A high-altitude mosaic of travertine lakes, cascading waterfalls, and ancient forest in the Min Mountains of northern Sichuan.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Jiuzhaigou is a celebrated nature reserve and scenic area in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China, set on the southeastern fringe of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau within the Min Mountains. The protected area follows a distinctive three-valley layout, where Shuzheng, Rize, and Zechawa gullies fan out in a rough Y-shape, surrounding visitors with a chain of exceptionally clear alpine lakes, terraced waterfalls, and dense coniferous forest. The valley's defining character comes from its travertine pools: the calcium-rich waters of the headwaters have, over thousands of years, built up natural dams that give rise to the famous lakes, or haizi, whose colors shift from turquoise to emerald to deep blue depending on depth, mineral content, and season.
Ecologically, Jiuzhaigou preserves a substantial block of undisturbed subalpine coniferous forest punctuated by mixed broadleaf stands, bamboo groves, and high meadows. Its intact habitat supports a remarkable range of wildlife, including the giant panda, the golden snub-nosed monkey, and the white-lipped deer, making the reserve an important refuge for species of the Min Mountains. Designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1992 and recognized as a national nature reserve earlier in 1978, Jiuzhaigou is now firmly established as one of China's most iconic natural landscapes, often described in poetic terms as a "fairyland" of water and forest.