Plan your Jiuzhaigou tour? Jiuzhaigou National Park is a nature reserve in the north of Sichuan Province. Jiuzhaigou is not only famous for its beauty but also its pleasant weather. It belongs to the moisture plateau climate. The rainfall in Jiuzhaigou is very little but concentrating. July and August are the two typical rain seasons.
When is the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou? Most people think autumn gives the most beautiful scenery of Jiuzhaigou Valley.
Best Time to Visit Jiuzhaigou
September through November is the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou. October 15 through 30 is the golden time for viewing colorful leaves.
For the first-timers, the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou National Park is from Sept. to Oct, which roughly overlaps autumn season. Travelling to Jiuzhaigou in autumn offers the most fascinating landscape with the colorful red leaves. Under the clear blue sky, everything in Jiuzhaigou Vally puts on autumn colors. Red, yellow and green interweave with each other and reflect in the turquoise lakes. The most intoxicating scenery makes Jiuzhaigou live up to its reputation as “a Fairy Land on Earth”.
In fact, different seasons give Jiuzhaigou different kind of beauty. It all depends on your budget, tolerance for large crowds, your personal interests and, another time of year may suit you better. Check out below to have some information on each season:
Jiuzhaigou in Spring ( March – May)
Jiuzhaigou spring is from March till the end of May. As spring approaches, rivers are swelling. There is strong sunlight in Jiuzhaigou because of the plateau landscape there.
Jiuzhaigou in spring has strong ultraviolet radiation. Bring your sunglasses, sunblock. Big temperature between day and night, still need to wear winter clothes in the evening.
Late March in Jiuzhaigou is still quite chilly, a big temperature difference between day and night, you still need to wear a winter jacket in the evening. Average temperature: 17 ℃(day ) and 7℃ (night).
It may rain during the day, bringing your rain jacket. Late March is not the best season to visit Jiuzhaigou, a bit cold and the trees are not very much green.
But its advantage is that you can have discounts for entrance fees and less crowded in the scenic area since it is still in low tourist season. After all, it is not bad to visit Jiuzhaigou in late March.
Jiuzhaigou in Summer (June – August)
Summer in Jiuzhaigou starts from June and ends in August. At that time every where of Jiuzhaigou is green: green mountains, green water and green trees. Jiuzhaigou is not hot in summer except those places blazed down by sun.
Summer is also the rainy season of Jiuzhaigou. There will be suddenly rain there. It will be the best time for taking photos after rains. You should not miss your sunglasses, sunbonnet, sun lotion and umbrella.
Jiuzhaigou in Autumn (September – October )
Jiuzhaigou Valley enjoys its most beautiful appearance in fall. The sky is bright and clear. The colorful leaves and tourists are reflected on the bright and clear lakes and fallen leaves are floating on the surface of water.
Your eyes are filled with the most beautiful view of the natural world. You will be surprising of the masterpiece by nature!
By the way, the difference in temperature between day and night is bigger in autumn, take a thick coat with you.
Enchanting view of Changhai in Jiuzhaigou in September
Picturesque five color pond of Jiuzhaigou in autumn
Jiuzhaigou in Winter (November – February)
Jiuzhaigou Nature Park enters into winter from mid-Nov to mid March. In winter, Jiuzhaigou Nature Park is snowy from time to time. Jiuzhaigou is covered by snow and turns into a pure white world. White is the theme color in winter of Jiuzhaigou.
Winter is the slack season for Jiuzhaigou travel. Jiuzhaigou Park entrance fee would lower to RMB 80 per person. So would Jiuzhaigou bus ticket. You can avoid crowds and get a better discount in accommodation if you visit Jiuzhaigou in November and December.
Nov: Min 0°C; Max 12°C;
Dec: Min-5°C; Max 7°C;
Jan: Min-6°C; Max 7°C;
Feb: Min-3°C; Max 9°C;
Wind Speed: around 35 km/h
Snowfall: around 30mm
What to Wear and Bring When Travelling to Jiuzhaigou in Winter:
Jiuzhaigou Valley has average temperature ranging from 0 to 3 centigrade in winter. So please keep yourself warm while exploring the pure snow world.
It is a low season to travel Jiuzhaigou, so you can save money if you go there in winter.
Dreamy scenery of Jiuzhaigou in winter