Fairy Pool Scenic Area

Located in Dalu Township, the Fairy Pool Scenic Area is a renowned attraction in the Jiuzhaigou Paradise. It is situated about 49 kilometers (30 miles) from the entrance to the Jiuzhaigou National Park.

The Fairy Pool Scenic Area, combining the characteristics of the Jiuzhaigou Valley and the Huanglong National Scenic Reserve, comprises about 2,000 alpine lakes and travertine pools. Pools of various shapes and sizes are scattered throughout the lush forest. The most celebrated attractions are the Golden and Silver Beach, the Double-Dragon Pool, the Divine Frog Sea, the Blue Dragon Sea, the Kermes Brooklet and the travertine waterfalls. These are the artistic treasures fashioned by nature without any artificial elements. In Tibetan, the Fairy Pool Scenic Area is called Nen'en Sangcuo. It means a place where fairies bathe. In addition to the pools, the area has the best preserved virgin forest and the greatest density of arrow bamboo in Sichuan Province. Many rare animals such as pandas, Tibetan antelopes and golden monkeys roam the forest.

Landscape features of Fairy Pool Scenic Area include the Lotus Platforms Reflecting Beautiful Colors, the Fairy Pools and the Rippling Golden Stream.
 

The Lotus Platforms Reflecting Beautiful Colors is formed by some stone dams and colorful pools. The tranquil surface of the pools reflects the sky and clouds, making a breathtaking picture.
 

The Fairy Pools are celebrated for the three huge colorful pools and a group of small stone dams. The colors of the dams are white or pale yellow. The calcified stones in the water resemble agates, corals and pearls. The three pools are known as the Big Lake, the Green Sea and the Big Sea, each covering an area of about 6,667 square meters (2 acres).
 

The Rippling Golden Stream features stone dams, colorful pools, travertine streams and waterfalls.
 

Historical and cultural attractions in the Fairy Pool Scenic Area include the Horses Passage where Songtsen Gampo and his troops once passed and the Tianbao Museum. Songtsen Gampo (617-649 or 650) was the founder of the Tibetan Regime in ancient China. Some inns and tents have been built in the willow forests along the path. Entertainment activities are also held here, such as horse races, barbecue and campfire parties, and folk performances given by Tibetan artistes. 
 

In the Tianbao Museum, tourists can see many lumbermen's cottages and tools. They provide evidence of the human destruction of the environment. Now visitors can plant trees or 'adopt' their own trees to make a contribution to environmental protection of the scenic area.