Jiuzhaigou is located in the Sichuan province of China, close to Tibet. The name Jiuzhai means "Valley of Nine Villages," derived from the 9 ancient Tibetan villages that still call the region home. The average height of the region is about 3,000 meters (9,000 feet) with the highest point of 4,700 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level. The water is so beautiful that there is a saying “After visiting Jiuzhai, you don’t want to see other water.”
The park is a World Heritage Site and is extremely well maintain; no gasoline-operated vehicles are allowed inside as well as a list of other restrictions in order to preserve the park. The water is pristine and has a high mineral content; therefore, fallen trees are calcified and are visible under water.
"Jiuzhaigou's best-known feature is its dozens of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes. Originating in glacial activity, they were dammed by rockfalls and other natural phenomena, and 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."
Jiuzhaigou is composed of three valleys (gou’s) arranged in a Y shape: Rize Valley 日则沟, Zechawa valley 则查洼沟, Shuzheng gou 树正沟. All scenic spots are exquisitely beautiful (picture 1). My personal favorites are Nuorilang Falls 诺日朗瀑布 (picture 2) and Five Flower Lake 五花海, a shallow multi-colored lake whose bottom is criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks (picture 3).
How we got there? We flew from Hong Kong to Chengdu (2.5 hours), then flew to Jiuzhaigou (45 minutes). We were told by our tour guide that road travel is banned because of hazards resulting from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. After arrival at the park, we transferred to electric-operated mini-bus (the Chinese government banned gasoline-operated vehicles to preserve the park).
Lodging: We stayed overnight at the Sheraton which is conveniently located right at the edge of Jiuzhaigou.
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