Jiuzhaigou ([tɕjòʊ.ʈʂâɪ.kóʊ] ⓘ; Chinese: 九寨沟; pinyin: Jiǔzhàigōu) is a nature reserve and national park located in the north of Sichuan Province in southwestern China.

The Jiuzhaigou valley is part of the Min Mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and stretches over 72,000 hectares (180,000 acres).

[4] Extensive logging took place until 1979, when the Chinese government banned such activity and made the area a national park in 1982.

An Administration Bureau was established and the site officially opened to tourism in 1984; layout of facilities and regulations were completed in 1987.

[4] The Town of Zhangzha at the exit of the valley and the nearby Songpan County feature an ever-increasing number of hotels, including several luxury five-stars, such as Sheraton.

The dam was composed of poor material with low mechanical strength, making it prone to rockfalls even during non-earthquake periods.

The nearly vertical structure of the dam amplified the seismic influences at its upper part, increasing the likelihood of deformation and collapse.

Jiuzhaigou lies at the southern end of the Minshan mountain range, 330 km (205 mi) north of the provincial capital of Chengdu.

[10] Jiuzhaigou's ecosystem is classified as temperate broad-leaf forest and woodlands, with mixed mountain and highland systems.

Those forests take on attractive (vibrant) yellow, orange and red hues in the autumn, making that season a popular one for visitors.

The region contains a large amount of tuff, which is a type of limestone formed by the rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate in freshwater.

Originating in glacial activity, they were dammed by rockfalls and other natural phenomena, then solidified by processes of carbonate deposition.

The mountainous watersheds of these gullies are lined with 55 km (34 mi) of roads for shuttle buses, as well as wooden boardwalks and small pavilions.

Here is a summary of the sites found in each of the gullies: The 18-kilometre-long (11 mi) Rize Valley (日则沟, pinyin: Rìzé Gōu) is the south-western branch of Jiuzhaigou.

Going downhill from its highest point, one passes the following sites: The Zechawa Gully (则查洼沟, Zécháwā Gōu) is the south-eastern branch of Jiuzhaigou.

Going downhill from its highest point, it features the following sites: The Shuzheng Valley (树正沟, Shùzhèng Gōu) is the northern (main) branch of Jiuzhaigou.

The Zharu Valley has 40% of all the plant species that exist in China and it is the best place to spot wildlife inside the national park.

The majority of tourists reach the valley by a ten-hour bus ride from Chengdu along the Min River canyon, which is prone to occasional minor rock-slides and, in the rainy season, mudslides that can add several hours to the trip.

The new highway constructed along this route was badly damaged during the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, but has since been repaired and the road is open to public buses and private vehicles.

The revised management plan in 2001 is based on these laws and contains specific regulations and recommendations: prohibiting the logging of trees and forests, as well as activities that cause pollution, and fully considering the needs of local Tibetan residents.