Jiuzhaigou — Open, 41,000 Tickets a Day, Peak Season Ends Nov 15

The short answer

Jiuzhaigou is open and fully operational. Two dates matter right now: the park runs its peak-season policy through November 15, 2026, and entry is capped at 41,000 people per day with mandatory real-name booking.

Peak-season numbers (Apr 1 – Nov 15, 2026)

• Entry ticket: CNY 190
• Shuttle bus (required for the valley): CNY 90
• Insurance: CNY 10 (optional)
• Entry window: 08:00–14:00; park closes 18:00
• Adult ticket + bus sold together: CNY 280 on booking platforms

What first-time foreign visitors keep getting wrong

1. "No booking, no travel" is enforced literally. Real-name, time-slot booking via the official WeChat mini program "九寨沟旅游官方平台" (or abatour.com). There is no meaningful walk-up option.
2. The bus is not optional. All visitors board the shuttle at the valley-mouth visitor center; the 190+90 combination is the real price of entry.
3. Everyone queues at 08:00 for a reason. The park opens 8:00 and stops letting people in at 14:00 — a mid-afternoon arrival is a wasted day.
4. Getting there changed for the better. The Chengdu East–Huanglong Jiuzhai fast rail takes roughly 2 hours, then shuttle buses run to the park gate — check 12306 for trains.

After November 15

The park stays open, but winter (off-season) pricing and hours for the 2026–27 season had not been announced as of this check. Watch the official channels before booking a December trip.

Related guide: Jiuzhaigou Tickets. Related open-status checks: Mogao Caves, Huangshan.