Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou: a super poetic spot just 5 km from the gate

The morning I entered the park, the bus drove past a valley full of reeds with a ribbon of jade-green water winding through the middle. I only had time to say "oh" before the bus had passed. Nobody on the bus got off, and the guide didn't say much about it. That afternoon I decided to go back and walk it, and it turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the whole trip.

That place isJiuzhaigou Reed Lake (芦苇海)– in English it's called Reed Lake (searching online, people usually type Reed Lake Jiuzhaigou), some places translate it as Reed Sea, and Vietnamese people often casually call it the Reed Lake.

Part of theJiuzhaigou independent travel guide.

Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou, a sea of reeds and a jade-green stream — Reed Lake in mid-October: the reeds turning color, a jade-green stream running across the valley

Where is Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou?

Reed Lake is on thecentral branch, fairly close to the gate – one of the first places the bus passes when you enter the park.

It's called a "sea" (hai), but it's actually amarshy lake full of reeds. In the middle flows theJade Belt River (玉带河, Yudai River), winding along, its jade-green water standing out against the reeds. Just below isBonsai Lake (盆景海, Penjing Lake)– a shallow stretch of water with bushes growing on rocks like potted bonsai.

Jiuzhaigou shuttle bus route map showing Reed Lake on the central branch — Jiuzhaigou shuttle bus route map (same map as in the shuttle bus article). Reed Lake is on the central branch, near the gate

Why do so few people stop?

I guess there are a few reasons:

It'stoo close to the gate– in the morning everyone rushes up to the famous lakes, and by the time they come back in the afternoon they're tired.
The bus usuallygoes straight throughthis section in the morning. If you come back in the afternoon, this stretch isn't next to any bus stop either, and you have to walk about2.5 km, with Reed Lake in the middle of this 2.5 km stretch.
It doesn't have vivid "lake colors" like Five Flower Lake, so there are few photos online.

But precisely because of that, this Jiuzhaigou reed lakevery quiet here. I walked for about 1 hour and met only a few people, and I could hear the wind through the reeds and the water birds – something almost impossible at Five Flower Lake at midday.

When is it most beautiful?

Season

What Reed Lake looks like

Spring – summer

Lush green reeds, with the jade-green stream at its clearest

Autumn (October)

Reeds turning glowing gold, the most beautiful in my opinion

Winter

Dry silvery-brown reeds, sometimes covered in frost

Time of day:late afternoon around 15:00–16:30, when the slanting sun makes the reeds glow gold, and also when you're on your way out to the gate. I arrived at 15:00 and found it lovely, with gentle sun, cool breeze, and a really chill walk.

Reeds at Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou in October — Reeds changing color, with a row of trees starting to turn behind them

The jade-green Jade Belt River flowing through Reed Lake — The jade-green Jade Belt River winding through the sea of reeds

Super simple way to get there

Get off the bus at the stopSparkling Lake (Sea of Sparks).
Just stroll along the boardwalk and take in this whole stretch of Reed Lake (about 1 hour, walking and taking photos).
At the end of the path you arrive right at the bus stopBonsai Lake (Penjing Lake), and hopping on a bus back to the gate or onward is super convenient.

How to read the route map and stops:Jiuzhaigou park shuttle bus. Where Reed Lake fits in the whole sightseeing day:Jiuzhaigou 1-day itinerary.

The boardwalk path along Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou — The boardwalk running along the sea of reeds

Photo tips

Stand on a section of boardwalkhigher than the reedsso you can see the curve of the stream – the S-shaped curve is the "highlight" of Reed Lake.
Shootagainst the lightin the afternoon so the reeds glow at the edges.
A telephoto lens (or 2–3x zoom on your phone) compresses the layers of reeds and water, which looks better than a wide angle.

Taking photos at Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou — Standing on the boardwalk looking at the stream among the reeds

Is it worth it?

Very much, especially after the jostling at famous lakes that are way too crowded. Make this your last stop of the day, with only 5 km left to the gate.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to visit Reed Lake in Jiuzhaigou?

About 1 hour walking along the boardwalk, stopping to take photos, from Sparkling Lake stop down to Bonsai Banks stop.

Do I need to buy a separate ticket to enter Reed Lake?

No. Reed Lake is inside Jiuzhaigou, so you only need the entrance ticket with park shuttle bus, which you can book onTrip.com's Jiuzhaigou ticket page.

What time is Reed Lake the most beautiful?

Late afternoon around 15:00–16:30, when the slanting sun turns the reeds golden, which is also when you're on your way out to the gate.

Does the bus stop right at Reed Lake?

There is no stop right at Reed Lake. Get off at the Sparkling Lake stop and walk along the boardwalk. Reed Lake lies in the middle of this roughly 2.5 km stretch, and the end of the path is the Bonsai Banks stop.

Which season is Reed Lake the most beautiful?

Autumn, when the reeds turn golden. I went in mid-October, the sea of reeds had already taken on color and the row of trees behind was starting to change leaves.

Reed Lake is my favorite "little-known" corner of Jiuzhaigou.All my trip experience is in theJiuzhaigou independent travel guide 2026.