The Jiuzhaigou National Park of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its spectacular waterfalls, has been reopened after two years of post-quake reconstruction recovering around 85 percent of its former glory.
The maximum number of visitors in the Jiuzhaigou National Park has been around 20,000 when it was open two years ago.
On August 8, 2017, a 7.0-magnitude quake forced the authorities concerned to close the national park. Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport was also closed due to the same reason.
The airport was reopened on August 8. Local authorities said the transport capacities of all three air and road traffic routes linking to the mountainous scenic spot have been reopened again, much to the delight of tourists.
According to the authorities, visitors can opt shuttle bus services or go hiking when visiting the lush forests, serene plateau lakes and Tibetan cultural sites such as Taru Temple in the park.
The bureau has asked visitors to book tickets in advance on the park’s website with their real names since there is no ticket window at the scenic spot.
The national park is popular for its beauty and iridescent lakes that shimmer against a backdrop of deciduous forests and snow-capped mountains.
At least 24 people and nearly 500 were injured when the magnitude 7 earthquake hit Ngawa prefecture – home to many ethnic Tibetans – in the northwest of the province on August 8, causing widespread damage to the park and its surrounds and triggering landslides.
Nearly 60,000 people, mostly tourists as well as local villagers, were evacuated after being stranded in the park overnight. It was the strongest quake since the deadly tremor that hit the province in 2008.
Tags: China, Jiuzhaigou National Park
