Altitude:3,060 m  area:54,000m ²

^{At the Virgin Forest, 40m lower in altitude than Long Lake, grow firs and spuces, shrubs such as honeyscuckles , azaleas and arrow bamboo as well as thick lichens. This area has a high content of negative oxygen ion which results in a natural oxygen bar in the forest .} 

   Approximately one kilometer into Zharu Valley surrounded by high green mountains and the Mirror Cliff and facing the sacred Zhayizhaga Mountain , it is clear why the early monks chose this spot to build their monastery. Originally built of wood and clay, it is a typical Benbo Tibetan monastery, comprising of six parts: the main hall, scripture tower, music platform, teahouse, guest halland lamas' living quaters. 

    On the front of the monastery is a golden dharma wheel , which symbolizes the life and death transformation, flanked on each side by a pair of divine goats. This is a symbol that can be seen on all Tibetan monasteries. Started in 2008, refurbishment works supported by local people and the National Park Management were still ongoing at the time of print. 

Altitude: 2,618m , Depth :6m, area: 170,000 m²

    ^{The banks of the Arrow Bamboo Lake is one of the many places where arrow bamboo, the favoured food of the giant Panda, used to grow in abundance before it flowered and died. You will see that the arrow bamboo is now returning to healthy levels around the banks of the lake} 

   ^{In 2001, Chinese movie director Zhang Yimou selected this site for some of the scenes of the movie" Hero" because of its charming , mystic scenery .} 

Altitude : 2,390m, average depth: 11m, deepest :24.3m , area: 190,000 m²     

It is named Mirror Lake due to the perfect reflection of the surrounding mountains that can be seen in the still surface of the water in the morning. The spectacular setting inspired Taiwan director, Li An 's film scenes for the multi Oscar winning, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon here. The lake was formed as a result of landslides blocking the waterflow in the valley 

Altitude:2,433 m ,width :310 m , highest drop : 40 m 

   Water rushing from the Pearl Shoals drops from the top of the falls and forms  a crescent waterfall. This is the most photographed waterfall in Jiuzhai Valley and along with many places in the park it is a very popular place for Chinese couples to have their wedding photos taken.

  The waterfall is actually accreting which means it is growing outwards rather than eroding backwards like most waterfalls do.

   The reason for this is that calcium carbonate is combining with roots ,leaves and branches to produce a matrix of cemented plantstone which then continues to grow once established.

   As the water flowing over the shoals is shallow and filtered, lacking abrasive sand and gravel materials, it has lilttle erosive power that might otherwise cause the waterfall to erode back up the valley 

Five Flower Lake 

Altitude: 2,472m, depth: 5m , area: 90,000 m²

^{The Five Flower Lake is regarded as one of the wonders of Jiuzhai Valley due to its breathtaking colors, which are the result of its lake bottom travertine and lolorful algae. The colors are formed by submerged plants and calcium deposit}

Five Flower Lake is one of the biggest stars of the sutumn when the reflections present a spectacular display of nature.The intense color combination of the wter and the surrounding forests are one reason why Jiuzhai Valley is often referred to as a photographer's heaven and a painter's nightmare 

Stretching for over 1km, with a drop of about 100 meters from the Shuzheng Waterfall, the Shuzheng Lakes consist of 19 lakes of varied sizes, descending in terraces. Among these lakes grow dense groves of willows, polars, pines, spruces and other plants. The lake clusters feature spectacular colours,, verdant woods, dark-blue waters, and numerous waterfalls. 

Quite different from Peking Opera - which is perhaps one of the most internationally-known types of Chinese operas - and even more so different from Verdi or Puccini, Sichuan opera is distinguished by the "face changing" technique originally achieved by blowing off the chalk of one painted mask to reveal another below. Elaborate acrobatic stunts, sharp wit and lively characters are hallmarks of Sichuan Opera. The performance is held in a traditional courtyard, where guests can relax in bamboo chairs and sip tea while watching this fascinating art.  Shouts of encouragement, pleasure, and even disapproval are welcome.

After the performance, we will be ushered backstage for a walk-around with the opera’s performers and a tour of the usually off-limits backstage area and dressing rooms and will have the chance to view the opera from backstage.

Nicknamed “Bandit Monastery” by botanist and explorer Joseph Rock, Tshonggo Temple is a small Tibetan temple that was nicknamed the “Bandit Monastery” by botanist and explorer Joseph Rock. Rock explored northwest China and Tibet extensively in the 1920s for his work with Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology and National Geographic.

We take a leisurely one- to three-hour hike through beautiful Bifengxia Gorge.  The gorge is complete with flowing waterfalls and bamboo groves, and provides a gorgeous backdrop to our hike.  Our hike will also take us pass the area where the first westerner first spotted a panda in the 19th century.