Asia China

Jiuzhaigou Valley

A nature reserve with crystal-clear lakes, waterfalls, and colorful landscapes in the Tibetan Plateau.

14 km
1 day
easy
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Temperate Forest

The hike

China's Jiuzhaigou Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its turquoise lakes, multi-tiered waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks. Hiking through this scenic wonderland unveils breathtaking natural beauty amid the vibrant colors of the valley's lakes and forests.

Plan your trip

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

Permits & fees: Entry ticket with a daily visitor cap; buy online in advance.
Getting there: Fly to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, then about 1.5 hours by road.
Good to know: Ride the park bus up and walk the boardwalks down.
Autumn colours peak in mid-October.

Gallery

Photo by Lindy Kazu on Unsplash
Photo by Say Wah Lee on Unsplash
Photo by Yueliang Sun on Unsplash
Photo by Shuting Cao on Unsplash
Photo: Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: MSK · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Culantor Lin · CC BY-SA 2.0

8 photos · tap to enlarge

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Sources

UNESCO — Jiuzhaigou Valley

Checked October 2026. Distances and times are typical for the route above; conditions, permits and fees change — confirm with the official source before you go.