Jiuzhaigou Valley

Listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1992 Location： Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture， Sichuan Province， southwest China Best Time to Visit： Late spring till early autumn

THE Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and historic interest Area is a reserve of exceptional natural beauty with spectacular jagged alpine mountains soaring above coniferous forest around a fairyland landscape of crystal clear， strange-colored blue， green and purplish pools， lakes， waterfalls， limestone terraces， caves and other beautiful features.

The area includes a number of karst formations. It is a “natural museum” for alpine karst hydrology and research. Its superb landscapes are particularly interesting for their series of narrow conic karst landforms and spectacular waterfalls. It also has an important number of well-preserved quaternary glacial remnants with great scenic value.

Stretching over 72，000 hectares in the northern part of Sichuan Province， the jagged Jiuzhaigou Valley reaches a height of more than 4，800 meters. It preserves a series of important forest ecosystems including old-growth forests which provide an important habitat for numerous plants and animals. Some 140 bird species inhabit the valley， as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species， including the giant panda and the Sichuan takin.

Jiuzhaigou contains all the elements necessary to demonstrate and protect its natural beauty， and is surrounded by buffer zones. Although the site was partially degraded by previous forestry activities， it is recovering through tree planting and strict management which includes protecting water quality， air quality and forests.