Jiuzhaigou Valley
UNESCO World Heritage Site (1992); UNESCO Man And The Biosphere Reserve; National Nature Reserve; National 5A Tourist Attraction · Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan
A UNESCO World Heritage valley system in the Min Mountains of northern Sichuan whose lakes glow unreal shades of turquoise, sapphire and jade over sunken ancient trunks, held behind natural travertine dams and linked by waterfalls, shoals and forest boardwalks. Named for its nine Tibetan villages, it spreads through three valleys in a Y shape, from about 2,000 m at the gate to over 3,000 m at Long Lake. Badly damaged by the 2017 earthquake, it reopened in stages after restoration and now runs on strict online booking and a daily cap. Prayer flags, water-driven prayer wheels and golden autumn forests frame the lakes, and eco-buses link the boardwalks.
Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area main gate, Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Ngawa Prefecture, Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China
Daily, year-round. Peak season (Apr 1-Nov 15) roughly 7:30-18:00; off-season roughly 8:00-17:30; last entry earlier. Weather and geological hazards can close sections.
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