After 400 million years of growth shaped by endless destruction and rebirth, Jiuzhaigou has never stopped changing. No natural force can freeze its scenery forever. A single earthquake will never destroy the beauty of Jiuzhaigou completely. In the days ahead, some old landscapes will fade away, and brand-new natural scenery will surely be born.
On August 8, 2017, a sudden magnitude 7 earthquake hit one of China’s most famous scenic areas — Jiuzhaigou.
Multiple colorful alpine lake dams collapsed in an instant, causing lake water to drain rapidly and leaving many water areas almost completely dried up.
The grand Nuorilang Waterfall, once nearly 300 meters wide with magnificent cascading water curtains, turned into a rough and barren slope overnight.
Jiuzhaigou fell from a breathtaking fairyland to a broken landscape in just one day. The dramatic changes made countless people sigh with emotion.
Some people felt fortunate to have visited Jiuzhaigou in its prime, while many others regretted never having the chance to see its original beauty. Many people thought the stunning scenery of Jiuzhaigou was gone forever.
But this is definitely not the end.
Once you understand the long geological history of Jiuzhaigou, you will realize that world-class natural landscapes must go through countless natural trials and transformations. For nature, this earthquake damage is only a tiny and temporary change.
All hardships are part of nature’s refinement, and every destruction paves the way for new creation.
I. The Birth of Jiuzhaigou’s Geological Foundation
Jiuzhaigou is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sitting on the natural transition zone between the plateau and the Sichuan Basin.
Four hundred million years ago, this entire region was a warm and clear shallow sea. Sunlight shone on the seabed, and various ancient marine creatures lived and reproduced here in large numbers.
After hundreds of millions of years of photosynthesis and the accumulation of biological remains, a simple natural substance began to pile up continuously on the seabed — calcium.
Calcium accumulated in the form of carbonate rock, forming rock layers as thick as 4,0000 meters after long years of deposition. These thick rock layers became the most important foundation for the beautiful landscapes of modern Jiuzhaigou.
Around 65 million years ago, the collision of continental plates caused the powerful uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. By 3.3 million years ago, the eastern edge of the plateau had risen to an altitude of 3,000 meters. A vast mountainous area covered with thick carbonate rock was formed, which was the original prototype of Jiuzhaigou.
From then on, powerful natural forces began to reshape this land completely through constant destruction and creation.
II. Natural Forces That Shaped Jiuzhaigou
1. Glacial Erosion and Valley Formation
The first powerful natural force to shape Jiuzhaigou was glaciers. 2.6 million years ago, the global climate turned cold and ice ages arrived. Large-scale mountain glaciers developed across the Jiuzhaigou area.
Glaciers strongly eroded and carved the original gentle mountains, turning flat landforms into steep and sharp peaks. Three major iconic mountains were formed during this period.
- Zhayizhaga Mountain, with sharp and towering peaks
- Woluosemü Mountain, grand and often surrounded by mist
- Dago Mountain, built with hard limestone and standing tall and straight
After the climate warmed and glaciers melted away, greater natural changes followed. 700,000 years ago, the second ice age came with larger and more powerful glaciers, carving deep and wide U-shaped valleys on the plateau. Most of the main valleys and gullies in today’s Jiuzhaigou were formed during this glacial period.
The longest Zechawa Valley stretches nearly 32 kilometers, with extremely steep cliffs and narrow river passages, presenting a magnificent and grand natural landscape.
After glaciers retreated, many beautiful alpine lakes were formed, including black glacial lakes and the famous Long Lake, the largest water area in Jiuzhaigou.
2. Mountain Collapses, Landslides and Barrier Lakes
After long-term glacial erosion, the mountain rocks became fragile and unstable. Earthquakes and gravity caused frequent mountain collapses, landslides and mudflows.
Around 210,000 years ago, large-scale mountain collapses formed a huge curved cliff, giving birth to the famous Nuorilang Waterfall. The nearby Shuzheng Waterfall was also formed in the same natural way.
160,000 years ago, the third ice age deepened the valleys further. Rock collapses blocked river channels and formed countless natural barrier lakes. The stunning Five-Flower Lake and Arrow Bamboo Lake were both created by natural river blockages.
Although these natural processes seemed destructive, they made the lakes larger, deeper and more beautiful. Panda Lake expanded several times its original size, with crystal blue water comparable to precious gemstones.
3. Flowing Water and Travertine Deposition
Compared with violent glaciers and landslides, flowing water is the gentlest yet most persistent creator of Jiuzhaigou’s scenery.
Abundant rainfall dissolved calcium from carbonate rocks, forming a huge underground water system and surface river network. Flowing water connected countless lakes together in series.
During the water flow, calcium continuously precipitated and formed natural travertine, covering riverbeds, lake bottoms and rocks.
About 10,000 years ago, travertine deposition became stable. Accumulated travertine formed natural dams, dividing rivers into groups of connected lakes. The famous Shuzheng Lake Group, consisting of 23 connected lakes, stretches more than 600 meters in length.
Travertine also formed various beautiful waterfalls, creating rich layers and colorful views across the entire scenic area. Different travertine colors, together with algae, water plants and surrounding forests, made Five-Flower Lake a world-famous colorful natural wonder.
Human Protection and Ecological Recovery
In the past, uncontrolled deforestation once damaged the local ecological environment, causing soil erosion, mudflows and partial drying of some lakes. After effective ecological protection and nature reserve construction, the natural environment of Jiuzhaigou gradually recovered and stabilized.
Conclusion: Destruction and Rebirth Forever
After 400 million years of constant destruction and creation, Jiuzhaigou has always been changing with nature. An earthquake cannot destroy its eternal beauty. Old landscapes will disappear, and new scenery will continue to grow and evolve.
Jiuzhaigou will always remain pure, dreamlike and full of colors. Natural restoration may take a long time, but in the long river of geological history, all changes are just a moment.
Human life is short, yet mountains and rivers last forever. All natural vicissitudes are only a fleeting moment in geological time.
