Jiuzhaigou Valley is not only famous for its beauty, it is also famous for its pleasant weather. The average spring-to-summer temperature in the valley ranges from a nighly low of 9 degrees centigrade to a daytime high of 18 degrees centigrade.* Jiuzhaigou Valley lies at roughly 3000 meters above sea level, making it a mountain plateau climate, a climate type that is characterized by a more stable temperature range, generally with less moisture (the soil is more arid, with greater variation in surface temperatures compared to surface temperatures at lower altitudes), yet typically with more precipitation, though this is greatly influenced by the local topography, as it is here in Jiuzhaigou Valley, where the cumulative precipitation is lower than the average for a mountain plateau. In general, the air on a mountain plateau, due to the lower pressure, feels fresher (cooler and cleaner) compared to the air quality at lower altitudes. The peaks of the mountains surrounding Jiuzhaigou Valley are snow-capped year-round.

· During the spring (beginning in April), the mean night/day temperature is 9/18 degrees centigrade (before April, the soil is frozen, typically lying under a blanket of snow).

· During the summer, the temperature is characterized by less variation. The mean night/day temperature is 19/22 degrees centigrade (since these are mean temperatures, one should note that it can get a bit chilly on some nights, so it is best to prepare accordingly, with a sweater or jacket in reserve).

· During the fall, the temperature remains in the comfort zone during the daytime, though it dips quite dramatically at night, compared to the mean summertime nightly temperature, and after October, the soil again becomes frozen. The mean night/day temperature is 7/18 degrees centigrade.

· During the winter, it gets downright chilly. The mean temperature hovers at about 0 degrees centigrade, 24 hours a day, with some slight variation.
The cumulative precipitation in Jiuzhaigou Valley is, as indicated, lower than the average for a mountain plateau. Rainfall is also lower than the average in Jiuzhaigou Valley, and is concentrated primarily to the summer months of July and August, where heavy daily showers are the norm, yet where the weather then typically clears up, offering a splendid, bright day with clean, fresh air.

The best time to visit Jiuzhaigou Valley, weather-wise (assuming that one prefers moderately warm temperatures to chilly ones), is from April through November.

Travel Tips:

1) The recommended time to allot to taking in the highlights of Jiuzhaigou Valley is 1-2 days.
2) The busiest peak periods, due to Chinese holiday traditions, occur on China's National Day, the 1st of October, and during the Spring Festival (alternatively, Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year), which takes place early in the month of February.
3) The busiest seasonal period is July to October.