Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide: A Photographer's Paradise

Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide: Natural beauty that makes every shot a masterpiece. The beautiful mountains and waters of Jiuzhaigou left me utterly astounded. The various forms of water—lakes, waterfalls, and stony beaches—combined with the blue hues of the lakes and the mountains shrouded in mist, truly make you feel as if you're in a fairyland, where every corner is a perfect spot for photography. I visited at the end of May, during the spring off-season when there weren't too many people, making it great for taking photos. Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area Travel Tips: Due to the high altitude in the Tibetan area, avoid jumping, and be prepared for large temperature differences by bringing enough warm clothing. 1. As of September 28, 2021, the entire Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area is open. The area is formed by three valleys in a 'Y' shape. After entering the park, visitors travel by a combination of bus and walking. Everyone takes the sightseeing bus to the highest point, 'Changhai.' Those with good stamina can choose to walk down to visit the sights, or you can take the sightseeing bus from point to point if you're short on time but want to see more. Once on the bus, it's best to sit on the left rear or left front (the last and first rows are higher, and sitting on the left makes it easier to enjoy the view). There are three valleys in the scenic area. Follow one principle: finish visiting one valley before moving on to the next. 2. The sightseeing bus stops at each station, where a guide will introduce the sights and inform us whether to board the bus at the same spot after visiting or to walk a certain distance to another point to board. Please remember to keep quiet to hear the guide's introduction clearly (for photography, you can stick your phone lens seamlessly to the glass to avoid reflections). There are many sights within the scenic area; don't spend too long at one spot. Move on to the next after you're done. If you see a beautiful spot while on the bus, remember its name so you can visit it on your way down. 3. Must-visit lakes in the scenic area: Changhai, Five-Color Pond, Panda Sea, Wuhua Sea (one of the top ten most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world), Tiger Sea, Shuzheng Group Sea (an essential 800-meter walking path where you can see the Princess Sea—the filming location for Zhu Bajie spying on the Spider Spirit bathing; Shuzheng Mill—the filming location for the movie 'Heroes Emerge from Youth'). 4. Must-visit waterfalls in the scenic area: Pearl Shoal Waterfall (the filming location for the opening song of the 1986 version of Journey to the West, 'You carry the load and I lead the horse') or Nuorilang Waterfall. 5. The Nuorilang Service Center inside the scenic area is the only place where you can smoke, get hot water, eat boxed lunches, grilled sausages, instant noodles, and have a buffet lunch with prices ranging from 68-98. Dining is simple and can affect your visiting time, so it's recommended to bring your own dry food. Here you can also borrow portable power banks (which must be borrowed and returned here). The Nuorilang Service Center is also a transfer point from one valley to another. 7. Photo Recommendations: When you reach Changhai, remember to go down to the lakeside to take photos and videos. At Pearl Shoal and Pearl Shoal Waterfall, you can take a slow-motion video very close to the splashing water, and slowing it down by 4 times will do the trick. 8. Smoking is prohibited in the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. Guests who smoke should refrain or go to designated smoking areas, otherwise, they will face hefty fines. Jiuzhaigou is a World Natural Heritage site; love it by protecting it. 9. Inside the scenic area, many recommend wearing ethnic costumes and braiding hair for photos. If you're interested, you can choose to do so. However, this may take up some time, and you might not be able to see all the sights. 10. If you're short on time, you can skip the primeval forest.