After a rough night in a dorm room at the hostel, a room that we shared with three young Chinese men (talking, light’s being turned on, two guys waking at 6 to catch a bus), we eventually got up, got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast which was pretty good, except when the electricity went out in the middle. By 9 we were ready to go to the park. After the fifteen minute walk there and a ten minute wait to buy tickets, we were ready for the real wait: 45 minutes in a crush of endless Chinese tourists waiting to get through the park gates and to board the bus.
The park is shaped like a big Y with the main valley splitting into two halfway up. We started on the left (east) branch and took the bus to Long Lake. This lake is about 10,000 feet high and has a “famous” cedar that only has branches on one side.
From Long Lake we walked back down the valley to the Five-Colored Pool. I don’t know about their counting, but the pool is stunning, with the deep blue water, the reflection of the mountain side, and the rocks seen through the crystal clear, windex-like water.
From this point, we caught a bus back down to the junction of the Y and another bus up to the other point, the so-called Enchanted Forest. Morale was flagging, so we had a brief picnic (some boiled eggs, bananas, popcorn and cookies) before starting the walk down this valley to Bamboo Arrow Lake along miles of wooden boardwalks.
The main stream kept crossing the path, thin and rushing at times, broad and lazy and filled with rushes and grass at others.
Then came the multitude of waterfalls and shoals as the river fell over the karst rocks beneath,
interspersed with quieter pools, crystal blue, their reflections and clear bottoms giving the feeling of double exposure.
It is easy to see why Jiuzhaigou is one of Sichaun Provinces most famous sites, and why fall is high season.
After all the walking and jostling with the crowds, we limped out of the park, the kids got Dico’s for dinner as their reward, and we are back in the hostel, showered and in bed. The big surprise? We have the room to ourselves! Should be able to catch up on the lost sleep from last night. Too bad we have to get up early. Alas, the only bus to Songpan leaves at 7:30.
robsherry 