Things to do in Aba Prefecture

Beautiful, can walk, but there are a lot of yak and horse dung. 11/15/2024

Nuorilang Waterfall in Jiuzhaigou is the scenic area's "face," situated at an altitude of 2365 meters. With a width of 270-300 meters and a drop of 24.5 meters, it is currently the widest known high-altitude travertine waterfall in China, earning it the title of "China's No. 1 Waterfall." "Nuorilang" means "male god" in Tibetan, symbolizing grandeur and magnificence; therefore, locals also regard it as the "most magnificent waterfall." The surging water pours down from the Nuorilang Lakes, splitting into countless streams at the top, resembling a silver river cascading down from afar; mist rises from the valley floor, and rainbows are often seen arching across the surface at dawn. Four Seasons to See - Spring: Abundant water, lush greenery, vibrant life. - Summer: Maximum water volume, roaring through the valley, countless silver beads of water. - Autumn: Surrounded by colorful forests, red and yellow intertwine, the richest color palette. - Winter: Waterfalls freeze into giant ice curtains, forming the "Blue Ice" spectacle of Jiuzhaigou. A must-see in Jiuzhaigou is Nuorilang Waterfall. Standing on the viewing platform, you can get a panoramic view of "the widest travertine waterfall + rainbow + spectacular photos of the four seasons." Suitable for photos in the morning and all year round.

The magical Jiuzhaigou truly lives up to its name! 🙌 Seeing the Five-Colored Pond with my own eyes, I finally understood what a natural palette truly means! 🎨 The blue is so clear and bright 💙, the green so warm and inviting 💚. The crystal-clear water reflects the mountains, making the natural scenery breathtaking during the day 😍. A picturesque landscape, a truly worthwhile trip! ✨ 📍Location: Five-Colored Pond Address: Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture Opening Hours: April 1st - November 15th, 08:00-18:00 (last entry at 14:00); November 16th - March 31st of the following year, 08:30-18:00 (last entry at 14:00) #Jiuzhaigou #FiveColoredPond #JiuzhaigouTourism #Nature'sPalette #SichuanTravel

A very beautiful place. I went during the off-season, so it wasn't crowded. You take a sightseeing bus to the top and then hike down. The scenery along the way is beautiful, and the hike wasn't too tiring for a 60-year-old. If you're driving, you don't need to park in the inner parking lot; there's no free shuttle bus. Just park in the small parking lot next to the entrance to avoid unnecessary walking. The scenic area is of medium size; you can see everything in about 4 hours.

The city opens at 8:30 AM with a traditional Qiang dance performance and a Sabi sacrificial ceremony. After the ceremony at 9:00 AM, visitors can enter the council hall to attend the Qiang King's Council. At 9:40 AM, visitors can go up to the second floor to enjoy Qiang flute and string performances and visit exhibits on traditional Qiang folk culture (Qiang embroidery, Qiang medicine, the Qiang King and Queen's bedrooms, the Qiang princess's room, the steward's room, the long-term worker's room, the granary, etc.). At 10:00 AM, visitors can tour the ancient city with the Qiang King. The performers include professional dancers and retired locals, adding to the enjoyment for tourists and increasing the income of the local people. [Strong] Qiang King's Council: Two tribes violently fought for territory. The Qiang King presided over the meeting, ultimately resolving the dispute peacefully (the older folks did have a "real" argument). [Grinning] Qiang King's Tour of the Ancient City: The Qiang King, escorted by guards and a ceremonial guard, tours various attractions in the ancient city, enjoys song and dance performances, and participates in Sabi sacrificial ceremonies and prayer activities (Li Tianhao, Yu the Great, and Emperor Yan). Logically, the Qiang King should be at the front of the procession. But the tourists during the "autumn break" were so enthusiastic that the Qiang King didn't get to see a single performance [laughing emoji], he was just staring at the backs of other tourists' heads. Meanwhile, the children were "blindly worshipping" the Qiang King, scrambling to grab a small patch of land next to him. The Qiang King held three children in one hand, dividing his five fingers into three sections. Those who couldn't grab a finger ended up pulling at the corners of his robes, haha ​​[facepalm emoji]. Around 11:20, the Qiang King finished his tour of the ancient city and "went off duty." Because the young actors had to rehearse Sichuan Chao, there was no afternoon performance. I took the children for a leisurely stroll, carefully appreciating the scenery we had missed along the way. Around 1:00 PM, we left the city and took the children to visit the Ancient Qiang City Museum of China. No reservation was needed, we just went in. We were too tired to go in until almost 3:00 PM, so we went back to the hotel. I ordered food at the hotel; the taste and price were okay, but the portions were huge! [facepalm] After eating what I couldn't tell was lunch or dinner, I lay down for a while, then went on a night tour of the Ancient Qiang City at 7 pm. Because of the autumn break, the scenic area is having a three-day carnival, and tonight at 7 pm you can participate in the "Dreaming of Ancient Qiang" activity (separate ticket required) (originally an activity only available on Fridays and Saturdays), which was a pleasant surprise for me! [grinning]

Five-Flower Lake, at an altitude of 2462 meters, is 450 meters long, 313 meters wide, and 9 meters deep. It is a barrier lake formed by a landslide and debris flow blocking a former glacial valley. Five-Flower Lake is the most colorful lake in Jiuzhaigou. The travertine, algae, aquatic plants, and dead trees on the lakebed, under different reflections and refractions of light, combined with the reflections of the blue sky, white clouds, green grass, and verdant forests in the lake, create a tapestry of colors—from pale yellow and emerald green to dark green, sky blue, deep blue, and navy blue—resembling a giant ornament inlaid with countless gemstones, shimmering and magnificent. Viewed from above, it resembles a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

This is not only a stopover and supply station for trips to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Hongyuan Grasslands, and Ruoergai Flower Lake, but also houses the Long March Monument, a monument unlike any other commemorative structure. The monument garden is vast, rich in content, and offers captivating scenery.

Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, the epicenter of the 2008.05.12 earthquake. At that time, the "earthquake" was reported to the outside world at the county level, so it was called the "Wenchuan Earthquake". Yingxiu "Xuankou Middle School", the only "site" left, for remembrance!