Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve

Panda Falls

Water exits Panda Lake via the spectacular Panda Falls. These narrow falls have a drop height of 120 m 393 ft and cascade down to the “Five Flower Lake” over a series of travertine terraces. A well-maintained wooden walkway allows visitors to descend beside the falls providing a unique way of seeing the spectacle.

Jiuzhaigou is all about seeing! The colours of its lakes, trees and mountains are breathtaking and defy adequate description. The altitude changes within the valley to create continual variations of flora, which give each lake and waterfall a unique quality.

Although Jiuzhaigou is a great place to visit at any time of the year Spring and autumn are best. Winter provides many magnificent sights with frozen lakes and waterfalls, but the day temperatures are very low and accessibility by road is neither easy nor guarantee-able. Summers can be slightly crowded with beautiful sunshine in the early parts and it often rains in July and August. The fresh air and lack of humidity make it a great break from the city. Autumn is, in many opinions, the pick of the seasons. In late September through October to early November the colour contrasts of red and gold leaves set against the greys of the Bamboo forest and the dark greens of the conifers provide the perfect backdrop to the blue, cyan and vivid greens lakes.

Jiuzhaigou has some 114 Lakes and waterfalls. Here are a selection of scenic locations to visit:

Five Colour Pool

Also known as the jade pool, is a small lake of 5,600 sq m 60,000 sq ft at an altitude of 2,995 m 9,826 ft and with an average depth of 6.6 m 21.5 ft. it is fed by underground streams from long lake. although small this lake must be rated as having one of the most varied and intense colour ranges of jiuzhaigou and should not be missed. the lake systems in the lower parts of zechawa valley are seasonal and are often dry in summer. walkways are provided from long lake to a bus pickup point just passed the lower seasonal lake.

Swan Lake

At an elevation of 2,905 m 9,530 ft Swan Lake is surrounded by high rocky cliffs that drop vertically into the lake. The lake takes is name from large numbers of migratory swans that visit it each year.

Arrow Bamboo Lake

Is the first of the deep lakes. set at an altitude of 2,680 m 8,793 ft and 6 m 20 ft deep it has a surface area of 170,000 sq m 1,830,000 sq ft. an unusual characteristic of this lake is that it never freezes even when the panda lake 100 m 328 ft lower is completely covered in snow and ice. the lake is surrounded by bamboo groves and together with the panda lake.

Panda Lake

Has an average depth of 14 m 46 ft and as its name implies is in the heart of panda country. this 90,000 sq m 969,000 sq ft lake at 2,590 m 8,500 ft altitude is surrounded by bamboo forests and a mix of deciduous and coniferous woodland. this vivid green lake becomes a feast of colour in the autumn. the lake is home to many small and curious songpan naked carp that gather in large numbers when a leaf or pebble falls into the lake. the fish are protected and must not be fed by visitors.

Long Lake

Is at the head of the zechawa valley. at an altitude of 3,060 m 10,039 ft this is the biggest and deepest lake in jiuzhaigou. the lake has a surface area of approximately 30 sq km’s 12 mi and an average depth of 44 m 144 ft. on clear days its dark wooded hillsides and blue waters are viewed against the backdrop of the 5,000 m 16,404 ft snow capped min shan mountains. this lake has no major inflow and receives its water from underground sources. the local tibetans have their own name for this lake, which translates, to “the lake that never dries out.” take the bus to the long lake and jade colored pool because it is too far to walk to.

Five Flower Lake

At 2,472 m 8,110 ft and just 5 m 54 ft deep is referred to as the soul of jiuzhaigou. its shallow cyan coloured waters provide the visitor with an outstanding display of is bottom sediments containing trees, bushes, and leaves in great array. its waters drain via the peacock riverbed, claimed locally to be the shortest and most beautiful river in the world, to one of jiuzhaigou’s most appealing waterfalls. the “pearl shoal falls”

Mirror Lake

Is so named because of its ability to reflect the images of the surrounding mountains and forests. the lake at an altitude of 2,410 m 7,907 ft is in a sheltered section of the valley running east west which produces its glassy reflective surface.the lake was featured in the zhang yimou movie hero. the outflow of “mirror lake” is through the “rize gully” a travertine ramp of small ponds and natural bonsai trees and bushes that lead directly to one of the great sights of jiuzhaigou . the nuorilang waterfall.

Rhinoceros Lake

At 2,315 m 7,696 ft and with a surface area of some 200,000 sq m 2,153,000 sq ft is the largest lake in the shuzheng valley, and also the deepest with an average depth of 12 m 39 ft. the lake derives its name from a legend that tells of a monk from tibet riding a rhinoceros. when the monk came to this lake he was so entranced with the local scenery that he accidentally rode his rhinoceros directly into the lake.

Shuzheng Village

Bedecked with prayer flags, is one of the nine tibetan villages that give jiuzhaigou its name. situated above the shuzheng lakes it is easily accessed from the roadway. here you can visit a traditional tibetan home and drink “yak butter tea“. the steep main street is lined with shops selling trinkets, tibetan artifacts and souvenirs.

Shuzheng Lakes

And waterfalls are at 2,215 m 7,268 ft the lowest series of lakes in jiuzhaigou; spread across the valley this series of small lakes and waterfalls cascade down the lower valley and drain directly into baishui jiang.