Full Breakdown
Jiuzhaigou Tourist Evacuation After Mudslides Triggered by Typhoon Noul
7/27/2026, 9:15:10 PM
Core Event: Mudslide-Driven Evacuation and Partial Park Closure
- On July 27, Chinese authorities evacuated stranded tourists from Jiuzhaigou after mudslides blocked access roads.
- The slides forced the closure of the upper Rize Valley and the entire Zechawa Valley; the remaining valleys stayed open.
- State broadcaster CCTV reported that all stranded visitors were moved to safety and that no casualties were recorded as of Sunday evening.
Background & Context
- Jiuzhaigou National Park in southwestern Sichuan is known for its multi-colored lakes and forested valleys.
- The park lies on the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, where fault lines make steep slopes prone to debris flows.
- July and August deliver most of the park’s roughly 760 mm of annual precipitation, and the incident occurred during China’s peak flood-control window (mid-July to mid-August).
- Typhoon Noul, the strongest typhoon to hit China in 2026, brought torrential rain and prompted a nationwide red flash-flood warning.
Official Statements & Responses
- CCTV announced the evacuation and temporary closure of attractions.
- Local officials said the area above Arrow Bamboo Lake in Rize Valley and the whole Zechawa Valley would be closed to tourists starting July 27.
- The Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued a red flash-flood alert covering eight provinces from the night of July 26 through July 27.
- The Jiuzhaigou Administration Bureau activated a Level 2 flood and geological disaster response, coordinating with county authorities, the Aba Dajiu Tourism Group, the park’s emergency office and fire brigade.
- Free admission and sightseeing-bus service were offered on July 27 and extended to July 28.
Data & Statistics
- Jiuzhaigou’s normal daily capacity is about 41,000 visitors; for July 28 it was reduced to 20,000, a 51 % cut.
- Nationwide in July, at least four fatal landslides were recorded, with a total of 46 deaths.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Visitors confirmed that the upper Rize Valley and all of Zechawa Valley were inaccessible, while Shuzheng Valley and the lower Rize Valley remained open.
- Open valleys contain attractions such as Five Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, Nuorilang Falls and the Shuzheng Lakes.
- Ticket holders for July 27 or July 28 were advised to check the latest notices, as admission rules changed on Monday afternoon.
Why It Matters / Impact
- Jiuzhaigou normally draws more than 30,000 visitors per day in late July; the partial closure and reduced capacity will cut regional tourism revenue.
- The event underscores the vulnerability of high-altitude tourist sites to extreme weather, with forecasts of 20 %–50 % above-average rainfall in the coming weeks.
What’s Next
- Road-clearing and geological surveys are ongoing; no reopening date has been announced.
- Visitors planning to travel on July 28 must reserve tickets online through the official Jiuzhaigou WeChat mini-program; walk-ins are not accepted.
- The red flash-flood warning remains in effect, and forecasters expect continued above-average precipitation through mid-August.
