We arrived in 九寨沟 (Jiǔ zhài gōu), which means nine village valley. The airport we landed in is 3,200 meters above sea level. The government cut off the top of the mountain to build the airport, so the Chinese government moves mountains! The population is mainly made up of Tibetan farmers. They grow bamboo shoots, barley, sweet potatoes, and green beans. The second largest ethnicity is Hang, third Han Chinese, fourth Hue, and fifth Chinese Muslims. Originally, 九寨沟 was part of Tibet, but now it is part of China. When Tibet became a part of China, the government made the children have at least nine years of education. Since this territory originally belonged to Tibet, the Chinese government placed a tracking device in our car and a camera in the front. As we drove down from the airport, we saw little villages with prayer flags crisscrossing the land.
Day 1: 黄龙 National Park
Today, we will go to the 黄 (yellow; huang)龙(dragon; long) National Park. We walk on a long pathway. From a bird's eye view, the path looks like a dragon. The park is 9,600 square meters large, and it begins at 3,230 meters above sea level. Right now, the ponds aren't very full of water. Their peak season is in June-November. There are so many Chinese tourists all around us; 40,000 people visit this park a day! We only saw a couple of foreigners! Next to the walkway, there are huge ponds with clear aqua water. The ponds form levels with complex calcium formation all around. These are the largest collection of ponds in the world! The ponds form when the snow from the mountain melts. The borders separating the ponds are created when leaves fall from the trees and mix with the calcium over time. The minerals on the pond bottoms create the bright aqua-green color.
Today, we will go to the 黄 (yellow; huang)龙(dragon; long) National Park. We walk on a long pathway. From a bird's eye view, the path looks like a dragon. The park is 9,600 square meters large, and it begins at 3,230 meters above sea level. Right now, the ponds aren't very full of water. Their peak season is in June-November. There are so many Chinese tourists all around us; 40,000 people visit this park a day! We only saw a couple of foreigners! Next to the walkway, there are huge ponds with clear aqua water. The ponds form levels with complex calcium formation all around. These are the largest collection of ponds in the world! The ponds form when the snow from the mountain melts. The borders separating the ponds are created when leaves fall from the trees and mix with the calcium over time. The minerals on the pond bottoms create the bright aqua-green color.
3,280 meters above sea level
We see a wall of calcium formation that is a waterfall in the peak season. Next to the waterfall, we see a cave also made of calcium. This cave was said to be a house of the immortal gods.
We see a wall of calcium formation that is a waterfall in the peak season. Next to the waterfall, we see a cave also made of calcium. This cave was said to be a house of the immortal gods.
3,305 meters above sea level
First, we see a pond 1,300 meters long and 40-122 meters wide (122 meters at the widest part of the pond and 40 meters at the thinnest part of the pond). There isn't any water in this pond. As we are learning about the pond, a Chinese man jumped down into the pond and took a picture. The police came and told him not to do it again. Once the police left, he jumped back down and took another picture. Therefore, the police came back and told him, more aggressively this time, not to do it again! At this point, we decided it was time to continue up to see other ponds!
First, we see a pond 1,300 meters long and 40-122 meters wide (122 meters at the widest part of the pond and 40 meters at the thinnest part of the pond). There isn't any water in this pond. As we are learning about the pond, a Chinese man jumped down into the pond and took a picture. The police came and told him not to do it again. Once the police left, he jumped back down and took another picture. Therefore, the police came back and told him, more aggressively this time, not to do it again! At this point, we decided it was time to continue up to see other ponds!
3,320 meters above sea level
First, we see a cluster of ponds in an area of 20 square kilometers. There are 330 little ponds in this cluster. They all have trees, rocks, flowers, and grass growing in them. In the center of each pond, there is a majestic Bonsai tree growing. Some of these ponds do have water. They are very impressive with the aqua water and the rich greenery!
First, we see a cluster of ponds in an area of 20 square kilometers. There are 330 little ponds in this cluster. They all have trees, rocks, flowers, and grass growing in them. In the center of each pond, there is a majestic Bonsai tree growing. Some of these ponds do have water. They are very impressive with the aqua water and the rich greenery!
3,400 meters above sea level
Here we also see a cluster of ponds 3,600 square meters large. This cluster has 180 ponds. These ponds are like a mirror, but if you look at them from a different angle the image is crystal clear. In the center of a big pond, there is a wooden platform. We climb up the platform and have a scenic view of the whole park with the snow-capped mountain on the horizon, the shadow of the clouds reflected on the ponds, and the moss forests.
Here we also see a cluster of ponds 3,600 square meters large. This cluster has 180 ponds. These ponds are like a mirror, but if you look at them from a different angle the image is crystal clear. In the center of a big pond, there is a wooden platform. We climb up the platform and have a scenic view of the whole park with the snow-capped mountain on the horizon, the shadow of the clouds reflected on the ponds, and the moss forests.
3,415 meters above sea level
Next, we have another cluster of ponds that are 6,480 square meters large. There are more than 400 ponds in this cluster! The ponds are aqua green, crystal clear blue, and vibrant yellow. All around the ponds, there are Azaleas, which are called Suoluo (梭罗) in Chinese. They blossom from April to May.
3,450 meters above sea level
Here we see the second largest cluster of ponds, with a total of 658 ponds. There is vegetation growing along the banks of the ponds. The ponds are all different colors: golden yellow, jade green, rose red, and fresh orange.
Next, we have another cluster of ponds that are 6,480 square meters large. There are more than 400 ponds in this cluster! The ponds are aqua green, crystal clear blue, and vibrant yellow. All around the ponds, there are Azaleas, which are called Suoluo (梭罗) in Chinese. They blossom from April to May.
3,450 meters above sea level
Here we see the second largest cluster of ponds, with a total of 658 ponds. There is vegetation growing along the banks of the ponds. The ponds are all different colors: golden yellow, jade green, rose red, and fresh orange.
Top-Bottom
Finally, we see the largest cluster of ponds with 693 ponds. We admire their vibrant colors and begin our descent. On the way down we walk down a path with long green moss hanging down over our heads. This park has been truly amazing, and I can't wait for what tomorrow will bring!
Jiuzhaigou National Park
We go to Jiuzhaigou National Park. The whole park is 720 square kilometers. The park was opened in 1984. We walk into the park and get on a bus to drive to the top of the park. The line to board the bus is very crowded, but we got on the bus after many elbows in our faces! There are over 500 buses in use in the park. We get on the bus, and it took us all the way to the top. We get off the bus at the top, and begin to walk down the park.
The first point we stop at is the Arrow Bamboo Lake. This lake is ten meters deep and 2,600 meters above sea level. Arrow Bamboo grows all around the lake, hence the name. The water is very transparent, and when there is no wind, you can see your own reflection. The lake has a green tint, which comes from the algae that covers the lake bottom. Also, on the lake bottom there are trees. They had fallen down from the forest surrounding the lake and stayed on the bottom of the lake.
Next, we went to the Panda Lake. In Chinese it is called 熊猫湖 (xiong mao hu), which means Panda Lake. The reason for this lake's name is because a panda used to come and drink at this lake, but he doesn't anymore because there are too many people. The other reason for this name is because in the winter, when the lake is frozen, the frozen algae and calcium on the bottom form a shape that resembles a Panda's back. In the forest surrounding this lake lives the golden snub-nosed monkey. These monkeys are very rare to find, so they are under special protection. The lake is twenty-four meters deep. Also, above the lake there is a waterfall. This waterfall is dried out in the dry season.
Second, we go to the Five Flower Lake or the Peacock Lake. In Chinese, it is called 五花湖 (wu hua hu), which means Five Flower Lake, or 孔雀h湖 (kong que hu), which means Peacock Lake. If you look at the lake from a bird's eye view, the lake resembles a peacock! The lake has a rich blue color that comes from the copper on the lake’s bottom. There are trees under the water that were cut down before this area became a park, and these trees make intricate patterns.
Finally, we see the largest cluster of ponds with 693 ponds. We admire their vibrant colors and begin our descent. On the way down we walk down a path with long green moss hanging down over our heads. This park has been truly amazing, and I can't wait for what tomorrow will bring!
Jiuzhaigou National Park
We go to Jiuzhaigou National Park. The whole park is 720 square kilometers. The park was opened in 1984. We walk into the park and get on a bus to drive to the top of the park. The line to board the bus is very crowded, but we got on the bus after many elbows in our faces! There are over 500 buses in use in the park. We get on the bus, and it took us all the way to the top. We get off the bus at the top, and begin to walk down the park.
The first point we stop at is the Arrow Bamboo Lake. This lake is ten meters deep and 2,600 meters above sea level. Arrow Bamboo grows all around the lake, hence the name. The water is very transparent, and when there is no wind, you can see your own reflection. The lake has a green tint, which comes from the algae that covers the lake bottom. Also, on the lake bottom there are trees. They had fallen down from the forest surrounding the lake and stayed on the bottom of the lake.
Next, we went to the Panda Lake. In Chinese it is called 熊猫湖 (xiong mao hu), which means Panda Lake. The reason for this lake's name is because a panda used to come and drink at this lake, but he doesn't anymore because there are too many people. The other reason for this name is because in the winter, when the lake is frozen, the frozen algae and calcium on the bottom form a shape that resembles a Panda's back. In the forest surrounding this lake lives the golden snub-nosed monkey. These monkeys are very rare to find, so they are under special protection. The lake is twenty-four meters deep. Also, above the lake there is a waterfall. This waterfall is dried out in the dry season.
Second, we go to the Five Flower Lake or the Peacock Lake. In Chinese, it is called 五花湖 (wu hua hu), which means Five Flower Lake, or 孔雀h湖 (kong que hu), which means Peacock Lake. If you look at the lake from a bird's eye view, the lake resembles a peacock! The lake has a rich blue color that comes from the copper on the lake’s bottom. There are trees under the water that were cut down before this area became a park, and these trees make intricate patterns.
Third, we go to the Pearl Shoal Waterfall. This waterfall is 270 meters wide and twenty-one meters high. The waterfall is 2450 meters of elevation. The waterfall is mostly frozen in the winter, but in the summer, the water flows into a river. Droplets of water fly in the air reflecting light, and it makes them look like pearls. These water pearls slide down the waterfall bouncing over the rocks. There are trees and bushes growing on the rocks and a snow-capped mountain in the distance. Fresh green moss covers the rocks. A famous TV show called 孙悟空 (suen wu kong), meaning Monkey King, was filmed at this waterfall.
Fourth, we go to the Long Lake. This lake is 4300 meters long and on average, forty-four meters deep. The lake is 3100 meters of elevation. It is completely frozen in winter!
Fifth, we go to the Colorful Pond. The water in this pond comes from the Long Lake underground. The water is a bright green/blue color. The green color comes from the algae, and the blue comes from the copper. When the pond is full, it is 100 meters long, sixty meters wide, and ten meters deep.
Sixth, we go to the Nourilang Waterfall. In Tibetan, “"Nourilang” means grand and huge. The waterfall is 320 meters wide and 24.5 meters high. The entire waterfall is frozen in the winter. In the winter, the ice is blue due to the copper underneath the surface.
Seventh, we go to the Rhinoceros Lake, which is the second largest lake in the park. It is 2000 meters long and sixteen meters deep. This lake does not freeze in the winter. In the morning, you can see a beautiful reflection on the lake water of the mountains and the sky. The Tibetan Lamas came here to teach Buddhism. They rode on a white Rhinoceros that took them to this lake to drink water when the Lama did not feel well. After drinking the lake water, the Lama felt better, so he put a prayer wheel next to the lake as an offering to the lake gods that healed him.
Eighth, we go to the Tiger Lake. During autumn, the leaves on the trees surrounding the lake turn orange and red, and the leaves fall on the lake and create a pattern that looks like a tiger’s back.
Finally, we go to Shuzhen Waterfall. This waterfall is eleven meters high and sixty-two meters wide. Next to the waterfall, we see a Tibetan Mastiff. A Tibetan Mastiff is HUGE dog that looks like a wolf and is used by Tibetan farmers to guard their farm animals and crops. Our guide, who is a Tibetan farmer and owns a Mastiff, told us that they can break iron chains!
Jiuzhaigou has been one of the highlights of our trip, and I have loved meeting the kind Tibetan people and enjoying the picturesque Tibetan landscape.
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