Its one of my favorite writeup.. Because its for my first anniversary.. all first ones are always better than the rest right.. 😉
April 5th was my first anniversary.. I was clueless about my destination.. Australia wasnt promising as it has tight visa procedures for Indians.. 🙁
I got to see a link given by my wife where Jiuzhaigou (china) pics were uploaded. Well, it was good place.. But was wondering why does it need special CGI effects
when its already beautiful enough.. Just to realize they are totally real.. Thats why they call ‘Paradise on Earth’.. It deserves.. Seriously..
First was Tourist Visa.. applied.. got it.. done..
So started my home work (google-ing for days and nights), and sorted out an itininery with the help of Thenmozhi. It was like this. Fly to Chengdu, then to Jiuzhaigou and stay in Sheraton for 3 days, visit Jiuzhaigou National park, Hounglong, then return to Chengdu and goto Mount Emei shan and then to Hailagou Glacier and then to chendu again and visit Panda breeding centre. A total 8 days of lovely and clear plan. But just first 3 days worked. Later had to cancel the trip as the china faced the earthquake.
So here just some sweet memories alone. For you, especially. 😀
We have started our trip on 10th May (yea, much later to the anniversary date) to chengdu, Sichuan region that is top of south west China. 4 hours from Singapore and am in china. Air-china flight.. Then in the afternoon another 45 mins of flight Jiuzhaigou (which is known as JiuZhaiHongLong as the airport stays in between them).
First time seeing ice capped mountains in the landing itself. Nice feeling. I felt Jacket will bother my joy there, but on landing I realized I should buy one. It was cold.
Around 12 degree celcius with strong wind. 😉
China is iron curtained to rest of the world, as you all know. But I never know even airport officials cant speak even basic english. Few not even abc.. I was prepared with a basic translation book, but I tell you unless you read it earlier itself, its not useful.. 🙁 Well, got into airport shuttle for 90 CNY for two persons to Jiuzhaigou.
If you are interested, 1 CNY = 5 INR approximately.
88Kms from airport to Jiuzhaigou lovely drive on the mountains. Scary hairpin bends. But breathtaking views of hills. Shuttle has heater so it was not cold inside.
We reached Sheraton around 4PM which claims first 5* hotel in that region with Tibetian theme. It lived upto that. Good it was. But again language issues at reception. So I had to speak basic english very slowly. We checked in. Took rest for a while and then after a little refresh we went out for a walk.
Having no plans for the day made us to take a long walk in the freezing cold. I bought a jacket as my wife advic(s)ed. Bought a SIM that didnt have ISD calling facility as I need to enable. I am starting to say from here itself. China is a different world. Different need to be underlined.
With the help of Jacket stayed away for a while and then dinner. Around 7pm itself which is late for their practice. really.. Early sleep, counting a long day ahead.
11th may
Jiuzhaigou National Park
As usual little bit about the place. Read it for better understanding.
It means “Valley of Nine Villages”. It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls and colorful lakes, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
The climate is cool temperate with a mean annual temperature of 7.2 °C, with means of -1 °C in January and 17 °C in July.
Jiuzhaigou’s landscape is made up of high-altitude karsts shaped by glacial, hydrological and tectonic activity. It lies on major faultlines on the diverging belt between the Qinghai-Tibet Plate and the Yangtze Plate, and earthquakes have also shaped the landscape. The rock strata is mostly made up of carbonate rocks such dolomite and tufa, as well as some sandstone and shales.
The valley includes the catchment area of three gullies (which due to their large size are often called valleys themselves), and is one of the sources of the Jialing River, part of the Yangtze River system.
Jiuzhaigou’s best-known feature is its dozens of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes. The local Tibetan people call them “Haizi”, meaning “son of the sea”.
Originating in glacial activity, they were dammed by rockfalls and other natural phenomena, then solidified by processes of carbonate deposition. Some lakes have a high concentration of calcium carbonate, and their water is very clear so that the bottom is often visible even at high depths. The lakes vary in color and aspect according to their depths, residues, and surroundings.
Some of the less stable dams and formations have been artificially reinforced, and direct contact with the lakes or other features is forbidden to tourists.
Below are from Wiki. Then I will takeover.
Rize Gully
Panda Lake
Five Flower LakeThe 18 km long Rize Gully is the south-western branch of Jiuzhaigou. It contains the largest variety of sites and is typically visited first. Going downhill from its highest point, one passes the following sites:
The Primeval Forest is a preserved ancient woodland. It is fronted by spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs, including the 500 m high blade-shaped Sword Rock.
Swan Lake is a 2250 m long, 125 m wide picturesque lake named for its visiting swans and ducks.
Grass Lake is a shallow lake covered in intricate vegetation patterns.
Arrow Bamboo Lake covering an area of 170,000 m², is a shallow lake with a depth of 6 m. It lies at an elevation of 2,618 m, and was a main feature site for the 2002 Chinese film Hero.
Panda Lake features curious color patterns of blue and green. It empties into the multi-stream, multi-level Panda Waterfalls, dropping 78m in 3 steps.
Five Flower Lake is a shallow multi-colored lake whose bottom is criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks.
Pearl Shoal is a wide, gently sloping area of active calcareous tufa deposition covered in a thin sheet of flowing water. It empties into the famous Pearl Waterfalls, where the shoal drops 28 m in a 310 m wide broad curtain of water. A scene of the television adaptation of Journey to the West was filmed there.
Mirror Lake is another quiet lake casting beautiful reflections of the surroundings when the water is calm.
Zechawa Gully
The Zechawa Gully is the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou. It is approximately the same length as Rize gully (18 km ) but climbs to a higher altitude (3150 m at the Long Lake). Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites:
Long Lake is the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou, measuring 7.5 km in length and up to 103 m in depth. It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from snowmelt and losing it from seepage. Local folklore features a monster in its depths.
Five-Color Pond is one of the smallest but most spectacular bodies of water in Jiuzhaigou lakes. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area.
The Seasonal Lakes are a series of 3 lakes along the main road, that change from empty to full during each year.
Shuzheng Gully
The Shuzheng Gully is the northern (main) branch of Jiuzhaigou. It ends after 14.5 km at the Y-shaped intersection of the three gullies. Going downhill from the intersection to the mouth of the valley, visitors encounter the following:
Nuorilang Falls , near the junction of the valleys, are 20 m high and 320 m wide. They are reportedly the widest highland waterfall in China, and one of the symbols of Jiuzhaigou.
Nuorilang Lakes and Shuzheng Lakes are stepped series of respectively 18 and 19 ribbon lakes formed by the passage of glaciers, then naturally dammed. Some of them have their own folkloric names, such as the Rhinoceros, Unknown, and Tiger lakes.
Sleeping Dragon Lake is one of the lower lakes in the area. With a depth of 20 m, it is notable for the clearly visible calcareous dyke running through it, whose shape has been compared to a dragon lying on the bottom.
Reed Lake is a 1375m-long, reed-covered marsh with a clear turquoise brook zigzaging through it. The contrast is particularly striking in the autumn when the reeds turn yellow.
Now am taking over.
Well, eventhough its claimed to be year around season time, I feel July, August will be better where trees with fresh leaves and more water from melted ice.
We went early morning. Got admission ticket (200CNY) and bus ticket (90CNY) and by walk you can cover in 5-7 days of all walk. 😉
As you read earlier it forms exactly Y shape. we start from the base of the Y. They take us to the right hand side top first. Then we can come down using the park buses (which runs on bio fuels to ensure to keep the park at its best). I loved it. Another thing is the cleanliness. God, its ultra clean. Much of manual work.
We got into one of the shuttle. Chinese people are just like our villagers. 🙁 they shout, push people to get into bus, and shout loudly always. Even in the park.
We knew about that, so pushed around to get a good seat. We got and the bus started.
Its simple logic dear all. Place is extremely dust free and cold. Very well covered by mountains. Not by 1 or 2 but 100s. Then at the top, its ice capped. Mountains.
Almost of all them. When they ‘mate’ with sun they get melt and a crystal clear water starts to flow down. Down means 100 of KMs. slowly. very slowly. Because its not river, just liquid form of ice.
On its path to way down, whereever possible it stays and forms the most beautiful places in the earth. Picture perfect places.
Thats all the secret behind this. See it to understand.
Not all the places listed above was so good. So I got down from the bus where ever better. and we finished the park in 6-7 hours which I thought I may need 2 days.
Its not infact, If you are quick enough where you need to be. 😉
Checkout my Huanlong posts (next post) also. They are equally beautiful.
