Early Summer Mountain Retreat: A Romantic 3-Day, 2-Night Journey to Magical Jiuzhaigou

"The nightingale sings amid green willows, the bright moon awakens the vast sky. Most beloved are the wheat ears at the ridge's head, swaying in the wind and laughing at the falling red." Lesser Fullness, Lesser Fullness, the grains gradually fill, and it is again the season of wheat harvest. During the Lesser Fullness solar term, temperatures rise, and the scorching early summer sun arrives as expected. Escape the heat of the city, hide away in the cool mountains, and spend a leisurely vacation. This hidden resort beside Jiuzhaigou offers stunning scenery with few tourists. The majestic and magnificent snow-capped mountains, the quiet and ancient Tibetan villages—it feels like being in beautiful Switzerland.

In early summer, go see the mountains, enter the most beautiful western Sichuan, arrive at magical Jiuzhaigou, and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of mountains and waters, so joyful you forget to return. Near the earthly paradise of Jiuzhaigou and the idyllic Zhongcha Gully, there is also a divine-level hotel: the Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou.

Earthly Paradise Jiuzhaigou

It is often said, "After visiting Jiuzhaigou, you need not look at any other water." Once you tour Jiuzhaigou, you will find that this saying is true. The water of Jiuzhaigou is both serene and lively; it is a vast Milky Way and also a magnificent jade. Jiuzhaigou is dense with mountain lakes, streams, and waterfalls, allowing you to see the various forms of water.

Departing from Chengdu City in the morning glow, experiencing the morning rush hour congestion of the metropolis, traveling far through the renewed Wenchuan, following the source of the Minjiang River, step by step delving into the heart of western Sichuan's Songpan, encountering the secluded and beautiful Diexi Haizi along the way, the towering Songpan Ancient City, after a 9-hour drive, we finally arrive at the entrance of Jiuzhaigou. In order to enjoy the beauty of Jiuzhaigou more comfortably, we chose to stay at the Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou in Langzhai Village, Zhangzha Town, near the entrance, to rest and recuperate before entering the valley the next day.

From the hotel, it takes about 15 minutes by car to reach the entrance of Jiuzhaigou. After entering the scenic area, transfer to the scenic sightseeing bus, winding along the mountain roads, circling mountains and waters, with beautiful scenery along the way. Through the dappled shade of trees, a turquoise lake sparkles like a gem. The reeds swaying in the wind around the lake resemble dancers, gracefully performing on this crystalline blue dance floor. This is the gentle Reed Sea. As the bus moves, passing the ancient and quiet Shuzheng Village, the deep and serene Tiger Lake, then stopping at the Nuorilang Service Area, the tour route splits into two, forming a "Y" shape.

One route goes via Rhinoceros Lake, Zechawa Gully, Five-Color Pond, to Long Lake. The other route goes via Nuorilang Waterfall, Mirror Lake, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, to Five-Flower Lake. Under high-altitude conditions, to comfortably tour the beauty of Jiuzhaigou, you must first take the sightseeing bus to Long Lake, touring from top to bottom. Then transfer at the Nuorilang transit station to tour Five-Flower Lake from bottom to top.

Deep into the layered mountain valley, a long narrow lake is buried among several mountain peaks, its ink-blue water dyeing the mountains. This is the mysterious Long Lake. Stretching about 4 kilometers, at the end of Long Lake are the snow-capped mountains that never melt year-round. Due to the mountain terrain, it forms an "S"-shaped wonder of the watershed, together with the connected peaks, forming a treasure gourd. Because of the replenishment of meltwater from the surrounding high mountains, although there is no surface water inflow around Long Lake, the water area remains wide all year, which is quite mysterious. Therefore, the Tibetans call it the "never-full, never-dry" treasure gourd. Moreover, the "One-Armed Old Cypress" at Long Lake is also a purely natural wonder, breathtaking, with similar ingenuity to Huangshan's "Welcome Pine."

Following the downhill boardwalk for about 1 kilometer, you arrive at the smallest and most gorgeous Five-Color Pond in Jiuzhaigou. Five-Color Pond is famous for its purity, brightness, beauty, and multicolored allure. Regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter, or cloudy, sunny, rainy, or snowy weather, the water of Five-Color Pond remains clear and pure all year, clean as new. Fallen leaves drift on the slightly rippling water in the boardwalk, like scattered musical notes floating on the pond. Mountain winds blow, brown stones strike rocks, splashing circles of layered golden ripples, an extremely beautiful sight. The small and exquisite Five-Color Pond, due to the growth of underwater aquatic plants and ferns, has transformed its originally azure surface into a riot of colors, nearly comparable to Five-Flower Lake, exceptionally charming.

Heading straight down from Five-Flower Lake, take the sightseeing bus along the mountain road, passing a lake with intoxicating blue water—this is Rhinoceros Lake. Rhinoceros Lake is surrounded by green mountains on three sides, connected to Shuzheng Waterfall on one side. It boasts the most beautiful reflections among the seas and is an excellent spot for autumn foliage viewing. Beside Rhinoceros Lake stretches a continuous forested valley stream area, with trees standing in bizarre shapes, washed by emerald water. The misty Rhinoceros Lake is both real and illusory, blending reality and fantasy, a feast for the eyes.

Mythical Jiuzhaigou is famous for its calm, lively, and exquisite water. Here lies China's widest waterfall, Nuorilang Waterfall. The waterfall is 270 meters wide and 24.5 meters high, one of the largest calcified waterfalls in China. Standing on the viewing platform, looking down at Nuorilang Waterfall, the water plunges vertically with an overwhelming momentum, thunderous and deafening. The waterfall water sometimes cascades like a Milky Way, magnificent and vast; sometimes it resembles thousands of silver pearls, crystal clear. The myriad scenes are intoxicating. Just like its name "Nuorilang," which means in Tibetan a robust male god, displaying his "muscular" body in this quiet mountain, sometimes bold and unrestrained, sometimes gentle as waves, all to win a smile from the heavenly fairy above.

"The Jade Pool was originally in the mortal world, laughable that commoners try to learn to become immortals." Magical Jiuzhaigou, an earthly paradise. A single day of play leaves an unforgettable memory.

Mountain Retreat: Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou

For contemporary young people, travel is not limited to visiting natural landscapes or exploring historical sites; it should also include warm, comfortable, and stylish accommodation. In magical Jiuzhaigou, hidden away is a mountain retreat, like a paradise on earth. Love at first sight, unforgettable upon second visit.

Some say: If there are two Peach Blossom Heavens in the world, one is in Tao Yuanming's poetry, the other is in Jiuzhaigou Luneng Resort. Looking around Jiuzhaigou, among the dazzling array of hotels and guesthouses, the most heart-stirring one that makes you want to stay immediately is the Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou. Built against the mountain, nestled beside a village, facing water across, with exotic charm, it is fascinating. The high-end and elegant appearance, warm and comfortable guest rooms, mature entertainment and commercial facilities, all add a "icing on the cake."

Entering the Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou, you are immediately amazed by the "Delefu" mansion built with Amdo Tibetan culture as the centerpiece. The lobby, with its traditional Tibetan fireplace design as the axis, exudes aristocratic elegance. The wooden ceiling and colorful carpets reflect a strong sense of beauty.

Reportedly, the hotel design was crafted by the renowned Hong Kong design firm CCD, with the "divine eagle" as the inspiration theme. Throughout the corners, local Tibetan life art elements such as Xiangba, Qiang embroidery, yaks, and fire pits are scattered, extending guests' understanding and imagination of local culture. When modern aesthetic fashion meets simple Tibetan culture, it creates one after another Instagram-worthy photo spots, stunningly beautiful.

Multiple distinctive outdoor courtyards are distributed on different floors of the hotel. The courtyards contain "Zang·Cang" themed guest rooms, decorated with traditional Qiang cloth embroidery and unique Tangka paintings of Aba Tibetans. The overall warm-toned design feels natural and cozy. Opening the door, you can immerse yourself in Tibetan and Qiang culture.

In the Harvest-themed You·Zang neighborhood restaurant, the golden colors and design blend traditional Amdo Tibetan etiquette with British manor culture, offering guests a diverse and noble dining experience. The hotel's culinary specialty—the Tibetan hot pot feast—delighted our taste buds and fulfilled our expectations of Tibetan cuisine. Naturally simmered yak tail bone broth with seasonal vegetables, plus a bowl of locally made yak yogurt, the authentic Tibetan dishes leave a lasting aftertaste.

After the meal, enjoy a cup of Gongfu tea, and take a stroll through the intangible cultural heritage town—Jiuzhaigou Luneng Meilihui—built by China Green Development Group·Luneng Group. It helps digestion and nourishes the body while allowing you to appreciate local culture, a win-win situation. Starting from the hotel at the entrance of the town, a Tibetan chess board design increases our curiosity about this "intangible heritage trip."

Inside the town's Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, exquisite Tangka paintings and a mandala made from crushed gemstones polished into powder are astonishing. The rich scrolls, artifacts, and artworks here interpret Jiuzhaigou's unique Tibetan folklore and culture. You can see the evolution of Tibetan elements throughout history, appreciate the daily lives of Tibetan and Qiang people, and even experience the reappearance of a mandala from 2,500 years ago through holographic projection.

Leaving the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, we discovered more interesting Tibetan cultural portals in the town—the Tibetan paper shop "Xiuduan Tibetan Paper" and the Tibetan incense shop "Shilun Tibetan Incense." If interested, you can even try making Tibetan paper and incense yourself, deeply experiencing the inheritance of Tibetan craftsmanship.

Everywhere in the town, you can see distinct Tibetan cultural elements, including the Tibetan white pagoda in the square, the prayer flags hanging high in the streets, and locals dressed in Tibetan clothing... Brand stores common in big cities are also found here, making our hearts flutter again while staying in Jiuzhaigou.

Secluded Paradise: Zhongcha Gully

Who would have thought that just 15 kilometers away across a mountain from Jiuzhaigou, there exists such a remote, untouched paradise? Here you find pure white snowy mountains, lush green grass, simple and honest Tibetan people, ancient and tranquil, undisturbed.

This is the serene and beautiful Zhongcha Gully, adjacent to the Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou. Zhongcha Gully maintains the most original Tibetan village style, with wooden houses one after another, surrounded by colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, wonderfully beautiful. It forms a sharp contrast with the bustling Jiuzhaigou Luneng resort.

Entering the quiet and peaceful Zhongcha Gully, wildflowers bloom with subtle fragrance, green grass carpets the ground, and cattle and sheep are scattered like stars on the alpine meadows. Well-arranged deadwood fences and lonely, tall trees stand upright in the mountains, beautiful like poetry and painting. From deep within the village comes the sound of cheerful reading, echoing in the empty mountain top, like a magnificent movement played in the valley.

Ancient and tranquil Zhongcha Gully—villagers have lived here for generations, accompanied by forests and snowy mountains, leading a herding life, like a secluded fairyland. This pastoral idyll of Zhongcha Gully is captivating. People call it: The Back Garden of Jiuzhaigou.

At the start of summer, drive all the way west to magical Jiuzhaigou, stay at the "divine residence" (Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou), quietly enjoy the romance of the mountains, and idle away the time!

Day 1: Arrive at Huanglong Airport by plane, then take a 1.5-hour car ride to the hotel (airport pickup service available). Rest at the Hotel Indigo Jiuzhaigou. Enjoy a special Tibetan hot pot dinner, then take a night tour of the Luneng Meilihui town.

Day 2: After breakfast, head to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area for sightseeing and exploration.

Day 3: In the morning, visit the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Luneng Meilihui town (1-2 hours), then explore the various cultural and creative shops in the town. In the afternoon, head to Zhongcha Gully for sightseeing, then fly back.