Jiuzhaigou Weather in May: Travel Tips and Best Spots to Visit

Weather: May in Jiuzhaigou is warm, around 25-30°C (77-86°F) during sunny daytime. However, it's still a bit cold in the mornings, evenings, and when it rains, around 11°C (52°F).

Rainfall is low, around 41.9mm. Though it rains on about 19 days, showers are usually light and brief, so most lakes are hardly affected.

What to wear: Bring summer clothes like T-shirts, shorts, long skirts, plus a coat or jacket, and long pants for cool moments. Sun protection, like hats and suncream, is also necessary.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Jiuzhaigou?

Yes! It's actually one of the most refreshing months.

Many think May is a dry season and not worth visiting, but that's not true. Only a few lakes have lower water levels; most are still bright and clear with enough water, so it doesn't really affect your visit.

By this time, forests have also turned lush green, and you can still see some snow peaks and alpine azaleas blooming across the valleys.

It's also a comfortable time for families, as temperatures are mild, and crowds are moderate, with around 8,000–19,000 daily visitors most days. You can usually find a seat on the shuttle bus within 5 minutes.

Avoid Visiting Jiuzhaigou on May Day Holiday

During May Day holiday (1–5 May), visitor numbers in Jiuzhaigou shoot up to 30,000–40,000 a day.

Even though Jiuzhaigou is large enough to spread out the crowds, restaurants and shuttle buses still have long lines, and hotels and flights double in price.

• If visiting during May Day, book flights and hotels at least a month in advance.
• Bring your own lunch or eat during off-peak hours (around 11am or 1–2 pm).
• Book a private tour—your guide and car make everything much easier.

If your schedule is flexible, I'd recommend visiting after May 20. You can enjoy nicer water levels and dodge the May Day crowds.

Top Spots to Visit in Jiuzhaigou in May

Jiuzhaigou forms a Y-shaped valley, with three main routes: left, right, and lower.

The right route, Rize Valley, is the most beautiful, where every lake feels like a painting. The lower route, Shuzheng Valley, comes next. If you don't have much time, just focus on these two.

Here are the best places to explore in May in Rize and Shuzheng Valley:

1. Primitive Forest→Grass Lake→Swan Lake

Jiuzhaigou Primitive Forest

If you visit Jiuzhaigou after May 20th, I'd recommend this quiet and scenic route. By the end of the month, the alpine azaleas, streams, lakes, and meadows look more beautiful.

The Primitive Forest is also great for birdwatching at this time. The lush forests make the birds more active. And with fewer visitors around, you won't be disturbed while birdwatching.

2. Arrow Bamboo Lake

Arrow Bamboo Lake

Where to find happy wild ducks in Jiuzhaigou? Then you've got to stop by Arrow Bamboo Lake! The wild ducks there are perfect for adding some cute wildlife shots to your Jiuzhaigou photos.

The meadows are fully green, ducks are swimming around, and the lakes flow gently. All these layers—lush grass, playful ducks, and flowing water, make it look different from the other lakes and feel extra alive.

3. Five Flower Lake

Five Flower Lake

Five-Flower Lake is surrounded on three sides by forest, which only fully greens up by May.

At this time, the lake looks extra blue and green. All you need is to grab your camera to snap. The photos are ready to be shared on your Ins or TikTok, no filters needed!

4. Pearl Shoal and Its Waterfall

Pearl Shoal Waterfall

Even in May, you can still capture the spectacular waterfall backed by snow-capped peaks here.

Pearl Shoal Waterfall also has more water than the other waterfalls in the dry season. You'll also spot some alpine azaleas around. So it's more worth visiting than Nuorilang Waterfall this month.

5. Shuzheng Lakes

Starting this month, Shuzheng Lakes will enter their best green viewing period. Be sure not to miss the perspective from the viewing platform.

Shuzheng Lakes

6. Reed Lake

Reed Lake

May is when the reeds start growing again. So if you visit Jiuzhaigou before 20 May, you'll still see some yellowish with a hint of green on Reed Lake

After that, you'll see a unique summer sight. The green reed sea only turns lush and vibrant from May to August.

Which Spots are Less Beautiful in the Dry Season?

A few famous lakes don't look their best in May, mainly those on the left and lower routes: Long Lake, Five-Color Pond, Sparks Lake, and Nuorilang Waterfall all have much lower water levels than in summer.

Among them, Long Lake and Five-Color Pond are the only highlights along the left route, Zechawa Valley. So if the weather isn't good, you can skip this route altogether.

From Long Lake, you need to walk about 15-30 minutes down the steps. When you finally arrive but find Five-Color Pond with very little water, you can feel disappointed and not worth it.

Also, the nearby Huanglong National Park is also in its dry season. Only the topmost Five-Color Pond looks impressive.

So I recommend you take the round-trip cable and shuttle bus, instead of hiking down. Hiking down is not necessary in the dry season, as you won't see much great scenery, and it can get tiring.

Popular Tours with Jiuzhaigou

If you're interested in visiting the fairyland in person, why not browse our popular tours below for inspiration?

• 3-Day Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Highlights Tour
• 9-Day Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu and Zhangjiajie Nature Tour
• Or contact us to customize your itinerary

Jiuzhaigou Climate Information by Month

• Jiuzhaigou Weather in January
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in February
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in March
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in April
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in May
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in June
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in July
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in August
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in September
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in October
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in November
• Jiuzhaigou Weather in December