Jiuzhai's Scenery Lives Up to Its Reputation, but the Regional Charm Is Even More Captivating

As a must-visit destination on any travel list, Jiuzhaigou has always been a place close to my heart. Finally, I had the opportunity to personally experience this natural gem of magnificent mountains and waters.

For this Jiuzhai trip, we chose to stay at the Jiuzhai Indigo Hotel in Zhongcha Gully. As the first stop of our itinerary, I must say the hotel's unique regional design was refreshing and ignited my curiosity to explore Tibetan and Qiang culture.

The Jiuzhai Indigo Hotel presents a mansion called "Delefu" built with Amdo Tibetan culture. The lobby centers around a traditional Tibetan fireplace design, exuding noble elegance. Wooden ceilings and colorful carpets showcase a strong aesthetic sense.

The hotel was designed by the renowned Hong Kong design firm CCD, with the "Sacred Eagle" as the main inspiration. Throughout the space, local Tibetan cultural elements such as Xiangba, Qiang embroidery, yaks, and fireplaces extend guests' understanding and imagination of local culture.

The design team subtly integrated modernity. Unique lighting gives the three-story spiral staircase a strong three-dimensional feel, precise and stylish, creating an irresistible photo spot for the hotel.

Several distinctive outdoor courtyards are located on different floors. Inside are rooms themed "Zang·Cang," decorated with traditional Qiang embroidery and the unique Thangka paintings of Aba Tibetans. The overall warm tones make guests feel natural and cozy. Opening the door immerses you in Tibetan and Qiang culture.

Both the dining and the details of the hotel fully express the effort put into integrating regional features, cleverly combining the living scenes of the Tibetan and Qiang people with modern design spaces. This demonstrates the hotel's pursuit of detail and interpretation of the guest experience.

To further explore the local historical and cultural secrets, we visited the intangible cultural heritage town built by China Green Development·Luneng Group—Jiuzhai Luneng Meili Hui.

A few minutes' walk from the hotel brought us to the town entrance. A Tibetan chessboard design increased our curiosity for this "intangible heritage journey."

Inside the museum, exquisitely beautiful Thangkas and a mandala meticulously crafted from ground gemstone powder amazed us. The rich collection of scrolls, artifacts, and art here explains the unique Tibetan and Qiang folk customs and culture of Jiuzhai. You can see the continuous reproduction and development of local ethnic minority cultures throughout history, appreciate the daily life of the Tibetan and Qiang people, and even experience a holographic projection of a mandala from 2,500 years ago.

Leaving the intangible heritage museum, we discovered more interesting Tibetan culture in the town—a Tibetan paper shop "Màn Xiù Tibetan Paper" and a Tibetan incense shop "Shi Lún Tibetan Incense." If interested, you can even try making Tibetan paper and incense yourself, deeply experiencing the inheritance of these crafts.

Strong Tibetan cultural elements can be seen everywhere in the town, including a white Tibetan stupa on the square, prayer flags hanging high on the streets, and locals dressed in Tibetan clothing... What's more, the town also hosts brand stores such as KFC, Starbucks, and Watsons, allowing the town to blend regional culture with modern vibes well.

The cultural exploration of Meili Hui town was memorable, especially the immersive experience of characteristic culture. Returning to the hotel, we found that many cultural elements echoed the hotel's design, making us admire the hotel's thoughtful design even more.

A 15-minute drive from the hotel takes you to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. The stunning sights came one after another: Five-Color Pond, Nuorilang Waterfall, Mirror Sea, Long Sea, Shuzheng Group Lakes... It was as if heaven had spilled a palette of colors in Jiuzhai. "Returning from Jiuzhai, you don't need to see other waters" truly lived up to its name!

The natural beauty of "Jiuzhai Paradise" is so immersive that photos captured by the camera cannot fully express its beauty. You must experience it in person to know what a fairyland on earth is. Although reluctant to leave, I look back on this journey as a rare and unique Tibetan and Qiang cultural experience. With both nature and culture so richly fulfilled, this Jiuzhai trip left me with no regrets.

Itinerary Recommendation DAY 1

Take a flight to Huanglong Airport, then a 1.5-hour drive to the hotel (the hotel can provide airport pickup service, reservation required by phone). Enjoy a special Tibetan hotpot for dinner, then take a night tour of Luneng Meili Hui town.

In the morning, visit the intangible heritage museum at Luneng Meili Hui town (1-2 hours), then explore various cultural shops in the town. In the afternoon, head to Jiuzhai Greenland No.7 Park for outdoor adventure.

After breakfast, visit Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. In the evening, depart from the hotel to the airport to end the trip.