Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area Administration, National park in Sichuan, China
Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area Administration oversees a 720 km² reserve in northern Sichuan, part of the Min Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau edge. Its Y-shaped valley holds over a hundred lakes formed behind travertine terraces, linked by waterfalls such as the wide Nuorilang curtain, which drops over a stepped limestone lip into a lower pool.
The valley remained cut off from the outside world for centuries until loggers discovered it in the 1970s. The government stopped commercial use and converted it into a nature park that gained international recognition.
The name means "Valley of Nine Villages" and refers to the Tibetan settlements that still exist within the reserve today. Visitors see prayer flags along the paths and can try local dishes like tsampa and butter tea in the villages.
Most visitors follow the wooden boardwalks that wind around the lakes and cross flat sections. The shuttle buses stop at major points in each valley, and walking between stops reveals quieter corners.
The lakes change color depending on light and season, from deep turquoise in summer to green tones in autumn. Some waters show submerged tree trunks that lie beneath the clear surface and look like sculptures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,934 contributors worldwide.
