Jiuzhaigou | Visiting in the off-season from July to August is truly delightful, with fewer people and beautiful scenery

Dear friends💦, summer in Jiuzhaigou is simply a magical season! In July and August, Jiuzhaigou has abundant water flow, roaring waterfalls, and crystal-clear lakes. The best part is that there are half as many tourists as during the National Day holiday, so you don’t have to fight for photo spots—every shot is wallpaper-worthy beauty📸! Save this detailed guide to help you enjoy a cool summer in Jiuzhaigou~❄️ - 🔹About Jiuzhaigou 🏔 Jiuzhaigou is located in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, with an altitude of 2000-3000 meters and an average summer temperature around 20°C, perfect for escaping the heat🌿! There are 108 alpine lakes (called "haizi" in Tibetan), as clear and blue as emeralds, along with the spectacular Nuorilang Waterfall and pristine forests🌲. July and August bring abundant rain, making the waterfalls at their fullest and the scenery most breathtaking! Remember to bring a light jacket, as the plateau weather can change suddenly~☔ - 🎯Must-visit Jiuzhaigou summer attractions (top picks👇) ❶【Five Flower Lake】💎🌊 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlight: The beauty icon of Jiuzhaigou! The lake performs magic, showing several colors like sapphire blue, emerald green, and goose yellow in one spot🌈 🕒Best time to visit: Before 10 AM (colors are most vivid under direct sunlight) ✨Recommended activities: ✅ Walk the boardwalk around the lake to capture different colors from various angles📸 ✅ Find the old tree roots at the bottom of the lake, resembling a sleeping dragon🐉 ✅ Combine with a visit to 【Pearl Shoal Waterfall】 for a splashy, refreshing experience💦 ❷【Nuorilang Waterfall】🌊✨ 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlight: China’s widest travertine waterfall, with huge water flow in July and August. Standing on the viewing platform, you’ll be misted with water (super refreshing!) 🕒Open all day ✨Recommended activities: ✅ Shoot rainbows in the morning light (if lucky, you might see double rainbows!)🌈 ✅ Walk the boardwalk behind the waterfall to experience the "Water Curtain Cave" view🚶 ✅ Visit 【Mirror Lake】 early morning when the water is calm and mirror-like🖼 ❸【Long Lake】🏔💙 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlight: The highest and largest lake in Jiuzhaigou, backed by snow-capped mountains—truly spectacular! ✨Recommended activities: ✅ Rent Tibetan costumes for photos with the sacred snowy mountain backdrop📿 ✅ Check in at the "Old Man Cypress," a one-armed ancient tree full of stories🌲 ✅ On the way, visit 【Colorful Pool】, small but with the most vivid colors🎨 ❹【Shuzheng Lakes Cluster】🌲💦 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlight: 19 lakes linked like an emerald necklace, with boardwalks weaving through, making you feel like you’re walking inside a painting ✨Recommended activities: ✅ Evening light is softest for shooting perfect water reflections📷 ✅ Find the small rainbow at 【Shuzheng Waterfall】, fewer people and great photos🌈 ✅ Stay at the valley entrance to be the first in the next morning and have the lakes all to yourself!🏃 - 🏖Classic 3-day Jiuzhaigou summer itinerary D1 💎 Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou 🚗 Morning: Depart from Chengdu, passing through Wenchuan New County 🌉 Evening: Stay at a hotel near the valley entrance and watch the "Jiuzhai Eternal Love" show D2 🌊 Full day in Jiuzhaigou ☀️ Morning: Rize Valley (Five Flower Lake + Pearl Shoal) 🍃 Afternoon: Zechawa Valley (Long Lake + Colorful Pool) 🌙 Evening: Enjoy yak hotpot at a Tibetan family restaurant🍲 D3 🏔 Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong - Chengdu 🌈 Morning: Visit Huanglong Scenic Area to see the travertine pools 🚌 Afternoon: Return to Chengdu (passing through Songpan Ancient Town) - 🍜Must-try Jiuzhaigou foods ✅ Yak yogurt: topped with a layer of butter skin, sweet and tangy🥛 ✅ Highland barley cake: crispy outside, soft inside, perfect with butter tea🫓 ✅ Tibetan hotpot: copper pot cooking yak meat and wild mushrooms🍲 ✅ Pickled vegetable noodles: plateau-style sour and spicy noodles, an appetite booster🍜 - 🏡Accommodation recommendations ✅ Valley entrance hotels: super convenient for walking to the scenic area, Four Seasons Fairy Tale Hotel is recommended🏨 ✅ Zhangzha Town: more dining options and lively at night🍢 ✅ Luxury choice: Jiuzhai Paradise Intercontinental, with its own hot springs♨ - 🚗Transportation guide ✈️ Major transport: Fly to Chengdu/Mianyang then transfer to a bus (8 hours)🚌 🚐 Local transport: Sightseeing buses are mandatory inside the park (90 RMB/person)🚎 ⚠️ Note: Landslides may occur during the rainy season, check road conditions in advance! - 📌Useful tips 1️⃣ Sunscreen essentials: sunglasses + hat + sunscreen (UV rays are very strong on the plateau)🕶 2️⃣ Wear non-slip shoes! The boardwalks can be slippery when wet👟 3️⃣ Don’t touch the lake water! It takes 60 years for travertine pools to recover after damage🙅 4️⃣ Respect Tibetan customs, spin prayer wheels clockwise📿 This summer, let’s dive into the fairy tale world of Jiuzhaigou together!💙 If you have questions, call me in the comments~👇