Brief Introduction
This is an unusual ecosystem, with narrow conic karstlandforms, renowned for its rolling mountains, dense forests, colorfullakes, precipitous waterfalls, and a wide variety of birds and animals.
Stretching over 600 sq km in the northern part ofSichuan Province, the jagged peaks around Jiuzhaigou Valley reachheights of more than 4,800 m. In the valley there is a series ofdiverse forest ecosystems. Its superb landscapes are especiallyinteresting for their narrow conic karst landforms and spectacularwaterfalls. Some 140 bird species inhabit the valley, as well as anumber of endangered plant and animal species, including the giantpanda and the Sichuan takin.
Physical Features
Lying on the edge of the diverging belt between theQinghai-Tibet Plate and the Yangtze Plate, there are major faultlinesrunning through the site. Earthquakes are not uncommon and have been amajor influence on the geological landscape. Of the greatest interest,geologically, are the high altitude karst land forms which have beenstrongly influenced by glacial, hydrological and tectonic activity.
The main valley is 50 km long, and is where Shuzheng,Qunhai, Rize, and Zechawa valleys come together. Waterfalls and streamslink 108 lakes of various sizes, many of which are classic ribbon lakesat the base of glacially formed valleys.
Also of note are a number of large and spectacularwaterfalls, including Xionguashai (Panda Lake) Fall which drops 78m inthree steps, and the Zhengzhutan (Pearl Shoal) Fall, which drops 28m ina broad curtain of water, 310m wide.
According to geologists, the lakes were formed bycalcium carbonate in the flowing water when the earth was in theinterglacial stage. The calcium carbonate could not coagulate, butflowed with the water. More than 12,000 years ago, the global climatebecame warmer, and the calcium carbonate became active and attacheditself to obstacles in the water. As time passed, the attached matterbecame thicker, forming the milky white banks of barrier lakes.
The view of Five-Flower Lake in Rize Valley ismajestic. Looking down from the mountain, one can see the lake hemmedin on three sides by mountains. The lake looks like a big gourd pouringcolorful water endlessly. At the bottom of the lake, there are small,dark-green plum-shaped spots, and in the middle of the gourd is alight-blue figure 10 m long, shaped like the leg of a sika deer. It issaid that when the Mountain God appeared on the mountain, a frightenedsika seer lost a leg, which dropped into the lake.
The tranquility of the colorful mountain lakes isbroken by the many roaring waterfalls downstream. The NuorilangWaterfall, at the end of the Shuzheng Qunhai Valley, emerges from amongwillow trees, which seem to comb the 100-meter-wide falls into strandsof crystal hair. The most magnificent waterfall in Jiuzhaigou is thePearl Beach Waterfall in the Rize Valley, roaring down from a sheercliff, and flying about in all directions. The drops of water reflectedin the sunlight glisten like colorful pearls.
At the end of the Zechawa Valley is Changhai (LongLake), discovered in the 1970s. It is the largest lake in Jiuzhaigou.With an elevation of 3,000 m, the Changhai area is covered in snow allyear round. It is especially pleasant to boat on the lake in summer. Inspring, the lake mirrors the flowers on the snow-capped mountains. Inautumn, it mirrors the red and gold maple leaves. In winter, it iscovered with ice.
Flora and Fauna
More than half of the scenic area is covered in virginforests, with bamboos, flowers, and is home to such rare animals asgiant pandas, golden monkeys and white-lipped deer.
Among over 500 categories of seed plant, there areabout 92 full species special for their rarity, endemicity, or theirornamental or medicinal use, including 15 species of rhododendron,found between 2,000 and 4,000m, and also two species of bamboo whichare important food for giant pandas.
Historic and Cultural Value
The name Jiuzhaigou means the Ravine with NineVillages, and the area was so named because there were originally nineTibetan villages there. The local Tibetan population maintain culturaltraditions.
The numerous lakes in Jiuzhaigou Valley have evokedreligious feelings in the local residents and given rise to manyenchanting folktales. According to legend, the goddess Wonosmo droppeda mystical mirror, a gift of love from the god Dag here, and the brokenpieces became the 108 lakes. The colorful lakes in Zechawa Valley aresaid to be the Jasper Lakes of the Queen Mother of the West. Accordingto a local saying, the lake water was colored by the cosmetics of fairymaidens, although it is more likely something to do with the aquaticplants in the lakes. Legends and more recent stories abound concerningthe existence of monsters in various lakes, notably Changhai (LongLake), Jianzhuhai (Arrow-Bamboo Lake) and Nuorilang Lakes. One of theselakes, Wolonghai or Dragon Lake, has a calcareous dyke running throughit clearly visible below the water surface, which, in local folklore,has been compared to a dragon lying on the bottom. These stories are afurther attraction to tourists and have received some scientificinterest.
