Shuzheng Lakes 树正群海, Jiuzhaigou

Shuzheng Lakes, Jiuzhaigou (17 October, 2005)

Shuzheng Lakes (Simplified Chinese: 树正群海; Traditional Chinese: 樹正群海; Pinyin: Shùzhèng Qúnhǎi) are lakes that extend about 5 km along the Shuzheng Gully in Jiuzhaigou Valley. Shuzheng Gully covers a length of 13.8 kilometers. Within it are about 40 lakes of varying sizes. Shuzheng Gully itself occupies about 40% of Jiuzhaigou land area.

Shuzheng Lakes (Shuzheng Qun Hai) extend for about 5 kilometers, consisting of interconnected big and small lakes and cascades. The difference in elevation between the top and bottom is over 100 meters. Bushes and shrubs grow among the fast-flowing water, which is blue and clear. The lakes themselves cascades down the gully over travertine dykes, creating lovely spray and white foam over weeping willows, pines, cypresses and China firs.

Shuzheng Lakes are a continuation of Rhinoceros Lake and Tiger Lake. A wooden platform is available along the roadside so that visitors can admire the water. From Tiger Lake, the water leaps down the Shuzheng Waterfall, a beautiful multi-tiered fall that empties into Shuzheng Lakes.

The whole lake group is clearly leveled with blue water and green trees, making visitors wonder whether they have stepped into a world of fairy tales. A short distance above the lakes is the Shuzheng stockaded village. This Tibetan village - now consumed by commercialism - has preserved two primitive Tibetan stone mills and one wooden bridge over the lakes; they added a rustic charm to the landscape.