Jiuzhaigou Valley
Jiuzhaigou nature park is a national tourist attraction in China and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many chinese tourists visit the valley in the high season. It is about 350 km north of Chengdu. Jiuzhaigou is 2000 meter above sea level. The entrance is 220 Yuan (in 2016) in the peak period. In the winter the admission is 80 Yuan.
3 Valley’s
Jiuzhaigou is composed of three valleys arranged in a Y shape. We visited first the Zechawa Valley (18km), which starts at the Long Lake (3150m) and then downhill till the Nuorilang Waterfall. The next day we went to the Rize Valley (also 18km). The Rize Valley is considered as the most beautiful part of Jiuzhaigou. We walked here along a few lakes back into the direction of the Shuzheng Valley. This hike was very pleasant because the wood boardwalks are just above the streaming water in the forests. The Shuzheng Valley is the valley which starts from the entrance to the Nuorilang Waterfall. The hike on the wood boardwalks is 14km.
Bus tour from Chengdu
Our tour was an organized Chinese tour for 1000 Yuan per person. This was including entrance fees for Jiuzhaigou (220 + 90 Yuan) and Huanglong (200 Yuan) and 3 nights in a 3-star hotel with meals. The cable car was excluded (80 Yuan per person).The hotels were disappointing. The first day of our bus tour from Chengdu we went to Huanglong Mountain. The second day we went to Jiuzhaigou. The entrance fee for Jiuzhaigou is 220 Yuan + 90 Yuan for the park bus. Our ticket of the tour was valid for 2 days. The 4th day we went back to Chengdu. In Jiuzhaigou are green park buses which bring visitors into the park. The visitors can then walk from one stop to the other stop.
Shops and restaurant
In the park are a couple of Tibetan villages and a large restaurant where guest could choose of several buffets (40,60 or 80 Yuan).
Transportation
The airport is 88 kilometer from Jiuzhaigou. It cost 45 Yuan with the airport bus to Jiuzhaigou. A taxi from the airport is around 280-300 Yuan. In Jiuzhaigou were plenty of taxis on the street. Rate for the first 3 km was 8 Yuan.
Disadvantages of group tour
An organized tour is a good choice if you don’t want to organize it yourself. Big disadvantage is that you have too little time to make a longer hike. Our tour group arrived the first day in Jiuzhaigou at 10.30. The second day we allready left at 15.00. The park is open at 7.30 till 18.00.