Staircase to Heaven

Jiu, nine,

Zhai, mountains,

Gou, ravine.

Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) is a natural reserve located in the Sichuan province, inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site. I was extremely lucky to have witnessed such picturesque scenery.

At the end of July, beginning of summertime, I sat in the bus, the crickets chirping, waterfall cascading. Arriving at the first site, we saw the Nuenlang falls that thundered 270 meters from above, the rainbow subtly trying to show its true faces. Nuenlang - 诺日朗 - is in fact a name of a god that symbolizes strength;  the waterfall was no different. Being the thickest waterfall in China, the water drops were like pearls, dazzling under the glinting ultraviolet light. 

We climbed up to an altitude of 4000 meters, driving through panda sea and sparkling lake, stopping at the famous colourful pool - 五彩池. The pool was reached after climbing 198 stairs up on the hill - the entire pool divided into smaller ones, each sustained by the sea and its minerals within. Each pool has its own distinct glow of blue. Some added with dots of indigo, some with specks of teal.

Just in front of the hill where thousands of pools meet, there were the temples. Under the mountains covered by snow, the temples seemed exceptionally tranquil. The sound of the bells combined with the hymns, excluding any interruption from the outside.

We drove through the streams, down to the grass, ending our journey in blooming purple flowers that seemed to have bloomed forever.

©️ Written and pictures taken by: Michelle YuXin Wang 王裕昕 12.5.2018