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Introduction to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglonag, Songpan, Pingwu |
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| Pingwu Town Jiuzhaigou
Huanglong Songpan
Baima Village |
| Pingwu
Town The
town of Pingwu offers a rest from the noise and dust of many Chinese
cities and is visited by few foreigners. A fifteen-minute walk takes you
from one side of the city to the other along streets mainly occupied by
people and pedicabs, with only a few motorized vehicles. In the city
center is a 500 year-old Buddhist Temple that was saved from damage
during the Cultural Revolution when far-sited residents turned the
temple into a propaganda center for the Cultural Revolution. A muezzin
at the city mosque calls faithful Muslim worshipers to prayer. At night
the streets are filled with residents slowly strolling through the quiet
streets. There are hotels and plenty of restaurants serving local
specialties.
The city is nestled in a valley at the bend of the river. You can walk up either side of the valley through steep, terraced hillsides dotted with farmer’s houses and see peasants plowing fields with oxen and harvesting crops by hand. |
| Jiuzhaigou
National Park
is stunningly beautiful - roaring waterfalls, amazing clear, aqua-blue
lakes, alpine mountain peaks, serene valley, and traditional Tibetan
villages and religious sites. May and September are beautiful times to
visit to see the rhododendrons blooming and the incredible fall colors -
and to avoid the crowds. June, July, August, and the Spring and Fall
week-long holidays are the busiest times for this popular destination. A bus system takes visitors on the 50 km of paved roads in the park from the park entrance at 2,000 meters (6,000 feet) up the three main valleys of the park. You travel along stunning mountain and water vistas, guarded by 4,000 meter (13,000 feet) peaks. Sites include the entrancing Primeval Forest, the glacially formed Long Lake at 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), water wheels grinding barley and sending prayers to heaven, prayer flags wishing travelers good luck, and the historic Zaru Temple. Boardwalk paths beckon visitors to get off the roads and walk along the stream and waterfalls. Roads in the smaller side valleys, tempt you to walk a few miles and see traditional Tibetan villages where people still grow corn, barley, and vegetables in their small, private fields. Simple lodging is available in Tibetan hotels in the park and many modern hotels provide lodging in just outside of the park. |
| Huanglong Nature Reserve The drive to reach this small park is an incredible high altitude trip to the clouds. At the park, a series of tufa (calcium carbonate) formed terraced ponds lead several kilometeres up a scenic mountain valley. Boardwalk and stone paths lead visitors along ponds to Tibetan Buddhist temples that grace this holy site. Xuebaoding Mountain, 5,588 meters (17,000 feet), the highest peak in the Min Shan Mountain Range, stands at the head of this sacred valley. Lodging is available at the small village in the park |
| Songpang
Town
Songpan is an old walled town with many Tibetan inhabitants. Most of the
city walls are gone but the impressive gates remain. It is located in a
high mountain valley at an elevation of 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).
Tibetan guides lead horse treks through emerald-green valleys, dotted
with charming Tibetan villages, to high glacial peaks and soothing hot
springs. There are many hotels in Songpan. Horse treks go
from Songpan into nearby mountain valleys past traditional Tibetan
villages. |
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