Jiuzhaigou

103 ° 46 ' - 104 ° 4'e

Jiǔzhàigōu (Chinese九寨沟/九寨沟, Valley of the nine villages '; Tib: Siza Degu / GZI rtsa dgu sde ) is a nature reserve in Sichuan province and since 1992 part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage. The name Jiuzhaigou is derived from the nine Tibetan villages that lie in the valleys of the area. Jiuzhaigou is known mainly for its unique mountain landscape, consisting of a multitude of lakes and waterfalls.

Location

The nature reserve is located in the northwest of Sichuan province, more precisely in the southern center of the circle Juizhaigou Autonomous Prefecture of Tibetan and Qiang Ngawa. It is about 300 km as the crow from the provincial capital Chengdu. The area extends to about 50 km long and 20 km wide and covers a total area of 72,000 hectares and a buffer zone of approximately 60,000 hectares. The average height above sea level is 2500 m, the region can be reached by bus via neighboring mountain passes of the Min Shan mountain range. Meanwhile, there are also internal Chinese flights (eg from Chengdu ) for lying to 3,448 meters newly built airport in Sungqu, Chinese Songpan. It is followed by a one and a half hour bus transfer to the lower-lying valley past the source of the Minjiang River.

History of the Reserve

Due to the increasing impact of the forestry 1972-1979, the Chinese government declared Jiuzhaiguo 1982 reserve. Opened in 1984, the administrative office of the park. In 1992 the area was included in the UNESCO list of World Natural Heritage. 1997 Jiuzhaigou was declared a World Biosphere Reserve. Since 2001, the park is a member of the global organization "21st Century Green World Wide ". In 2004, the area was named " National Geographic Garden".

Natural features

Climate

The mean annual air temperature is about 7.2 degrees Celsius in January, the average is -1 degrees Celsius in July, the temperatures rise to an average value of 17 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall between spring and fall is around 660 mm. Due to the humid and cool climate in the mountains, the region despite their altitude a rich vegetation in the valleys the climate is rather dry and cool.

Geology

Jiuzhaigou is located in the area of the two divergent Plateau Qinghai -Tibet plateau and Yangtze plateau, earthquakes are not uncommon and therefore affect the landscape. Dolomitic and carbonated rocks, travertine, slate and sandstone dominate the area. Primarily dominated by karst formations that have been created by hydrological, tectonic and glacial activity.

Hydrology

The area Jiuzhaigou comprises a water system is in the midst of a mountain landscape, the rugged peaks of the Min Shan mountains and wooded hillsides, embedded. The highest lake ( Biyaogonggaihai ) is located at an altitude of 4020 m, the highest peak is the mountain Ganzigonggai, whose highest point is 4558 m. Two rivers meet each other after about 20 miles and then form a common course. The karst landforms embossed within the area are constantly changing on the 50 km total length and shape is very diverse.

A total of 114 individual lakes, 47 springs, waterfalls and eleven rapids characterize the flow system. The lakes are mainly formed by glaciers and of course jammed. Individual lakes like those of Shusheng or Nouri Lang are dammed up by the sedimentation of lime by dams and terraces.

Natural dams have contributed to the formation of spectacular waterfalls:

• The Panda Lake case ( Xionguashai ) falls over three levels 78 meters into the Panda Lake.
• The Pearl Shoal Falls ( Zhengzhutan ) have a maximum drop height of 28 meters and extend to 310 meters wide. Calcium deposits and numerous overgrown with trees rocks above the barrage give the waterfall its characteristic appearance.

By the calcareous water and the presence of certain algae, some of the lakes in addition to their extreme clarity ( for example, the Sparkling Lake, or Crouching Dragon Lake ) to a strong turquoise blue color. The Colorful Pond and the Colorful Lake show by their nature almost the entire color spectrum. In addition, the nutrient-poor water ensures that organic material is not decomposed. In many of the lakes so the wood residues designated by the locals as the " Millennial trees " can be found. Other special features of the Lower Seasonal Lake, which has only one of the lakes within the river system a fluctuating level belongs.

Flora and Fauna

The rivers are lined with natural dense mountain forests, alternating with steppe terrain, mountain meadows, bamboo forests or Schilfauen. Approximately 500 seed plants are detectable in the area. In Jiuzhaigou can find 92 plant species that are either endemic, rare or medically useful. Between 2000 and 4000 meters above sea level grow 15 rhododendron species, two bamboo species such as the Fargesia denudata and Fargesia chinensis can be found in the valley. Of the total area is about 30,000 hectares of virgin forest, developed for tourists is the so-called Primitive Forest.

Ten species of mammals are found in the park, including:

• The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, to him indicates the Pandasee with the adjacent bamboo forest. About 17 copies are said to roam the park, but due to the cut off from other areas Panda position of the stock is considered to be extremely vulnerable.
• The Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens
• The species of ape Golden Monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana
• The serow, Capricornis sumatraensis
• The goral, goral Nemorhaedus
• The white -lipped deer Przewalskium albirostris
• The Wasserreh, Hydropotes inermis

About 160 bird species are detectable in Jiuzhaigou, these include:

• The Green 's monal, Lophophorus lhuysii
• The Kansuhäherling, Garrulax sukatschewi
• The Owls Aegolius funereus subspecies beickianus

Tourism

The park is for tourists with a road system that has numerous daily buses pendant mounting the sights, and developed a system of wooden planks hiking trails. In the park there is a large tourist center with numerous souvenir stalls.

The nine villages

The nine villages of the nature reserve inhabited by members of the Qiang minority. While the villages Zezhawa, Shuzheng and Heye are accessible for tourists, villages Yana, Panya, Jianpan, Guodu, Zharu Heijiao and can not be visited. The villages are accessible, restaurants with local cuisine as well as typical accommodation opened up with numerous souvenir shops. Besides tourism, the livestock and dairy industry, the largest source of income for the inhabitants of the valley about 1000 dar. The approximately 1200 years old Buddhist Temple Zharu with adjoining monastery is located near the park exit.

Trivia

• In the movie Hero by Zhang Yimou of Mirror Lake served as one of the unique scenes.
• A Chinese proverb says: " If you were in Huang Shan, want to see any other mountains more, one was in Jiuzhaigou, you never want to see another water. "
• It is shrouded in many legends around the lakes and their "inhabitants". So the locals tell that a dragon lives on the bottom of the lake of the same name, which stimulates the imagination of the viewer with its mirror-like surface and the deep blue center. In addition to the Dragon Lake ( Longsee, Chinese Lóng = dragon), the Pfeilbambussee well below the long- Nouri waterfall monsters live. These stories are only told tourists and not part of the cultural heritage of the inhabitants.
• Who visited Jiuzhaigou autumn and will get a magnificent panorama: Snow-capped peaks, green pine trees, autumn leaves in red and yellow and the blue - green lakes created here an incomparable setting.

Pictures

Pearl Shoal Waterfall

Five Flower Lake (五花海Wǔhuā Hǎi )