In August, as heatwaves swept across much of the Northern Hemisphere, Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province opened a cool gateway to the world with its pleasant temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius. With the full implementation of the 240-hour transit visa-free policy and continuous improvements in payment convenience for inbound travelers, an increasing number of foreign tourists are choosing to visit this cool highland valley, embarking on summer retreats amidst turquoise waters and cascading waterfalls.

Tourists visit Five Flower Lake in the Jiuzhaigou Valley scenic area in Sichuan Province on Aug. 5

At 7:30 a.m., the entrance to Jiuzhaigou was already bustling with visitors. Ticket reservations for the day exceeded 35,000, and long lines formed at more than ten entry lanes. Ferrandi, a tourist from France, queued up and scanned his passport to enter the scenic area. The scene before him came as a pleasant surprise — there was no pushing or shoving, nor chaotic noise. Instead, visitors lined up in an orderly fashion under the guidance of staff members and entered the park in batches. Sightseeing buses departed as soon as they were filled, while an intelligent dispatch system dynamically allocated transport capacity based on real-time passenger flow, ensuring smooth and efficient transfers between attractions.

"I have visited many famous scenic spots in Europe, but it is truly impressive to see such well-organized crowd management on this scale," said Ferrandi, as he photographed the clear and prominent multilingual signs in the waiting area with his phone. Inside the scenic area, boardwalks run along the shores of alpine lakes, and viewing platforms are positioned to allow visitors to capture picturesque scenes. Volunteers are stationed at intersections along the route, while safety railings and friendly reminder signs are installed in potentially hazardous areas.

Further along the boardwalk, Five Flower Lake shimmered under the sunlight, displaying multiple hues including peacock blue, emerald green, and amber yellow, with crystal-clear water revealing the lakebed. Cao Thu Trang from Vietnam paused, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "It is so cool here, and the air is incredibly fresh. It feels completely different from the city," she said.

Xie Lanqing, a 10-year-old girl traveling in the same group as Cao Thu Trang, chose to rent a traditional Tibetan costume and wear distinctive makeup to take family photos by Five Flower Lake. "I think the colors of the clothing and the various patterns on it are absolutely beautiful, so I wanted to give it a try," Xie said.

Tour guide Xiao Junjie told reporters that the number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Sichuan has increased significantly this year, noting that he had encountered four fellow guides leading Vietnamese groups that day alone. "After finishing our tour at Five Flower Lake, I will take them to Pearl Shoal Waterfall, which was once a filming location for the TV series 'Journey to the West.' In Vietnam, 'Journey to the West' is a household name, and it is broadcast everywhere during every summer vacation," Xiao said.

Meteorological data from the scenic area shows that the average temperature in Jiuzhaigou this summer has remained between 19 and 22 degrees Celsius, with comfortable humidity levels and pleasant conditions. For European and American tourists suffering from scorching heat, this destination undoubtedly serves as an ideal summer resort.

Ainoa, who traveled from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou with three companions, told reporters that Europe has seen record-breaking high temperatures this summer, yet she found herself needing a light jacket in Jiuzhaigou. "My friends in Chengdu insisted that I visit here. This natural coolness is not like artificial air conditioning; it is a unique climate characteristic of highland forest canyons, and I feel very relaxed," she said.

Souvenir shops have become another popular stop where foreign tourists love to linger. Unlike generic tourism merchandise found elsewhere, the cultural and creative products here incorporate rich Tibetan and Qiang cultural elements alongside Jiuzhaigou's unique natural landscapes.

"Domestic tourists tend to buy fridge magnets featuring the words 'Jiuzhaigou,' while foreign visitors prefer handicrafts with local ethnic characteristics, such as handmade yak wool shawls and handwoven colorful rope bracelets," said Guo Jian, a staff member responsible for cultural and creative products at Jiuzhaigou.

According to statistics from the Jiuzhaigou Administration, the scenic area received 272,000 inbound tourists in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 16.61%. Data on inbound tourism during the peak summer season indicates that over the 14-day period starting August 6, more than 3,500 bookings were made by international visitors.

A relevant official from the Jiuzhaigou Administration explained that to better serve inbound tourists, the scenic area has advanced smart ticketing innovations enabling online ticket purchases using passport information. It has also created a barrier-free payment environment supporting major global credit cards, Alipay International, and QR code payments via local Southeast Asian apps. Furthermore, a multilingual service system covering guided tours, signage, and information inquiries has been established to provide a comprehensive range of convenient measures for international visitors.

As her visit concluded, Cao Thu Trang took out her phone to share photos of herself beside Five Color Pond on social media. The waters of Jiuzhaigou proved to be the greatest delight of this Vietnamese traveler's trip. "This is my first time in Jiuzhaigou, and I may bring my children back again in the future," she said.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】