Jiuzhaigou National Park

Jiuzhaigou National Park

It is said that if there should be wonderlands on the earth, Jiuzhaigou National Park 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 it.

Jiuzhaigou National Park, aka Jiuzhai Valley National Park or Jiuzhaigou Valley, is located in Jiuzhaigou County, 450 kilometers (280 miles) to the north of Chengdu. 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 National Park is a great masterpiece of nature having dreamlike scenery, which combines blue lakes, waterfalls, verdant forests, snow-covered mountains, and the folk customs of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples. 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.

Five-Flower Lake
Five-Flower Lake
Our Guests in Jiuzhaigou Valley
Our Guests in Jiuzhaigou Valley

Map of Jiuzhaigou
Map of Jiuzhaigou
(Click to enlarge)

In addition to the dreamlike sceneries, there are numerous flora and fauna in Jiuzhaigou National Park. The natural forest covers an area of nearly 30,000 hectares (about 74,132 acres), including 2,576 higher plant species (24 species of national protected plants) and over 400 lower plant species (212 species of algae). The diversity of flora has provided a good environment for wild animals.  There are 170 species of vertebrates, 141 species of birds and 17 species of rare animals. Among them the first rank has giant pandas, takins and golden monkeys and the second rank has lesser pandas, marmots, and blue sheep.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area covers more than 600 square kilometers (about 230 square miles). Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley and Zechawa Valley are the three main valleys, but the sceneries are far more than you expect. There are Panda Lake Waterfall which has the longest drop in Jiuzhaigou Valley and freezes to a crystal world in winter, the giant calc-sinter beach Pearl Beach, the Arrow Bamboo Lake that has a large area of bamboo, the favorite food of pandas, and Swan Lake where swans inhabit ...

The best time to visit Jiuzhaigou is autumn, especially September and October. Besides, with the snow scenery, Jiuzhaigou winter is attracting.
 

Entrance Fee

Apr. 1 - Nov. 15 CNY 220
Nov. 16 - Mar. 31 CNY 80

 Notes:
Tourists need to book a ticket online at least one day before visiting, as there is no tickt counter at the entrance.

 Preferential Policy:
1. Children and teenagers aged 7-18, as well as seniors aged 60-64 can enjoy half price of the entrance ticket with their certificates of identification, but without preference on the sightseeing bus.
2. Children aged 6 or younger and those under 1.2 m (3.9 ft), as well as seniors aged above 65 can enjoy free entry to the park, but without exemption of the sightseeing bus fare.
 

Opening Hours

Apr. 1 - Nov. 15: 8:00 - 17:00
Nov. 16 - Mar. 31: 8:30 - 17:00
 

Visitors need to take the sightseeing bus to enter the scenic area. The green environmental-friendly sightseeing buses serve the whole scenic area. The bus fare is CNY 90 from April 1 to November 15, and CNY 80 from November 16 to March 31.
 

How to get to Jiuzhaigou National Park from Chengdu

Pearl Shoal Waterfall
Pearl Shoal Waterfall

 By Air:
Jiuhuang Airport is about 88 kilometers (55 miles) from the mouth of the valley and about 53 kilometers (33 miles) from Huanglong. It takes 40 minutes to fly from Chengdu to the airport and nearly two hours' driving from the airport to the scenic area. Currently, the airport only operates direct air routes to Chengdu.

 By Bus:
Regular buses are available from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station at 8:20 in the morning, and from Chadianzi Bus Station at 10:10. The bus fare is CNY 168 / 238. It is advised to buy the bus ticket in advance.
 

Map of Jiuzhaigou Ring Way
Map of Jiuzhaigou Ring Way
(Click to enlarge)

 By Train + Bus
Direct Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou Train with a duration of 2 hours will be operated in 2024. At present passengers can take a 1.5 hours bullet train from Chengdu to Zhenjiangguan Railway Station, the nearest high speed train station from Jiuzhaigou, where tourists can take a direct bus to Jiuzhaigou. The bus departs at 09:20, 12:40 and 18:10, taking CNY 48-98 with a duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes.

 Further Reading: Best Way to Travel between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou
 

How to get to Jiuzhaigou National Park from Xi'an?

At present, there are no direct flights from Xi'an to Jiuzhaigou. Visitors need to get to Chengdu first, and then follow the Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou guide above. From Xi'an to Chengdu, they can conveniently take high speed trains at Xi'an North Railway Station and the train journey only takes about 2.5 hours.

 Further Reading: How to Travel between Xi’an and Jiuzhaigou

 Read More: 15 Most Beautiful Places in China

- Last updated on Jul. 10, 2024 by Catherine He -
Questions & Answers on Jiuzhaigou National Park
Asked by Andrew from INDONESIA | Jul. 01, 2024 09:24Reply
Bipenggou to jiuzhaigou
How to get from bipenggou to jiuzhaigou? Or should I go back to chengdu and then go to jiuzhaigou? Thanks im advance.
Answers (5)
Answered by Keith | Jul. 01, 2024 22:55
00Reply


I found no bus from Bipenggou to Jiuzhaigou. You can charter a car to Zhenjiangguan Railway Station and take a bus or share a car there to Jiuzhaigou.
Answered by Andrew | Jul. 02, 2024 09:01
00Reply


How to charter car? By what apps? Thank you
Answered by Keith | Jul. 03, 2024 00:33
00Reply


Usually there are private cars at the entrance of the attraction and you need to negotiate the price.
Answered by Andrew | Jul. 10, 2024 15:17
00Reply


Thanks mate.
Better stay in jiuzhaigou or songpan?

I plan to go to day 1, huang long then songpan ancient city.
Day 2 jiuzhaigou
Day 3 back to chengdu by high speed train.
Answered by Joshua | Jul. 10, 2024 23:49
00Reply


For the first night you can stay in Songpan, and the second night you can stay in Jiuzhaigou and leave for Chengdu on the third day.
Asked by Andi from INDONESIA | Jun. 13, 2024 21:39Reply
jiuzhaigou for 65 years old foreigner
How to book free tickets for 65 yo foreigners? can't we open abatour.com when we are outside china?
Answers (1)
Answered by Marcy | Jun. 16, 2024 19:01
00Reply


Sorry to tell you that online booking is a must. You can try to access to the abatour.com from time to time, the site is unstable sometimes.
Asked by Andi from INDONESIA | Jun. 09, 2024 22:19Reply
HailongJiuZhai Train Station
When will the station open?
Answers (1)
Answered by Joshua | Jun. 11, 2024 02:15
00Reply


You mean Huanglong Jiuzhai station? It's predicted to be open by the end of 2024.
Asked by Andi from INDONESIA | Jun. 09, 2024 17:52Reply
Chong qing jiuzhaigou
How to get to jiuzhaigou from chong qing? By train? From Zhenjiangguan to jiuzhaigou is therr any free buses? Thank you
Answers (3)
Answered by Keith | Jun. 11, 2024 01:21
00Reply


Travel by train, you need to make a transfer, first to Chengdu then to Zhenjiangguan.
From Zhenjiangguan, no free buses but direct buses at a cost of CNY 45 to Jiuzhaigou at 09:20, 11:30, 11:50, 12:30, 12:50, 17:30, 17:50 with a duration of about 3 hours.
Answered by Andre | Jun. 13, 2024 08:42
00Reply


How to book bus from zhenjiangguan direct to jiuzhaigo?
Answered by Joshua | Jun. 13, 2024 19:17
00Reply


It may be troublesome for foreigners online through WeChat mini program 易来客运. Actually if not on public holidays, you can actually get on the bus directly to Jiuzhaigou at Zhenjiangguan Railway Station without booking in advance.
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