:46
Ms.Grace replied:
Hello,Ms.Ning
- The park is still open.
- The fare for entering twice is the same as once, CNY80 in low season (Nov.16 to Mar.31). But you need to get the next day free ticket when you enter the park for the first time.
- The two periods are all with less people. Feb. is the low season, it is cold and people are busy with the spring festival.
Jan. 17,2010 19:50
Mr.Kai Wen(China) replied:
The weather in Jiuzhaigou has been clear and sunny for the past few weeks. It can snow at times but the majority of the flights are still able to land even when it does snow. When it is sunny, it can be up to 15 or 19 degrees Celsius during the day.
There will be less people between the 3rd and 5th than the 17th and 19th.
Jan. 20,2010 12:27
Ms.Ning(Thailand ) replied:
Greeting from Thailand !! Ms.Grace , Mr.Kai Wen
Thank you very much for your information. I already booked ticket to Chengdu and looking for Hostel in Jiuzhaigou on 3rd till 5th Feb.
Hope weather not be bad that period ^_^