九寨沟风景区  China Sichuan Jiuzhaigou  Travel  Destination

　   九寨沟，因沟内有九个寨子而得名。这九个寨子又称为“何药九寨”。这里藏胞的语言、服饰和习俗，与四邻的藏胞有着明显的差异。

　　据考证，他们的祖先原来生活在甘肃省的玛曲，属阿尼卿山脚下的一个强悍的部落，随松赞干布东征松州时留在了白水江畔。中记载了唐初叶蕃东征时，松赞干布以勇悍善战的河曲部为先锋，一举占领松州，后部分人马被留在了弓杠岭下。他们将原河曲的俄洛女神山的传说及部落出生传说均带到了九寨沟内。九寨沟的色嫫山名及蛾洛色莫的传说都源于河曲。

　　九寨沟的藏族同胞有着值得子孙后代骄傲的历史。1841年8月，英军力犯闽浙沿海，道光帝下令调遣兵勇，收复失地。奉调赴战的川军，有一支是来自金川、松州羊峒58寨的藏族同胞。他们于1842年抵达江浙前线，先期到达预定地点，不料受到英军伏击。藏兵舍身杀敌，付出了重大牺牲。他们身上表现出的大无畏气概，令英军心惊胆寒。当时，英军军官宾汉曾评价这些藏兵“是一些魁梧而健壮的人”，“他们曾决定不战胜即战死，他们具有一种特别不普通的样子”。

　　位于四川西北部的阿坝藏族、羌族自治州九寨沟县境内，地处岷山山脉南段尕尔纳峰北麓，是长江水系嘉陵江源头一条支沟，海拔2000－4300米。九寨沟一年四季均可旅游，犹以秋季为最佳，过去人们都已为九寨沟的冬季不能旅游，但是随着成都－九寨沟旅游公路的开通，才发现九寨沟冬季之美是养在深闺人未识。自98年首推九寨沟冬之旅以来，一年比一年火爆，特别是春节期间，若不提前订房，根本就不能保证旅游团队的住房。

　　九寨沟已开树正、日则、则查洼、扎如4条旅游风景线，长60余公里，景观分布在树正、诺日朗、剑岩、长海、扎如、天海六大景区，以三沟一百一十八海为代表，包括五滩十二瀑，十流数十泉等水景为主要景点，与九寨十二峰联合组成高山河谷自然景观。四季景色迷人。动植物资源丰富，种类繁多，原始森林遍布，栖息着大熊猫等十多种稀有和珍贵野生动物。远望雪峰林立，高耸云天，终年白雪皑皑，加上藏家木楼、晾架经幡、栈桥、磨房、传统习俗及神话传说构成的人文景观，被誉为“美丽的童话世界”。

　　九寨沟全程游览时间1天，也可游览2天，但每进一次沟须多付一次门票和观光车费，如果您住在沟内藏民修的旅馆内，则可不必多购买门票，但条件比较差，门票是春、夏、秋为300元（含观光车费）冬季为150元（含观光车费），观光车采取一次购票的办法，在沟内有效，出沟再进就无效，保险费3元。

　　九寨沟最火爆时间：10月国庆节，春节等重大节假日。九寨沟的传统旺季是每年7－10月。 



       九寨沟“树正沟景区”景点：
   树正沟是九寨沟风景区内一条主要的旅游区段。从沟口起到诺日朗，全长14公里多。 

       景点：荷叶寨-盆景滩-芦苇海-双龙海-火花海-卧龙海-树正群海-树正瀑布-树正寨-犀牛海－诺日郎瀑布 

       九寨沟“则查洼沟景区”景点：
　　则查洼沟区段，从诺日朗瀑布开始至长海子，长近18公里，景点集中在沟的尽头。

        景点：下季节海－上季节海－五彩池－长海 

        九寨沟“日则沟景区”景点：
 日则沟区段是从诺日朗瀑布到原始森林，全长18公里。是九寨风景线中的精华部分。风光绝美，变化多端。
景点：诺日朗群海－镜海－珍珠滩瀑布－珍珠滩－孔雀河道－五花海－熊猫海瀑布－熊猫海、箭竹海－鹰爪洞－天鹅海－芳草海－剑岩悬泉－原始森林


China Sichuan Travel  Jiuzhaigou  Destination

Location:
Located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, about 450 km north of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province

Neighboring areas:
Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan Provinces, Tibet and Chongqing

Physical Features:
High altitude karst land features including calcareous tufa shoals, waterfalls, stepped lakes, high mountains and forests

Population: 50,000 Area: 5290 sq km

Nationalities:
Tibetan, Qiang, Hui, Han

History:
Established during the Qin Dynasty and renamed to Jiuzhaigou County in 1998. However, the reserve was undisturbed until recently.

Climatic Feature:
Cool temperate, damp and cold on the high mountain slopes and cool and dry in the valleys. Average annual temperature is 7.2C. vibrant spring temperature ranges from 9C-18C; stable summer temperature of 19C - 22C fall temperature from 7C - 18C; winter temperature under zero.

Average Temperature:
Average annual temperature is 7.2C

Jiuzhaigou, is a wonderland in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang ethnicity autonomous prefecture of Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan Province. It covers a total area of 720 square kilometers. High mountains and deep valleys and barrier lake are what make Jiuzhaigou special. Jiuzhaigou got its name since there are nine ancient Tibetan villages in the ravine.

The main scenic spot that spans 80 kilometers consists of three "Y" shaped gullies called Shuzheng, Rize, and Zechawa. It is 1,980-3,100 meters above sea level while the altitude of the highest peak is 4,700 meters above sea level. One hundred and eighteen lakes are inlaid among the high mountains and cliffs like strings of pearl necklaces. Between each lake are ten waterfalls with nearby carbonic calcifications which dazzle with color in the sunshine.

Since Jiuzhaigou is situated at the point of intersection between sub-tropic and temperate zones, sub-tropical plants such as the Chinese pine and Huashan pine can be seen growing. State protected animals of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd level also live in this area. With its mild weather-the average lowest temperature in January being 2.5 degrees Celsius and the average highest temperature in July, 17 degrees Celsius-this natural garden of animals and plants welcomes tourists all year round.

As the saying goes "when coming back from the Huangshan Mountains one does not want to see a mountain; when coming back from Jiuzhaigou one does not want to see water." The essence of Jiuzhaigou, known as "king of Chinese water scenes", lies in its waters: lakes, spring waters, streams, waterfalls, rivers and shoals.

The mountains of Jiuzhaigou are mystical and a grand sight Traces of ancient glaciers can still be seen. Snow-capped mountains and the crisscrossing gullies are like poetry written by nature. The industrious Tibetan people live and cultivate this piece of land, leaving behind strange tales and stirring legends.
During the 1970s, a group of foresters discovered this wonderland which had been lying asleep for millions of years. In 1978, Jiuzhaigou was listed as a State nature reserve. In 1982, it's scenic spots became one of the first protected by the State. In 1990 it was selected as the best new scenic spot and in 1992 was listed by UNESCO as a World Natural Culture Heritage. In 1997 it entered the World Man and Biology protection web, being the first scenic spot in the world to be awarded with two such high honors.

Dr. Lucas, and Dr Thorsell from the World Nature and Natural Resources Protection Union visited Jiuzhaigou to inspect this grand example of world heritage in 1992. They wrote: "We discovered the world's most grand and miraculous natural scenery." "To visit and appreciate her is my biggest honor." World Tourism Coordinator, Mr. Edward said: "The beauty of Jiuzhaigou is the best in the world." If a wonderland really exists in the world, it should be China's Jiuzhaigou-the world's natural heritage.