In autumn, Jiuzhaigou.
The lake water presents a dreamlike blue-green color, like gems embedded in the valley. Five Flower Lake’s colorful display, Nuorilang Waterfall’s cascading water, Long Lake’s deep tranquility… each place breathtakingly beautiful. Standing by the lake, watching the colorful forests reflected in the water, you can’t tell which is sky, which is water.
“After returning from Jiuzhaigou, no need to see other waters”—this is no exaggeration.
Sichuan is a place that makes you never want to leave.
Province Profile#
- Location: Southwest China, upper reaches of the Yangtze River
- Best Travel Season: September-November (Jiuzhaigou autumn colors), year-round (Chengdu)
- Highlights: Jiuzhaigou fairyland, panda hometown, Sichuan cuisine, Heavenly Kingdom
Must-Visit Attractions#
Jiuzhaigou: Fairyland on Earth#
Jiuzhaigou is a World Natural Heritage, “Fairyland on Earth.”
Five Flower Lake is Jiuzhaigou’s most beautiful place, with lake water showing blue, green, yellow, and other colors like a palette. Nuorilang Waterfall is China’s widest alpine waterfall, 270 meters wide, magnificent in momentum. Long Lake is Jiuzhaigou’s largest lake, deep and tranquil. Pearl Shoal Waterfall is the filming location for “Journey to the West,” with water jumping on travertine beaches like countless pearls.
Best Experience: Come to Jiuzhaigou in autumn, see colorful forests reflected in the lake. Stay at the valley entrance, be the first to enter in the morning, avoid crowds.
Chengdu: A City You Come to and Never Want to Leave#
Chengdu is China’s most leisurely city, “Don’t enter Sichuan when young, don’t leave Sichuan when old.”
Kuanzhai Alleys is Chengdu’s calling card, with old streets of blue bricks and gray tiles, lined with teahouses, snack shops, and creative stores. Find a teahouse, order a covered-bowl tea, get an ear cleaning, space out for an afternoon.
Jinli is Chengdu’s liveliest old street, with snacks, handicrafts, and Sichuan Opera performances—everything you need. Chunxi Road is Chengdu’s most bustling commercial street, with beauties everywhere, fashion and trends.
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is the best place to see giant pandas—come in the morning, watch pandas eat bamboo, roll around, sleep, melting your heart.
Best Experience: Sit in a teahouse all afternoon, watch Chengdu people’s leisurely life. Eat hotpot at night, feel Chengdu’s fiery passion.
Mount Emei: Famous Buddhist Mountain#
Mount Emei is one of China’s four famous Buddhist mountains, the bodhimanda of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
Golden Summit is Mount Emei’s highest point, 3,079 meters above sea level. In the early morning, watch sunrise, sea of clouds, and Buddha’s light—Mount Emei’s three wonders. Wannian Temple is Mount Emei’s oldest temple, with the beamless brick hall an architectural miracle.
Best Experience: Stay overnight on the mountain, watch sunrise in the morning. Walk down the mountain path, see the monkeys along the way.
Leshan Giant Buddha: World’s Largest Stone Buddha#
The Leshan Giant Buddha is the world’s largest stone Buddha statue, 71 meters high, carved during the Tang Dynasty.
The Buddha is built against the mountain, with a benevolent face, overlooking the confluence of three rivers. You can take a boat to see the Buddha from a distance, or walk the plank path to see it up close.
Special Experiences#
Daocheng Yading: The Last Shangri-La on the Blue Planet#
Daocheng Yading is praised as “The Last Shangri-La on the Blue Planet.”
Three Sacred Mountains—Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduoji—are snow-capped year-round, sacred and solemn. Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake are alpine lakes with clear water reflecting snow mountains. Luorong Pasture is the starting point for hiking, with grasslands, streams, and snow mountains—picturesque scenery.
Best Experience: Come to Yading in autumn, see golden meadows and white snow mountains. Hike around the mountains, feel the sacredness of Tibetan areas.
Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng#
Dujiangyan is a water conservancy project built by Li Bing and his son during the Warring States period, still in use after over 2,000 years, the originator of world water conservancy culture.
Mount Qingcheng is a famous Taoist mountain, “Mount Qingcheng is the most secluded under heaven.” Ancient trees tower in the mountains, with Taoist temples scattered—a great place to escape summer heat.
Sichuan Cuisine#
Sichuan is a food paradise. Hotpot is Sichuan’s calling card, with red oil boiling, numbing and spicy. Mapo Tofu, Twice-Cooked Pork, and Kung Pao Chicken are Sichuan classics. Skewers, Maocai, and Bobo Chicken are street snacks—cheap and delicious.
Chengdu Snacks are even more abundant: Long Chao Shou, Zhong Dumplings, Dan Dan Noodles, Sweet Water Noodles, Three Cannon… each worth trying.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Chengdu is Sichuan’s transportation hub, with dual airports (Shuangliu, Tianfu), high-speed rail to all parts of the country. Jiuzhaigou has an airport, or take a bus from Chengdu.
- Accommodation: In Chengdu, stay near Chunxi Road or Kuanzhai Alleys; in Jiuzhaigou, stay at the valley entrance; on Mount Emei, stay on the mountain or at the foot.
- Note: Jiuzhaigou is at high altitude—watch for altitude sickness. Sichuan cuisine is numbing and spicy—proceed within your ability. Go early to see pandas—they’re active in the morning.
Sichuan’s charm lies in its leisure.
Spacing out in a Chengdu teahouse, strolling by Jiuzhaigou’s lakes, watching adorable animals at the panda base, feasting in a hotpot restaurant… time here seems to pass especially slowly.
Come to Sichuan and learn to slow down.
Tomorrow, we head to Guizhou to see the magnificence of Huangguoshu Waterfall and the charm of Miao villages.