The Nine Castles Valley—Earthly Paradise <1>

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The Nine Castles Valley—Earthly Paradise

The high land area in western Sichuan Province is highly likely considered the most expectable destination for backpackers, photographers, ordinary tourists or anyone who wonna learn an absolute place in lifetime. That’s Jiuzhaigou which is now a national park, translated as Nine Castles Valley, a Tibetan county with both incredible landscape and amazing native custom, a heavenly dreamland.

Been years a long long bus ride over 10 hours from Chengdu, the provincial capital city of Sichuan Province, through that high land region can’t be skipped till an airport small but functions well accomplished couple of years ago, the air ride over those dagger-like snow peaks takes only 45 min, the 10’000 plus feet altitude in that airport makes ppl being confidence that they are getting closer to the blue sky for the misty Chengdu city where they just came from.

However I still prefer a lovely bus ride all the way through the high land and all along Minjiang River. An overnight stop in Wolong (Sleeping Dragon) Giant Panda natural preserve positioned in a extreme peaceful and heavily bamboo forested green valley will always be an absolute must learn. A nice hotel there offers accommodation and panda tour service. I’d like to mia-mia-mia recommend the locally produced homegrown mushroom, bamboo shoots and some other special flavors there. Unfortunately this preserve was pretty much damaged by that horrible earthquake in 2008. All the handlers and panda bears are fine besides one old mother panda killed by rolling rocks.

The accommodation in Nine Castles Valley national park always be concerned. Basically, expensive but poor service. Backpackers who take family hotels in those nearby Tibetan villages surely won’t expect more than just 1 hour’s hot water supply for shower and terrible quality but real expensive meals. Hotel keepers would repeatedly recommend you Tibetan BBQ, dry beef cubes, butter tea or some other lucrative but low quality special “delight” which are suppose to be nice and lower costs. Following a negative respond will likely be poorer service and even nasty attitude possibly influences your mood more or less. That really sucks.

However that looks the only option for backpackers unless you are heavily loaded. There are tow 5 star hotels with presidential price awaits you. That regional famous Paradise hotel for those rich ass costs thousands yuen for overnight and meals not included. In busy season some 4 star hotels won’t even guaranty clients’ reservation though all bills already been taken cared of prior to arrival cos some hotels likes to immorally save more rooms for individuals possibly show up randomly who are ready to pay the tag price.

The Sheraton nearby the entrance would be a nice option for group travelers for it’s global consistent service and commercial credibility meanwhile the cost is much lower than Paradise hotel.

Those restaurants on the street also offer shock price, which is worse is hidden costs are frequently. Some prior well-prepared meal boxes are highly recommended. Much better quality but lower costs fantastic Sichuan cuisines await you in Chengdu.

Down that street in front of the national park is full of “local specialties shops”, however those stuff sold in there are all quite frequent in any souvenir shop all over China, the only difference is price. While you show up on that street you would pretty fast find out those stick vendors anxiously waiting for you from all directions. Besides souvenir they also “kindly” offer you much lower admission fare for a night folk show which is locally popular. One thing for sure is if you serve in artillery you would be definitely loving it for it’s so loud to scare any enemy and keep everyone alert all night along.

The admission fare is 80 yuen per person plus 90 yuen for internal shuttle bus in off-season and 220 yuen plus 90 yuen in on-season. Probably the highest in China.

Though there is so much bad ppl still love to be there for your eyes will be in heaven while your bodies in hell.

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Photos

A view in Jiuzhaigou national park
A typical nice view in that park

Me
Taking a break on the rail of the board walk in Huanglong (Yellow Dragon), another similar scenic spot nearby for the elecation is over 10'000 feet.

The entrance of the National Park
In the morning busy hours those lines almost force you quit the tour

Tiger Lake
For those plants leaves turn yellow and red in fall looks like a tiger's body

A Tibetan village nearby
That yellow building is a hostel

The treminal of Jiuhuang airport
The elevation there is over 10'000 feet

My hostel room
50 yuen per night, almost 8 USD. clean and nice, but only one hour hot water supply per day.

A street view
this street takes to the entrance of the national park

A Tibetan village nearby
This is where I stayed

The Jia-bo hotel
mock ancient Tibetan style, which is rediculous is nearly mile apart between the lobby where customers chek in and the guests house part, and ppl might get lost for those number signs marked on each buildings suppose to enlighten customers their current position are to much complecated to recognize. In the morning ppl have to walk thousands feet to get breakfast.

Baby pandas playing in courtyard
It's a panda kindergarten in Wolong natural preserve.