Jiu Zhai Guo


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Nikon05

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Jan 29, 2006
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Hi all, i'm planning to go to the above place at first week of Dec. Any advice from u guys who have been there during this period eg. equipement, clothing etc... Your help will be much appreciated.
 

I guess what you meant was Jiu Zhai Gou, right?
 

Some standard backpack items for places at higher altitude is:

1. Lightweight and waterproof pants (Avoid jeans as when it rains, jeans get soaked and heavy during trekking)
2. Waterproof trekking boots
3. Gortex Jacket (Double layered preferred)
4. Lip balm (a must)

For camera:

1. A good bag (waterproof a must)
2. If ur cam using AA batts, bring at least 4 packs of 4 as at higher altitude and colder weather, batt cant retain charge as well as at normal temp (I have used powerex and sanyo at altitude of 4000 to 5000m and they lose charge fast)
3. Batt charger definitely.
4. Bring along a wide angle, a macro and a telezoom lens. I gave this combi coz wide angle use it for scenery, macro for flowers and tele (actually I dun bring tele for my backpack trips much but some ppl need the zoom) for ppl who needs the extra zoom.
5. Ur lens cleaning kit.

One point to note that I always tell ppl who travel to cold places is that when they arrive at the place, do not immediately take out their cam and start shooting. That would cause the cam to encounter sudden change in temp that may cause the electronics to malfunction. Open the bag to let air flow in and circulate for around 2 minutes before taking out the cam.

Enjoy your trip...
 

It's a big place. I think the park itself is bigger than Singapore. So, obviously you have to be selective in where to go and what to shoot.

Jiuzahigou is all about tripod shots, so make sure you have grad ND, polarizer, tripod, UV filter, cable release, ND8 etc.
 

JiuZhaiGou is huge - but only the 'Y" shaped valley is created into the park we call JiuZhaiGou. The entrance is at the bottom of the 'Y', which is also the lowest point. It is about 8 km from the bottom to either top of the 'Y'.

In the park, there are coaches with drivers and in-coach guides who give running commentaries as the coaches move from scenic-point to scenic-point. You can hop-on/hop-off any coach at any scenic point. But a photo enthusiast would prefer to walk and look for vantage points to shoot. The wooden walkways are firm and safe. Walk whenever you can (but coach stops are always nearby).

Be prepared to spend at least 2 full days in the park even if it means breaking away from your tour group, there is so much to shoot. You can catch a taxi back to the hotel. Food, drinks and clean toilets are available in the park.

Download a JiuZhaiGou map or buy one at the entrance, Check out which are must-see scenes from the web or from books. I like the Wuhuahai Lake (Flowery Sea), Xinuihai (Rhinoceros Sea), Suzheng Waterfall, and Nuorilang Waterfall. But there are so many other beautiful sights in the park.

It can be very cold in December, so don't forget to bring thermal wear.

I travelled there on my own in 2004, Contact me if I can be of further help.
 

JiuZhaiGou is huge - but only the 'Y" shaped valley is created into the park we call JiuZhaiGou. The entrance is at the bottom of the 'Y', which is also the lowest point. It is about 8 km from the bottom to either top of the 'Y'.

In the park, there are coaches with drivers and in-coach guides who give running commentaries as the coaches move from scenic-point to scenic-point. You can hop-on/hop-off any coach at any scenic point. But a photo enthusiast would prefer to walk and look for vantage points to shoot. The wooden walkways are firm and safe. Walk whenever you can (but coach stops are always nearby).

Be prepared to spend at least 2 full days in the park even if it means breaking away from your tour group, there is so much to shoot. You can catch a taxi back to the hotel. Food, drinks and clean toilets are available in the park.

Download a JiuZhaiGou map or buy one at the entrance, Check out which are must-see scenes from the web or from books. I like the Wuhuahai Lake (Flowery Sea), Xinuihai (Rhinoceros Sea), Suzheng Waterfall, and Nuorilang Waterfall. But there are so many other beautiful sights in the park.

It can be very cold in December, so don't forget to bring thermal wear.

I travelled there on my own in 2004, Contact me if I can be of further help.
Hi,
Can email me you free and easy itenary? Thanks. Though it is 3 years ago, it is still helpful.
Me thinking of making the trip around 19 Dec 07.:)
 

any sample photos?
 

Thanks for all the tips & facts u guys contribute in one way or another to me :thumbsup:
Now my next concern is the weather :sweat: Is there anyone who has went there during winter time, if yes can post some photo of it. I'm afraid the weather is too bad for photo shooting :sweat:
 

I was there last month, beautiful place but be prepared to squeeze with the locals at every bus stop ( they do not believe in queueing) but probably less people if its winter now. You need to take the bus in order to reach the next place of interest (Its a very BIG place). Time is quite limited for me so i do not have all the time with me to choose my shots and many shots are not as ideal as i wanted. Thats what happens when you join a tour.

You can click on my link below for some pictures of Huanglong, Jiu zhai guo, Luobo, Gu Zhen, Panda Reserve, Leshan, Emei Shan. Yet to process Du Jiang Yan etc and i went to all those places in 10 days. Got slight altitude sickness at Huanglong which i heard is about 4800 meters above sea level. Advice u to catch the local plane to Jiu zhai gou airport from chengsu instead of by coach which will take u 8 hours of riding as compared to 40 minutes of plane.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12194887@N05/sets/
 

You've got a nice photo gallery & thanks for sharing it. Your jiu zhai gou photo very colourful but when i go at december time it would be pure white hehe.....
 

Thanks, every season are different at Jiu Zhai Guo, how i wish i could visit every season and take different views. But winter, i will avoid haha, it will be real cold in the mountains. have you found out whats the temperature?
 

It will be real cold even the travel agent also cant predict the temperature there. It will be frozen everywhere i think....
 

Good Luck then haha....bring everything warm that u have and thermals wool type are a must since i must say i survive -8 degrees in Budapest 2 years ago and i never want to take my hands out of my gloves to take photos. It will just freeze and dry up...:p
 

Hi,
Can email me you free and easy itenary? Thanks. Though it is 3 years ago, it is still helpful.
Me thinking of making the trip around 19 Dec 07.:)

Hey, I was not aware everthing moves so fast in ClubSNAP. I'm very new here and I'm lousy at everything to do with the computer. Don't even know where to find your email, here's mine: pngtony@singnet.com.sg. Please email to me first. :embrass:

Meanwhile, I'll be driving off early morning to Malaysia (leisurely up and down the east coast). I'll be back on by this Friday to answer my emails.

I have just downloaded a few images to my Picasaweb, here's the link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/pngtony/JiuZhaiGouAndHuangLong/photo#s5126781393460689378



Cheers,
 

I would be at JZG in two or three weeks time. Apparently, I read from my travel guide book that it is about 30+km from the gate to the end of each Y-valley? 8km is quite short but I have never been there.

From hlyeoh's shots, I believe that a NDG filter is important. But I dont have that, so a polariser and tripod for bracketing (for HDR shots to ensure highlights are not over-exposed)are essential. Since I plan to take landscapes, I will have just a 17-55 with me.

For clothing, it is best to dress in layers. I was able to take -5 degrees in just my windbreaker in Korea but then again, I only had to be outside for an hour or so before getting back into the coach. So, probably long johns, shirt, sweater, jacket, hat and gloves. Not sure if I have to wear everything at once but I will be able to adapt easily by removing layers. In addition, you would need sunblock lotion, sunglasses and lip balm (to repeat another poster).

Any recommendations on lodgings? I only plan to book when I arrive in Chengdu. First thoughts would be hostels like You U but probably can splurge on Sheraton as a last resort.

Thanks in advance for any advice given.
 

Hi all, i'm planning to go to the above place at first week of Dec. Any advice from u guys who have been there during this period eg. equipement, clothing etc... Your help will be much appreciated.

Hi Nikon, I am also going to JZG in dec, but will be there in late dec! I am arriving in Chengdu on 25th dec, and then head there the next day
Have u booked ur accomodation there?
 

It's kinda dangerous out there in winter. Take care.
 

Hi Nikon, I am also going to JZG in dec, but will be there in late dec! I am arriving in Chengdu on 25th dec, and then head there the next day
Have u booked ur accomodation there?

I've book the trip thru travel agent. I'll also be arriving in Chengdu on the first day & now start preparing my winter stuff. Enjoy ur trip...:)
 

I will be going to JZG on 21 Nov. I will buy CPL filter for the trip. Do I need grad ND filter?
 

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