About
Jiuzhaigou National Park lies in Sichuan Province, in southwestern China, within the Asian mountain country of the Min Mountains. It is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its alpine valleys, where a chain of lakes, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks sits in an unspoiled setting.
What the park offers
- Multi-coloured lakes that change tone with the light and the seasons, set among forested slopes.
- Waterfalls linking one valley level to the next along the park's water courses.
- Snow-capped peaks rising above the valleys, a reminder of the altitude of the terrain.
Much of the appeal lies in the scenery itself. The valleys are wooded and quiet, and walking through them gives a steady sense of the landscape changing from one stretch of water to the next.
Planning a visit
Jiuzhaigou is best approached as a day or more spent outdoors, on foot and at a steady pace. Dress for mountain weather, which can change quickly, and check the current arrangements for entry and getting around the park before you set out, as these may vary. The park is a natural reserve, so visitors are asked to keep to the marked routes and to leave the valleys as they found them.
Sichuan Province is wide and varied, so if you are travelling further, the region around the park is a reasonable place to base a longer trip through the mountains.