Bus:
Jiuzhai Valley National Park provides a shuttle bus service to transport visitors around the park. Busses start running at 7am when the park opens and run until the park closes. Jiuzhai Valley busses drop off and pick up visitors at each of the scenic spots throughout the park. You are free to get on and off busses as frequently as you like once you have purchased a bus ticket.
Walking:
There are over 70km of eco-friendly wooden trails throughout Jiuzhai Valley National Park. Not only do these increase the sustainability of tourism in the park by reducing the impact of visitors on the environment, they also maximise visitor enjoyment by facilitating walking through the national park to sites not visible from the road. In the forests, on the other side of the lakes and away from the road, walking through the park is even more peaceful.
It is possible to get the bus to the top of one of the park’s valleys and walk all the way out. This should take the best part of one day. If you would like to walk all of the three valleys two full days would be required.
The fastest way to see the park
Rushing through the park is a wasted opportunity and is not recommended since such scenery can take a while to be absorbed by the senses and thus properly appreciated. Having said that if you are short on time and only have one day to spend inside Jiuzhai Valley we recommend you follow this rough guideline. The time taken to get through the park will depend on your fitness level and time taken to rest, eat and take photos.
Get on the bus as soon as the park opens and start with either A or B and finish with C.
A. Get the bus to Long Lake. Walk to the Five Coloured Pool and get the bus back to the centre of the park at Nuorilang.
B. Get the bus to the Virgin Forest and walk down to Grass and Swan Lakes. It is advisable to then bus to Arrow Bamboo Lake and walk back as far as Nuorilang. Depending on your progress you could hop on the bus for the longer distances between scenic sites. These are marked on signs throughout the park.
C. Get the bus from Nuorilang to Rhinoceros Lake and walk to He Ye Village. From there get the bus to the entrance.
If you move quickly the above can be done in a day and all the main sites will be seen (albeit at a blur). If you have more time there is nothing more peaceful than strolling along the wooden walkways, away from the crowds and exploring the less seen parts of the park. If you have a second day in the park you can do the reverse of your first day and walk on the paths that you didn’t the previous day to get a completely different view of the park.