Jiuzhaigou is a national park in China’s Sichuan province, known for its natural beauty. It’s home to untouched lakes, cascading waterfalls, and forests that are filled with life. Due to its high elevation, the climate is cool and moist. The summers are mild, and the colder months see the peaks covered in snow. This all means that the type of beauty you encounter will change depending on the season, but it’s well worth a visit at any time of the year.
Photo by Lindy Kazu
Jiuzhaigou’s Blossoming Spring
Spring is the time of new life and growth. After the winter snow starts to recede, Jiuzhaigou’s valleys quickly fill up with wildflowers. As the rhododendrons grow, the hills become a mix of different colours and create a floral display that will serve as a backdrop while you explore.
Just as new plant life emerges, animal life starts to become more visible in spring. At this time of year, and particularly around the Zharu Valley and Five Flower Lake areas, you have a good chance of spotting giant pandas lazing around eating fresh bamboo shoots. Families of golden snub-nosed monkeys will begin around, too, as they re-acquaint themselves with the forest.
This is also the time of year that the Jiuzhaigou’s waterfalls start to kick off again. No longer frozen from the winter, both Pearl Shoal and Nuorilang Waterfall roar back to life as they are fed by melting snow. The waterfalls are a primary reason that Jiuzhaigou is one of the most amazing unknown places. Even though this destination in the Min Mountains has been a World Heritage site for over 30 years, it still hasn’t quite caught on in the Western world.
Image by Min Kong
Mild Summers in Jiuzhaigou
Given the moderate climate, the average temperatures in Jiuzhaigou rarely exceed 22 degrees Celsius, making summer a very popular time to visit. The summer months present a continuation of the beautiful colours that came in spring, with both the park’s lakes and waterways coming alive. In particular, the Five Flower Lake draws a lot of attention at this time of the year. The blue water is so clear here that you can see ancient fallen tree trunks below its surface.
Summer also offers visitors a chance to get out and hike. Popular trails like the Zharu Valley Trail will take you on a journey passing through dense forests that then open up to views of the mountainsides, as well as the waterfalls at certain points. When you add in the warm summer air, it’s hard to think of a better way to connect with nature than this.
One thing you do need to watch out for at this time of year is the monsoon rains. They are frequent and can potentially turn easy hiking trails into muddy and slippery ones. Keep an eye on local weather forecasts before heading out on a trail, and make sure to always pay attention to the recommendations of park authorities.
Image by h87010511
Jiuzhaigou’s Autumn Colours
As autumn arrives, the colours change once again. Maple Leaf Forest stands out as the perfect illustration of this as its trees become covered in orange, red, and yellow leaves. When you contrast that with the lakes and waterfalls, you could make a strong argument that this is the most visually appealing time of the year.
The weather during these months remains nice and pleasant. In fact, September-October is widely considered the best time of the year to travel here. There’s less rainfall around, so it’s usually a great time of year to get out and hike. As you do get out and explore, you’ll notice different behaviour from the wildlife. The birds will be readying themselves to migrate, while other animals will be stocking up on food reserves before the winter.
Photo by Say Wah Lee
Snow-capped Jiuzhaigou Winters
Winter in Jiuzhaigou is very different from the other seasons, but it’s not any less beautiful. You can expect the landscape to be blanketed in snow, and the waterfalls to have transformed into ice sculptures. The weather is very chilly, regularly going below zero degrees Celsius.
Hiking becomes more challenging, but it’s still possible. You can strap on snowshoes to explore trails or even visit local hot springs. If you’re lucky, you may spot Tibetan foxes or, at the very least, be able to see their tracks in the fresh snow. Either way, a Jiuzhaigou winter is one of solitude. There are fewer visitors around, meaning you can enjoy a sense of peace as you take it all in.
Jiuzhaigou is a great choice of destination at any point throughout the year. Its natural beauty rivals just about any other nature-based location around the world, and it definitely deserves to be on your travel bucket list.
