Jiuzhaigou Rize Valley
Mirror Lake:
Mirror Lake, wrapped by forests, is a narrow and long
lake about 1,000 meters (1,094 yards) in length. The mountain on the
opposite side is like a huge stone screen. On the right is the lower
reach of Mirror Lake, abutting the Nuorilang Lake Cluster and on the
left is the upper reach that joins the Mirror Lake Valley. In the
rosy dawns, the lake is as smooth as a mirror and blue sky, white
clouds, the mountains far away and trees nearby can all be seen
reflected in the lake. What is more wonderful is that you can see
the conjured images that the fish are swimming in the sky and the
birds are flying in the lake! Near the lake there is a tree reaching
the sky, which is tightly twisted by a long vine, just like two
sweet lovers. Therefore, people gave Mirror Lake another romantic
name, Love Park.
Peacock River:
Peacock River is 310 meters (about 1,017 feet) in
length and wends along the deep valley with flowers and trees on its
two sides. The water appears in a cacophony of varietous colors:
dark green, golden, and sapphire blue. Mirror LakeWhen autumn comes,
the forests are covered with hoarfrosts and the fallen leaves are
bestrewed all over the lake. When seen from above, the bright and
clear water flows in a colorful world and it is like a peacock
displaying its fine tail feathers.
Five-Flower Lake (Wuhua Lake)
The pride of Jiuzhaigou Valley, Five-Flower Lake lies
at the end of the upper reach of Peacock River, 2,472 meters (about
8,110 feet) above the sea level and five meters (about 16 feet) in
depth. Most of the colorful leaves are gathered in the lakefront and
interlaced as brocades. The water that contains calcium carbonate as
well as hydrophytes with different colors presents a versicolor
sight, azure blue, blackish green and light yellow, etc, so it is
named Five-Flower Lake. The local people say that it is a holy lake,
and where there is the water, there must be flourishing flowers and
trees. When looking down from the mountain, you will find that the
lake with hills on three sides is just like a huge upended cucurbit
pouring colorful water to the lower place.
Peculiarly, there is a pattern of a deer's leg in the
abdomen of the cucurbit, 10 meters (about 33 feet) or so. The whole
pattern is light green, while the middle part presents dark green
due to the quincunx-shaped pits of the terrain of the lake bed. So
the pattern is really like a spotted deer. The legend said that the
deity of all mountains hurt the holy deer that belonged to the King
of Forest by mistake when he was seeking for water source in the
mountain. The King of Forest was so furious that he chased the deity
on the holy deer and wanted to kill him. Other deities cut off one
leg of the deer in order to help the deity of all mountains. Then
the holy deer fell down and became the colorful lake.
Panda Lake (Xiongmao Lake):
Pandas are regarded as lucky and endearing animals. It is said that
the pandas in Jiuzhaigou Valley like to drink water and play in this
lake, so the lake is called Panda Lake. It is 2,587 meters (about
8,488 feet) above sea level and 14 meters (about 46 meters) in
depth. The water is clear and transparent. Especially on fine days,
the blue sky and white cloud are mirrored in the lake. There are
inverted images of cliffs with strange textures in the lakesides and
the white stones with black lines in the lake, all of them have made
the Panda Lake an interesting and beautiful place.
Virgin Forest:
About 52% area of Jiuzhaigou Valley is covered by
virgin forest and the forest at the top of Rize Valley is part of
it. Seeing the luxuriantly green trees, walking on thick and soft
lichens, smelling the fragrant and moist air, and listening to the
sound of wind and bird-song you will find that you are coming into a
new isolated world. In the lower part of the south of mountains,
Chinese pines, oaks and spruces grow thickly and in the north
Chinese hemlocks, maples, birches and fir trees are flourishing. In
the upper part of mountains are alpine shrubs and alpine meadows.
|
