In a remote corner of northern Sichuan Province, a Y-shaped valley system hides more than a hundred lakes so clear and so richly mineralized that they glow in shades of turquoise, sapphire, and jade. Jiuzhaigou — literally "Valley of Nine Villages," named for the nine Tibetan settlements once scattered through it — is one of China's most visually extraordinary natural landscapes, and one of the best-preserved examples of alpine karst hydrology anywhere in the world. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992 under the criterion of exceptional natural beauty, the park draws millions of visitors each year to see terraced lakes cascading into waterfalls, forests that shift color with the seasons, and snow-capped peaks reflected in still water.
Jiuzhaigou's transformation into a protected area came only after it nearly disappeared. Commercial logging began in the valley in 1975, stripping timber from the surrounding slopes at an industrial pace. Alarmed by the damage, Chinese authorities halted the logging in 1978, when the State Council approved the creation of the Nanping-Jiuzhai Valley Nature Reserve. The site was formally designated an Area of Scenic and Historic Interest in 1982, and a dedicated park administration bureau was established in 1984 to manage tourism and conservation. International recognition followed quickly: UNESCO World Heritage status in 1992, a Man and Biosphere Reserve credential from UNESCO in 1998, and Green Globe 21 certification for sustainable tourism in 2002.