Today I have to introduce Jiuzhaigou, known as the "Fairy Tale World"!
Location: Jiuzhaigou is located in Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It sits northeast of the Gongganling Ridge in the southern section of the Minshan Mountains, over 400 kilometers from Chengdu. From Chengdu, you can easily reach this dreamy place by bus or self-driving, enjoying the beautiful scenery of western Sichuan along the way.
Scenic Honors: Jiuzhaigou is a World Natural Heritage, National Key Scenic Area, National AAAAA Tourist Attraction, National Nature Reserve, National Geopark, and part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It is also China’s first nature reserve established mainly to protect natural landscapes.
Name Origin: Jiuzhaigou gets its name from the nine Tibetan villages within the scenic area, including Shuzheng Village, Zechawagou Village, and Heye Village. Tibetans have lived here for generations, hence the name "Jiuzhaigou" (Nine Villages Valley).
Natural Landscapes: Jiuzhaigou is mainly composed of three valleys distributed in a "Y" shape – Rizegou, Zechawagou, and Shuzhengou. It boasts the "Six Wonders of Jiuzhaigou": alpine lake groups, waterfalls, colorful forests, snow-capped peaks, blue ice, and Tibetan customs. Nuorilang Waterfall is magnificent, one of the widest waterfalls in China. Five-Colored Pool is colorful, like a gem inlaid in the mountains. Shuzheng Lakes consist of a series of sea-like lakes with crystal-clear water that shimmers in the sun.
Flora and Fauna: Jiuzhaigou has a forest coverage rate exceeding 80%, with 74 species of national protected rare plants and 18 species of national protected animals. It is a home to rare animals such as giant pandas and golden monkeys.
Four-Season Beauty:
- Spring: Ice and snow melt, new greens sprout, mountain flowers bloom brilliantly, and wild peach blossoms are in full bloom, filling Jiuzhaigou with vitality.
- Summer: Hidden in lush green shade, the lake water is clear and cool, making it an ideal summer resort.
- Autumn: Mountains and forests are dyed golden, fiery red and other colors, reflecting in the lake water. The lake and mountains blend into the same color, as beautiful as a poem and painting – it’s Jiuzhaigou’s most beautiful season.
- Winter: Mountains and forests are covered in silver, waterfalls turn into ice sculptures, and lakes are pure and clean, like an ice and snow fairy tale world.
Folk Culture: Three villages are preserved in the scenic area – Shuzheng Village, Heye Village, and Zechawagou Village. Here you can feel the strong Tibetan customs, seeing fluttering prayer flags and sacred white pagodas.
