Jiuzhaigou Overview

Jiuzhai Valley is located in Jiuzhaigou County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, which is 435 kilometers away (270 miles) from Chengdu with Wen County in the east, Songfan in the south and Zhouqu of Gansu Province in the north The average altitude in Jiuzhai Valley is more than 2,000 meters (6,562 yards) above the sea level. It is covered by the primitive forests, and 108 small lakes are scattered in between.

Jiuzhai Valley is in the shape of “Y” with the main valley-Shuzheng valley extending from south to north, Zechawa Valley in the east and the Rize Valley in the west. Jiuzhai valley literaly means ‘Valley of the Nine Villages’, and the nine villages remain spread around the valley within the Park, home to about 110 Tibetan and Qiang families. More than 100 gorgeous lakes are dotted in the park, which differ from others by having a high concentration of calcium carbonate.

Jiuzhai Valley first became a Park in 1978, and 14 years later,it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. In 1997 it is awarded the status of UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, and has since received many other, well-deserved listings.

Zechawa Valley Section
The Zechawa Valley Section is 17 kilometers (11 miles) long from Nuorilang Hotel to the Long Sea with. The main attractions in the area are, the Season Sea, 5- Colored Pond and Long Sea, among which the biggest one is the Long Sea with 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) long from south to north and 500 meters (547 yards) wide from west to east with 80 meters (262 feet) deep.

Rize Valley Section
Rize Valley Section is 9 kilometers (5.6 mils) long in total from Nuorilang Waterfall to Rize Valley Hostel. The main attractions in this section are the Pearl Beach Waterfall, Five-Flower Sea, Panda Sea, Bamboo Sea, Peacock River and High Waterfall which boasts the highest waterfall in Jiuzhai Valley. The Pearl Beach Waterfall hangs from the steep mountain in the shape of a vast crystal curtain. One side of the Five-Flower Sea is emerald green and the other side is blatic, and there are many corals at the bottom of the sea, which are very attractive in the sunlight. Standing on the highest position of Five-Flower Sea-the Tiger Rock, you will have a panorama of the whole sea. The colorful leaves on the hillsides fall in the small seas and lakes in autumn, which are very graceful and impressive together with their reflections in the water.

Shuzheng Valley Section
Shuzheng Valley Section is the main Valley in Jiuzhai Valley, and the main attractions in this section are the Bonsai Beach, Reed Sea, Sparkle Sea, Shuzheng Waterfall, Rhino Sea and Nuorilang Waterfall. Shuzheng Waterfall is the first waterfall cluster as well as the smallest one in Jiuzhai Valley with a flying crystal screen in a graceful way. While the Nuorilang Water features magnificence and splendor, with 300 meters (328 yards) wide and 20 meters (66 feet) high. The Rhino Sea is the largest sea in this section, which integrates with the forest as one in a vivid way, and it is the most changeable sea in Jiuzhai Valley as well.