Explore China's natural side in the Jiuzhaigou valley
2010-05-19
When one imagines spending time in the country of China, the typical images are either classic and beautiful structures of historical significance like the Great Wall or the Forbidden City, or sprawling urban environments that reflect the country's status as a formidable world power like Hong Kong and Shanghai. Yet travelers seeking to return to the classic times when China was a beautiful and natural land will find all of the ecological wonders they can handle in the peaceful Jiuzhaigou valley.
Jiuzhaigou, meaning "nine-village gorge," is a wonder of modern nature and has been celebrated throughout the years for its lush green forests, its stoic tall mountains and its crystal clear waters that have been tinted blue and green jewel shades by minerals and algae released from the plant life. Travelers can gain a more in-depth view of the region thanks to a newly established eco-tourism project that sees guides taking small groups deep into the surrounding Zharu valley, which is home to a number of rare plants, birds and animals like the giant panda. Also of note are the numerous mountain shrines constructed by native Chinese and Tibetan monks that dot the valley and mountain landscape.