The Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area covers an area of 600 square kilometers. The name “Jiuzhaigou” means the Ravine of Nine Villages, and the area was so named because there were nine Tibetan villages there. More than half of the scenic area is covered by virgin forests with bamboo, flowers, and such animals as giant pandas, golden monkeys, and white-lipped deer. The main valley is 60 kilometers long and consists of Shuzheng Qunhai, Rize, and Zechawa valleys coming together in the shape of a Y. Waterfalls and streams link 108 lakes of varied sizes.

According to science, the lakes were formed because of the calcium carbonate in the flowing water when the earth was in the cold, interglacial stage and the little ice age. The calcium carbonate could not coagulate but flowed with the water. More than 12,000 years ago, the global climate became warmer, and the calcium carbonate became active and attached itself to obstacles in the water. As time passed, the attached matter became thicker, forming the milky white banks of barrier lakes.

The mountains, lakes, natural primeval forest and unique scenes make Jiuzhaigou a fairyland. Mountains ranging 1,980 to about 3,100 meters in height are covered by a variety of trees and plants such as green conifers, luxuriant broadleaf trees and colorful rare flowers and grasses. Scenes change according to the season and the area is particularly colorful in autumn when the wind makes kilometers of tree belt along the lake undulate like a sea wave. Waterfalls, lakes, springs, rivers and shoals add to the color and the green trees, red leaves, snowy peaks and blue skies are reflected from lakes and rivers. Trees grow in the water and flowers blossom in the middle of lakes.

Shuzheng Lakes

Shuzheng Gully occupies a major position in Jiuzhaigou Valley. The main paths and roads are flat and have been newly paved with asphalt.

The scenic spot of Shuzheng Qun Hai (Shuzheng Lakes) is the entrance to magnificent Jiuzhaigou. With a total length of 13.8 kilometres, Shuzheng contains over 40 different lakes, occupying 40% of the total area in Jiuzhaigou. The water is bright blue and crystal clear. The clay-colored calcium dykes are elegant and defined, with a lot of weeping willows, pines, cypresses and China firs growing on them. Waters of the upper reaches of the lake leap over the bushes and trees of the dyke in a cloud of white spray, forming many charming water screens.

Huohua Hai

Huohua Hai - Sparkling Lake (elevation 2,187 meters) with a total area of 36,352 square meters, and a depth of 9 meters. The water is blue and crystal clear. When the fog has dispersed in the morning and the sun has risen, there seems a lot of sparkles flashing and twinkling on the lake's surface. Sparkling Lake, overwhelmed by jade greens all around, looks like a great jadeite dish full of marvellous pearls and jewels. The western hills command a spectacular view of the sparkling reflections of bright sunlight upon the lake's deep blue surface.

Wolong Hai (Sleeping Dragon Lake)

Sleeping Dragon Lake (elevation 2,215 meters) covers an area of about 61,838 square meters with a depth of 22 meters. In the middle of the lake, submerged, is a dimly visible yellowish "Lying Dragon" in some 20 meters of water. When a gentle wind from the mountain whips up ripples on the lake's clear surface, it looks as if the "Dragon" were stretching herself, and once the wind increases intensity, the "Dragon" begins to shake her head and wag her tail, as if poising for take off. Sometimes the dragon appears as if it will jump out of the water, but suddenly it may disappear totally.

Mirror Lake

Precipitous cliffs covered with dense forests, which have remarkable multi-layers, surround Mirror Lake. Every time the sun breaks into a rosy dawn, the lake looks exactly like a mirror; still and smooth, reflecting its surroundings flawlessly; blue sky, white clouds, distant mountains and trees nearby. It is really a gorgeous view. Mirror Lake also features the magic view of "fish swimming in the air, and birds flying at the bottom of the lake."

On the bank of the lake, there is a long cane with the thickness of a bowl. It climbs up a towering old tree, the two are intertwined and depend upon each other, and they will never separate. So people gave Mirror Lake another romantic name "Park of Love."

Pearl Shoal

Pearl Shoal (elevation 2,433 meters) is a huge fan-shaped calcium beach, where there is scattered a great variety of biological species due to the unique Karst topography. A stream rushes down a 20 degree slope into the shoal, splashing water about like millions of bouncing silver pearls, and then goes on down to form fantastic waterfalls of various shapes with a thunderous roaring echoing throughout the deep valley.

Five Flower Lake

Five Flower Lake (elevation 2,472 meters) is 5 meters deep. It is the pride of the whole Jiuzhaigou area. Due to the varying depths of the water and the silts forming on the bottom, the lake's waters assume a variety of colors, such as light yellow, dark green, deep blue, and jadeite. Under the sunlight, reflecting in the exquisite lake, the colors imitate the beautiful hues of the peacock's feathers. Looking down to the lake's bottom, you can see water bubbling out of a deep well.

Multi-color Lake

Multi-color Lake (elevation 2,995 meters) covers an area of 5,645 square meters, with a depth of 6.6 meters. It is situated below Long Lake and deeply hidden among the highly elevated forests.

Multi-colour Lake, the quintessence of the whole Jiuzhaigou, is full of aquatic biological species, such as sponges, algae, and ferns. In addition, there are many herb-like reeds and plants growing in the pond. Because different plants in the pond contain different levels of chlorophyll, they present different colours in the water, with a high consistency of calcium carbonate. The pond is an exquisite patchwork of different colours; light green, milky white, bright yellow and pale blue. Visitors can experience a splendid view of this amazing scenic phenomenon.

Long Lake

Long Lake (elevation 3,100 meters) is the most splendid lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley. It is opposite Erbo Mountain, which is covered with luxuriant forests, and the Biyaogonggai Lake, which is the highest lake in Jiuzhaigou (elevation over 4,000 meters). The melted snow from the South Peak and the waters of surrounding mountain streams and brooks all find their way into the lake, which has no exit. The excess water either vaporizes or seeps into the earth. In spring and autumn Long Lake is even more fantastic; with the reflection in the water of the flowers clustering around the ice-covered peaks, and the spectacular panorama of yellow leaves and red maples growing round the lake. Another spectacle is that the water neither brims over the bank in the rainy summer and autumn, nor runs dry in the winter and spring, even when there is a long dry spell. Local Tibetan people praise it as "a precious gourd that will never be poured full or dried up." At the time of bitter winters, the lake is frozen over with a depth of 60 centimeters.

Included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1992.