A famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is a popular spot with visitors who like to spend time exploring the area’s natural beauty.
Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is part of the Sichuan Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, which covers an area of 400kms by 100kms to the north of the city of Chengdu. This area is particularly admired as it features a number of flowing rivers, blue and green lakes, and sparkling waterfalls.
Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is home to the giant panda and the golden snub-nosed monkey. Visitors wishing to see these magnificent animals should hire an experienced guide as the sheer size of the area can make them difficult to find. There is also a spectacular range of other colorful birds, fish and reptiles to be seen.
There are buses traveling around the reserve and visitors can hop on and off whenever they want. However, walking in the reserve is pleasant and there are a number of interesting trails to follow, many covered with wooden planks to make the trek easier. Stop at the Shuzheng Village for a cup of refreshing Tibetan butter tea and perhaps take a boat trip on one of the area’s many lakes.
Getting There & Away
The easiest way to get here is from Chegdu as the city has an international airport with connections to Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong. The journey from the airport to the reserve takes about 10 hours by bus. It is also possible to reach Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve from Mianyang (7 hours) and Song Pan (3 hours).