Mouni Valley – A Hidden Treasure in Western Sichuan

The Huanglong Mouni Valley Scenic Area is located within Mouni Township, southwest of Songpan County, with the lowest altitude at 2,800 meters and the highest at 4,070 meters. Within the scenic area, mountains, forests, caves, and lakes complement each other. The vast woodlands and numerous lakes rival the colorful pools of Jiuzhaigou, while the travertine waterfalls compete with the 'Jade Pool' of Huanglong.

In midsummer, Mouni Valley is lush with greenery and flowing streams. Its landscapes combine travertine waterfalls, ring-shaped pool waterfalls, high-altitude karst collapse lakes, stalactites, karst caves, travertine remnants, primitive forests, alpine meadows, sulfur hot springs, rare flora and fauna, and unique Tibetan village customs. It is renowned for its 'five wonders': waterfalls, lakes, hot springs, stalactite columns, and folk customs.

Main attractions include: Zhaga Waterfall, Mouni Forest, the Hundred-Acre Azalea, Emerald Hot Spring, Baihua Lake, Moon Lake, Swan Lake, and a group of karst caves.

As an important part of the Huanglong National Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, Mouni Valley is located at the junction of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai provinces. It is the central point of the Greater Jiuzhaigou Golden Tourism Route and a transportation hub leading to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, and the grasslands. With its unique natural landscapes, profound cultural heritage, convenient transportation, and rich tourism experiences, Mouni Valley has become an ideal destination for travelers.

In Mouni Valley, visitors can not only enjoy the magnificent natural landscapes of Zhaga Waterfall and Erdao Lake but also deeply experience the production and life of the Tibetan people and feel the unique charm and profound heritage of Tibetan culture. They can also ride horses through the mountains and forests, experiencing the fun and novelty of horse-riding tourism, offering a unique immersive experience.

Mouni Valley, known for 'heavenly waterfalls and dreamlike flower seas', consists of two valleys: Zhaga Valley and Erdao Lake.

Zhaga Waterfall Scenic Area is 2 kilometers long and comprises 16 scenic spots. It mainly features a group of waterfalls of various shapes, sizes, heights, and widths, each cascading through the forest and meandering among willow trees, majestic and spectacular. Zhaga Waterfall: In Tibetan, 'Zhaga' means white rock.

Zhaga Waterfall starts from a travertine terrace at an altitude of 3,270 meters, roaring straight down and crashing against the huge travertine cliff, forming a massive waterfall curtain. Its sound can be heard for miles, like thousands of horses galloping. Various waterfalls are scattered among fir and cedar trees, with dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, earning it the reputation of 'the dance of water's soul'. At the same time, with its magnificent momentum like the Milky Way pouring down, it has won the title of 'China's No. 1 Travertine Waterfall', attracting countless hiking enthusiasts.

The dense forests on both sides mainly consist of Minjiang fir, purple cone spruce, cypress, birch, etc. Among the woods are shrubs such as arrow bamboo, sour willow, sea buckthorn, and rhododendron (purple rhododendron, dense-branch rhododendron). There are also medicinal plants like red-haired acanthopanax, red peony root, codonopsis, angelica, snow tea, and edible wild fungi such as morel mushrooms and matsutake.

Strolling along the wooden boardwalk, accompanied by the gentle whispers of small lakes and streams, the magnificent waterfall is in full view. Further ahead, there is an observation deck where you can pause, capture the beauty of the waterfall, and leave with eternal memories.

Erdao Lake is both the name of the scenic area and the largest lake within it. Its main landscapes include forests, lakes, flower seas, hot springs, stalactite columns, karst caves, etc., totaling 26 sites. The mysterious and beautiful Erdao Lake is separated from Zhaga Waterfall by only a mountain. Within the valley, pine tassels reach the sky, green grass is lush, flowers are in full bloom, hot springs are pleasant, water scenes are picturesque, hundreds of birds perch, the valley is filled with clear sounds, pristine and pure.

Entering from the valley entrance along the boardwalk, among the dense woods, thousands of lakes of various sizes are scattered. Walking through them, 'a lake every three steps, water every five steps; lakes hidden in the forest, flowers blooming in the lakes' – the scenery is magical, dreamlike. Being in Erdao Lake truly gives a sense of returning to ancient desolation and vastness.

In Mouni Valley, we can not only feel the grandeur of nature but also appreciate the tranquility and poetry of life. Let us, in this early summer, enter Mouni Valley together and experience this unique romance.