Tianfu Shenyou

Author: Bashu Book Society
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: "” represents the left “fire” and right “south.” The lakes of Jiuzhaigou are always azure and crystal clear, transparent to the bottom. With changes in light and the passage of seasons, they present different tones and charms. The lake clusters are exquisite and delicate; some are majestic, with vast stretches of emerald waves. When the wind is calm, the blue sky, white clouds, distant mountains, and nearby trees are reflected in the lakes, like a precious mirror where the water above and below blend together, making it hard to distinguish between reality and illusion, as if in a dream. Some lakes, when ruffled by the wind and bathed in sunlight, sparkle like flowers, appearing as if they are burning seas from a distance. Other lakes have travertine terraces at the bottom, creating a mystical illusion as if dragons are swimming. The colorful pools are a masterpiece of sunlight, algae, and lake-bottom sediments. In a single lake, shades of azure, emerald, orange, crimson, and reddish-brown form irregular geometric patterns, interlocking and staining each other, creating a dazzling tapestry like an unfolded colorful brocade, pleasing to the eye. Over a hundred lakes, each surrounded by ancient trees and clusters of exotic flowers, are as if adorned with beautiful borders. All the lakes are connected to rapids and waterfalls, like jade pieces strung together with silver chains and white silk, each unique and ever-changing. Throughout the valley, lakes, waterfalls, streams, silver beaches, and mountain springs interweave, showcasing the unique beauty of Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhaigou is a world of water, as well as a kingdom of waterfalls. Abundant water flows through complex, stepped terrain, forming graceful waterfalls. All waterfalls plunge out of dense forests, their mist refreshing and invigorating, making people pause to admire. Jiuzhaigou has the widest waterfall in China, the “Nuorilang Waterfall,” which cascades down towering cliffs like a massive crystal curtain soaring through the air, majestic and magnificent. There is also the “Zhenzhutang Waterfall,” which leaps and roars from rocky cliffs, as if a group of silver dragons dancing, rolling into the valley. The water droplets from the waterfall form mist, and under the morning sun, they often create beautiful rainbows, especially enchanting. Travertine terraces are a highlight of Jiuzhaigou’s water scenes. Their formation is determined by the valley’s unique volcanic rock structure and complex geological features. Springs from deep underground and streams from mountain ridges and gullies often contain large amounts of carbonate components. As the water flows through diverse terrain and landforms, it forms large-scale karst travertine deposits. Jiuzhaigou’s travertine terraces are particularly stunning, especially the biological karst travertine deposits. The most impressive are the Pearl Terrace and the (Pansheng) Terrace. On the Pearl Terrace, the water flows in swirling, rolling waves, like dazzling pearls bouncing and jumping, exquisitely luxurious and charming. The (Pansheng) Terrace features clusters of high-altitude willows and Taiwan cypresses, half-submerged in the water, their lush green leaves dripping with vitality, resembling a series of elegant and timeless bonsai arrangements, making visitors pause and linger. The mountains of Jiuzhaigou are lush and alluring, steep and powerful. Water flows from the mountains, and the mountains surround the water, creating a harmonious scene. Primitive forests cover more than half of the Jiuzhaigou scenic area. In the dense shade of the forests, bald tree stumps, tangled branches, rotten hollow logs, and twisted vines evoke imagination. The mysterious relic plants and thick moss under the trees reveal a primitive and ancient aura. Dead trees lying haphazardly in the lakes have been calcified into coral-like formations, adorning the underwater world of the lakes. Different kinds of small trees and flowers often grow on exposed tree trunks, forming