Exploring China, Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) trip

I’m not easily impressed, but a trip to Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) left me with absolute amazement. The natural beauty of mountains, lakes, water cascades and forests was truly unspoiled. It was also surprisingly serene; when you take into consideration the fact that you have to share the experience with 10000 to 20000 people that visit this place everyday.

Jiuzhaigou National Park is localized in northern part of Sichuan province and was established in 1982. It takes over 10 hours bus ride to get there from provincial capital city – Chengdu. Luckily you can also fly to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (3,448 m) and take a way shorter 90-minute bus ride to the park’s gate.

From there…I wish you good luck. Already buying tickets can be a tedious experience, as you have to maneuver between hundreds of loud Chinese tourist groups and guides with megaphones. If you get lucky and have your tickets you’re looking at about half an hour of waiting in line to get on a bus that will take you further into the park.

Once inside the park you have two main roads to choose from. There are multiple bus stops along them; you can easily hop on and off the bus to see all the attractions. If you’re more ambitious and like being closer to nature you can simply walk. I chose the mixture of both bus ride and walking to see all the main spots in my limited time. Apart from snowy peaks, lush foliage (in spring) what will catch your attention the most is the incredibly blue, turquoise shade of water in the park’s lakes. This amazing effect is partially caused by high concentrations of calcium carbonate in the water.
I won’t even make an attempt to describe the beauty of Jiuzhaigou, luckily I took pictures.

Another thing worth mentioning is the visible presence of Tibetan minority in the areas near Jiuzhaigou and northern Sichuan in general. There are many activities and performances organized by tourist agencies that revolve around Tibetan culture and traditions, yet the best way to experience this would be to get off the beaten track and get to know the real ppl, not only the ones who's way of living is making money of tourists.

I can highly recommend this attraction, even though it's not cheap and takes a bit of planning to get to, yet once you do, you won't be disappointed.

Practical information:

• On the park's website here: http://www.jiuzhai.com or on it's English version here: http://en.jiuzhai.com/index.php/about/visitor-information you can check current ticket prices before visiting this magical place.

• When going into the park take your own sandwiches, snacks or a prepackaged meal. Food in the park can get very expensive and is not tasty.

• Bring bottled water as well.

• You're going to be in the mountains, so remember to wear comfortable shoes and prepare yourself for a quick change in weather conditions.

• As much as you can, or as much as possible try to avoid following big organized groups of tourists. Sometimes it's worth to wait for the next bus and ride in a bit more quiet atmosphere. Also by doing that you can really appreciate the 'hot spots' and not be rushed by the crowd.

• Beware of selfie sticks ;P