Travel in China

Jiuzhaigou Valley--a wonderland.
If we say there is really a fairyland, it is Jiuzhaigou Valley.
It is said that a long time ago, the warlike Dage ground a magic mirror with wind and cloud and presented it to his beloved Goddess Wunosemo. Thanks to the meddling of a devil, she dropped the mirror and it broke into pieces, falling to the human world, and became 114 glittering lakes. As a result, on earth there came into being a dreamy fairyland, Jiuzhaigou Valley.
This is a sacred land with the best scenic spots and glorious views.

"He who returns from the Yellow Mountain won't see mountains. He who returns from Jiuzhaigou won't see waters." The spirits of Jiuzhaigou are waters, lakes, springs, waterfalls, streams, rivers and shoals. Merging into one, some fly in motion, others are quiet and peaceful, still others temper force with mercy, giving you a colourful and magnificent view. With waterfalls mixed up high and low, the high roar loudly, the low murmur gently. there are also big and small lakes, blue and crystal clear. Reflected in the lake water are red leaves, green trees, snow peaks and blue sky, all upside down. They look panoramic and every step is a colour. Water flows between trees and trees grow in the water. Flowers on trees bloom in the centre of water.

Covered with thick and fast-growing plants, the mountains in Jiuzhaigou are beautiful and fantastic. This is very region where the southern and northern vegetations meet. Various species of broadleaf trees and conifer grow together, adding radiance and beauty to each other. In the dense forests dwell the giant panda, golden monkeys, white-lip deer, takin and other rare animals. It is a "natural botanical and zoological garden".

A group of industrious Tibetans work diligently, creating their own world of life. Located in Nanping County of Tibet and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, over 400 kilometres south of Chengdu, this fantastic fairyland belongs to carbonate barrier lake landform with high mountains and deep valleys. A vast area of 60,000 hectares, it has a scenic area of 80 kilometres long with six marvelous spectacles, including the Long Lake, Sword Cliff, Nuorilang Waterfall, Shuzhenggou Gully, Zarugou Gully and Black Lake.

There are nine old Tibetan villages in the gorge, hence the name Jiuzhaigou Valley. The tourist area has an elevation of 1980-3100 metres. Its average temperature in the coldest month (January) is 2.5 degrees Centigrade and that of the hottest month (July) 17 degrees Centigrade. It is pleasant for travel throughout the year.
Being in the depth silence in luxuriant forests for hundreds of millions of years, this fairyland was accidentally discovered by some lumbermen in 1970's. It became the first batch of scenic areas under special state protection in 1982. It became a state nature reserve in 1978. In the national appraisal of 40 best scenic areas, it was listed as the best new scenic area in 1990.

It was admitted into "World Natural Heritage List" in 1992 and became the precious wealth commonly owned by all mankind.
Creator has not only granted Jiuzhaigou dreamlike landscapes, but also decorated around it with four state-grade major scenic areas--the Yellow Dragon, Jianmen Ancient Pass, Mount Siguniang, Green City Mountain and Dujiangyan Irrigation Project and five nature reserves--Wolong, White River, Wanglang, Tangjia River and Xiaozhaizi--as well as other places of historic interest and scenic beauties like the Grasslands, Miyaluo, Calonggou Gully, Doutuanshan Mountain, Bao'ensi Monastery, Li Bai's Former Residence, Shen Yu's native place, Jiangwei City, and Diexi Lake.

The only one of its kind in China, it can be rated as the number one "golden tourist route" in Southwest China.
The landscapes of Jiuzhaigou are beyond description of words. One can only comprehend the true essence of Nature by going there in person. The main natural landscapes of Jiuzhaigou are located at Shuzheng, Rize and Zechawa three gullies.

With a length of 14.6 kilometres and reaching directly to Nuorilang Waterfall, centre of Jiuzhaigou, it is the main gully of Jiuzhaigou with over 70 lakes. At Shuzhenggou, lakes and waterfalls are scattered layer after layer, adding radiance to each other. There waters and trees live together, imposing and magnificent. It is a miniature and main landscape of Jiuzhaigou.

The over 320-metre-wide Nuoilang Waterfall is so powerful that the cascade flies down roaring beyond the cliff face during its descent. Great in strength and impetus, it is the widest high mountain waterfall of the country and is often regarded as the main mark or symbol of Jiuzhaigou.
Rizegou Gully is nine kilometres long. With high mountain and deep gorge, it is the most touching and impressive gully of Jiuzhaigou.

With trees and clouds and mists in the mountains reflected upside down, the Mirror Lake gives you an elegant and peaceful state of mind, hence the name "garden of love". The Pearl Waterfall has a width of 310 metres. As the water pours downward, you feel the earth is quaking and the mountain shaking. It is the most impetuous and soul-stirring waterfall in Jiuzhaigou. The Colourful Lake is gorgeous and coloured.

With the blue water's reflection of reds, purples, yellows and greens, it looks like a peacock spreading its tail. The Panda Lake and Arrow Bamboo Lake are places frequented by pandas. The Fragrant Grass Lake is a place swans like to play about.
Zechawagou Gully is about 17.8 kilometres long. It is the longest and highest gorge of Jiuzhaigou.

The most beautiful lake in Jiuzhaigou is the Colourful Pond. Located in the deep forest, it is said that it was condensed from the fairies' rouge, colourful and superb.
"Nenensangcuo" means Fairy Pond. A winding path leading to a serene and secluded place, it is kept in a deep, hidden boudoir without the knowledge of people.
Nuorgai Grassland is located at the first of the nine bends of the Yellow River.

The Yellow Dragon is known as fairyland on Earth, where layer upon layer of colourful ponds glitter with red and green ripples, myriads of terraced waterfalls pour down like green jade and running gold.
Shaking heaven and earth, Zhaga Waterfall in Munigou Gully rushes down from a 104-metre-high mountain cliff. It is the biggest travertine waterfall in China.

Kalonggou Gully, primitive and unaffected, has China's biggest glacial stone forests. The autumn reds of the mountains in Miyaluo entrance visitors. It is the biggest maple leaf scenic area in China.
Known as "Queen of Sichuan Mountain", Siguniang Mountain is covered with a vast expanse of white snow all the year round. Charming and graceful, it looks like a young maid and is called "Eastern Alps". Its neighbor, Wolong Nature Reserve is now China's biggest natural base of species, where bioresources are the most completely preserved.

Ancient pass at Jianmen, with age-old dense and towering cypresses along the narrow winding corridor of 300 miles, the place is strategically located and difficult of access. It is rated as "Natural Barrier Under Heaven", hence the saying, "One man in the pass, ten thousand cannot go by".
In Doutuanshan Mountain, with verdant and luxuriant forests, towering and magnificent cliffs, you can see "woodcutters and tillers entering and leaving the painted screen". The place is honoured as "Fairy Mountain of Shu Kingdom".
The Green City Mountain is one of China's four famous Taoist mountains.
People say, "One cannot be rated as having been to Sichuan without going to Jiuzhaigou". Travelling to Jiuzhaigou is a trip to Nature.