Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟)
Five-Colour Pond (五彩池) is famous for its crystal clear water in the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly-coloured underwater landscape in its crystal clear blue water. Covering an area of 5,645 square metres, it is one of the smallest lakes in Jiuzhaigou.
Located a short distance from Long Lake (长海) at an elevation 2,995m above sea level, it gets some of its water from from the lake. Within its depths, there are patches of light green, milky white, bright yellow, deep blue, and turquoise. This is due to the aquatic lifeforms such as plankton, sponges, algae, and ferns that inhabit the water. The different plant life produces varying percentages of chlorophyll. A high concentration of travertine (CaCO3), a light-coloured porous calcite, is deposited into the water, forming among other deposits, stalactites and stalagmites, resulting in the different colours of the water.
According to legend, the pond was where the love-smitten mountain deity Dage came daily to bring water for the goddess Semo to wash her hair.
Sichuan (四川), China (中国)
March 2013
Zechawa Valley (则查洼沟)
The Zechawa Valley (则查洼沟) is the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou. It is approximately the same length as Rize Valley at 18km but climbs to a higher altitude (3150 m at the Long Lake). Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites:
Long Lake (长海)
Crescent-shaped Long Lake (长海) is crescent-shaped and is the highest, largest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou, measuring 7.5km in length and an average depth of 44m with the its deepest bank at 103m.
It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from melted snow and losing it from seepage. There is no visible tributary around the lake but the water source is the melted snow from the South Peak and the waters of surrounding mountain streams and brooks. It is a wonder that the Long Lake neither runs dry in the winter and spring, nor brims over the bank in the rainy summer and autumn. Local Tibetans call the lake "a magic gourd that will never be poured full or dried up".
There is a cypress on the bank of Long Lake with an odd shape. On one side of the tree, the branches and leaves are rich and abundant, but on the opposite side, the trunk is bare. The tree is known as Jiuzhaigou's "one-armed old man" (独臂老人).
According to legend, Jiuzhaigou was once ruled by a ferocious demon. An elderly brave hunter from a remote mountain came here and fought the demon at Long Lake. He succeeded in driving away the demon but lost one arm during the struggle. In order to prevent the demon ever coming back, the old hunter, armed with a sword, stood on the bank of Long Lake day and night. He guards Jiuzhaigou still.
It reportedly has no outgoing waterways, getting its water from melted snow and losing it from seepage. There is no visible tributary around the lake but the water source is the melted snow from the South Peak and the waters of surrounding mountain streams and brooks. It is a wonder that the Long Lake neither runs dry in the winter and spring, nor brims over the bank in the rainy summer and autumn. Local Tibetans call the lake "a magic gourd that will never be poured full or dried up".
There is a cypress on the bank of Long Lake with an odd shape. On one side of the tree, the branches and leaves are rich and abundant, but on the opposite side, the trunk is bare. The tree is known as Jiuzhaigou's "one-armed old man" (独臂老人).
According to legend, Jiuzhaigou was once ruled by a ferocious demon. An elderly brave hunter from a remote mountain came here and fought the demon at Long Lake. He succeeded in driving away the demon but lost one arm during the struggle. In order to prevent the demon ever coming back, the old hunter, armed with a sword, stood on the bank of Long Lake day and night. He guards Jiuzhaigou still.
Tibetan prayer flags abound on the shores and trees around Long Lake.
For RMB 5, one can purchase these to toss on the slopes for good luck...
For RMB 5, one can purchase these to toss on the slopes for good luck...
Photo props and digital photography services are available for rental -
RMB 20 per person for the costumes and RMB 30 per photo...
The lake is surrounded by imposing mountains on both sides...
Five-Colour Pond (五彩池)
Five-Colour Pond (五彩池) is famous for its crystal clear water in the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly-coloured underwater landscape in its crystal clear blue water. Covering an area of 5,645 square metres, it is one of the smallest lakes in Jiuzhaigou.
Located a short distance from Long Lake (长海) at an elevation 2,995m above sea level, it gets some of its water from from the lake. Within its depths, there are patches of light green, milky white, bright yellow, deep blue, and turquoise. This is due to the aquatic lifeforms such as plankton, sponges, algae, and ferns that inhabit the water. The different plant life produces varying percentages of chlorophyll. A high concentration of travertine (CaCO3), a light-coloured porous calcite, is deposited into the water, forming among other deposits, stalactites and stalagmites, resulting in the different colours of the water.
According to legend, the pond was where the love-smitten mountain deity Dage came daily to bring water for the goddess Semo to wash her hair.
Is that why there is a heart in the pond?
