The last of three photo posts showing the beauty of Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan Province, China. Jiuzhaigou is divided into three valleys, Shuzheng is the entrance, which branches into Rize and Zechawa. Zechawa Valley is the longest and highest in the National Park.
Five Coloured Pool in Jiuzhaigou
This is one of the smallest, but also one of the most popular lakes in Jiuzhaigou, due to the intensity of colours and the clarity of the 6m deep water. The colours apparently cycle between red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple light, but we were there on a bright blue day. According to legend, the pond was where Goddess Semo washed her hair and God Dage came daily to bring her water.
Long Lake in Jiuzhaigou
This is the highest, largest and deepest lake in the national park, being 7.5km long and 103m deep. Unlike most of the other lakes here, this one isn’t connected to the rivers that flow through the valleys. Instead it fills from snow melt and drains through natural seepage. Supposedly it has its own monster, trapped by the lack of connecting rivers.
Seasonal Lake in Jiuzhaigou
The three seasonal lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper) in Zechawa Valley fall and rise throughout the year. We went in November and they were full.
More about Jiuzhaigou
Be sure to check out the other two posts in the the series covering Shuzheng Valley and Rize Valley. The next post will be full of visitor tips for Jiuzhaigou, showing the reality of visiting this crowded tourist hotspot.
Pretty doesn’t cut it – that’s stunning! Was the water really that blue?
As soon as the sun came out the waters almost lit up – it’s an amazing place
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This looks absolutely gorgeous! One day we will make it back to China, and I hope that when we do, we’ll be able to visit Jiuzhaigou. I really want to spend our next visit there digging into Yunnan & Sichuan provinces, so this would certainly fit the bill! The more I see of it, the more I believe that natural splendor is where China excels… now if only they can stop themselves from developing it!
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