Jiuzhaigou's beauty combines lakes, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and forests. While its autumn foliage isn't as vibrantly red as that of Guangwu Mountain, it's even more stunning when combined with the water. Due to commitments at the end of October, I visited in mid-October, when the autumn colors were already in full bloom. Also, I didn't have time to visit the designated viewing platforms for two iconic locations (Figures 1 and 2), so I made sure to catch up the day before yesterday.
I was very lucky. I took a high-speed train from Chengdu around 6 AM, then transferred to a bus, arriving at the scenic area by 10 AM. Just then, the sun broke through the thick clouds, slowly dispersing the fog – the perfect filter for photos. I returned to Chengdu that evening, feeling like a seasoned traveler.
The autumn colors at Five-Flower Lake were also at their peak (Figures 2-4). Hiking 3,000 meters down from the highest point of the primeval forest, Grass Lake and Swan Lake offer another kind of beauty (Figures 5 and 6). Pearl Shoal and Shuzheng Waterfall (last two photos) look even more beautiful in the sunlight?