Difference between revisions of "Jiuzhaigou Valley" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Jiuzhaigou Valley''' ({{zh-stp |s=九寨沟 |t=九寨溝 |p=Jiǔzhàigōu}}; lit. "Valley of Nine Villages"; [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]: ''Sicadêgu'') designates a [[nature reserve]] in northern [[Sichuan]] province of [[China]]. Known for its many multi-level [[waterfall]]s and colorful [[lake]]s, [[UNESCO]]declared it a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1992. It belongs to the category V (Protected Landscape) in the IUCN system of protected area categorization.
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'''Jiuzhaigou Valley''' ({{zh-stp |s=九寨沟 |t=九寨溝 |p=Jiǔzhàigōu}}; lit. "Valley of Nine Villages;" [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]: ''Sicadêgu'') designates a [[nature reserve]] in the northern [[Sichuan]] province of [[China]]. Known for its many multi-level [[waterfall]]s and colorful [[lake]]s, [[UNESCO]] declared it a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1992. It belongs to the category V (Protected Landscape) in the IUCN system of protected area categorization. Sitting on major fault lines of the [[Qinghai-Tibet Plate]] and the [[Yangtze Plate]], earthquakes that shape the landscape, creating the magnificent beauty of the region also can inflict great loss of life and property. In the May 2008 earthquake, the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic area sat over 200 kilometers from the [[epicenter]], escaping damage.<ref>China View, [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/29/content_8279034.htm China Focus: Massive China quake heavily mauls tourist paradise.] Retrieved July 7, 2008.</ref> The [[Giant Panda]] population in Jiuzhaigou Valley, which numbers around twenty, escaped unharmed.
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[[UNESCO]] designated Jiuzhaigou Valley a [[World Heritage site]] in 1992, by virtue of its unique and exceptionally beautiful systems of lakes and waterfalls, as well as fauna. In 1997, UNESCO designated the region a [[World Biosphere Reserve]], highlighting the complex and delicate biosphere. One thousand [[Tibetan]] and [[Qiang]] Chinese live in the valleys. They have lived within the region for generations, considering the valley the place where God lives. Traditionally, they made their living within the area by [[farming]] and herding [[yak]]. The Tibetans and Qiang who live in the villages have been required to cease husbandry since the valley became a [[World Heritage Site]] and designated World Biosphere Reserve, even though their activities posed no threat to the environment.
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That can not be said for the thousands of visitors who visit the valley daily. The steady increase of tourists each year has threatened the environment, putting the survival of the [[Giant Panda]] and the [[Golden Snub-nosed Monkey]], both endangered species, in question. Tourism has increased from 5,000 patrons a year in 1984, when the park first opened, to 1,190,000 tourists in 2002. In 2004, the average daily number of visitors reached 7,000 or 2,555,000 visitors. Only 3000 of those visitors came from other countries. As the number of tourists who make the arduous journey to view the natural splendors of park increases, the delicate nature of the site will come under greater threat.
  
 
==Geography and climate==
 
==Geography and climate==
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Jiuzhaigou lies at the southern end of the [[Minshan]] [[mountain range]], 330&nbsp;km north of the provincial capital of [[Chengdu]]. Part of the Jiuzhaigou County (formerly Nanping County) in the [[Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture]] of northwestern [[Sichuan]] province, it sits near the [[Gansu]] border.
  
Jiuzhaigou lies at the southern end of the [[Minshan]] [[mountain range]], 330&nbsp;km north of the provincial capital of [[Chengdu]]. Part of the Jiuzhaigou County (formerly Nanping County) in the [[Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture]] of northwestern [[Sichuan]] province, it sits near the [[Gansu]] border.
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The valley covers at least 240&nbsp;km², with some protection organizations giving the area as 600 to 720&nbsp;km², with [[buffer zone]]s covering an additional 400 to 600&nbsp;km². Its [[altitude]], depending on the area considered, ranges from 1,998 to 2,140&nbsp;m (at the mouth of [[#Shuzheng gully|Shuzheng Gully]]) to 4,558-4,764 m (on Mount Ganzigonggai at the top of [[#Zechawa gully|Zechawa Gully]]).
  
The valley covers at least 240&nbsp;km², with some protection organizations giving the area as 600 to 720&nbsp;km², with [[buffer zone]]s covering an additional 400 to 600&nbsp;km². Its [[altitude]], depending on the area considered, ranges from 1,998 to 2,140&nbsp;m (at the mouth of [[#Shuzheng gully|Shuzheng Gully]]) to 4,558 - 4,764 m (on Mount Ganzigonggai at the top of [[#Zechawa gully|Zechawa Gully]]).
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With a cool climate, the [[temperate]] has a mean annual temperature of 7.2°C, with means of -1°C in January and 17°C in July. Total annual [[rainfall]] is 661 mm, 80 percent of which occurs between May and October.
{{Infobox_protected_area | name = Jiuzhaigou Valley 九寨沟
 
| iucn_category = III
 
| image = Jiuzhaigou_Lake.jpg
 
| caption = Mirror Lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley
 
| locator_x =
 
| locator_y =
 
| location = [[Sichuan]], [[China]]
 
| nearest_city = [[Songpan]]
 
| lat_degrees = 33
 
| lat_minutes = 13
 
| lat_seconds =
 
| lat_direction = N
 
| long_degrees = 103
 
| long_minutes = 55
 
| long_seconds =
 
| long_direction = E
 
| area = 600 to 720 km²
 
| established = 1978
 
| visitation_num = 1,190,000
 
| visitation_year = 2002
 
| governing_body = Sichuan Provincial Commission for Construction
 
}}
 
With a cool climate, the [[temperate]] has a mean annual temperature of 7.2 °C, with means of -1 °C in January and 17 °C in July. Total annual [[rainfall]] is 661 mm, 80 percent of which occurs between May and October.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
[[Tibetan people|Tibetan]] and [[Qiang]] peoples inhabited the remote region for centuries, although officially discovered by the government until 1972. Extensive [[logging]] took place until 1979, when the [[Government of the People's Republic of China|Chinese government]] banned such activity and made the area a [[national park]] in 1982. The government established an Administration Bureau and the site officially opened to [[tourism]] in 1984. Architects completed the layout of facilities and regulations in 1987. [[UNESCO]] designated the site a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1992 and a World [[Biosphere Reserve]] in 1997.
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[[Tibetan people|Tibetan]] and [[Qiang]] peoples inhabited the remote region for centuries, although not officially discovered by the government until 1972. Extensive [[logging]] took place until 1979, when the [[Government of the People's Republic of China|Chinese government]] banned such activity and made the area a [[national park]] in 1982. The government established an Administration Bureau and the site officially opened to [[tourism]] in 1984. Architects completed the layout of facilities and regulations in 1987. [[UNESCO]] designated the site a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1992, and a World [[Biosphere Reserve]] in 1997.
  
Since opening, tourist activity has increased every year: from 5,000 in 1984 to 170,000 in 1991, 160,000 in 1995, to 200,000 in 1997, including about 3,000 international tourists. Visitors numbered 1,190,000 in 2002.<ref>[http://www.unep-wcmc.org/index.html?http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/juizhaig.html~main]</ref> As of 2004, the site averages 7,000 visits per day, with a limit of 12,000 allowed during high season. The [[Town of China|Town]] of Zhangzha at the exit of the valley and the nearby Songpan [[County of China|County]] feature an ever-increasing number of hotels, including several polished [[Star (classification)|five-stars]].
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Since opening, tourist activity has increased every year: From 5,000 in 1984 to 170,000 in 1991, 160,000 in 1995, to 200,000 in 1997, including about 3,000 international tourists. Visitors numbered 1,190,000 in 2002.<ref>United Nations Environment Program, [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/index.html Homepage.] Retrieved July 7, 2008.</ref> As of 2004, the site averages 7,000 visits per day, with a limit of 12,000 allowed during high season. The [[Town of China|Town]] of Zhangzha at the exit of the valley and the nearby Songpan [[County of China|County]] feature an ever-increasing number of hotels, including several polished [[Star (classification)|five-stars]].
  
 
==Population==
 
==Population==
Jiuzhaigou takes its name from the nine Tibetan villages along its length. Few of them remain today, depending on what classifies as "a village inside the valley." The main agglomerations are Heye, Shuzheng and Zechawa along the main paths, plus Rexi and Heijiao in the smaller Zaru Gully. Maps also indicate villages named Jianpan, Panya and Guwa near the end of a small gully opposite Zaru. Finally, the Penbu, Panxing and Yongzhu villages lie along the road that passes through the town of Jiuzhaigou/Zhangza outside the valley.
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Jiuzhaigou takes its name from the nine Tibetan villages along its length. Few of them remain today, depending on what classifies as "a village inside the valley." The following villages still exist: Heye, Shuzheng and Zechawa along the main paths, plus Rexi and Heijiao in the smaller Zaru Gully. Maps also indicate villages named Jianpan, Panya and Guwa near the end of a small gully opposite Zaru. Finally, the Penbu, Panxing and Yongzhu villages lie along the road that passes through the town of Jiuzhaigou/Zhangza outside the valley.
  
In 1997, the permanent population of the valley was about 1000, made up of about 130 Tibetan and Qiang families. Due to the protected nature of the park, the residents are forbidden from agriculture activities and rely on government subsidies as well as tourism.
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In 1997, the permanent population of the valley hovered about 1000, made up of about 130 Tibetan and Qiang families. Due to the protected nature of the park, agriculture activities have been prohibited, the residents relying on government subsidies as well as tourism.
  
 
==Ecology==
 
==Ecology==
Jiuzhaigou's [[ecosystem]] is classified as temperate broad-leaf forest and woodlands, with mixed mountain and highland systems. Nearly 300&nbsp;km² of the core scenic area are covered by virgin [[mixed forest]]s. Those forests take on attractive yellow, orange and red hues in the autumn, making that season a popular one for visitors. They are home to a number of plant species of interest, such as endemic varieties of [[rhododendron]] and [[bamboo]].
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Jiuzhaigou's [[ecosystem]] classifies as temperate broad-leaf forest and woodlands, with mixed mountain and highland systems. Virgin [[mixed forest]]s cover nearly 300&nbsp;km² of the core scenic area. Those forests take on attractive yellow, orange, and red hues in the autumn, making that season a popular one for visitors. They serve as home to a number of plant species of interest, such as endemic varieties of [[rhododendron]] and [[bamboo]].
  
Local fauna includes the [[endangered species|endangered]] [[giant panda]] and golden [[snub-nosed monkey]]. Both populations are very small (less than 20 individuals for the pandas) and isolated. Their survival is in question in a valley subject to increasing tourism. Jiuzhaigou is also home to approximately 140 bird species.
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Local fauna includes the [[endangered species|endangered]] [[Giant Panda]] and Golden [[Snub-nosed Monkey]]. Both have very small populations(less than 20 individuals for the pandas) and live isolated. Their survival remains in question in a valley subject to increasing tourism. Jiuzhaigou supports approximately 140 bird species.
  
 
==Geology and hydrology==
 
==Geology and hydrology==
 
[[Image:Jiuzhaigou Pearl Waterfall 2005-08-21.jpeg|thumb|220px|right|The [[Pearl Waterfall]].]]
 
[[Image:Jiuzhaigou Pearl Waterfall 2005-08-21.jpeg|thumb|220px|right|The [[Pearl Waterfall]].]]
Jiuzhaigou's landscape is made up of high-altitude [[karst]]s shaped by [[glacier|glacial]], [[hydrology|hydrological]] and [[tectonics|tectonic]] activity. It lies on major [[geological fault|faultlines]] on the diverging belt between the Qinghai-Tibet [[tectonic plate|Plate]] and the Yangtze Plate, and [[earthquake]]s have also shaped the landscape. The rock [[stratum|strata]] is mostly made up of [[carbonate]] rocks such [[dolomite]] and [[tufa]], as well as some [[sandstone]] and [[shale]]s.
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High-altitude [[karst]]s shaped by [[glacier|glacial]], [[hydrology|hydrological]] and [[tectonics|tectonic]] activity make up Jiuzhaigou's landscape. It lies on major [[geological fault|faultlines]] on the diverging belt between the Qinghai-Tibet [[tectonic plate|Plate]] and the Yangtze Plate, and [[earthquake]]s have also shaped the landscape. [[Carbonate]] rocks such [[dolomite]] and [[tufa]], as well as some [[sandstone]] and [[shale]]s, mostly make up the rock [[stratum|strata]].
  
The valley includes the catchment area of three [[gully|gullies]] (which due to their large size are often called [[valley]]s themselves), and is one of the sources of the [[Jialing River]], part of the [[Yangtze River]] system.
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The valley includes the catchment area of three [[gully|gullies]] (which, due to their large size, many call [[valley]]s themselves), and serves as one of the sources of the [[Jialing River]], part of the [[Yangtze River]] system.
  
Jiuzhaigou's best-known feature is its dozens of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes. The local Tibetan people call them "Haizi" in Chinese, meaning "son of the sea." Originating in glacial activity, they were dammed by rockfalls and other natural phenomena, then solidified by processes of carbonate deposition. Some lakes have a high concentration of [[calcium carbonate]], and their water is very clear so that the bottom is often visible even at high depths. The lakes vary in color and aspect according to their depths, residues, and surroundings.
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Dozens of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes constitute Jiuzhaigou's best-known feature. The local Tibetan people call them "Haizi" in Chinese, meaning "son of the sea." Originating in glacial activity, rockfalls and other natural phenomena dammed them, then solidified through carbonate deposition. Some lakes have a high concentration of [[calcium carbonate]], making their water so clear people can see the bottom even at high depths. The lakes vary in color and aspect according to their depths, residues, and surroundings.
  
Some of the less stable dams and formations have been artificially reinforced, and direct contact with the lakes or other features is forbidden to tourists.
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Some of the less stable dams and formations have been artificially reinforced, and the government forbids tourists direct contact with the lakes or streams.
  
 
==Notable features==
 
==Notable features==
Jiuzhaigou is composed of three valleys arranged in a Y shape. The [[#Rize gully|Rize]] and [[#Zechawa gully|Zechawa]] gullies flow from the south and meet at the center of the site where the form the [[#Shuzheng gully|Shuzheng]] gully, flowing north to the mouth of the valley. The mountainous [[drainage basin|watersheds]] of these gullies are lined with 55&nbsp;km of roads for shuttle buses, as well as [[boardwalk]]s and small pavilions. The boardwalks are typically located on the opposite side of the lakes from the road, shielding them from disturbance by passing buses.
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Three valleys arranged in a Y shape shape Jiuzhaigou. The [[#Rize gully|Rize]] and [[#Zechawa gully|Zechawa]] gullies flow from the south and meet at the center of the site where the form the [[#Shuzheng gully|Shuzheng]] gully, flowing north to the mouth of the valley. 55&nbsp;km of roads for shuttle buses, as well as [[boardwalk]]s and small pavilions, line the mountainous [[drainage basin|watersheds]] of those gullies. The boardwalks, typically located on the opposite side of the lakes from the road, shield them from disturbance by passing buses.
  
Most visitors will first take the shuttle bus to the end of Rize and/or Shuzheng gully, then make their way back downhill by foot on the boardwalks, taking the bus instead when the next site is too distant. Here is a summary of the sites found in each of the gullies.
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Most visitors will first take the shuttle bus to the end of Rize and/or Shuzheng gully, then make their way back downhill by foot on the boardwalks, taking the bus instead when the next site is too distant. A summary of the sites found in each of the gullies follows.
  
 
===Rize Gully===
 
===Rize Gully===
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[[Image:Kyusaiko.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Five Flower Lake]]
 
[[Image:Kyusaiko.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Five Flower Lake]]
  
The 18&nbsp;km long Rize Gully (日则沟, [[pinyin]]: Rìzé Gōu) is the south-western branch of Jiuzhaigou. It contains the largest variety of sites and is typically visited first. Going downhill from its highest point, one passes the following sites:
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The 18&nbsp;km long Rize Gully (日则沟, [[pinyin]]: Rìzé Gōu), the south-western branch of Jiuzhaigou, contains the largest variety of sites. Visitors typically visit it first. Going downhill from its highest point, one passes the following sites:
* The ''[[primeval forest|Primeval Forest]]'' (原始森林 Yuánshǐ Sēnlín) is a preserved ancient woodland. It is fronted by spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs, including the 500&nbsp;m high blade-shaped Sword Rock (剑岩 Jiàn Yán).
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* The ''[[primeval forest|Primeval Forest]]'' (原始森林 Yuánshǐ Sēnlín), a preserved ancient woodland, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs, including the 500&nbsp;m high blade-shaped Sword Rock (剑岩 Jiàn Yán).
* ''Swan Lake'' (天鹅海, Tiān'é Hǎi) is a 2250&nbsp;m long, 125&nbsp;m wide picturesque lake named for its visiting [[swan]]s and [[duck]]s.
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* ''Swan Lake'' (天鹅海, Tiān'é Hǎi), a 2250&nbsp;m long, 125&nbsp;m wide picturesque lake named for its visiting [[swan]]s and [[duck]]s.
* ''Grass Lake'' (草海, Cǎo Hǎi) is a shallow lake covered in intricate vegetation patterns.
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* ''Grass Lake'' (草海, Cǎo Hǎi), a shallow lake covered in intricate vegetation patterns.
* ''Arrow Bamboo Lake'' (箭竹海, Jiànzhú Hǎi), covering an area of 170,000&nbsp;m², is a shallow lake with a depth of 6&nbsp;m. It lies at an elevation of 2,618&nbsp;m, and was a main feature site for the 2002 Chinese film ''[[Hero (movie)|Hero]]''.
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* ''Arrow Bamboo Lake'' (箭竹海, Jiànzhú Hǎi), covering an area of 170,000&nbsp;m². A shallow lake with a depth of 6&nbsp;m, it lies at an elevation of 2,618&nbsp;m. The 2002 Chinese film ''[[Hero (movie)|Hero]]'' had been shot on location.
* ''Panda Lake'' (熊猫海, Xióngmāo Hǎi) features curious color patterns of blue and green. It empties into the multi-stream, multi-level Panda Waterfalls, dropping 78m in 3 steps.
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* ''Panda Lake'' (熊猫海, Xióngmāo Hǎi) features curious color patterns of blue and green. It empties into the multi-stream, multi-level Panda Waterfalls, dropping 78m in three steps.
* ''Five Flower Lake'' (五花海, Wǔhuā Hǎi) is a shallow multi-colored lake whose bottom is criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks.
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* ''Five Flower Lake'' (五花海, Wǔhuā Hǎi), a shallow multi-colored lake with ancient fallen tree trunks criss-crossing the bottom.
* ''Pearl Shoal'' (珍珠滩, Zhēnzhū Tān) is a wide, gently sloping area of active calcareous [[tufa]] deposition covered in a thin sheet of flowing water. It empties into the famous [[Pearl Waterfall]]s, where the [[shoal]] drops 28&nbsp;m in a 310&nbsp;m wide broad curtain of water. A scene of the television adaptation of ''[[Journey to the West]]'' was filmed there.
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* ''Pearl Shoal'' (珍珠滩, Zhēnzhū Tān), a wide, gently sloping area of active calcareous [[tufa]] deposition covered in a thin sheet of flowing water. It empties into the famous [[Pearl Waterfall]]s, where the [[shoal]] drops 28&nbsp;m in a 310&nbsp;m wide broad curtain of water. A scene of the television adaptation of ''[[Journey to the West]]'' had been filmed there.
* ''Mirror Lake'' (镜海, Jìng Hǎi) is another quiet lake casting beautiful reflections of the surroundings when the water is calm.
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* ''Mirror Lake'' (镜海, Jìng Hǎi), another quiet lake, casts beautiful reflections of the surroundings on its calm waters.
  
 
===Zechawa Gully===
 
===Zechawa Gully===
The Zechawa Gully (则查洼沟, Zécháwā Gōu) is the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou. It is approximately the same length as Rize gully (18&nbsp;km ) but climbs to a higher altitude (3150&nbsp;m at the Long Lake). Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites:
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{{Infobox_protected_area | name = Jiuzhaigou Valley 九寨沟
* ''Long Lake'' (长海, Cháng Hǎi) is the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou, measuring 7.5&nbsp;km in length and up to 103&nbsp;m in depth. It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from snowmelt and losing it from seepage. Local folklore features a [[lake monster|monster]] in its depths.
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| iucn_category = III
* ''Five-Color Pond'' (五彩池, Wǔcǎi Chí) is one of the smallest but most spectacular bodies of water in Jiuzhaigou lakes. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area.
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| image = Jiuzhaigou_Lake.jpg
* The ''Seasonal Lakes'' (季节海, Jìjié Hǎi) are a series of 3 lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper) along the main road, that change from empty to full during each year.
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| caption = Mirror Lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley
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| locator_x =
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| locator_y =
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| location = [[Sichuan]], [[China]]
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| nearest_city = [[Songpan]]
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| lat_degrees = 33
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| lat_minutes = 13
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| lat_seconds =
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| lat_direction = N
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| long_degrees = 103
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| long_minutes = 55
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| long_seconds =
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| long_direction = E
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| area = 600 to 720 km²
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| established = 1978
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| visitation_num = 1,190,000
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| visitation_year = 2002
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| governing_body = Sichuan Provincial Commission for Construction
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}}
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The Zechawa Gully (则查洼沟, Zécháwā Gōu), the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou, extends approximately the same length as Rize gully (18&nbsp;km ) but climbs to a higher altitude (3150&nbsp;m at the Long Lake). Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites:
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* ''Long Lake'' (长海, Cháng Hǎi), the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou, measuring 7.5&nbsp;km in length and up to 103&nbsp;m in depth. It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from snow melt and losing it from seepage. Local folklore features a [[lake monster|monster]] in its depths.
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* ''Five-Color Pond'' (五彩池, Wǔcǎi Chí), one of the smallest but most spectacular bodies of water in Jiuzhaigou lakes. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area.
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* The ''Seasonal Lakes'' (季节海, Jìjié Hǎi) constitute a series of three lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper) along the main road, that change from empty to full during each year.
  
 
===Shuzheng Gully===
 
===Shuzheng Gully===
The Shuzheng Gully (树正沟, Shùzhèng Gōu) is the northern (main) branch of Jiuzhaigou. It ends after 14.5&nbsp;km at the Y-shaped intersection of the three gullies. Going downhill from the intersection to the mouth of the valley, visitors encounter the following:
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The Shuzheng Gully (树正沟, Shùzhèng Gōu), the northern (main) branch of Jiuzhaigou, ends after 14.5&nbsp;km at the Y-shaped intersection of the three gullies. Going downhill from the intersection to the mouth of the valley, visitors encounter the following:
* ''Nuorilang Falls'' (诺日朗瀑布, Nuòrìlǎng Pùbù), near the junction of the valleys, are 20&nbsp;m high and 320&nbsp;m wide. They are reportedly the widest highland waterfall in China, and one of the symbols of Jiuzhaigou.
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* ''Nuorilang Falls'' (诺日朗瀑布, Nuòrìlǎng Pùbù), near the junction of the valleys, 20&nbsp;m high and 320&nbsp;m wide, reportedly the widest highland waterfall in China, and one of the symbols of Jiuzhaigou.
* ''Nuorilang Lakes'' (诺日朗群海, Nuòrìlǎng Qúnhǎi) and ''Shuzheng Lakes'' (树正群海 Shùzhèng Qúnhǎi) are stepped series of respectively 18 and 19 [[ribbon lake]]s formed by the passage of [[glacier]]s, then naturally dammed. Some of them have their own folkloric names, such as the Rhinoceros, Unknown, and Tiger lakes.
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* ''Nuorilang Lakes'' (诺日朗群海, Nuòrìlǎng Qúnhǎi) and ''Shuzheng Lakes'' (树正群海, Shùzhèng Qúnhǎi) constitute a stepped series of respectively 18 and 19 [[ribbon lake]]s formed by the passage of [[glacier]]s, then naturally dammed. Some of them have their own folkloric names, such as the Rhinoceros, Unknown, and Tiger lakes.
* ''Sleeping Dragon Lake'' (卧龙海, Wòlóng Hǎi) is one of the lower lakes in the area. With a depth of 20&nbsp;m, it is notable for the clearly visible calcareous dyke running through it, whose shape has been compared to a [[Chinese dragon|dragon]] lying on the bottom.
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* ''Sleeping Dragon Lake'' (卧龙海, Wòlóng Hǎi), one of the lower lakes in the area, has a depth of 20&nbsp;m. Notable for the clearly visible calcareous dyke running through it, its shape has been compared to a [[Chinese dragon|dragon]] lying on the bottom.
* ''Reed Lake'' (芦苇海, Lúwěi Hǎi) is a 1375m-long, reed-covered marsh with a clear turquoise brook zigzaging through it. The contrast is particularly striking in the autumn when the reeds turn yellow.
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* ''Reed Lake'' (芦苇海, Lúwěi Hǎi), a 1375 meter long, reed-covered marsh has a clear turquoise brook zigzagging through it. The contrast presents a particularly striking scene in the autumn when the reeds turn yellow.
  
 
===Others===
 
===Others===
* The ''Zaru Gully'' (扎如沟, Zārú Gōu) is a smaller valley that runs southeast from the main Shuzheng gully; it begins at the Zaru [[Buddhist]] [[monastery]] and ends with the Red, Black, and Daling lakes.
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* The ''Zaru Gully'' (扎如沟, Zārú Gōu), a smaller valley that runs southeast from the main Shuzheng gully; it begins at the Zaru [[Buddhist]] [[monastery]] and ends with the Red, Black, and Daling lakes.
 
* The ''Fairy Pool'' (神仙池, Shénxiān Chí) lies 42&nbsp;km west of Jiuzhaigou and features [[travertine]] pools very similar to those of the nearby [[Huanglong]] Natural Reserve.
 
* The ''Fairy Pool'' (神仙池, Shénxiān Chí) lies 42&nbsp;km west of Jiuzhaigou and features [[travertine]] pools very similar to those of the nearby [[Huanglong]] Natural Reserve.
  
 
==Access to the site==
 
==Access to the site==
Jiuzhaigou, compared to other high-traffic scenic spots in China, is notoriously difficult to access by land. Most tourists reach the valley by a 10 hour bus ride from Chengdu along the [[Minjiang River]] [[canyon]], prone to frequent rockslides and [[mudslide]]s that can add several hours to the trip. [[As of 2004]], further delays were incurred by the construction of a new [[highway]] which, when completed, should greatly facilitate the journey. Since 2003, it has been possible fly from Chengdu or Chongqing to an airport on a 11311 ft. high mountain side near Songpan County, and then take an hour-long bus ride to Jiuzhaigou, or a two-hour bus ride to Huanglong. From 2006, a daily flight to Xi'an had been opened in peak season. There is also a new [[helipad]] near the valley.
+
Jiuzhaigou, compared to other high-traffic scenic spots in China, presents a notoriously difficult access by land. Most tourists reach the valley by a ten hour bus ride from Chengdu along the [[Minjiang River]] [[canyon]], prone to frequent rock slides and [[mudslide]]s that can add several hours to the trip. As of 2004, the construction of a new [[highway]] which, when completed, should greatly facilitate the journey, has incurred further delays. Since 2003, it has been possible fly from Chengdu or Chongqing to an airport on a 11311 ft. high mountain side near Songpan County, and then take an hour-long bus ride to Jiuzhaigou, or a two-hour bus ride to Huanglong. From 2006, a daily flight to Xi'an had been opened in peak season. A new [[heliport]] has been built near the valley.
 
 
  
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
* Nianyong, H., Z. Qian, and Z. Hong. 2008. "From experiences to institution: the management of Jiuzhaigou Valley Biosphere Reserve faced with institutional transformation and upgrading". ''INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT''. 7 (2): 145-155. ISSN 1474-6778.
+
* Nianyong, H., Z. Qian, and Z. Hong. 2008. "From experiences to institution: The management of Jiuzhaigou Valley Biosphere Reserve faced with institutional transformation and upgrading." ''International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development'' 7(2): 145-155.  
* Yenzhou, Ze. 1999. ''World natural heritage: China Jiuzhaigou Valley''. China: Wanhai Books. ISBN 9787503211027.
+
* Yenzhou, Ze. 1999. ''World Natural Heritage: China Jiuzhaigou Valley''. China: Wanhai Books. ISBN 9787503211027.
* Yu, Ning. 2000. ''Jiuzhaigou = Jiuzhaigou valley''. Beijing: Zhongguo lü you chu ban she. ISBN 9787503217333.
+
* Yu, Ning. 2000. ''Jiuzhaigou = Jiuzhaigou Valley''. Beijing: Zhongguo lü you chu ban she. ISBN 9787503217333.
 
* Ze, Renzhu. 1998. ''Zhongguo Jiuzhaigou = China Jiuzhaigou Valley''. Beijing: Zhongguo lu you chu ban she. ISBN 9787503211027.
 
* Ze, Renzhu. 1998. ''Zhongguo Jiuzhaigou = China Jiuzhaigou Valley''. Beijing: Zhongguo lu you chu ban she. ISBN 9787503211027.
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
{{commons|Jiuzhaigou Valley|Jiuzhaigou Valley}}
+
All links retrieved August 1, 2022.
 
+
* [http://whc.unesco.org/sites/637.htm Jiuzhaigou at the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO].  
* [http://whc.unesco.org/sites/637.htm Jiuzhaigou at the World Heritage Sites of [[UNESCO]]]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
+
* [http://www.chinatrekking.com/destinations/sichuan/jiuzhaigou Jiuzhaigou travel information].  
* [http://www.fao.org/gtos/tems/tsite_show.jsp?TAB=4&TSITE_ID=1560 Jiuzhaigou at the Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS) of [[FAO]]]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
* [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/index.html?http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/juizhaig.html~main Jiuzhaigou at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) of [[UNEP]]]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
* [http://www.chinatrekking.com/destinations/sichuan/jiuzhaigou Jiuzhaigou travel information]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
  
 
{{World Heritage Sites in China}}
 
{{World Heritage Sites in China}}

Latest revision as of 13:25, 1 August 2022


Coordinates: 33°13′N 103°55′E

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area*
UNESCO World Heritage Site

Pearl Waterfall is one of the many multi-level waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou.
State Party Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Type Natural
Criteria vii
Reference Retrieved July 5, 2008 637
Region** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1992  (16th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Jiuzhaigou Valley (Simplified Chinese: 九寨沟; Traditional Chinese: 九寨溝; pinyin: Jiǔzhàigōu; lit. "Valley of Nine Villages;" Tibetan: Sicadêgu) designates a nature reserve in the northern Sichuan province of China. Known for its many multi-level waterfalls and colorful lakes, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1992. It belongs to the category V (Protected Landscape) in the IUCN system of protected area categorization. Sitting on major fault lines of the Qinghai-Tibet Plate and the Yangtze Plate, earthquakes that shape the landscape, creating the magnificent beauty of the region also can inflict great loss of life and property. In the May 2008 earthquake, the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic area sat over 200 kilometers from the epicenter, escaping damage.[1] The Giant Panda population in Jiuzhaigou Valley, which numbers around twenty, escaped unharmed.

UNESCO designated Jiuzhaigou Valley a World Heritage site in 1992, by virtue of its unique and exceptionally beautiful systems of lakes and waterfalls, as well as fauna. In 1997, UNESCO designated the region a World Biosphere Reserve, highlighting the complex and delicate biosphere. One thousand Tibetan and Qiang Chinese live in the valleys. They have lived within the region for generations, considering the valley the place where God lives. Traditionally, they made their living within the area by farming and herding yak. The Tibetans and Qiang who live in the villages have been required to cease husbandry since the valley became a World Heritage Site and designated World Biosphere Reserve, even though their activities posed no threat to the environment.

That can not be said for the thousands of visitors who visit the valley daily. The steady increase of tourists each year has threatened the environment, putting the survival of the Giant Panda and the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, both endangered species, in question. Tourism has increased from 5,000 patrons a year in 1984, when the park first opened, to 1,190,000 tourists in 2002. In 2004, the average daily number of visitors reached 7,000 or 2,555,000 visitors. Only 3000 of those visitors came from other countries. As the number of tourists who make the arduous journey to view the natural splendors of park increases, the delicate nature of the site will come under greater threat.

Geography and climate

Jiuzhaigou lies at the southern end of the Minshan mountain range, 330 km north of the provincial capital of Chengdu. Part of the Jiuzhaigou County (formerly Nanping County) in the Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of northwestern Sichuan province, it sits near the Gansu border.

The valley covers at least 240 km², with some protection organizations giving the area as 600 to 720 km², with buffer zones covering an additional 400 to 600 km². Its altitude, depending on the area considered, ranges from 1,998 to 2,140 m (at the mouth of Shuzheng Gully) to 4,558-4,764 m (on Mount Ganzigonggai at the top of Zechawa Gully).

With a cool climate, the temperate has a mean annual temperature of 7.2°C, with means of -1°C in January and 17°C in July. Total annual rainfall is 661 mm, 80 percent of which occurs between May and October.

History

Tibetan and Qiang peoples inhabited the remote region for centuries, although not officially discovered by the government until 1972. Extensive logging took place until 1979, when the Chinese government banned such activity and made the area a national park in 1982. The government established an Administration Bureau and the site officially opened to tourism in 1984. Architects completed the layout of facilities and regulations in 1987. UNESCO designated the site a World Heritage Site in 1992, and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997.

Since opening, tourist activity has increased every year: From 5,000 in 1984 to 170,000 in 1991, 160,000 in 1995, to 200,000 in 1997, including about 3,000 international tourists. Visitors numbered 1,190,000 in 2002.[2] As of 2004, the site averages 7,000 visits per day, with a limit of 12,000 allowed during high season. The Town of Zhangzha at the exit of the valley and the nearby Songpan County feature an ever-increasing number of hotels, including several polished five-stars.

Population

Jiuzhaigou takes its name from the nine Tibetan villages along its length. Few of them remain today, depending on what classifies as "a village inside the valley." The following villages still exist: Heye, Shuzheng and Zechawa along the main paths, plus Rexi and Heijiao in the smaller Zaru Gully. Maps also indicate villages named Jianpan, Panya and Guwa near the end of a small gully opposite Zaru. Finally, the Penbu, Panxing and Yongzhu villages lie along the road that passes through the town of Jiuzhaigou/Zhangza outside the valley.

In 1997, the permanent population of the valley hovered about 1000, made up of about 130 Tibetan and Qiang families. Due to the protected nature of the park, agriculture activities have been prohibited, the residents relying on government subsidies as well as tourism.

Ecology

Jiuzhaigou's ecosystem classifies as temperate broad-leaf forest and woodlands, with mixed mountain and highland systems. Virgin mixed forests cover nearly 300 km² of the core scenic area. Those forests take on attractive yellow, orange, and red hues in the autumn, making that season a popular one for visitors. They serve as home to a number of plant species of interest, such as endemic varieties of rhododendron and bamboo.

Local fauna includes the endangered Giant Panda and Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Both have very small populations(less than 20 individuals for the pandas) and live isolated. Their survival remains in question in a valley subject to increasing tourism. Jiuzhaigou supports approximately 140 bird species.

Geology and hydrology

The Pearl Waterfall.

High-altitude karsts shaped by glacial, hydrological and tectonic activity make up Jiuzhaigou's landscape. It lies on major faultlines on the diverging belt between the Qinghai-Tibet Plate and the Yangtze Plate, and earthquakes have also shaped the landscape. Carbonate rocks such dolomite and tufa, as well as some sandstone and shales, mostly make up the rock strata.

The valley includes the catchment area of three gullies (which, due to their large size, many call valleys themselves), and serves as one of the sources of the Jialing River, part of the Yangtze River system.

Dozens of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes constitute Jiuzhaigou's best-known feature. The local Tibetan people call them "Haizi" in Chinese, meaning "son of the sea." Originating in glacial activity, rockfalls and other natural phenomena dammed them, then solidified through carbonate deposition. Some lakes have a high concentration of calcium carbonate, making their water so clear people can see the bottom even at high depths. The lakes vary in color and aspect according to their depths, residues, and surroundings.

Some of the less stable dams and formations have been artificially reinforced, and the government forbids tourists direct contact with the lakes or streams.

Notable features

Three valleys arranged in a Y shape shape Jiuzhaigou. The Rize and Zechawa gullies flow from the south and meet at the center of the site where the form the Shuzheng gully, flowing north to the mouth of the valley. 55 km of roads for shuttle buses, as well as boardwalks and small pavilions, line the mountainous watersheds of those gullies. The boardwalks, typically located on the opposite side of the lakes from the road, shield them from disturbance by passing buses.

Most visitors will first take the shuttle bus to the end of Rize and/or Shuzheng gully, then make their way back downhill by foot on the boardwalks, taking the bus instead when the next site is too distant. A summary of the sites found in each of the gullies follows.

Rize Gully

Panda Lake
Five Flower Lake

The 18 km long Rize Gully (日则沟, pinyin: Rìzé Gōu), the south-western branch of Jiuzhaigou, contains the largest variety of sites. Visitors typically visit it first. Going downhill from its highest point, one passes the following sites:

  • The Primeval Forest (原始森林 Yuánshǐ Sēnlín), a preserved ancient woodland, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs, including the 500 m high blade-shaped Sword Rock (剑岩 Jiàn Yán).
  • Swan Lake (天鹅海, Tiān'é Hǎi), a 2250 m long, 125 m wide picturesque lake named for its visiting swans and ducks.
  • Grass Lake (草海, Cǎo Hǎi), a shallow lake covered in intricate vegetation patterns.
  • Arrow Bamboo Lake (箭竹海, Jiànzhú Hǎi), covering an area of 170,000 m². A shallow lake with a depth of 6 m, it lies at an elevation of 2,618 m. The 2002 Chinese film Hero had been shot on location.
  • Panda Lake (熊猫海, Xióngmāo Hǎi) features curious color patterns of blue and green. It empties into the multi-stream, multi-level Panda Waterfalls, dropping 78m in three steps.
  • Five Flower Lake (五花海, Wǔhuā Hǎi), a shallow multi-colored lake with ancient fallen tree trunks criss-crossing the bottom.
  • Pearl Shoal (珍珠滩, Zhēnzhū Tān), a wide, gently sloping area of active calcareous tufa deposition covered in a thin sheet of flowing water. It empties into the famous Pearl Waterfalls, where the shoal drops 28 m in a 310 m wide broad curtain of water. A scene of the television adaptation of Journey to the West had been filmed there.
  • Mirror Lake (镜海, Jìng Hǎi), another quiet lake, casts beautiful reflections of the surroundings on its calm waters.

Zechawa Gully

Jiuzhaigou Valley 九寨沟
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Mirror Lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley
Mirror Lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley
Location: Sichuan, China
Nearest city: Songpan
Area: 600 to 720 km²
Established: 1978
Visitation: 1,190,000 (in 2002)
Governing body: Sichuan Provincial Commission for Construction

The Zechawa Gully (则查洼沟, Zécháwā Gōu), the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou, extends approximately the same length as Rize gully (18 km ) but climbs to a higher altitude (3150 m at the Long Lake). Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites:

  • Long Lake (长海, Cháng Hǎi), the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou, measuring 7.5 km in length and up to 103 m in depth. It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from snow melt and losing it from seepage. Local folklore features a monster in its depths.
  • Five-Color Pond (五彩池, Wǔcǎi Chí), one of the smallest but most spectacular bodies of water in Jiuzhaigou lakes. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area.
  • The Seasonal Lakes (季节海, Jìjié Hǎi) constitute a series of three lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper) along the main road, that change from empty to full during each year.

Shuzheng Gully

The Shuzheng Gully (树正沟, Shùzhèng Gōu), the northern (main) branch of Jiuzhaigou, ends after 14.5 km at the Y-shaped intersection of the three gullies. Going downhill from the intersection to the mouth of the valley, visitors encounter the following:

  • Nuorilang Falls (诺日朗瀑布, Nuòrìlǎng Pùbù), near the junction of the valleys, 20 m high and 320 m wide, reportedly the widest highland waterfall in China, and one of the symbols of Jiuzhaigou.
  • Nuorilang Lakes (诺日朗群海, Nuòrìlǎng Qúnhǎi) and Shuzheng Lakes (树正群海, Shùzhèng Qúnhǎi) constitute a stepped series of respectively 18 and 19 ribbon lakes formed by the passage of glaciers, then naturally dammed. Some of them have their own folkloric names, such as the Rhinoceros, Unknown, and Tiger lakes.
  • Sleeping Dragon Lake (卧龙海, Wòlóng Hǎi), one of the lower lakes in the area, has a depth of 20 m. Notable for the clearly visible calcareous dyke running through it, its shape has been compared to a dragon lying on the bottom.
  • Reed Lake (芦苇海, Lúwěi Hǎi), a 1375 meter long, reed-covered marsh has a clear turquoise brook zigzagging through it. The contrast presents a particularly striking scene in the autumn when the reeds turn yellow.

Others

  • The Zaru Gully (扎如沟, Zārú Gōu), a smaller valley that runs southeast from the main Shuzheng gully; it begins at the Zaru Buddhist monastery and ends with the Red, Black, and Daling lakes.
  • The Fairy Pool (神仙池, Shénxiān Chí) lies 42 km west of Jiuzhaigou and features travertine pools very similar to those of the nearby Huanglong Natural Reserve.

Access to the site

Jiuzhaigou, compared to other high-traffic scenic spots in China, presents a notoriously difficult access by land. Most tourists reach the valley by a ten hour bus ride from Chengdu along the Minjiang River canyon, prone to frequent rock slides and mudslides that can add several hours to the trip. As of 2004, the construction of a new highway which, when completed, should greatly facilitate the journey, has incurred further delays. Since 2003, it has been possible fly from Chengdu or Chongqing to an airport on a 11311 ft. high mountain side near Songpan County, and then take an hour-long bus ride to Jiuzhaigou, or a two-hour bus ride to Huanglong. From 2006, a daily flight to Xi'an had been opened in peak season. A new heliport has been built near the valley.

Notes

  1. China View, China Focus: Massive China quake heavily mauls tourist paradise. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  2. United Nations Environment Program, Homepage. Retrieved July 7, 2008.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Nianyong, H., Z. Qian, and Z. Hong. 2008. "From experiences to institution: The management of Jiuzhaigou Valley Biosphere Reserve faced with institutional transformation and upgrading." International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development 7(2): 145-155.
  • Yenzhou, Ze. 1999. World Natural Heritage: China Jiuzhaigou Valley. China: Wanhai Books. ISBN 9787503211027.
  • Yu, Ning. 2000. Jiuzhaigou = Jiuzhaigou Valley. Beijing: Zhongguo lü you chu ban she. ISBN 9787503217333.
  • Ze, Renzhu. 1998. Zhongguo Jiuzhaigou = China Jiuzhaigou Valley. Beijing: Zhongguo lu you chu ban she. ISBN 9787503211027.

External links

All links retrieved August 1, 2022.


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