Zharu Valley is a tour route combining the natural and culture landscape of
Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. You can not only enjoy beautiful natural scenery but also the sight of the idyllic scenery of Tibetans and the unique charm of Benbo Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Zharu Valley is in the prime and early period of strong erosion and incision phase. Affected by the tectonic movement and lithology, the mountains and ravines here are with complex landform and rich geological landscapes. The river flows from southeast to northwest to the main valley of Jiuzhaigou. Zharu Valley has amazing green mountains and clear and bright stream. There are many different kinds of original biological species. It has magnificent and changeful prospect and grand geological landscape. As Zharu Valley has not had any tourist activities before, the flora and fauna here have hardly affected by human, so there are the most abundant biodiversity areas in Jiuzhaigou. It is the heaven for plant and animal lovers. What to see in Zharu Valley? Mountain scenery is an important landscape resource of Zharu Scenic Area. The high and low mountains in different shapes are the museum of mountains. The highest peak Zhayizhaga with the altitude of 4528 m is the Ancestor of Mountains in legend. Each 15
th in a mouth, Tibetans will come to walking around mountains for worship.
Highlights of Zharu Valley
【Mirror Cliff】 The Mirror Cliff is about 400m high. Standing by the stream, the cliff is so flat and just like it was hacked by sword or cut by axe. As it looks like a huge mirror, it is said to be a mirror for suppress ghosts. It was also called Devil Cliff.
【Zharu Riding Track】 Zharu Riding Track is about 3 km long, circle round in the forests and leading to the foot of Zhayizhaga Mountain. It is an ancient riding track with strange rocks and old trees along the road.
【Zharu
Temple】 Zharu Temple is a holy land for Benbo Sect. It was originally built in the late Ming Dynasty with Tibetan temple’s characteristics.
【Zharu Waterfall】 Zharu Waterfall is located at the thick forest on the hillside of Zhayizhaga Mountain. The waterfall falls down from the dangerous cliff, passing 4 steps to the trench. It is the holy water for the local people.
【Rexi
Village】
Rexi Village, 2241 meters above sea level. “Rexi” in the Tibetan language means a mirror. Rexi Village is shaded by the green trees, and the village is not only preserved the structure of the traditional civil residence, also adapt to the new residence of modern life, the two features bring out the best in each other, and the traditional and modern are in harmony as the organic unity.
【Guodu
Village】
Guodu Village is the second Tibetan village that people see when they go into Zharu Valley, and the village is 2310 meters above sea level. “Guodu” in the Tibetan language means gathered from all directions. Guodu Village backs on towering Zhaxin Mountain and it faces cloud-kissing Zhayizhaga Holy Mountain towering, the terrain around is high, and surrounded by dense forests. Guodu Village lies in a mountainside low-lying land, its environment is quiet and maybe you can sleep at night accompanied by the soughing of the wind in the pines, and listen to the singing of birds in the morning.
【Sika Deer Park】
Sika Deer Park is located in the shrub of a gentle mountain in Zharu Valley. The Sika Deer Park is about 1000 meters long, 500 meters wide, and there are dozens of domestic beautiful precious sika deer.
【Nadicaguo】
Nadicaguo is just located in the main entrance of Zhayizhaga, so here is the place that religious believers pay religious homage to the Holy Mountain. Little temple with burning incense, colorful prayer flag and ancient caguo are ceremonies that believers thank god and welcome god. Caguo is similar to the pagoda, but simpler than pagoda.
【Zhayizhaga Holy Mountain】
Zhayizhaga Holy Mountain is located at the end of the Zharu Riding Track. It is said that Zhayizhaga Holy Mountain is the embodiment of Zhayi Zhagade, the progenitor of ten thousands of mountains. According to the Tibetan scriptures recorded, it is one of the nine famous mountains of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is as famous as Minor Western Heaven in Songpan, Xuebaoding, and other holy mountains. Every 15th in lunar calendar, Tibetan inhabited in Jiuzhaigou and Songpan area will come here to make pilgrimages to holy mountain and pay religious homage to the holy mountain. Every May 15th in lunar calendar is Mazi Festival, the climax of activities of making pilgrimages to mountain in a year. At that time, the group of believers will ride on a horse or walking around the top of the Holy Mountain in counterclockwise direction, and they wave Longda (religious flags) all the way and sing the song for divinity, some religious believers will also kowtow every three steps. Zharu Waterfall in the mountainside and Qubu Spring is the holy spring of holy mountain, people come here will use the spring for bathing, which shows that they wash out their dirty, clean their body and mind, and remove the sufferings from disease. During the break, everyone is sitting on the grass slope, toast each other to show their blessings.
【The Black Lake】
The Black Lake was the holy pool for praying for rain by local Jiuzhaigou people. Changeable is one of the features of the Black Lake, from a different time, different point of view, the Black Lake is different hue and atmosphere. Above the Black Lake there is often hang over the sensitive cloud and mist, as long as you scream, a nasty rain will come.
Zharu Valley Travel Information
Zharu Valley is a branch valley of Jiuzhaigou Valley, the animal and plant resources and rare resources are rich in Zharu Valley, there are a variety of plant and animal species (exclude lichen and soil animals) for 3634 species, including the 67 species of national protection of rare plants, 18 species of endangered plants and 47 species of national protected animal. The environment of the valley is quiet and beautiful, the air is clear, the atmospheric concentration of negative oxygen ion is 18400 / cubic centimeter. Walking inside people will feel relaxed and happy.
Zharu ecological folk custom tourism provides activities like ecological roaming in Jiuzhaigou Valley Zharu scenic spot, riding horse in the green sea, going upstream in the forest, cultural exploration, making pilgrimage to mountains and bike riding, etc. In Zharu ecological folk custom tourism area you can feel not only the lofty Zhayizhaga mountain, still can see the solemn temple pagoda; Here you can see the differences between the traditional Tibetan architecture and modern Tibetan architecture, also can see the natural pinus tabulaeformis forest and all kinds of plants and animals.
Zharu Valley Ecological Tourism Route:
Jiuzhaigou Valley entrance—Rexi Village (1.7 km)—Guodu Village (1.5 km)—Nadicaguo (0.8 km)—Dere (3 km) (Ranwugulang Long Lawn)—valley entrance (10 km). People can have lunch in Dere, and from Dere to valley entrance people can visit Zharu Temple. Tourists can enjoy the natural pinus tabulaeformis foret, sika deer garden, and primitive cultural experience of Tibetan villages.
Travel Guide
【Chinese Name】: 扎如沟
【Recommended Visiting Hours】: 2 to 3 hours
【Best Time to Visit Zharu Valley】: September to November is the best time to travel Zharu Valley