Jiuzhai Valley Travel Tips

Jiuzhaigou Pictures

Clothes: In consideration of the plateau climate, intense ultraviolet radiation and great difference in temperature at daytime and night. You should better take long-sleeve blouse, trousers, enough warm clothes and rain gear. It is still necessary to bring down coat if one pays a visit in April. 

Medicine: Please bring some standing drugs in case of cold, allergy, discomfort in stomach, etc, as well as some bandages and vitamin. Prepare some medicine to prevent altitude illness, such as Rhodiola Rosea herb capsules, American ginseng throat tablets, etc. 

Skin Care: To protect skin from hurt for long-time outside activities, bring hat and suncream. 

Oxygen Problem: Prepare small oxygen cylinder for the aged people and young kids. It is easy to buy find oxygen cylinders at medicine stores in Chengdu. This is a no-go area for people with high blood pressure or heart diseases.
 

Most visitors choose to go there by airplane. The fact is that Jiuzhaigou Airport is still 88 kilometers from the mouth of Jiuzhai Valley, 1.5 hours' bus ride, 50 kilometers from Huanglong Scenic Area, about one hour's bus ride. The airport is between Jiuzhai Valley and Huanglong which are 2.5-3 hours from each other by car.
 

Tourist buses in the Valley

The mouth of Jiuzhai Valley, shortly called Gou Kou by the local, refers to the outer area outside the main entrance to Jiuzhai Valley. Visitors would like to stay here, looking for eating, shopping and living places. Its name is formally Pengfeng Village.
Zhangzha Town is what the people call Zhen Shang (the town). It is located in the upper reaches of Pengfeng Village, also a place with restaurants and lodging. Compared with Pengfeng, Zhangzha is a bit farther from the scenic area.
Jiuzhaigou County, also known as Nanping, is the town seat of Jiuzhaigou. It is 43 kilometers from the scenic area of Jiuzhaigou. Pay attention to the destination while taking bus.
 

Hotel price here during the peak season is higher than that in the off-peak season, but not much. It costs around CNY200 for a 3/4 star hotel, while the 5 star hotel is much expensive, about CNY700-900. The price is subjected to changes according to your need. Anyway, popular hotels, hostels or inns will usually be full during the peak season.
 

During the off-peak season (November 16-March 31), you could not pay a full price for the second day visit to the scenic area, but only CNY20. It is impossible during the peak season. The detail for a two-consecutive-day visit is: when you purchase your ticket in the first day, you will be asked if you would like to go for another day. You say yes and pay, your photo will be taken on entry to the park to validate your second day's ticket. The ticket price is CNY 80 entrance fee + CNY80 tourist bus fare for the first day and CNY20 + CNY80 bus fee for the second day visit. If you pay for a one-day ticket and decide that you would like to re-enter on the second day you must tell the park staff on the way out, before you exit the park.
 

Tourists in the Valley

There are over 70-kilometer eco-friendly wooden trails throughout Jiuzhai Valley. You can choose these trails in stead of the tourist bus. This can maximize your enjoyment of the scenery. There are many natural beauties that can not be visible on the bus. 

It is possible to get off the bus at the top of each valley inside the scenic area and walk all the way out. It is still suggested to take bus from one valley to another for most visitors, for not everyone is passionate to walk all of the three valleys two full days.
 

To protect the ecological environment, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area will partly close some attractions for maintenance every year from November 16 to March 31. Those parts include the virgin forest section, Tiger Lake – Five-Flower Lake, Mirror Lake – Shuzheng Old Mill, Arrow Bamboo Lake – Pearl Shoal. It will not have impact on your visit to the valley.


 Jiuzhai Valley