Millions of people visit Jiuzhaigou annually to make lifelong memories while watching colorful lakes, spectacular waterfalls, lovely cascades, snowcapped mountains, primitive forests, traditional Tibetan villages and culture. With so much to explore and learn, however, there are some important considerations to help make this a successful visit.
1. Jiuzhaigou National Park (Jiuzhaigou Valley) is located in a high-altitude area, and most tourists do not experience significant mountain sickness. However, Huanglong National Park (Just ignore this tip if you don't visit Huanglong) has a higher altitude and visitors should take it easy and avoid intense exercise, drink less alcohol, and consume more vegetables and fruits to prevent altitude sickness. Elderly or weak individuals should prepare common medications and ideally have a small oxygen cylinder (which can be purchased in Chengdu).2. It is convenient to travel from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. Visitors can take a long distance coach (about 9 hours on road), or fly (2 hours) to Chuanzhusi and then take our private car to Jiuzhaigou.
3. The one-way distance from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou is about 400 kilometers, the road conditions are good, and the safety is neither as dangerous as some people say, nor as safe as on the plains.
4. Visitors can take a bus to Jiuzhaigou from the Xinnanmen Bus Station or the Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu, with a ticket price of about 100 yuan.
5. Jiuzhaigou has strong sunlight and ultraviolet rays. For long outdoor activities, please wear a sun hat and apply sunscreen to protect your skin.
6. There is a large temperature difference between day and night in Jiuzhaigou, so please bring enough warm clothing and common medications.
7. Each major scenic spot in the park has relatively hidden toilets and trash cans. Please actively cooperate during your visit and strengthen your environmental awareness.
8. Do not feed the fish. To ensure safety, it is best to visit with a tour guide to avoid accidents.
9. Visitors who are crazy about photography or mountain climbing should bring relevant equipment and pay attention to outdoor warmth.
10. Tickets in Jiuzhaigou National Park must be purchased once every time you enter. Tickets for the second time enter can be discounted, but you need to purchase them together when you purchase the first time, so please arrange your time to avoid wasting money on tickets.
11. Sightseeing bus policy is implemented in Jiuzhaigou National Park. The bus ticket is 70 - 90 yuan. If you want to take a seat without restrictions, you must buy it for the first time you enter, and you need not buy it in your second time enter. You can travel on foot, but you cannot take a bus without a ticket, otherwise you will be fined.
12. Staying overnight in the park is not allowed, visitors can find accommodation in Zhangzha Town or near the mouth of the valley (goukou).
13. Please respect the lives and beliefs of local ethnic minorities and avoid conflicts with local residents. When shopping, it is best to follow the advice of tour guides to avoid unnecessary disputes.
14. Due to the lack of evening activities in the area, please be particularly careful when going out to participate in entertainment activities to avoid being extorted.
15. The best time to visit Jiuzhaigou is from September to October, with mid-October being the best. There is more rainfall in July and August, but as a worldfamous destination, Jiuzhaigou is beautiful in all seasons and visitors will not be disappointed.
16. The busiest period in Jiuzhaigou is the May Day (May 1-3) and National Day holidays (Oct. 1-7), when there are many tourists and prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are very expensive. You'd better to avoid this period.
17. 1-2 days are suitable for only a visit in Jiuzhaigou National Park (Jiuzhaigou Valley), if you have more days, you can incorporate Huanglong National Park, Ruoergai Grassland, and Hongyuan Grassland in your Jiuzhaigou tour itinerary.
18. If you are planning a winter trip to Jiuzhaigou, the best times are from December through February.
19. It is suitable to travel Jiuzhaigou from April to November. But the most beautiful time of the year in Jiuzhaigou is from late September to October, it is considered the best time to visit. At this time, the park is colorful, most of the leaves have completely changed color, some are golden yellow, some are red, some are pink, some are green, some are maroon, plus other colors as excessive and embellishment, the park just like a colorful fairyland.
A. Tibetans absolutely do not eat donkey, horse, and dog meat, and some areas also do not eat fish;
B. When toasting, guests must first dip a little bit of wine with their index finger and flick it into the air three times in a row to show respect for heaven, earth, and ancestors. Then, they take a sip, and the host will promptly refill the glass. After taking another sip, the glass will be refilled again. When the glass is refilled for the fourth time, the guest must drink it all in one go;
C. When eating, one should not stuff the mouth, make loud noises when chewing, or slurp when drinking;
D. When drinking butter tea, the host pours the tea, and the guest must wait until the host holds it with both hands and presents it before taking it;
E. It is taboo to spit or clap behind someone's back;
F. When passing by religious facilities such as temples, mani piles, and stupas, one must walk clockwise from left to right;
G. It is forbidden to step over ritual implements or fire pots;
H. Prayer wheels cannot be turned backwards;
I. It is a taboo for someone else to touch one's head with their hands.
Jiuzhaigou is located at an altitude of about 3,000 meters and has a plateau humid climate. Snow accumulates on the mountaintops throughout the year.
In spring, the temperature is low and fluctuates greatly, with an average temperature between 9°C and 18°C. There is frozen soil and residual snow before April.
In summer, the temperature rises quickly and is stable, with an average temperature between 19°C and 22°C. Nights are cooler, so it is advisable to bring a thin sweater.
Fall is clear and crisp in Jiuzhaigou, with temperatures ranging from 7 ℃ to 18 ℃. The temperature difference between day and night is large, especially in late fall after October. You may wear two layers of clothes during the day or even just one, but at night, you will need to wear a sweater or even a winter coat. Frozen soil appears in late October.
The winter of Jiuzhaigou is relatively cold, with temperatures mostly below 0°C. Jiuzhaigou has little rainfall but it is concentrated (annual rainfall is less than 600mm). July and August are the typical rainy season.