InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise by IHG

There’s a good range of things to do at the hotel, which helps since it’s roughly 30 minutes from Jiuzhaigou and fairly remote. We found several restaurants, hot springs, a little kids’ playground, and evening shows. You can borrow traditional outfits for free, and the front desk sells altitude sickness medicine, which came in handy. Some staff speak English. Breakfast had lots of choices, including vegetarian food. The room was roomy, though its decor and furniture felt dated, and a glass dome partly blocks the mountain view. One tip: I’d skip the hot springs on your first day, since the heat can make you dizzy, especially at this altitude.

After the train ride from Chengdu, which took almost two hours, we felt light headed as soon as we left the station. The climb from around 2,000 to 4,000 MASL meant we needed nearly a full day to rest and acclimatize before touring. ICRJP worked well for that. It’s in a quiet, secluded spot away from the city, with forest and mountain views. This is a premium resort, and there’s a striking glass dome at the front. Inside the glasshouse, you’re sheltered from the cold, with several outdoor restaurants set in the garden. Our room was cozy and spacious, with a separate table and couch area. I especially liked the hot water pool at night. It’s indoors, though you enter it through a separate entrance outside the hotel. The property is large, with lots of buildings, so getting between your room and other areas can mean quite a bit of walking. Being near the elevator hallway would be a real plus. There’s also a small grocery and clothing shop before the elevator, where we picked up snacks and oxygen cans for the climb the next day, just in case. I’d recommend staying here when it’s very cold.

The mountain setting and the huge see-through dome over the entrance make the building stand out. It was still chilly outside, though, and only felt more comfortable once we reached reception. Our room was huge, with a sofa area, balcony, bathtub, and separate shower. The shower pressure was good, and they provided classy drinking bottles plus four mineral water bottles. Getting to breakfast meant a cold walk in the morning. The selection was decent, with individual yogurt packs; the ginger tea and su yu cha, or Tibetan butter tea, were nice too. The hotel is high up in the mountains, so finding a Didi or taxi may be difficult.

Getting here isn’t easy, but the hotel is lovely, tucked into the forest with quiet rooms surrounded by nature. The restaurant serves delicious Sichuan food.