Jiuzhaigou is a very beautiful place like paradise . When I realized that I was still alive, I know that I am still on earth 🙂

Jiuzhai Valley is locally known as Jiuzhaigou (Chinese for “Nine Village Valley”). It is a national park located in the Min Shan mountain range, Northern Sichuan in South Western China.http://www.jiuzhai.com

It is best known for its fabled blue and green lakes, spectacular waterfalls, narrow conic karst land forms and its unique wildlife. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992

Jiuzhai Valley is part of the Min Shan mountain range on the edge of the Tibetan Himalayan Pletau and stretches over 720 sq km (72,000 hectares) with an extra buffer zone of 598 sq. km (60,000 hectares).

The elevation of the national park ranges from almost 2,000m (6,500 feet) at the entrance to over 4,500m (14,760 feet) on the mountain peaks and the series of forest ecosystems are stratified by elevation

 

Let’s explore the paradise on earth! I started in the morning before the crowds arrive

Park opens at 7 am. the 220RMB entry fee and a one-day bus ticket 80RMB (Total 300rmb or $ 48) make this park one of the most expensive national parks in the world  I have ever visited :).

This is the visitor map I followed :

I chose the path to the right branch by bus to the virgin forest at Ri Ze Valley

RI ZE VALLEY

Ri Ze Valley runs for 18km from Nuo Ri Lang in the centre of the park to the Virgin Forest at the top of the right branch of the “Y”. It is home to some of the most fascinating coloured lakes in Jiuzhai Valley, the tallest waterfalls and some of the parks most impressive forests

and walk down while enjoying the view

GRASS LAKE

altitude 2910 m, the long belt shaped, semi-swamp Grass Lake (Fang Cao Hai) is tucked under deep cliffs

 SWAN LAKE

altitude 2905m

The glittering water of Swan Lake (Tian E Hai) lies in the dense fir woods of Ri Ze Valley. A semi-marsh lake containing lots of carbonate material. Due to sluggish water flow and siltation in its upper channels, the lake is an excellent home for a variety of water plants, grasses and algae

 ARROW BAMBOO LAKE

altitude 2618m

The banks of Arrow Bamboo Lake (Jian Zhu Hai) is one of the many places where arrow bamboo, the favoured food of the giant panda, used to grow in abundance before it flowered and died

PANDA LAKE

altitude 2587m

The transparent water of Panda Lake (Xiong Mao Hai) accompanied by the snow capped mountain peaks and blues skies set the scene for where Jiuzhai Valley’s Giant Pandas are said to come to drink, play and look for food although pandas have not been spotted in the area for many years

FIVE FLOWER LAKE

altitude 2472m

The Five Flower Lake (Wu Hua Hai) is regarded as one of the wonders of Jiuzhai Valley due to its breathtaking colours which are a result of its lake-bottom travertine and colourful algae.

The colours are formed by unevenly distributed submerged plants

 

 PEACOCK RIVERBED

The Peacock Riverbed (Kong Que He Dao) covers 310 sq.m. at the north end of the Five Flower Lake. It is possibly the most colourful lake in the whole of Jiuzhai Valley

PEARL SHOALS

altitude 2433m

On the irregular travertine surface, water flows down to the magnificent Pearl Shoals Waterfall (Zhen Zhu Tan Pu Bu). At 160m in width, the very shallow flow encourages the growth of many unique algae and other flora that produce wonderful spring and early summer flowers. The travertine is a type of porous plant-rock that is always growing

PEARL SHOALS WATERFALLS

Altitude 2,433m, width 310m, highest drop 40m

Water rushing from the Pearl Shoals (Zhen Zhu Tan) drops from top of the falls and forms a crescent waterfall. This is the most photographed waterfall in Jiuzhai Valley

The waterfall is actually accreting which means it is growing outwards rather than eroding backwards like most waterfalls do. The reason for this is that calcium carbonate is combining with roots, leaves and branches to produce a matrix of cemented plant-stone which then continues to grow once established

As the water flowing over the shoals is shallow and filtered, lacking abrasive sand and gravel materials, it has little erosive power that might otherwise cause the waterfall to erode back up the valley.

MIRROR LAKE

altitude 2390 m

It is named Mirror Lake (Jing Hai) due to the perfect reflection of the surrounding mountains that can be seen in the still surface of the water in the morning. The lake was formed as a result of land slides blocking the water flow in the valley.

 

ZE CHA WA VALLEY

Ze Cha Wa Valley stretches 18km from Nuo Ri Lang to Long Lake (Chang Hai) at the joint point of the park. The valley features overlapping, high valleys, 2 seasonal lakes and Jiuzhai Valley’s largest lake.

LONG LAKE

altitude 3100m

Located at the end of Ze Cha Wa Valley, the crescent-shaped Long Lake (Chang Hai) is over 100 meters deep, it is at the highest altitude and has the widest surface area of all Jiuzhai Valley’s lakes. This is the highest point visitors will reach in the park. Its water appears ink blue, and the surrounding peaks are snow-capped for much of the year

FIVE COLOURED POOL

altitude 2995m

 

The Five Coloured Pond (Wu Cai Chi) is one of Jiuzhai Valley’s smallest but most impressive lakes. Its colours are a result of travertine sedimentation on the uneven lake bed, as well as various algae.

 

SHU ZHENG VALLEY

Shu Zheng Valley is reputed as the epitome of Jiuzhai Valley National Park. Its renowned, unpredictable independent lakes and lake clusters, colourful forests, colourful “beaches”, century-old grinding wheels, wooden bridges and powerful waterfalls are one of the high points of a visit here.

NOU RI LANG WATERFALLS

This is the widest travertine topped waterfall in the world and one of the signature pictures of Jiuzhai Valley. During the late summer when the water level is at its highest, the noise of Nou Ri Lang waterfall alone is impressive

During the winter the waterfall usually freezes creating an enormous ice curtain.

RHINOCEROS LAKE

altitude 2325m

Rhinoceros Lake (Xi Niu Hai) is the second largest in Jiuzhai Valley after Long Lake (Chang Hai). In spring and summer the dense woods and grasses are a lush green followed by autumn where the red, brown and green colours provide a stunning reflection in the lake’s surface

TIGER LAKE

altitude 2298m

Tiger Lake (Lao Hu Hai) was named for a number of different reasons. Firstly the Shu Zheng Waterfall at its northern end roars like a tiger. Also, when the leaves change colour in the autumn the reflection is said to resemble a tiger’s pattern.

 

 

SHU ZHENG FALLS

Altitude 2,295m, width 62m-72m, height 25m

It is a round multi-level waterfall with thousands of water streams running through the stems and trunks of the plant life that grows from it.

SHU ZHENG LAKES

With a drop of about 100 meters from start to finish, Shu Zheng Lakes (Shu Zheng Qun Hai) has 19 lakes of varied sizes, descending in terraces. Among these lakes grow dense groves of willows, poplars, pines, spruces and other plants. Water climbs over dikes and runs through groves’ stems. High and low levels of the lake clusters are clearly marked, featuring spectacular colours, verdant woods, dark-blue water, and waterfalls.

LYING DRAGON LAKE

altitude 2215m

The small and exquisite Lying Dragon Lake (Wo Long Hai) is typical of Jiuzhai Valley’s fabled blue, gem like lakes. The tufa formation under the water is believed to resemble a dragon

REED LAKE

altitude 2140m

The Reed (Lu Wei) Lake is a semi-swamp lake with thick reeds throughout, where the blue and green “Jade Ribbon” stream runs through the reed stems down towards the valley entrance. In spring and summer, transparent currents and reeds share the same green colour; in autumn and winter, reeds turn eye-striking golden yellow.

 SPARKLING LAKE

altitude 2187m

Sparkling (Huo Hua) Lake, features azure blue colours and lies in between dense woods. The lake is filled from the Huo Hua Lake Waterfalls which are 50 metres wide and 8 metres tall.

BONSAI SHOALS

altitude 2240m

The Bonsai Shoal (Pen Jing Tan) is a stretch of travertine beaches, on which slow water blankets sweep through weeds, poplar, azaleas, pines, cypresses, willows and other shrubs.

The water runs through woods that stand in various poses

It is believed that the mountain God placed a wonderful bonsai collection here that exceeds the best of human art works

 

BUS JOURNEY FROM CHENGDU-JIUZHAI VALLEY

it took 10hrs by bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhai valley(about 460km). Winding and scary road 

but I enjoyed this trip because of the beautiful scenery along the way

Trip to Jiuzhaigou is my 2nd visit to china. I traveled in May 2009, one year after the great Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, killed 69,195 people and 18,392 missing (wikipedia)

 

and this is the jiuzhai valley

 

all pictures taken by me and properties of ani krisnamurti

description taken from http://www.jiuzhai.com