Since 1984, when the region was officially recognised as the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, the number of guests has grown from a mere 5000 a year to more than 2.5 million.
Such is the area's magnetism that during peak seasons, a quota of 12,000 tourists a day is enforced.
What attracts the visitors to Jiuzhaigou - at the southern end of the Minshan mountain range, 330 km north of the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu - are the incredible natural multi-coloured lakes, multi-level waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, wildlife, grasslands and the fascinating Tibetan villages.
In 1992, Jiuzhaigou was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, five years later a World Biosphere Reserve.
A little more than 50 per cent of the highly elevated area is covered by forests, bamboo and a variety of flowers and herbs. Each autumn, the forest turns a colour of yellow, red and orange – a photographer's dream.
The wildlife habitat is best known as a Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary. Each day visitors watch in awe as pandas feed and play, not far from the fascinating waters of the park's lakes with their shallow turquoise colours and the sometimes snow-capped peaks and pines.
Jiuzhaigou features highly in a number of group tours from China specialist Helen Wong's Tours.
And the good news is that savings of $400-a-couple are available on all group tours to China, on sale until the end of August, 2014, for travel to until the end of June 2015.
That means a 19-day Jewels of China tour, which includes a visit to a Tibetan family home in Jiuzhaigou Valley, is priced from a bargain $6170 per person, twin share, including accommodation, most meals and the return air fare from Australia.
To experience such a visit to the region is as embracing as it is amazing – a truly wonderful fairytale journey.
Details: Helen Wong's Tours, phone 1300 788 328, www.helenwongstours.com
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