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Northern Sichuan · 九寨沟

Jiuzhaigou

Clear lakes and waterfalls sit in a forested mountain valley.

Golden trees surround turquoise water with submerged trunks visible at Five Flower Lake.
JiuzhaigouAutumn foliage frames the clear water of Five Flower Lake in Jiuzhaigou’s Rize Valley.

Five Flower Lake, the waterfall terraces and the high valley forests.

Jiuzhaigou through the year

UNESCO · Jiuzhaigou Valley

March–May

Spring

At Long Lake, blue water can sit below peaks that still carry snow. Lower in the valley, look for fresh green along the lakeshores.

Long Lake glows blue between dark evergreen slopes and snow-covered peaks.
JiuzhaigouApril light on Long Lake, with snow still on the peaks above Jiuzhaigou.

June–August

Summer

At Nuorilang, water spills over a broad ledge below the forest. Rain can change both visibility and access.

Sunlit curtains of water spill over a dark rock ledge at Nuorilang Waterfall.
JiuzhaigouSunlit cascades at Nuorilang Waterfall in Jiuzhaigou.

September–November

Autumn

Turn your eye from the blue water to the banks, where gold and red trees reflect in the lakes.

Golden trees surround turquoise water with submerged trunks visible at Five Flower Lake.
JiuzhaigouAutumn foliage frames the clear water of Five Flower Lake in Jiuzhaigou’s Rize Valley.

December–February

Winter

Long Lake can freeze beneath the snowy peaks. Confirm which walks are open before planning a route.

Dark fir trees frame snow-covered Long Lake and high ridges under a sky full of clouds.
JiuzhaigouSnow blankets frozen Long Lake beneath the peaks of the Zechawa Valley.