Juzhaiguo National Park
After the long bus journey from Songpan, the entrance to Juzhaiguo National Park is something of a disappointment. This area (including Juzhaiguo town) is basically the starting point for the nature reserve and largely consists of facilities and amenities to prepare travelers before they enter the reserve. It is not worth hanging around here, although you may wish to book your return bus ticket as these can be hard to come by when there are a few travelers around.
The fee to enter the park itself is a whopping RMB220 although this does include one night's accommodation in either Heye Village, Suzheng stockade or Zechachwa stockade. On entering the park, you are faced with a long path stretching some 5km to Heye Village where there are a few basic hotels, 12km to Suzheng stockade and 14km to the point where the road breaks at Nuorilang. From here you can head east to the Primeval Forest and Rize village, or west to Long Lake and Zechawa stockade.
There are basically two options as to how this part of the journey is covered. Walking is a really pleasant way to cover the distance, traffic is limited and the scenery including waterfalls, mountains and lush bamboo forest is spectacular. Alternately, you may wish to save your strength until you get deeper into the reserve. Drivers with cars and jeeps will take you into the reserve for a fee! From the entrance of the park to the Nuroliang Hotel should cost approximately RMB20-30 (per person) in a car, although you will have to bargain to get this price! Jeeps generally cost approximately RMB100 for an hour (including the driver). To hire a van and a driver for the day should cost approximately RMB300-400. Again, some hard bargaining is needed to get this price!
Nuorilang
The road from the entrance to the park splits at Nuorilang waterfalls and hotel. Nuorilang consists of a hotel, restaurant, a couple of stores and the spectacular waterfalls which spill down over the cliffs.
From here, you have two options, 17km east to the Primeval Forest or 18km west to Long Lake. Both trips offer impressive scenery, small villages and basic accommodation along the route, although the eastern trip is probably the more interesting of the two with a few gargantuan lakes and waterfalls tumbling down the hillside and the chance to see some rare wildlife along the way.
Suzheng Gully and Stockade
Suzheng Gully and waterfalls are situated along the main path from the entrance to the reserve and just before Nuorilang.
This group of over 40 lakes and spectacular waterfalls are among the most impressive in the park, and with Dege Mountain towering behind, this is a truly beautiful spot. Suzheng Waterfall is close to Suzheng Stockade, a "typical" Tibetan style village, slightly spoiled by the fact that so many travelers have passed through and the villagers now pose for photo sessions.
There are a few accommodation options available here too.
The Eastern Trip
Taking the eastern path from Nuorilang offers some spectacular scenery and great walks.
A full day will allow you to walk the eastern route and back (36km) although you should ensure you have sufficient supplies with you!
This great walk takes you past the Pearl Beach Falls which end in Swan Lake, on to Rize Village and ending in the heart of the Primeval Forest, a lush, conifer wood.
The scenery along this route is wild and untamed, the air is fresh and if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of some of China's most rare wildlife including pandas or bison.
The Western Route
Heading west from Nuorilang, the track passes a few interesting villages, a stunning lake and takes in some impressive scenery.
Zechawa stockade is the first small village along the route with a few basic accommodation options, a Tibetan style about the place, and a small village store, where you can stock up on essentials and supplies.
The road then passes towering mountains and lush greenery until it reaches Five Colored Lake which is the most beautiful lake in the entire park. The last site along this path is the Long Lake. Less travelers take this route, so it may be more peaceful, although the scenery is less instantly dramatic as that along the eastern route.