Jiuzhaigou (“Valley of Nine Villages”) is a UNESCO-listed nature reserve in northern Sichuan, famous for impossibly turquoise and emerald lakes, tiered waterfalls, and a backdrop of snow-capped Tibetan mountains.

What to see

• Five Flower Lake and Long Lake — the most vivid, mineral-coloured pools.
• Nuorilang Waterfall — a wide, dramatic cascade.
• Pearl Shoal and the boardwalk trails that link the valley’s highlights.

A clean park bus system loops the valley; you hop on and off to walk sections of boardwalk.

Getting there

Fly into Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport or drive from Chengdu (a long but scenic trip). Book flights on Trip.com (affiliate); multi-day tours from Chengdu are on Viator (affiliate).

Tips

• Autumn (October) is peak season for colour — and crowds. Summer is lush; winter is icy but magical.
• The valley sits at ~2,000–3,000 m — take altitude seriously and pace yourself.
• Daily visitor numbers are capped; book tickets well ahead.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.