Jiuzhaigou, a scenic area on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list in Sichuan province, partially reopened on March 8th after a devastating earthquake in August.

Admission fees is reduced in March to 40 yuan each. After March, admission will rise to 110 yuan per person, according to the administrative bureau of Jiuzhaigou. Before the earthquake, the entry fee at Jiuzhaigou was 220 yuan during the peak season, and 80 yuan during the off season.

In 2018, however, only 2,000 visitors (in groups) will be admitted to Jiuzhaigou daily, as it is being rebuilt. Post-quake reconstruction will be completed by 2020. Before that, the site will set the limit of visitation to protect the fragile environment.

Located in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, Jiuzhaigou means "nine-settlement valley". It is named after the nine Tibetan settlements on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Visitors are drawn by its 108 alpine lakes and by the Tibetan and Qiang culture.

The magnitude-7.0 earthquake on Aug 8th not only caused severe casualty, but also damaged some of Jiuzhaigou's scenic wonders. Just two days after the quake, the Nuorilang Waterfall collapsed. Standing 24.5 meters tall, it was China's widest waterfall at 270 meters and had been chosen by netizens as one of the country's most spectacular natural sights.

Amazing Colors of Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou is a nature reserve and national park located in the north of Sichuan Province. A long valley running north to south, Jiuzhaigou was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. The Jiuzhaigou valley is part of the Min Mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and stretches over 180,000 acres. It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and colorful lakes. The blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes were originated 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 the 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.
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