Who knew there was a place like this in the world

“There’s a place like this in the world” Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟), just hearing the name gave me a mysterious feeling. I visited this place, which is still not well known in Korea, on my own. ■ Korea → Chengdu (成都) - Departure The flight from Korea to Chengdu arrived late at night. The arrival time was already past 11 o’clock, and the airport was somewhat deserted. Because it was late, I didn’t rush and went straight to a hotel on Chunxi Road (春熙路), the center of Chengdu. Chunxi Road is Chengdu’s representative shopping street, and it was bright even at night and crowded with people. I took a quick walk down the street in the night air and got some rest early for my next morning departure. Tip: The most convenient way to get from Chengdu Airport to Chunxi Road was by calling an airport bus or Didi (Chinese Uber). It’s not easy to catch a taxi late at night, so it’s a good idea to install the Didi app in advance. ⸻ ■ Chengdu → Huanglongjiuzhai (黄龙九寨) train transfer At 5 pm, I headed to Chengdu Station (成都火车站). The train departure time was 5:30. I was able to sit comfortably on the train and enjoy the scenery of Sichuan through the window. • Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes • Destination: Huanglongjiuzhai Station (黄龙九寨站) When I arrived at Huanglongjiuzhai Station, the wind was blowing hard and it was 6 degrees lower than downtown Chengdu. It was a little cold. The hotel car I had reserved in advance was waiting in front of the station. It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from the train station to the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. The road was clean and well-maintained, and the winding scenery unique to mountain roads unfolded. ⸻ ■ Hotel right in front of Guchaegu - Accommodation The hotel was within walking distance from the entrance to the Guchaegu tourist site. After checking in, I unpacked and went for a walk around the area. The air was clear in the quiet mountain village atmosphere. There was nothing around the accommodation, so I ordered something simple from the hotel. I went to bed early to relieve my fatigue. The next morning, the full-scale entrance to Guchaegu awaited me. ⸻ ■ Entry to Guchaegu - The start of the long journey The next morning, at 8:30 AM. I entered the entrance to the Guchaegu tourist site right away. Tip: I had to reserve the entrance ticket to Guchaegu online in advance, and I absolutely had to bring my passport. (I entered right away after confirming the passport number I wrote when making the reservation) My first impression was literally ‘overwhelming.’ The clear and transparent water, the lakes that reflected the sky like a mirror, the wild flowers scattered everywhere, and the waterfalls that fell like pictures… • Main point route: 1. Ohahae (五花海): A lake shining in five colors like the hand of God 2. Jinsa Falls (金丝瀑布): A stream of water like soft golden threads 3. Nosahae (蘆葦海): A shallow lake that makes you feel like you're walking on water 4. Janghae (长海): A harmony of magnificent lake scenery and snow-covered mountains Jiuzhaigou was a way to travel to major points by shuttle bus and walk along the way. The path was well-maintained, so the trekking was not difficult, and you could occasionally see wild animals (roe deer, etc.). Tip: Jiuzhaigou is over 2,000m in altitude, so it was sometimes hard to breathe. It is important to move slowly and drink water frequently. Running or walking quickly is prohibited. ⸻ ■ Return to Chengdu At 7:30 PM, we moved back to Chengdu. (Almost 2 hours by train) It was a difficult journey, but the afterglow of Jiuzhaigou did not easily fade. I took countless pictures in my mind while looking at the mountains and fields and the sunset outside the window. I arrived in Chengdu late at night and finished the day again. ⸻ ■ What I felt during this trip • Jiuzhaigou was more beautiful than I could imagine. There was nothing artificial, it was truly ‘nature itself’. • Even if it is a little difficult, a trip that you plan and move yourself will leave a much deeper memory. It was quieter because it was the off-season, so there were not many tourists, and I could feel nature completely. • Next time, I want to travel to Huanglong (黄龙) as well. (It is said that a 2-night, 3-day course that combines Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong is also popular.) ⸻ ■ Summary of practical tips • Make sure to reserve train tickets in advance! (They are often sold out, especially during the Jiuzhaigou season) • Jiuzhaigou admission tickets must be reserved online in advance. (On-site purchases are almost impossible) • It is good to find accommodations near the entrance to the tourist site to reduce travel stress. • Winter clothes + comfortable sneakers are essential. (It is cold in the mornings and evenings even in April and May.) • A Chinese translation app is essential. (English is almost impossible) #ChinaTravelMoment #ChinaTravel #ChengduChina #Jiuzhaigou