Jiuzhaigou九寨沟风景名胜区 · Jiǔzhàigōu — valley of turquoise lakes
A high alpine valley in northern Sichuan strung with impossibly blue and green lakes, terraced waterfalls and travertine shoals, framed by snow peaks and forest and dotted with Tibetan villages. The most famous scenic valley in China — and one of the most protected.
Water in every colour but ordinary.
Stretching over 72,000 ha in northern Sichuan, the jagged Jiuzhaigou valley climbs above 4,800 m, holding a series of diverse forest ecosystems. Its superb landscapes are made especially spectacular by a chain of narrow conic karst terraces, lakes and waterfalls of extraordinary clarity and colour.
The colours are the point: mineral-rich water over travertine and fallen logs turns the lakes turquoise, jade and sapphire, so vivid they look retouched. The valley is also home to Tibetan and Qiang communities — 'Jiuzhaigou' means 'Valley of Nine Villages' — and to giant pandas in its wider forests.
A major 2017 earthquake damaged parts of the valley; it has since reopened with restored trails and a strict daily visitor cap and reservation system.
Along the Y-shaped valley.
Green shuttle buses run the three arms of the valley; you ride up and walk the boardwalks down between stops. These are the must-sees.
Tap or hover a photo for access details.
Five Flower Lake 五花海
The valley's most famous lake — shallow water over fallen trunks and travertine glowing in bands of turquoise, jade and gold.On the ticket + shuttle
Nuorilang Falls 诺日朗瀑布
A 320 m-wide curtain of water and the valley's central shuttle hub — the widest highland waterfall in China.Where valley junction
Long Lake & Five-Colour Pond 长海・五彩池
The highest lake, a deep blue sheet ringed by snow peaks, with the jewel-like Five-Colour Pond just below.Where south arm, top
Shuzheng Lakes 树正群海
A staircase of terraced lakes and travertine dikes near a Tibetan village — the classic lower-valley boardwalk walk.Where lower valley
Autumn colour, or winter ice.
Late September to early November is the legendary season, when forest colour frames the blue water. Spring (May–June) is fresh and quieter; winter turns the falls to ice and is starkly beautiful, though some areas may close.
Book far ahead and avoid the October holiday. The daily cap means peak-autumn and Golden Week tickets sell out days in advance, and the valley is at its most crowded exactly when it's most beautiful. Reserve 15 days out with your passport, and start early to walk boardwalks before the shuttle crowds.
For foreign travelers.
- Reserve tickets and the shuttle online by real name well ahead — the daily cap is strict, especially in autumn.
- Ride the shuttle up each valley arm and walk the boardwalks down between stops to see the lakes on foot.
- It's high country (2,000–3,100 m) — take it easy, and combine with the nearby Huanglong travertine pools.
- Fly in from Chengdu to save the long road. See our Chengdu guide.