It is said that if there were heaven on earth, Jiuzhaigou is one of them. Jiuzhaigou is a magnificent natural masterpiece that boasts dreamlike scenery and abundant natural resources. It combines blue lakes, waterfalls, lush forests, snow-covered mountains, and the traditional folk customs of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples. In fact, Jiuzhaigou got its name from the nine villages in the area of Tibetan origin and it is even regarded as holy by the Tibetan people.
Jiuzhaigou is located in Nanping County to the north of Chengdu. The region covers more than 600 kilometers (about 280 miles) and includes areas such as Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley and Zharu Valley. The major points of interest include limestone lake groups, waterfalls and other waterscapes, and twelve summits, and make Jiuzhaigou a must-see when in China.
In addition, there are abundant flora and fauna species in the area. The natural forest covers an area of nearly 30,000 hectares (about 74,132 acres), including 2,576 higher plant species (24 species of national protected plants) and over 400 lower plant species (212 species of algae). The diversity of flora has provided a good environment for wild animals to thrive. There are 170 species of vertebrates, 141 species of birds, and 17 species of rare animals.
Legend has it that long ago the mountain god Dago had a crush on the goddess Semo, and he gave her the gift of a mirror made of wind and cloud. However, the devil appeared to give Semo trouble. Accidentally, Semo broke the mirror into 108 pieces which fell down to the earth and turned into 108 colorful lakes. The lakes are called Haizi by the locals.
