A place of idyllic beauty, Shuzheng Gully (Shùzhèng Gōu, 树正沟) is often called a "fairyland on earth" for its amazing assortment of crystal clear lakes, turquoise streams and many spectacular waterfalls. Once prime Panda habitat, this area is now a little overexposed to tourists. You might find the Tibetan "villagers" a little too eager to get their photo taken with you, but if you can ignore the campy commercialism and proceed down the trails, you'll be well rewarded. Take a walk down the Pearl Beach (Zhēnzhū Tān, 珍珠滩) walkway to the waterfalls to take in some fresh air and pristine forests. The cooler mountain temperatures and vivid colors of the surrounding nature, now on UNESCO's world heritage list, are especially refreshing. Nearby accommodation in colorful Tibetan hostels make overnight stays possible, a good idea if you want to take your ti... more >>

Long Lake (Cháng Hǎi, 长海) is one of the most photographed lakes in a valley that is practically one giant photo-op. The highest, longest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou—3,160 m (10,367 ft) high, 8 km (5 mi) long, 100 m (328 ft) deep—is fed solely from the fresh, pure snowmelt of the Himalayan peaks. It lies like a mirror for the sky at the end of Zechawa Gully (Zécháwā Gōu, 则查洼沟) that anyone trekking through Jiuzhaigou should see. It is said that a sneaky monster lives in the lake and appears every so often, flashing a dorsal fin or scaly grey back before sliding back into the depths—perhaps to a fantastical cave of crystal and gold where pearls shine up through the jade waters of the lake—leading cell phone toting visitors to whip out their low-res cameras and point toward the light emanating from the center of the lake and swea... more >>

Swan Lake (Tiān'é Hú, 天鹅湖) is located in the southern part of Jiuzhaigou National Park, in the Rize Gully. The lake is named after the swans that migrate there every year, and is fed by the Rize River that also fills Panda Lake, Multicolored Lake and a number of others upstream.  Swan Lake is surrounded by fir trees, and the contrast of the deep, rich green of the conifers, the ever-present layer of algae and the bright blue of the water is a true delight to behold. While the shores are often crowded with tourists, it's easy enough to break free from the crowds and get some peace and quiet. The lake, though only a little over 100 m (109 yds) across, is over 2,000 m (2,187 yds) from its northern tip to its southernmost point, which allows space for some quiet contemplation. Sichuan guide | Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong guide Jiuzhaigou & H... more >>

Smaller than the Nuorilang Falls that lie to its north along the Zechawa River and Jiuzhaigou's other cascades, the Shuzheng Falls (Shùzhēng Pùbù, 树正瀑布) are still impressive. Located in Jiuzhaigou's Shuzheng Valley, they stand 25 m (82 ft) tall and 72 m (236 ft) wide. Its waters flow down from Tiger Lake (Lǎohǔ Hǎi, 老虎海) above in steep steps, broken up by the foliage, moss-covered rocks and trees that create the illusion of a graceful, moving curtain. It's a particularly photogenic spot and you can't miss the queues that form further downstream from its most impressive point as visitors wait to take their picture. For a pleasant one-way walk, get off the bus at Tiger Lake and walk the boardwalk along the Zechawa River, weaving through rich greenery and rocks, to reach Shuzheng Falls. The path continues on along the length of the falls until the wate... more >>

Cited as one of the six most beautiful waterfalls in China by China's National Geography magazine (not to be confused with the better known National Geographic magazine), Nuorilang Waterfall (Nuòrìlǎng Pùbù 诺日朗瀑布 or "Promising Bright Bay Falls") is one of the best-known of Jiuzhaigou's many stunning natural attractions. Measuring 20 m (66 ft) in height and about 325 m (355 yd) wide, its fast-flowing waters rush out from Mirror Lake (Jìng Hǎi, 镜海) above and cascade down over several tiered pools. From below, the water appears to be flowing out of the forest itself, an illusion maintained by the rich foliage that forms along the cliffs and grows up through the lip of the ridge. Although they flow all year round, Nuorilang Falls are at their height in late summer and autumn, with the drier spring and winter leaving more of the rocks ... more >>

Rize Valley (Rìzé Gōu, 日则沟), also known as Rize Gully, runs for 18 km (11 mi) along the southwest arm of Jiuzhaigou National Park. It begins where the road splits at Nuorilang Falls and stretches to the Primeval Forests (sometimes referred as the Virgin Forests), at its furthest point. Home to a very diverse array of natural scenery including mountains, forests, grasslands, lakes, waterfalls and shoals (sandbanks), the Rize Valley is often where people start their tour of the park, working their way north along wooden boardwalks that hover over streams and meadows. Often hailed as the most beautiful spot in Jiuzhaigou, Rize Gully has many more natural scenic spots than neighboring Zechawa Valley, from the highest waterfalls to the most colorful lakes and thick, old growth forests. Famous sights to look out for in the Rize Valley include (fro... more >>

Zechawa Valley (Zécháwā Gōu,则查洼沟), sometimes referred to as Zechawa Gully, is the 17-km-long southeast arm of the upside down "Y" that makes up Jiuzhaigou National Park. It begins where the road splits at Nuorilang Falls and stretches all the way to crescent-shaped Long Lake. One not-to-miss sight along the Zechawa Gully is Five-Colored Pond (Wǔcǎi Chí, 五彩池), which, as its name implies, is a dazzlingly colorful lake. Despite being one of the smallest lakes in the Jiuzhaigou scenic area, hues of green, blue, turquoise, yellow and orange make this body of water one of the most breathtaking sights in Jiuzhaigou. Local Tibetan people refer to these colorful lakes as "Haizi" (Hǎizi, 海子), meaning "son of the sea." Further along the main road are the Seasonal Lakes (Jìjié Hǎi, 季节海), three lakes that fill naturally... more >>

Heye Village (Héyè Cūn, 荷叶村) is a Tibetan village in Sichuan Province and part of the Jiuzhaigou National Park. Jiuzhaigou Valley literally translates to "Valley of Nine Villages." Seven of those original nine villages are still populated today: Heye, Shuzheng, Zechawa, Rexi, Jianpan, Panya and Yana. The two that are no longer inhabited are Guodu and Hejiao villages. Because the area is now a UNESCO Heritage Site, locals are no longer able to rely on agriculture for a living, but instead rely on tourism and local government subsidies.  Preservation restrictions also mean visitors are no longer allowed to stay within the park over night. Previously, Heye Village had been one of three popular places to stay in Jiuzhaigou (the others were Shuzheng and Zechawa). This is no longer the case—too many tourists meant too much... more >>

Everywhere you go in Jiuzhaigou you will be blown away by the verdant green forests all around, but tucked up at the end of the Rize Valley is a section known as the Primeval Forest (Yuánshǐ Sēnlín, 原始森林) or "Virgin Forest". Covering 540 hectares, this is a wonderland of wild and untamed flora and fauna that has been left virtually untouched and remains home to some of China's rarest species. This is where, if you're very lucky, you might catch a fleeting glimpse of a panda in the wild, along with a dozen or so other species under State protection, and more than 2,500 rare types of plants. In the (quite likely) case that you don't spot any of the famous bamboo-munching bears, there's still plenty to see as you ramble through the soft mosses and foliage of hundreds of different kinds of trees, to the sound of birdsong and the wind in the leaves. With ... more >>