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Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Fairyland in Sichuan.
36km west of Songpan is another of Aba Prefecture's aquatic marvels – Muni Valley. Muni Valley consists of two side valleys, more than 100 lakes and natural hot springs with the most spectacular sceneries being Zhaga Waterfall and Erdao Lake. It is possible to reach Muni Valley by road or horse trek from Songpan. The altitude ranges from 2,800m at the entrance to 4,070m on the mountain peaks.
Muni Valley is a geologic museum of miscellaneous natural landscape formed by the rare karst calcification in high and cold mountain area. Owing to the fact that the travertine sediment deposit in the scenic sport in large in scale and various in shapes, added with later on geologic movements, various kinds of travertine landforms were formed. The landscape of the scenic spot is blended with travertine waterfalls, annular ponds and waterfalls, plateau collapsed solution lakes, stalactites, karst caves, calcification relics, primeval forests, high-mountain meadows, sulfurous springs, rare flora and fauna, Tibetan Buddhism tmples, and unique customs of Tibetan village, and famous for Five Marvels – “waterfall, flower sea, lake, spring and stalactite”.
Muni Valley, also high in calcium carbonate boasts similar colors to those of the larger Huanglong and Jiuzhai Valley National Park. It also contains China's largest stalactite. Of historical significance is China's ancient Tea and Horse Trading Routes passed through the Muni Valley area. The local Tibetan Village of Muni Valley is a convergent point of history and present day life, of culture and nature which makes it an excellent starter to your Jiuzhai Valley and Huanglong Trip.
Swan Lake is the first lake when people go into Erdaohai Scenic Spot, covers an area of about 13300 square meters, the water is blue and deep, because there are wild ducks and swans swimming so it gains the name.
Rhinoceros Sea, legend has it that the lake once appeared rhinoceros. It is a large lake group made up of 36 lakes inside lakes all linked with on another, 85 meters long and 80 meters wide; and the widest one is Rhinoceros Sea which is 30 meters long, 40 meters wide. The bottom of the lake shapes like dustpan, with a depth of 18.5 meters, the water was crystal clear. Rhinoceros Sea downstream lake embankment developed series of calcium dissolved cave, there is a hole on the left extended toward south with direction of 30 “, the east slope shape like well, the slope of degrees between 20 to 25; 3 a 4 meters high, 15 meters wide, 20 meters deep.
Muni Valley scenic area is mainly composed of Zhaga Valley and Erdao Lake Valley:
【Zhaga Valley】
The largest travertine waterfall is – Zhaga Waterfall – is the world's tallest travertine stack waterfall, with the height of 104m and width 35.4m. There are lakes upstream and a string of terrace-like riverbeds down stream. Water cascades down the three-level steps, giving out huge water sprays. The thundering waterfall can be heard ten li away. There is a karst cave under the waterfall, with two smaller ones on the sides. The caves seem to be skylights, to which the waterfalls are plunging. What a spectacular view!
【Erdao Lake】
It is not only the name of scenic spot, but also the largest lake. The area of Erdao Lake is 21.700 hectares, with the water area of 146 hectares. The elevation is 3,290m to 3,417m, and 46 km away from Ancient Songpan City. Its overall length is 5.6m. There are 26 scenic views, among which forests, lakes, flower seas, hot springs, stalactites and karst caves. In the valley, with sunglos towering to the sky, green lawn, flowers blooming like a piece of brocade, pleasant hot spring, picturesque waterscape, and all kinds of birds resting in the forest, the valley seems to be empty with peaceful sounds which are primitive and pure. Entering through the entrance of the valley, along the plank road, more than one thousand lakes scatter among the woods. Walking through those lakes, the miraculous landscape of “a lake in every three steps, a pool in every fiver steps, lakes hiding in the forests and flowers blooming in the lakes” is fantastic as a dream.
【Jade Spring】
Spring under the cover of turf hidden for thousands of years, only buddhist lama in the temple, known. It was used to treat disease, so it was regarded as the god spring by people that it was the best medicine in the legend.
The natural scenery, folk customs in Muni Valley is not inferior as Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong, even more pure than the Jiuzhaigou, and there will not be close the mountain of icy road. In the scenic area, forests, mountains, meadows, hot springs, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and Tibetan villages are wonderfully integrated as a whole.
From on request
