Jiuzhaigou Valley, China

The amazing Jiuzhaigou Valley is located in Sichuan province. This is a national reserve of fabulous beauty. It is considered one of the most valuable in the world. The area of the valley is about 720 square kilometers. Local residents began to highlight the importance of this area hundreds of years ago. Many Tibetan shrines were located in the valley. Free access to this territory was closed until 1972. The number of tourists visiting these picturesque places increases every year since the opening.

About 5,000 people visited the reserve in 1984. The annual number of tourists exceeded the landmark mark of one million people in 2002. About 7,000 people a day have visited the valley in recent years. This impressive figure doubles at the height of the tourist season. The reserve is famous not only for its natural beauty and religious monuments. Picturesque old villages are preserved here. Their way of life has remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

About a thousand people live permanently in the valley at the present time. Serving tourists remains the main occupation for local residents. Farming is officially prohibited in these areas. The reserve impresses with a variety of natural landscapes. You can admire the mountain ranges, see the spills of crystal clear rivers, and listen to the sound of rushing waterfalls. Autumn is considered the best time to visit the reserve. It paints the valley in fascinating fiery shades. The reserve is home to rare animals and birds. Rare giant pandas also live here. To the beginning - Cave Temples of Mogao