Buzz
Scaling nearly ten kilometers at an altitude of around 4,500 meters to reach the Five-Color Lake, numerous tourists find themselves relying on oxygen or lying down for a rest while exploring the enchanting Hoang Long and Jiuzhaigou Valley in China.
Embarking on an awe-inspiring adventure to Jiuzhaigou Valley and the captivating Huanglong.
Jiuzhaigou Valley – 'Heaven at the Bottom of the Earth'
Formed on the sedimentary limestone mountains, Jiuzhaigou Valley boasts hundreds of lakes and around 100 picturesque waterfalls resembling a painted masterpiece.
This region is home to 9 villages inhabited by the Tibetan people (in the Sichuan province), hence commonly referred to as 'Jiuzhaigou.' The entire conservation area covers approximately 60,000 hectares, situated at an altitude of around 2,500 meters above sea level. It comprises 3 valleys arranged in the shape of the letter Y, named Nezha Cao, Cao Zha Cao, and Shu Zheng Cao.
'Paradise on Earth' is the widely used expression by the Chinese when referring to Jiuzhaigou Valley. This UNESCO-recognized global biosphere reserve has held this prestigious status since 1992.
Our travel group arrived at the renowned tourist spot in Sichuan Province, China, during the early days of May. It seems almost an understatement to acknowledge Jiuzhaigou Valley as a 'must-visit once in a lifetime' destination.
A mere 9 months ago (on 8/8/2017), Jiuzhaigou Valley experienced a devastating 7.0 Richter scale earthquake, claiming at least 24 lives and injuring 500 others. At the time of the incident, nearly 60,000 people were on the scene, including 40,000 domestic and international tourists. According to tour guide Mr. A Bao, they were stranded with no way back and had to rely on helicopter rescue, which took a considerable amount of time to escape the area.
When the reporter visited on an early May day, the pathway still displayed scattered stones, neatly pushed to the side and covered with protective tarps. Around it, numerous streams and dried-up lakes were evident due to water flow obstruction caused by rocks and other factors. Particularly, the magnificent waterfall Nuoriliang, once a prominent scene in the famous Chinese TV series 'Journey to the West,' is now covered in mud and rocks falling from above, making it an inaccessible location. Most tourists felt a sense of regret for not having the chance to witness it.
Jiuzhaigou Valley remained closed for about 7 months after that earthquake. On 8/3, the Chinese government finally allowed this renowned tourist destination to welcome visitors again. However, both domestic and international tour groups are only permitted to explore a partial section instead of the entire area, including Truong Hai Lake, Kinh Hai Lake, Five-Color Lake, and Thu Chinh Lake.
Mr. Duong Trach Cuong, the head of the Chinese tourism survey delegation, mentioned that visiting Jiuzhaigou Valley in October or November will offer even more stunning scenery. In addition to the vivid blue lakes, the landscape will be adorned with the vibrant colors of yellow and red foliage on the surrounding mountains.
However, with what was witnessed, Vietnamese tourists who dedicated their entire April 30th holiday for the recent trip to Jiuzhaigou Valley found it anything but a waste, with many feeling truly satisfied.
As for the tourist group that included a journalist, they lucked out with a visit on a bright, sunny day, vividly contrasting the previous evening's heavy rain and gloomy weather upon their hotel arrival, causing understandable concern.
Inside the Jiuzhaigou Valley park, at Mirror Lake, white clouds gracefully drifting above the 3,000 to 4,500-meter-high mountains reflected in the vast, mysteriously dark-green water mesmerized some women, prompting them to explore the shores for the perfect photo angle. Along the journey, numerous breathtaking scenes surpassed some official stops, although the vehicles were not allowed to halt. People on the cars had to extend their recording devices through the windows, capturing the views with a sense of regret.
The waters of the lakes at Jiuzhaigou Valley boast a green hue resembling that of the sea at many islands, yet richer and with a distinct shade. This color is created by the presence of unique minerals. Consequently, regardless of weather conditions, the lake's 'heaven at the bottom of the earth' remains unaltered.
I felt a mix of regret and longing, wishing that this were the autumn season right now, capturing the 'peak' photos with the blend of yellow and red hues of the leaves against the backdrop of the green sky and water.
Walking 7 km in the thin air of Huanglong
Hoang Long (Huanglong in English) wasn't the initially planned destination for our travel group. However, touted as a fairyland and a 'competitor' to Jiuzhaigou Valley, the entire group decided to 'invest' additional time, extending more than half a day to explore.
The journey from Jiuzhaigou Valley to Huanglong takes about 100 km, with winding mountainous roads, many bumpy segments. Upon arrival, we were guided to move via a cable car for about 5 minutes to a mountain peak, then continue on foot to Five-Color Lake, a scenic spot that we later deemed the most 'exhilarating' in the entire trip.
This scenic marvel is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage treasure, featuring a narrow valley with numerous multicolored lakes. Five-Color Lake – Huanglong is a large natural lake, containing mineral deposits that create luminescence, combined with the reflection of mountains and forests onto the water surface. As a result, it displays a diverse array of colors, including shades of green, blue, and bright yellow or turquoise. Adjacent to the lake is a temple. Stepping here gives you the sensation of almost ascending to a snow-covered mountain peak.
Before even catching sight of Five-Color Lake, approaching the base of the snowy mountain, everyone, both men and women, expressed joy, showcasing beautiful pictures. It's noteworthy that among these individuals, most had traveled to many countries worldwide. However, having endured a challenging journey to reach this point, seeing such a scene was an experience not everyone had encountered. At that moment, we felt as if climbing a few hundred more meters would lead us to the summit of Snow Mountain.
To reach the second 'heaven' of the journey, the journalist group and other tourists had to traverse a challenging 7 km route, uphill and downhill, in thin air and relatively chilly weather (around 9°C or 48°F). At times, we could only take 20 steps before needing a rest, repeatedly, partly due to carrying camera equipment weighing over 10 kg. Along the way, many other tourists, even those not walking, had to lie down on the ground or on benches beside the road due to exhaustion. Some women and even men had to use oxygen at a nearby service house.
Many tourist groups kept walking without reaching their destination, encountering groups heading in the opposite direction. They often asked in Chinese: 'Is it far?', 'How many minutes until we arrive?'... Our only response was encouragement, not daring to specify the distance to avoid testing their patience: 'Keep going, just a short distance more.'
What puzzled many throughout that journey was the absence of electric shuttle services common in other tourist spots. Instead of constructing a roadway like this, couldn't they have added an electric vehicle route? The management of the Huanglong heritage site promptly responded, stating that the project would be completed by 2019. Visitors will no longer have to endure hours of exhausting trekking; a 20-minute electric ride will take them to Five-Color Lake and the base of Snow Mountain.
The Road to the Paradise at the Bottom of the Earth
To reach Jiuzhaigou Valley, Vietnamese tourists have only one option: using Vietnam Airlines flights from Hanoi to Chengdu city, taking nearly 2 hours. Chengdu is over 1,000 km away from Hanoi (1,100-1,200 km, equivalent to Ho Chi Minh City). If departing from Saigon, travelers must connect to Noi Bai before continuing to Chengdu.
Arriving in the capital of Sichuan province, tourists continue a journey of over 400 km by a 45-seat bus, taking approximately 8 – 10 hours depending on the speed, to reach a hotel near Jiuzhaigou Valley park.
As part of the tourism growth promotion program, the Chinese government has initiated the construction of a 463 km high-speed rail line with a speed of 350 km/h connecting Lanzhou to Chengdu, passing through the Jiuzhaigou Valley region. Once completed, this project will significantly reduce travel time from the current 21 hours by road to just 4 hours by rail. The journey from the capital of Sichuan to the 'Paradise at the Bottom of the Earth' will then take just over 1 hour.
According to the tourism sector statistics, before August 2017, Jiuzhaigou Valley welcomed over 20,000 visitors daily, with 80% being Chinese and 20% international tourists. The earthquake incident 9 months ago did have some impact on this scenic spot. Since reopening to visitors in March 2018, the site is still restricted to about 2,000 people per day.
Source: Hoang Ha/Zing News
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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour
MytourMay 17, 2018
