September 14 (Monday) – Juizhaigou

We were met at 9:00am by our guide, Alex, and the Driver (Mr. Yuang) for our drive to Juizhaigou Valley. Once there we transferred to the eco-bus that took us all the way to the end of the longest valley (Rizes). We then got off at various stops on the way back, walking between some of stops. Paul was offered a seat by a Chinese woman – I guess he looks like he’s getting old. The weather was overcast and chilly and we got a few misty moments but no real rain.

The lakes were incredible deep blue and turquoise colors, really gorgeous. There were waterfalls, cascades, rills and streams everywhere. The first valley especially was a fairyland of waterfalls and the falls just got more impressive the further down the valley we went. None of the waterfalls were more than about 60 – 80 feet high but what they lacked in height they more than made up for in width. Some seemed to go on forever with the ends lost in the trees.
  
















I think my favorite falls was Pearl Shoals Falls. It is 535 feet wide and 70 feet high. Water spilled over a wide shallow bed before dropping into a very wide spread of falls. Probably my next favorite falls was Nuorilang (“Grand and Magnificent” in the Tibetan language). It was 1050 feet wide and 83 feet high. Again, it was fairly straight across the top and was a wide series of falls…one after another.


















Video in new window, Pearl Falls



My favorite non-falls attraction was Peacock Lake…an incredible shade of peacock turquoise blue, dark green and sapphire. It was really breathtaking. There was a Chinese bridal couple there in full western wedding finery getting their pictures taken. 
There are 108 lakes in the valley and countless falls. It is really hard to imagine…has to be seen to be believed. We saw exactly two other Caucasians the entire day. We enjoy getting off the (at least Caucasian) beaten path.










After dinner we went to see a musical of a young woman’s pilgrimage from Juizhaigou to Lhasa (in Tibet). The lute players were particularly memorable. They had a special type of lute and the performing style included a lot of singing, stomping and kicking. There must have been 40 or 50 men playing the lutes and kicking like the Radio City Rockettes.

   
Video in a new window, Tibetan Musical Lute Players



There was also a “long sleeve” dance with about the same number of women, later joined by a similar number of men…also in long sleeved costumes. The sleeves were three or four feet longer than the person’s arms. The long sleeves are considered very graceful and they certainly made for a visually interesting display. And there were other interesting costumes and performances.















  









Video in a new window, Tibetan Musical, Wave



Juizhaigou Album