Jiuzhaigou reopens fully after 2017 earthquake: 'Beautiful as ever'

Jiuzhaigou, which literally means "nine-settlement valley", is named after the nine Tibetan settlements in the mountain valley in Aba on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Visitors are drawn to its 108 transparent Alpine lakes and Tibetan and Qiang culture.

Jiuzhaigou is one of five sites in Sichuan on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The others are Huanglong in Aba, which is known for its karst formations and colored ponds; Mount Emei in the city of Emeishan, which is one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains; the Leshan Grand Buddha in the city of Leshan, which is the world's largest sitting Buddha; and the habitat of the giant panda.