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Zharu Valley Tour Route

This is a route of strong cultural traditions. Tourists will not only enjoy Tibetan rurality, but also the unique Benbo religious sect. The erecting Mirror Cliff stands on the ancient Zharu horse trail, watching pilgrims paying their homage at the Zharu Monastery. While touring in this great natural scenery, tourists are being immersed in a mysterious Tibetan atmosphere of religion.

The Baojing(Magic Mirror) Cliff
Located at the entrance of the Zharu Valley , it is 400 meters high. This giant rock erects on the stream bank, the wall is as flat as being cut by a sharp sward. Looking from a distance, you will find it resembles a huge magic mirror. Legend has it that, the mirror was built up by Zhayi Zhaga, King of All Mountains, The mirror suppressed down a demon that used lo cruelly treat lo cal folks. Hence, it is also called the Demon-Suppressing Cliff.

The Zharu Bridge
Over across the Feicui (Emerald) River, it is built in a typical Tibetan wood-bridge style. The supporting logs are wrapped in fences; the roadway is paved with unpainted wood plates. The roof is made of tree barks, in their original color, too, presenting an endeared and plain feeling. On (he handrails hang colorful kha-btags which are dancing pleasantly in gentle winds, like in- tangible hands opening up to tourists. Walking on the bridge, yon will see the rapid torrents below, peculiar pines in a distance, worn-out canoes, and carving traces on the Baojing Cliff. Now, you begin your endless I magi nations.

Zharu Horse Trail
About 3km long, it winds among woods and rocks, to- wards the foot of Mt. Zhayi Zhaga. It is said that Sage'er, a Tibetan national hero, once rode on his horse through this century-old trail. Here you will see exotic rocks, hanging old rattans, and rapid torrents. On the sides, are fences, orchards, ancient temples, grass slopes, cattle, and in a distance, snow peaks, and floating clouds - everything appears like what you .see in a landscape movie. You may drink the spring water at the roadside to refresh your mind, and take a little rest to relax your tired feet, and have fun like those cowboys to resume your childhood memory.

The Zharu Monastery
Further ahead of the Zharu Horse Trail, you will find an orchard enclosed with stub fences, inside which is the Zharu Monastery. Against green mountains and facing ns and facing the Baojing Cliff, it sits in stretches of orange-colored fruit trees and green woods. The religious banners are waving in the winds, praying blessing for local folks. The monastery is of both strong Zen coloring and primitive native religion.

Architecture
Built of wood and clay, it is a typical Tibetan monastery, comprising of six parts: the Main Hall. Scripture Tower, Music Platform, Tea House and GuestHall, with lamas living in their apartments. The Main Hall has three golden roofs and four golden bells, and in the front is a gold wheel which symbolizes the life-and-death transformation. On the wheel is a pair of divine goats. The Statue of Sakyamuni is placed at the center of the Main Hall, with religious instruments on the altar, and wool blankets on the ground. Every early morning, lamas come for their religious service and the tiny Barnes from the butler-oil lamps shine up their pious eyes which open and shut alternatively. Cadence of their chanting is lingering in the hall.

The Mazi Temple Fair
This grant event takes place four times a year, the largest on May 15 of the Chinese lunar calendar. "Mazi" is said to be a god of the Benbo Religious Sect, responsible for driving out monsters. This fair is so established in his honor. It is also a grand religious event in the Zharu Monastery, as well as the biggest occasion of Jiuzhaigou. Three days from the fair, all the monks will have to fast and chant religious scriptures. On the day of the fair, Tibetan folks will gather around to exchange khabhags, and watch shows. Young people take this day as the lime to express affection to their lovers. On the bank of the Feicui (Emerald) River, they take a solemn pledge of love and wish to live a very long life with their sweethearts.

Zharu Waterfalls
On the slope of dense-woods of Mt. Zhayi Zhaga, it dashes down into perilous cliff and woods through four terraces. Looking upward from the terrace, you will find the water mist covers everything, as if you saw thou- sands of khabtags dropping from Heaven. Local folks regard the waterfall as the Divine Water.

The Hong (Red) Pond
Located on the lour loop road of Mt. Zhayi Zhaga, it appears red as water runs from red soil. It shapes like an oval, being regarded by locals as an auspicious symbol.

Sacred Mt.zhayi Zhaga
Among overlapping ranges, it shapes like a shape sword erecting straight into the sky. Looking upward, you will feel its chill. At clear dusk when the sun sheds its slanting rays down, sunglow spreading, the peak is bathed in golden sunlight. Ill rainy days, mists cloud the peak in the boundless sky. Walking around, you will feel you are riding on clouds.

Circling the Mountain
On the 15th of every month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Tibetans from Jiuzhaigou as well as nearby Nanping and Songpan counties come to pay their hom- age to the mountain by circling around on fool. May 15th - Mazi Festival is the climax of the annual mountain-circling ceremony. Believers, in groups, on horse or foot, walk to complete a full circle around the mountain in a counterclockwise direction, spreading khablags and singing religious songs. Some pious believers of the Benbo Sect would move forward on their knees to kowtow once every three steps. The mountain circling event usually lasts 2 to 3 days. From on the slope runs down the Zharu Waterfall where you will see the divine springs of Qubu and Qumo. People come over to drink water in order to purify their mind and to drive out diseases and disasters. At rest, they sit around and propose toasts for each other's blessing.

The Dalian (Saddlebag) lake
One is higher than the other in altitude, the saddlebag- like lake sits surrounded by green grasses, with one stream connecting both ponds. Between summer and autumn, flowers and grass arc in their full growth, fill- ing the "bags" with fragrance and beauty.

The Hei (Black) Lake
Sitting opposite to the Saddlebag Lake and surrounded by full slopes of fragrant grasses, it covers an area of 5 mu (1 mu=677 sq.m.). One of its features is that you see different color hues or ambience from different angles and at different time. The spot is often covered with sensitive clouds, above, and when you shout to it, a rapid rain will pour down.

The Zharu Wood Trail
Immersed in pine needles and fragrance, it sits ahead of the Zharu Bridge. With a length of about 500 meters, it is a fine place for your evening walk, on thick pine needles, and in gentle breezes.