A Complete 3-Day, 2-Night Guide: What’s It Like to Vacation in the Paradise on Earth—Jiuzhaigou?
“Oh~ magical Jiuzhai, oh~ paradise on earth, look at the people of the world, oh~ longing for it,” sang a Tibetan singer back in the day. The song “Magical Jiuzhaigou” not only made Jiuzhaigou famous across the country as a “paradise on earth,” but also turned it into a travel destination deeply yearned for by countless people. You have to go there at least once—otherwise, how would you know that paradise exists on earth?
When Jiuzhaigou is mentioned, many people think of its natural scenery: towering snow-capped mountains on all sides, clear and colorful lakes, surging rapids with magnificent waterfalls, as well as lush green trees and flowers—a true masterpiece of nature. However, its cultural charm should not be overlooked either. After all, the name “Jiuzhaigou” comes from the nine Tibetan villages within the scenic area. Generations have lived here, giving it a rich cultural heritage.
Therefore, to appreciate the natural beauty and cultural history of Jiuzhaigou, a quick visit won’t do—you need at least two nights and three days to leisurely experience this “paradise on earth.” Many people think that because Jiuzhaigou is a Tibetan area, the accommodation is poor, but that is a thing of the past. We stayed at the Jiuzhaigou Indigo Hotel at Luneng Shengdi in Langzhai Village, Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, to enjoy a resort-style vacation in Jiuzhaigou.
Departing from Chengdu in the morning, we passed through Pixian, Dujiangyan, Wenchuan, Maoxian, Diexi, Songpan, etc., covering over 400 kilometers to reach the hotel in the afternoon. The scenery along the way transformed from a modern metropolis to Tibetan-style landscapes. Although the seven-plus-hour drive seemed a bit long, there were different beautiful sights all along the route. Remember to take a break in Maoxian or Songpan, and avoid driving while fatigued—safety first on a self-driving trip. If you have extra time, you could even linger a bit longer at these places; Maoxian’s Songping Valley or Songpan’s Huanglong are great travel spots.
The hotel is located in the Luneng Beauty & Life Town in Zhongzhagou, a beautiful place called “Qiongqia” in Tibetan, meaning “where the divine eagle descends”—a secluded Tibetan valley hidden from the world. Although we had taken breaks, we were still tired from the long drive. But the moment we arrived at the hotel, we felt refreshed. Although we have stayed at more than one Indigo hotel, this one is completely different from the others due to its design incorporating Tibetan culture. Even the welcome ceremony was full of Tibetan style.
After checking in, we had plenty of time to explore the entire hotel before dinner. The hotel does not simply add regional culture to its exterior; it integrates the entire Tibetan and Qiang characteristics into its interior, with local elements everywhere. For example, as mentioned earlier, Zhongzhagou means “where the divine eagle descends,” and the hotel’s theme is inspired by this—highly local yet modern.
Dinner also featured local flavor. We specifically chose a beef soup pot made from local yak tail as the key ingredient. Yak is a treasure of the Tibetan area, and we saw these yaks grazing on natural grass everywhere along the way—this is a local specialty that is hard to find elsewhere, so we couldn’t miss it.
After a hearty meal, we could have wandered around, but I suggested going back to the room early to rest. First, out-of-town guests can gradually adapt to the higher altitude by resting; second, after a day of travel, a good night’s sleep is necessary to recharge for the next day’s itinerary. The hotel room continued the overall style of the hotel, adorned with Tibetan and Qiang accessories everywhere. Before bed, we were also given a carefully prepared De Lefu Masala Hot Tea from the hotel, which gave a very warm feeling.
Day 2: Hiking and Roaming in Jiuzhaigou
Waking up in the morning, before starting the trip, we went to the restaurant to enjoy the buffet breakfast and fuel up for the day’s schedule. The buffet breakfast met the standard of Indigo hotels, with western-style desserts, pan-fried fish fillets, various fruits, etc. It also had local specialties, such as the local butter tea and yak yogurt, both worth trying.
Another advantage of staying at the Indigo Hotel is that you don’t have to drive to Jiuzhaigou. You just take the hotel’s dedicated shuttle bus to the main entrance of the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, and then hop on the scenic area’s internal tour bus to start a leisurely, full-day exploration. If it’s your first time in Jiuzhaigou, you can choose the regular one-day route: start from the Primeval Forest in the Rize Valley, pass through Grass Lake, Swan Lake, Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake & Panda Lake Waterfall, Five Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal & Pearl Shoal Waterfall, and Mirror Lake. Around lunchtime, you can reach Nuorilang Center Station for lunch. Those who don’t want lunch or have brought their own can take a short break there.
In the afternoon, start from Long Lake in the Zechawa Valley, pass through Five-Color Pond, Nuorilang Waterfall, then go to the Shuzheng Valley to see Rhino Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Shuzheng Mill, Shuzheng Lakes, Shuzheng Folk Culture Village, Wolong Lake, Spark Lake, and Bonsai Shoal. You can exit the scenic area around dinner time without feeling too crowded, while still seeing the highlights of Jiuzhaigou’s three valleys.
For dinner, we continued to enjoy local specialties at the hotel. We chose a different dish from the previous day: Medog stone pot chicken, which was tender and fragrant, and there were also options like cured pork ribs.
Day 3: Exploring Luneng Town
There was no need to rush on the return day. We could sleep in and have breakfast. If you have a morning exercise habit, you can also use the hotel’s gym for free to start an energetic day.
If you have enough time, you can stroll around Luneng Town itself—it is a treasure of a resort town worth exploring. If you like Tibetan culture, you can visit the Jiuzhaigou Luneng Shengdi Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, which houses many Tibetan artifacts and artworks. Here, you can learn about the thousands of years of evolution of Tibetan culture, and there are holographic projections that allow you to immerse yourself in Tibetan life. The mandala made by hand from diamond sand is particularly stunning.
In addition, the town has many traditional local specialty shops. The biggest feature is that you can personally experience the thousand-year-old Tibetan paper making and the famous Kalachakra incense making, guided by Tibetan craftsmen. This is also an unforgettable experience of traveling to the Tibetan villages of Jiuzhaigou. Of course, international brands like Watsons, KFC, and Starbucks are also available in the town, so you can enjoy modern life without any problem.
If you like outdoor adventures, you can go to Glen 7 Park to drive UTV all-terrain vehicles and experience thrilling off-road driving. The park also has yak-themed parent-child experiences, forest exploration adventures, and other outdoor challenges! Finally, here is a practical guide. Come and start your Jiuzhaigou vacation!
Alternative ways to arrive besides self-driving:
1. Fly to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, then it takes about an hour and a half to reach the town. If staying at the Indigo Hotel, you can enjoy a free airport pick-up service, but you need to call the hotel in advance to inform them.
2. There are also buses from Chengdu, but whether they run and the specific schedules depend on the announcements of the day.
Precautions/Suggestions
1. The self-driving trip is long. If you are prone to motion sickness, it is recommended to prepare motion sickness medication in advance to relieve possible discomfort.
2. The plateau area has strong UV rays, so sunscreen, an umbrella, and sunglasses are necessary.
3. There may be mosquitoes in the forest area, so you can prepare mosquito repellent or essential balm.
4. During the pandemic, visitors need to provide a negative nucleic acid test result within 48 hours to enter Aba Prefecture.
