China can be a somewhat chaotic country for the most part, but if you are looking for peace and lush nature away from the pollution and chaos of Chinese metropolises, you are in the right place!
Before the popularization of travel blogs e Instagram, it was difficult to find places outside the tourist axis, especially when it comes to a country like China.
When I was in doubt whether or not to include the country in the backpack what was I doing for Asia in mid-2012, I started researching travel destinations. nature in china and I came across an article whose title was “10 landscapes you won't believe exist!”.
It's been a while and of course I don't even remember the name of the site, but I remember the title very well because, even after knowing this paradise, I'm still reluctant to believe that it exists.
Among the 10 landscapes, I saw a name that took me to the China without me even knowing how I would get there.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Mother Nature didn't think twice about being extremely generous with the Jiuzhaigou National Park, a paradise on the edge of the Tibetan plateau filled with lakes that are the envy of any filter. Instagram.
The nature reserve is made up of three valleys with countless lakes, natural pools and waterfalls that extend over 700km² in the most variable shades of blue and green. What makes these colors so impressive is the high level of minerals contained in the water and deposited in the submerged rocks.
The curious thing is that this paradise, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is extremely touristy among the Chinese but very little known among foreigners and this was the reason why I struggled a bit to find information about the place.
Natural Pool in Jiuzhaigou Valley
You can't even tell how clear the water is – Natural Pool in Jiuzhaigou.
Luckily for me, in the few successful searches I managed to do about the park at the time, I immediately found another piece of paradise that seemed to come as a “freebie” to my eyes and the name of this place will be the next item on your bucket list. places in the world to visit:
Huanglong National Park
In the middle of a remote road just before arriving in Jiuzhaigou, is located one of those scenarios that I always thought only existed in major productions of oriental films. The snow-capped mountains in midsummer form the most beautiful of all Chinese glaciers.
Due to thousands of years of geological evolution added to the climatic conditions of the region, huang long owns unique landscapes with spectacular limestone formations giving life to the numerous natural pools of vibrant colors and world-famous marble, waterfalls and hot springs, the main attractions of huang long.
The area also conserves a population of endangered animals such as the giant panda and the golden monkey of Sichuan, which like any animal in its natural habitat, are difficult to see close to visitors. THE nature in china it's something really amazing.
Como chegar em Huanglong e Jiuzhaigou:
The best and cheapest way to get to the park is from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, also famous for being the land of cute pandas and being on the border with Tibet. Worth a walk through Chengdu before starting the trip to the parks.
Panda Breeding Center in Chengdu
From Chengdu you have two options:
- Taking a small plane at a pretty hefty price to the aeroporto de Jiuzhai, located in a village adjacent to the park called Songpan, and from there make the transfers with vans organized by an agency or in local buses.
- Make the entire trip on your own by bus with a mandatory stop at Songpan and from there continue with local transport.
I obviously opted for the second option which was incomparably cheaper.
It is important to be very careful when asking for information, as many Chinese try to trick you in various ways so that you buy the most expensive option and, as China is very limited to get certain information, you end up believing what they tell you without much choice.
An example of this, to give you an idea, is that this was the destination I most wanted to visit in China, but I only found out about the bus option after I gave up on the trip because the price would be unfeasible – even the employee of the hostel in Chengdu where I was staying convinced me that there was no other option than the plane. When he saw that I really wasn't going, he suddenly “remembered” that there was a much more economical alternative.
It is quite tiring, but my tip is to try to talk to several people, especially with those who would not benefit from your trip, as you will definitely find locals willing to help you.
The trip:
De Chengdu to Songpan it's about 350km on a road full of curves and irregularities, which ends up greatly extending the duration of the trip. spend a night in Songpan is mandatory because the trip ends up being too long to reach one of the parks in time to enjoy it and this is the closest city to huang long, the first park you will visit.
Although the stop is not optional, you can be sure that it is worth knowing Songpan, a super friendly, charming and interesting history city to visit, with a special emphasis on people who are super sweet and thoughtful, more than in any major Chinese city.
Interestingly, this was the city where I found the most people who could communicate in English, giving a dance in the big cities – you see, “communicating” does not mean that the person is able to take a TOEFL, in China it just means that he's not afraid of you, he can understand you and make himself understood, which is what matters... don't expect great conversations because communication there is not the easiest task in life.
Ladies chatting in the center of Songpan village
Life in Songpan Village
Taking this route, the most obvious thing is that you first visit the Huanglong National Park, which has extremely easy access by bus from Songpan, stopping at the entrance to the park.
after visiting huang long, you can take the same bus that took you there and continue your journey to Jiuzhai, the village where the Jiuzhaigou National Park, where you will find different types of accommodation to spend the night and leave very early the next morning for the park.
If you choose just one of the parks, you can go from Songpan to huang long and return to Songpan after the tour, or go from Songpan directly to Jiuzhaigou, if that is your choice. Don't ask me which is my favorite of the two if you don't want to be convinced to know both! hehe. They are two very particular beauties and the choice would be unfair!
Entrance to the parks is not very cheap, but it is worth the investment for the experience and also for the exemplary work of the staff – I was impressed by the exceptional care taken with cleaning and preserving these nature reserves. Half price applies for students or seniors with proof of payment.
Tips for making the most of the tours:
- Both parks are huge, so it's essential to head out for the rides early in the morning to fully enjoy all their charms and also try to escape the hustle and bustle.
- The park Jiuzhaigou it is really gigantic and can be traveled by bus (highly recommended) or on foot, which I do not recommend at all. To try to avoid riots, I suggest you start the tour at the end and go back little by little to the entrance, so you'll be doing the opposite flow most of the time, except for the moment you'll meet people in the middle of the way, but that already helps enough if you prefer to enjoy the scenery without too many people.
- Remember to take some snacks and a bottle of water to fill up at the drinking fountains, if you want to save money, as the cafeterias in the parks are expensive and I wasn't a big fan of the food.
- Regardless of the time of year, take an extra coat for the beginning and end of the day, as it tends to get very cold during these periods.
- The trails inside the parks are light and well-structured, but it is essential to wear comfortable, flat shoes, remembering that you will be walking a lot throughout the day.
Best time to visit:
Each season of the year has its very particular beauty with an impressive mix of colors, it is no wonder that the entrance to the parks is a postcard with the same scenery in the 4 seasons of the year.
My visit was during the summer and the bright colors did not spare my eyes, but I confess that I left the park with that promise to return there at another time of year just to be enchanted again.
The climate in this region is always cold. Even in high summer, when I visited, I had to buy a coat and I was a little cold, so get ready for that. In winter the temperature is very low and it snows a lot, which makes the scenery simply charming, but I imagine that the thermal sensation is not easy to face.
Once, a few years ago, I saw that picture of Jiuzhaigou that motivated me to get to know nature in china.
Now tell me… could I make you follow this current? ?
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