Ganzi And Aba,the Tibet Area In Sichuan
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Attractions of Aba(Vol.1)
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Known as the "Fairyland on Earth¡±. Jiuzhaigou sits on 103¡ã46¡ä¡ª104¡ã4¡äE and32¡ã15 ¡ä-33¡ã19¡äN, within the boundary of Jiuzhuigou County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan. It lies between the southwest margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and at the north foot of Duo¡®erna Mountain Range, with an average altitude between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, and a distance of about 435 kilometers from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.
To its east, Jiuzhaigou neighbors both the Baihe River Nature Reserve and the Wanglang Nature Reserve, and to its south is the Huanglong Place of Scenic Interest. Jiuzhaigou covers a total area of 720 square kilometers, with a periphery zone of 600 sq. m. and a buffer zone of 110sq. m.
Jiuzhaigou, also called "Yangtong" in ancient times, currently has other names like "Heyao Jiuzhai", and the " Jade Sea ". Jiuzhaigou, literally the Nine Village Valley, is hence known for the nine Tibetan villages within its boundary, that is, Panxin, Rize, Yacuo, Panya, Zechawa, Heijiao, Shuzheng, Heye and Zharu. The area of Jiuzhaigou as well as the upper reaches of the Jialing River and Minjiang River is called the land of Shiqiang (Qiang ethnic minority) in ancient times, where human activities have been recorded dating back as early as to the Yin-Shang Period (16th-11th Century B. C.). According to The Records of Songpan (vol. I - Rivers and Mountains), the "Jade Sea is 50-odd kilometers to the northeast county, within the territory of Zhongyang Tongfan Tribe. Its valleys are as long as several kilometers with green water and jade-like ripples." This evidences that the Jade Sea beauty was well known as far back in ancient times.
Jiuzhaigou covers the Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley and Zechawa Valley that form a "Y" shape, in the Minshan Mountain Range. Inhabited by Tibetans, the nine villages and alpine lakes, affectionately called "Haizi", are like reflecting mirrors or crystal jade blocks inlaid in snow mountains and forests. At the end of Zechawa Valley is the Chang (Long) Lake and the end of Rize Valley are virgin forests. From south to north, both valleys stretch and meet at Nuorilang. The drop between the two valleys and Shuzheng Valley is over 1,000 meters, with 114 lakes lying downward in an echelon manner, on which are 17 waterfalls, 11 rip currents and 5 travertine beaches, formulating alpine lake clusters and travertine spots that are rarely seen in China and even in the world. A fairyland on earth, Jiuzhaigou collects the primitive, natural beauties best demonstrated in its lakes, waterfalls, beaches, water currents, snow peaks, virgin forests and Tibetan customs.Huanglong(Yellow Dragon) Valley
Literally means Yellow Dragon Valley, which is ¡® The fairyland on Earth¡¯. This valley was added to the Natural World Legacy List in 1992.This incredible valley undulates through the southern part of the Minshan mountain range in the Songpan County about 270 miles away from Chengdu - the capital of Sichuan.
Legend has it, that about 4000 years ago, a yellow dragon helped Xiayu, the king of Xia dynasty (21st -16th century B.C.), channel the floodwater into the sea, hence making the Minjiang River. Due to the calcium carbonate mineral deposit patterns and the gold hue of the water the river looks just like the tail of a Yellow Dragon. In later years a temple was built in honor of the yellow dragon and the valley was given its name. The river carves out the scenery for the limestone valley, which is over 4 miles long and as wide as 300 meters, covering an area of an impressive 270 square miles.
Huanglong wins its fame for its magic landscape of lime formations, made up of 3400 multi-colored and uniquely sized ponds, interlace along the valley. These amazing ponds are paved with golden lime deposit. Not to be excluded there are also five waterfalls, four stalactite caves and three ancient temples, and all in the same valley, which looks like a dragon surging down from snowcapped peaks of Mt. Minshan.
Local people are as much of an attraction as the virgin forest and the scenery, Composed of more than 20 nationalities the main nationalities being the Tibetan and Qiang groups. |
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