Jiuzhaigou National Park, China

Park Entrance

Pandas were pretty much everywhere in Sichuan, except in the wild.

Swampy section of Arrow Bamboo Lake

Spring was certainly here.

More Arrow Bamboo Lake with some mountains

Waterfall between Arrow and Panda Lakes

More of the waterfall

Panda Lake. One of the few lakes that sees fluctuations in water level.

No Pandas in sight, but Panda Lake surely was a sight.

5 Flower Lake

More 5 Flower Lake. A very popular spot.

Christmas trees

Water flowing to 5 Flower Lake

Golden Bell Lake

Top of Pearl Waterfall

Top of Pearl Waterfall

Pearl Waterfall

Semo Mt. (4100m)

Nourilang Waterfall

Yes, how charming it is!!!

More Nourilang

Long Lake

An absolutely splendid walk

Rhinocerous Lake

Terraced waterfalls, a feature of Jiuzhaigou

Tiger Lake

Shuzheng Falls

Tibetan Prayer Wheel

Prayer Wheel

Tibetan Village

Shuzheng Lakes

More of the Shuzheng Lakes

And more

Reed Lake with beautiful spring colors

Reed Lake


Jiuzhaigou National Park is described in the Lonely Planet Guide as expensive with an excessive amount of tourists, but still worth it. Jiuzhaigou did not fail to meet expectations.

We got their early enough and considering it was only mid May, we also missed the summer crowds. Even then, we did run into massive waves of tourists. Nothing even remotely close to being able to diminish the magnificense of this fine park.

Traveling with my own tour guides (my brother Tim and his girlfriend Heather) we survived the crazy bus ride from Chengdu. Them being seasoned veterans of How the Rest of the World Drives, did not think much of it. I on the other hand was ready to jump out and take my chances at hitching in China. Ultimately, I sucked it up and convinced my self, "the driver really does not want to die, the driver does not want to die."

We left the hostel at 7 and took the bus up to the Primeval Forest. Here the Chinese were fascinated with the "white people." There were not many foreign tourists in this park, so at times we were quite the fascination (at times I felt like a rock star). I hiked a bit through the forest. I wish I knew the different plant and tree species as many of them I had not seen before.

There was a bit of confusion with a park official. He was telling me politely in Chinese, "you can't go that way, the trail is closed." At the same time, I was telling him politely in English, "I'm going that way", pointing to the closed trail. Eventually, I got it and used the only Chinese I knew, "Sheh, sheh." Thank you.

After taking the bus down, it was time to see what this park was all about. The obvious highlights are the mutli-colored blue lakes with snow covered peaks as a backdrop. The real treasures are the multi-level waterfalls and streams that run from one lake to the next. This is a place that can be enjoyed from season to season. The waterfalls were not flowing particularly well, and one, Panda waterfall (which happened to be the highest) was completely dry.

The night before we met a Canadian guy who had already been here and he complained of the many tourists who carried umbrellas. While we were eating lunch, I did notice quite a few who were carrying umbrellas. It wasn't for rain, but for the sun. This is something you don't see at home much (maybe amongst the very rich.)

Some of the nicest stretches were nearing the end of the park. Shu Zheng Lakes (with its neat rock formations) and Reed Lake were some my personal favorites. It was so disappointing when at just around 5 I was told I needed to head out and catch a bus. I couldn't help myself from thinking, "god damn that commie bastard." But, the woman at the hostel did warn me that security would be out, directing to the buses.

Although, somewhat different than U.S. National Parks (I don't believe there is much opportunity for backcountry camping) this park would rival many of our parks. It's no wonder at all this is a site of many movies. I definitely have to thank Tim and Heather for planning this trip, since I probably would have never ventured this way myself.