Tour the Beautiful Jiuzhaigou Valley with TourChina.com

Jiuzhaigou Sichuan, also known as the Jiuzhaigou Valley is a huge nature reserve area in Sichuan province, located in south western China. It is known worldwide for its indescribable beauty - mysterious lakes, splendid waterfall and story-like nature surrounding. Listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this huge area offers tourists a symphony of colors and enchanting views.

There is something almost magical about the plants, trees and flowers in Jiuzhaigou. When you travel through the valley it seems as if the nature changes constantly, supplying visitors with new exciting views that transform rapidly. You can find yourself walking through huge fields of sweet scented green grass, crossing tall bamboo forests, climbing stony hills and admiring snowy ridges. It's as if someone collected all the natural wonders of the Earth and placed them in one single area.

Apart from the endless shades of green and amazing natural scenery, the park is also home for many life forms including two well-known endangered species - the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey and the Giant Panda bear. However, don't expect to run into any of these legendary creatures by accident. Jiuzhaigou is over 240 kilometers squared and the chances of seeing these particular wildlife specimens are small.

The meaning of the word Jiuzhaigou in Chinese is "The Valley of Nine Villages" and out of the nine small Tibetan villages that inspired the name, seven are still populated. Tourists who visit these ancient communities can enjoy the authentic Asian village atmosphere, buy souvenirs and try some local snacks.

Today the valley is very tourist-friendly and travelling within it is both easy and safe. All you have to do is pick your preferred means of transportation. Car rental, minibuses, taxis - they're all available in the area. Even if you are planning on hiking remember that the place is too big to cross entirely by foot. You'll need to think of a way to travel between one are to another and busses probably make the safest bet. Using a tourist guide is a good idea, if you want to enjoy the best parts of the area, especially if you're short on time. However, if you dislike this form of travelling, you can collect enough information online to allow you to explore the valley's wonders by yourself.

The Jiuzhaigou, once a secluded unknown part of China, now offers a full range of possible accommodations. From basic low-priced inns to luxurious high-class hotels - you have all the options. Three day is the ideal time period to spend in the area. This length of time will allow you to enjoy all the main tourist attractions, but of course if you're planning on hiking, you can stay longer.