Jiuzhaigou (Nine Villages Valley) in Sichuan Aba Prefecture is named for the nine Tibetan villages within it. Emerald lakes (haizi), terraced waterfalls and primeval forest make it a fairy-tale world in every season.
Classic sights: Five-Flower Lake (travertine on the bed turns the water gem-blue), Nuorilang Falls (the widest travertine waterfall in China, the closing scene of Journey to the West), Long Lake (highest and largest), and the Shuzheng lake clusters.
Getting around: the valley forms a Y; tickets include shuttle buses - ride to the far end and hike back down, completing the main line in a day. Peak season is quota-limited: real-name booking on the official site is mandatory.
Autumn (mid-to-late October) is the valley peak: autumn forests mirrored in blue-green water - every shot is a postcard.
Pair it with Huanglong Five-Colour Ponds, two hours away. It is highland country (2,000-3,100 m): protect against sun and cold.
