Jiuzhaigou: layered colour and water in a high Sichuan valley

Jiuzhaigou in Aba is a high Sichuan valley where mineral-rich lakes, waterfalls and dark forest form bands of colour across a protected UNESCO landscape.

Jiuzhaigou in Aba is a mountain valley in northern Sichuan where mineral-rich lakes, tiered waterfalls and dense forest sit together in a protected landscape. Set on the southern slopes of the Minshan Mountains, it forms a long, branching basin recognised as the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

A valley of lakes, waterfalls and forest

Jiuzhaigou is both a nature reserve and a national park in the north of Sichuan Province in south-western China, lying within Jiuzhaigou County in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Its main valley runs roughly north to south, with side valleys that together make up a protected area of around 72,000 ha (278 sq mi), rising from forested lower slopes to high ridges.

The landscape combines jagged alpine mountains, coniferous and mixed forest and an unusual concentration of clear lakes and waterfalls. The World Heritage inscription records the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area as a site of “exceptional natural beauty”, where pools, lakes, waterfalls, limestone terraces and caves stand within a wider belt of forest ecosystems.Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area The protected core lies on the southern slopes of the Min Shan Range, forming part of the transition between the Sichuan Basin and the higher Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture

Mineral-rich water and travertine terraces

Water is the defining element of Jiuzhaigou. The valley holds lakes and pools with striking blue and green colours, fed by streams, rivers and waterfalls that step down the valley floor. The World Heritage listing notes the presence of “crystal clear, strange-coloured” pools and lakes in shades of blue, green and purplish, set against pale limestone formations.crystal clear, strange-coloured pools Over long periods, calcium carbonate in the water has built travertine terraces and dams, shaping stepped basins that hold water at different levels across parts of the valley.mineral-rich water and travertine dams

Different sections of Jiuzhaigou carry their own groups of lakes and waterfalls. Shuzheng Valley is recorded as holding interconnected lakes and several waterfalls, while Rize Valley includes features such as the Virgin Forest, the Sea of Arrow Bamboo, the Panda Sea, Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Shoal Waterfall.Rize Valley and Shuzheng Valley Within the wider scenic area, named lakes such as Long Lake and Five-Colour Pool form part of a sequence of water bodies where mineral content, depth and surrounding vegetation contribute to strong colour contrasts.

Altitude, ecosystems and village culture

Jiuzhaigou’s protected area stretches from forested lower slopes to high ridges reaching well above 4,000 m (13,123 ft), giving the valley a marked altitude range and a series of distinct forest ecosystems.height of more than 4,800 m The biosphere reserve description places Jiuzhaigou on the southern slopes of the Minshan Mountains, within a transition zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and notes rich biodiversity in its forests.biosphere reserve on the southern slopes The wider area has been recognised as a World Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme since 1997, adding a second layer of international protection to the earlier World Heritage status.

The name Jiuzhaigou, “Valley of Nine Villages”, comes from Tibetan villages in and around the valley, and the site lies in Nanping County within the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.Nanping County and nine Tibetan villages Within the protected area, forest, water and high meadows sit in sight of village settlements, and the reserve is also known as habitat for species such as the giant panda and the Sichuan takin, alongside a recorded bird fauna of around 140 species.endangered plant and animal species The combination of karst landforms, travertine terraces, lakes, waterfalls and village culture under formal protection is one of the characteristics that has given Jiuzhaigou its dual status as World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.

Visiting Jiuzhaigou: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Jiuzhaigou lies in Jiuzhaigou County in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of northern Sichuan, with access routes linking the valley to regional centres such as Chengdu.
• The terrain in the reserve combines high altitude, forested slopes and valley floors with sections of boardwalks and paths; approaches to some viewpoints involve sustained walking over uneven ground.
• The protected area experiences marked seasonal variation at altitude, with snow on higher ground in colder months and strong contrasts between evergreen conifer forest and deciduous woodland.
• Rivers in Jiuzhaigou form part of the Jialing River system, itself belonging to the wider Yangtze River basin, giving the valley a defined place in the hydrology of south-western China.
• The official language is Chinese and the currency is the renminbi.

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Frequently asked questions about Jiuzhaigou

Where is Jiuzhaigou?

Jiuzhaigou is a mountain valley and protected scenic area in Jiuzhaigou County in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of northern Sichuan Province in China.

What can visitors expect on a visit to Jiuzhaigou?

A visit to Jiuzhaigou centres on mineral-rich lakes, waterfalls, forested slopes and high mountain scenery, with named valleys holding sequences of pools, cascades and viewpoints.

What makes Jiuzhaigou distinctive among mountain valleys?

Jiuzhaigou stands out for its combination of travertine terraces, strong lake colours, multi-level waterfalls and protected forest, recognised through its joint status as World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.