[+/-] : Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve

Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve lies in Jiuzhaigou County, northwest of Sichuan Province in the southern part of Minshan Mountains, approximately 400 kilometers from Chengdu City. Established in 1978, the Reserve covers an area of 60,000 hectareswith its name stemming from 9 Tibetan villages nearby.Luxuriant forests and snow peaks in Jiuzhaigou make it a spectacular gem of nature. Jiuzhaigou is a comprehensive nature reserve, its main protection targets are pandas, other rare wildlife and forest ecosystem. In 1992, it was listed in the World's Natural Heritage, and three years later, it was included in the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of UNESCO

2008-01-07 10:07:22.0Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve131Nature Reservesaboutchina/enpproperty-->
Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve

Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve lies in Jiuzhaigou County, northwest of Sichuan Province in the southern part of Minshan Mountains, approximately 400 kilometers from Chengdu City. Established in 1978, the Reserve covers an area of 60,000 hectareswith its name stemming from 9 Tibetan villages nearby.Luxuriant forests and snow peaks in Jiuzhaigou make it a spectacular gem of nature. Jiuzhaigou is a comprehensive nature reserve, its main protection targets are pandas, other rare wildlife and forest ecosystem. In 1992, it was listed in the World's Natural Heritage, and three years later, it was included in the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of UNESCO.
Climate
The climate of the Reserve is a transition of northern sub-tropic and warm temperate one. It is cool temperate, being especially damp and cold on the higher mountain slopes and cool and dry in the valleys. It is low in temperature in the spring and mean temperature varies from 9°C to 18°C. Mean temperature is around 19°C to 22°C in the summer. It is pleasant in the autumn with a temperature of 7°C to 18°C, but it is rather cold in the winter with a mean temperature of around 0°C. Total annual rainfall is no more than 600 millimeters and the rainy season usually runs from July to August.

Physical Features

2008-01-07 10:07:22.0Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve131Nature Reservesaboutchina/enpproperty-->
Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve

Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve lies in Jiuzhaigou County, northwest of Sichuan Province in the southern part of Minshan Mountains, approximately 400 kilometers from Chengdu City. Established in 1978, the Reserve covers an area of 60,000 hectareswith its name stemming from 9 Tibetan villages nearby.Luxuriant forests and snow peaks in Jiuzhaigou make it a spectacular gem of nature. Jiuzhaigou is a comprehensive nature reserve, its main protection targets are pandas, other rare wildlife and forest ecosystem. In 1992, it was listed in the World's Natural Heritage, and three years later, it was included in the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of UNESCO.
Climate
The climate of the Reserve is a transition of northern sub-tropic and warm temperate one. It is cool temperate, being especially damp and cold on the higher mountain slopes and cool and dry in the valleys. It is low in temperature in the spring and mean temperature varies from 9°C to 18°C. Mean temperature is around 19°C to 22°C in the summer. It is pleasant in the autumn with a temperature of 7°C to 18°C, but it is rather cold in the winter with a mean temperature of around 0°C. Total annual rainfall is no more than 600 millimeters and the rainy season usually runs from July to August.
Physical Features
Lying on the edge of the diverging belt between Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Jiuzhaigou is geologically the high altitude karst landforms that have been strongly influenced by glacial, hydrological and tectonic movement. As a branch of the source of the Jialing River, part of the Yangtze River system, Jiuzhaigou is a magnificent valley extending over 60 kilometers with a complex landscape. Along the valley, there are 108 plateau lakes of different size and shape, many of which are classic ribbon lakes at the base of glacially formed valleys. Among them the Nuorilang Lake is most famous for they are stepped lakes in which crystal clear water cascades from one tier to the next, producing melodious music in the process. Lakes in Jiuzhaigoun are called by the locals "haizi", which means "sons of the sea".

Multiple and complex geological changes throughout history resulted in the unique landscape of the Reserve, in which primitive forest covers an area of over 200 hectares. Vertical distribution of the natural vegetation is kept intact with the altitude varying from 2,000 meters at the entrance to 4,700 meters at its peak. With the increase of the altitude, there appears vertical difference of vegetation types, corresponding to variation in temperature and moisture. Between the altitude of 2,000-2,400 meters, oaks, birches, poplars and other broadleaved trees and Chinese pines, firs and other conifers grow densely in coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest. Between the altitude of 2,400-3,200 meters, firs and Fragesia denudata grow well in coniferous forest. At the altitude of over 3,200 meters, Korean pines, firs, dragon spruce and other precious tree species as well as medicinal materials such as Cordyceps sinensis and tendril-leaved fritillary bulb grow in the alpine shrub. The Reserve is not only rich in plants but also in animal species, among which there are rare species such as giant pandas, golden monkeys, Takins, lesser pandas, otters and swans.

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[+/-] : Emei Mountain

Located in Sichuan Province, Emei Mountain has a recorded history of over 2,000 years, during which time a rich Buddhist cultural heritage has accumulated. Atop the Golden Summit, which is 3,099 meters high, one can enjoy the sunrise, seas of clouds, the Buddha's halo and the sunset glow.

Within the beamless hall of the Wannian Temple, a hall with outstanding architectural features, towers a bronze statue of Samantabhadra. Cast in 980 in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it is 7.85 meters high, weighs 62 tons and is one of China's important cultural relics. The Baoguo Temple is the site of flourishing Buddhist activities. The Fuhu Temple, the largest temple on the mountain, is surrounded by ancient nanmu trees.

The Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area, which covers 2.5 square kilometers, is famous for its Giant Buddha statue, said to be the biggest Buddha statue in the world. The way in which the cultural features have been integrated with the natural scenery is considered to be a precious legacy. The Giant Buddha statue, with a height of 71m, is carved against Jiuding Mountain and the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers converge in front of it. There are more than 90 stone carvings and Buddhist shrines on both sides of the Giant Buddha. Other cultural artifacts include the Lidui (a large rock cut in the center of the river for irrigation purposes by Li Bing of the Qin Dynasty), Wuyou Mountain, Han tombs, Buddha statues of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and pagodas, temples and architectural complexes of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

The area is home to some 5,000 plant species and 2,300 animal species and there also live a number of species on the verge of extinction, some being endemic to Emei Mountain.
Cultural Heritage

With a large number of cultural and historic relics, Emei Mountain and the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area are wndowed with rich historic and monumental legacy. They are common heritage of the mankind.
Natural Heritage
Emei Mountain is blessed with a world-acclaimed natural heritage. Below are details of selected items of landscape, geomorphic features, fauna and flora.

1. Major scenes
The Site contains a diverse natural environment. Along the 60 kilometers trail up to the mountain there are hundreds of natural scenic spots. Brief information of major ones is given as follows:
Scene
Location
Features
Palaces in Clouds
Golden Summit
Atop the Wanfoding Summit, looking east, one will enjoy the seas of clouds under blue and clear sky. The Golden Summit is just towering aloft in the clouds. Magnificent temples and other buildings can be dimly seen in the sun, just like the mysterious Buddhist palaces.
Sunrise on the Golden Summit
Golden Summit
The day is dawning. On the eastern horizon, a purple sun rises slowly. Suddenly it jumps up with all its shimmering rays. The whole mountain then is in the golden sunshine.
Leshan Giant Buddha
Lingyun Mountain
The world's highest stone statue of Maitreya is carved on the Lingyun Mountain, facing the Dadu River. Viewed from a distance, the mountain is in the figure of a Buddha while the Giant Buddha also looks like a mountain. The cultural heritage is in perfect harmony with the natural landscape.
Surging Spring
Maohegou Ravine
The spring is near Maohegou. It is too deep to be sounded, with a diameter of 4 meters at the mouth. Every noon in fine weathers, water spurs out and a colorful ring of light appears over the spring in the sunshine, moving with the surging water.

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[+/-] : Mt.Huashan

Huashan Mountain is located in Huayin County, Shaanxi province. It is the Western Mountain of the Five Sacred Mountains. It is second highest to the Northern Mountain -- Hengshan Mountain and praised as "the First Odd Mountain in the World". Its craggedness is outstanding compared with the other four sacred mountains.

Huashan Mountain boasts five imposing peaks with sheer precipices and overhanging rocks: the east one is called the Peak of the Rising Sun which is the best location to view sunrising; the north one, the Peak of Cloud Terrace which is famous for cliffs on its three sides; the west one, the peak of Lotus; the south one, the Peak of Wild Geese which is the main peak and also the steepest of Huashan Mountain with an elevation of 2,083 meters; and the Central one, the Peak of the Jade Maiden, which links the east, west and south peaks. Each presents a unique scenic beauty, surrounded by over 70 minor peaks.

Places of historical interest and scenic spots such as towers, caves, stone steps, temples and pavilions can be found everywhere. The cloud-enshrouded cliff path, the sculptured rocky cliff, the floating-in-the-air Somersault Cliff, the cliff-excavated Thousand-Foot Precipice with 370-odd stone steps, the Hundred-Foot Valley, the Laojun's Furrow with 570-odd stone steps, the Ear-Touching Cliff, the Up-the-Heaven's Ladder and so on, are all marvelous views of precipitous and perilous cliff paths.
In ancient times, many emperors came here to make sacrifices to their ancestors, and celebrities visited Huashan Mountain leaving quite a lot of stone inscriptions of poems. Huashan Mountain has many places of historic interest and scenic beauty, as well as many fantastic and legendary stories. Its fascination lasts forever.
Cultural Heritage
1、South Peak: Taoism Temples
The south peak is the main peak and also the steepest of Huashan Mountain. Legend has it that Laozi, the originator of Taoism, used to missionize here. Among the many temples, the Jintian Palace, the Zhenyue Palace and the Chunyang Temple are the listed among the state-level Taoist structures.
2. West Peak: Green Cloud Temple

The Green Cloud Temple is also called the Holy Mother Temple. It enshrines statues of three holy mothers. There is a large stone cut into three parts outside. It is the well-known "Ax Cutting Stone" for it looks as if it is being cut by an ax. Beside the stone, there is a huge ax. According to legendBaolian Deng(The Lotus Lamp), it was used by Chen Xiang to save his mother.

3. Central Peak: Jade Maiden Shrine
It is on the central peak of Huashan Mountain and stands on a natural stone tortoise. The Jade maiden was said to be Nong Yu -- daughter of Duke Mu of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC). The story took place in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC): A young man named Xiao Shi was good at playing bamboo flute. Nong Yu, who fell deeply in love with the poor young man, gave up all her nabobism to marry Xiao. The lovers came to Huashan Mountain and lived here for the rest of their life. To commemorate the couple, people built the Jade Maiden Shrine.

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[+/-] : Peasant paintings

These paintings are from peasant of china,they are farmers in HuXian of Xi'an city.

I am very like this pictures, its press much information of modern life of china people.

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