第五篇 Passage 5

Jiuzhaigou lies in Nanping County, Arba Tibetan Autonomous Region of Sichuan Province, covering a land of natural beauty 35 kilometers long. This land is characterized with verdant and lush forests, perennially snow-topped mountain peaks, stretches of serene lakes, and various rare and precious birds and animals. On entering the resort, you will find yourself strolling in a heaven of peace, leaving behind all troubles and vexations.

Jiuzhaigou is a world of water, the clearest in the world. Water brings Jiuzhaigou its most enchanting views; water is the soul of Jiuzhaigou. Whether you are met with serene lakes or plunging waterfalls, you will enjoy yourself so much among the charming sights that you are reluctant to leave.

The local people call these lakes “haizi”(meaning “little sea”). Jiuzhaigou has 108 “haizi” of varying sizes and shapes, but of invariant limpidity to the bottom of the lakes. Some of the lakes are hidden in the valleys, and others inlay the forests. On sunny days, various colors of algae and sediments at the bottom of the lakes project colorful light rings in the sunshine. The lakes, thus, have acquired another name “Wuhua Sea” (meaning “multicolored sea”) from the locals.

A romantic local legend goes that a long time ago, there lived a beautiful and kind-hearted goddess in the east mountain of Jiuzhaigou and an industrious and chivalrous god in the west. As time went by, they fell in love. One day the god presented the goddess a big and shiny divine mirror as a token of love. The goddess reached out for it, but she was so excited and nervous that the mirror slipped from her trembling hands and dropped to 108 pieces. They turned out to be 108 winkling and glittering crystal lakes of different sizes, covering the land of Jiuzhaigou.

Jiuzhaigou is also the habitat of dozens of rare animals such as giant panda, lesser panda, golden monkey, antelope, etc. Therefore, Jiuzhaigou is not only a charming place of natural beauty, but also a desire place for research into natural ecology, biological evolution, paleogeography and paleoclimatology. In addition, the Folk Art Center here boasts of some most excellent singers and dancers of the Tibetan and Qiang nationalities, including the all-round singer who is also the music composer and songwriter and the few players of the ancient music instruments of the Qiang nationality. You can enjoy their performances as well as the fascinating open fire party of the Tibetan and Qiang nationalities.