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Jiuzhaigou was first discovered by woodcutters in the 1900s. It was established as a national nature reserve in 1978. In 1992 Jiuzhaigou was declared a world natural heritage site by UNESCO.
Jiuzhaigou is a world of lakes and waterfalls with stunning beauty. The legend about how it came into being says that once upon a time, a goddess dropped the shattered pieces of a broken mirror into the human world so that it became the numerous lakes in Jiuzhaigou.
Jiuzhaigou means "Valley of Nine Villages," because it is the location of nine Tibetan villages, covering a total area of 5290 square km, with a population of 50,000. It is situated in Nanping County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, about 450 km north of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.
Geography and Climate of Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou is a mountainous city surrounded by high mountains and deep valleys. The climate is cool, the weather is mild and the precipitation is adequate. Its pleasant climate and beauty make it a popular summer resort. The annual average temperature in Jiuzhaigou area is 8 degrees Celsius.
Ecological Environment and Tourism Resources
Located between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai - Tibet Plateau, Jiuzhaigou is geologically in the high altitude area characterized by karst landforms. It is a magnificent valley extending over 60 kilometers with a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Along the valley, there are 108 lakes of different sizes and shapes, among which the Nuorilang Lake is most famous. Local people also call Jiuzhaigou "haizi", which means "sons of the sea."
Jiuzhaigou is well-known for its magnificent waterfalls and colorful lakes. The hundreds of lakes scattered over the landscape are so clear that one can see the stones on the bottom. The waterfalls are spectacular, with water falling and flowing around and between rocks and trees.
