Winter arrives in Jiuzhaigou.

At the end of October 2025, the Jiuzhaigou scenic area (Sichuan, China) experienced its first snowfall of the season.

Over 2,600 multicolored lakes are covered in white, creating a striking contrast between the pristine snow and the vibrant turquoise and aquamarine waters. The rock formations at the bottom of the lakes, resembling "dragon scales," stand out even more against the snow-covered trees, transforming this world heritage site into a fairytale land.

Spanning over 72,000 hectares and rising to an altitude of over 4,800 meters, Jiuzhaigou is a magical blend of crystal-clear lakes, cascading waterfalls, limestone terraces, caves, primeval forests, and ancient glacial remnants.

This beauty not only possesses outstanding aesthetic value but also serves as a natural museum of karst topography and hydrology in the high mountains, and is home to hundreds of bird species as well as many rare animal and plant species such as giant pandas and Sichuan antelopes.

It is this harmony between geology, ecology, and landscape that led UNESCO to designate Jiuzhaigou as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1992, and it became a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997.

Zhenjiangguan Station is nestled in the white snow. (Source: Sizheng)

Traveling to Jiuzhaigou in winter is also part of the experience of visiting this "fairyland." The high-speed train takes visitors away from the hustle and bustle of big cities and into the snow-covered mountains. As the train approaches Zhenjiangguan station – its final stop – the world outside the window changes color, becoming quiet and clear with mountain ranges, forests, and rooftops shrouded in snow.

That biting yet crisp cold makes one involuntarily fall silent, feeling small before the majestic and pristine beauty of nature.

Upon entering the scenic area, visitors pass through three main valleys that form a distinctive Y-shape: Shuzheng, Rize, and Zechawa.

The Five Flower Lake, which remains unfrozen throughout the winter, is known as the "eye" of Jiuzhaigou. This photo was taken on October 31st. (Source: CGTN)

At Zhujian Lake, the emerald green water is partially frozen, still as a mirror reflecting the snow-covered mountains and forests. Further away, considered the "eye" of Jiuzhaigou, Wuhua Lake (or Wuhua Sea) does not freeze throughout the winter, always maintaining its rare clarity reflecting the clouds and sky.

Nuorilang Waterfall, the widest limestone waterfall ever discovered in China, at this time of year is no longer a cascading stream but transforms into giant ice columns, sparkling in the faint winter light, creating a surreal and rare spectacle.

Nuorilang Waterfall has turned into an "ice waterfall". (Source: Sizheng)

At an altitude of over 3,100 meters, Changhai Lake – the highest and largest lake in Jiuzhaigou – lies still in the ice. The lake's surface is frozen solid, and sunlight reflects off the ice, creating a dazzling silver carpet in the high mountain valley.

As dusk falls and the last visitors depart, Jiuzhaigou returns to its pristine natural rhythm. There is no more noise, only snow, wind, forest, and absolute silence. In this space, one feels more deeply than ever the inherent beauty of the land – a beauty that stirs the heart even without vibrant colors.

White snow blankets this unique historical site. (Source: CGTN)

Although Jiuzhaigou is most beautiful in autumn, when the forests change color brilliantly, winter offers a completely different kind of beauty: pure, mystical, and profound. It's not a breathtaking beauty, but one that makes people slow down, listen to nature and themselves. And perhaps, it is in the cold of the white snow that Jiuzhaigou reveals its true nature: a real-life fairytale land amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mua-dong-toi-cuu-trai-cau-336741.html