The name Jiuzhaigou conjures images of a place almost too perfect to be real. Turquoise lakes that look like spilled gemstones, multi-tiered waterfalls cascading through dense forests, and a silence so profound it feels sacred. It’s a symphony of nature played in vibrant, liquid color. Yet, within this UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is a pinnacle, a place where the symphony reaches its most serene and majestic movement. This is Long Lake (Changhai), the highest, largest, and deepest alpine lake in all of Jiuzhaigou.
Perched at an elevation of over 3,100 meters (10,170 feet) at the end of the Rize Valley, Long Lake isn’t just a destination; it’s a pilgrimage. The journey to it is a masterclass in anticipation. As the eco-friendly shuttle bus winds its way up the meticulously maintained road, the landscape transforms. The lower valley’s dazzling blues and greens give way to the rugged, soaring grandeur of the Min Mountains. The air grows crisper, thinner, and carries the scent of pine and cold stone. Each turn builds the suspense, until finally, you disembark and walk the last wooden boardwalk through a forest of ancient firs.
Then, it reveals itself. Long Lake is not a shock of color like the famed Five-Color Pond or Panda Lake below. Its beauty is of a different, more ancient order. Stretching over 7 kilometers in length and plunging to depths rumored to exceed 100 meters, it is a vast, silent expanse of profound blue and green, cradled in a majestic glacial cirque. The lake is a terminal moraine lake, formed by glacial activity millennia ago. A natural dam of rock and debris holds back this immense volume of pristine water, which is fed almost entirely by snowmelt and rainfall from the surrounding peaks.
No discussion of Long Lake is complete without its most famous resident: the legendary monster. Locals have long spoken of a mysterious creature dwelling in the lake’s unfathomable depths. While no scientific evidence has ever been found, the legend adds a layer of mystique that captures the imagination of every visitor. It’s a reminder that in our hyper-connected world, there are still places that guard their secrets fiercely. This legend has become a cultural tourism hotspot, inspiring social media challenges, local artisan crafts, and endless speculation among travelers. It’s the Loch Ness of the East, but set against a backdrop arguably more dramatic.
The true magic of Long Lake is its chameleon-like ability to transform with the seasons, each offering a radically different, yet equally breathtaking, experience.
From late November through March, Long Lake becomes a scene from a fantasy epic. The entire surface freezes into a thick, flawless pane of turquoise-tinted ice. Snow drapes the surrounding firs in heavy, silent cloaks, and the waterfalls that feed it in warmer months become colossal, frozen sculptures of blue ice. This "ice and snow tourism" phenomenon has exploded in popularity. Photographers and adventurers flock here to witness this stark, monochromatic beauty, a stark contrast to the valley’s famous colorful palette. The silence in winter is absolute, broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot.
As spring arrives, the lake awakens. The ice cracks and groans, melting into crystal-clear water that begins to reflect the re-emerging life. By summer, Long Lake is a perfect mirror. On a calm day, the surrounding peaks—including the iconic snow-capped crown of Bogda Peak—are duplicated with such precision on the water’s surface that the line between reality and reflection vanishes. This is the prime time for the "Instagram vs. Reality" moment, where the actual view is, astonishingly, even better than the filtered photos.
Autumn is Jiuzhaigou’s most famous season, and from the vantage point of Long Lake, it is utterly transcendent. The dense forests that ring the lake erupt in a conflagration of color: gold, crimson, amber, and bronze. This fiery tapestry is reflected in the deep blue water, creating a dizzying, kaleidoscopic scene. It is the ultimate reward for the journey, a visual feast that has made it a top bucket-list item for nature lovers and photographers worldwide. The tourism infrastructure is at its peak during this time, with clear boardwalks and shuttles making this alpine wonder accessible.
The rise of Long Lake as a must-see highlight is inseparable from the broader, careful development of Jiuzhaigou as a model for sustainable tourism in China. After a devastating earthquake in 2017, the park underwent a massive, ecologically sensitive restoration and reopened with strict visitor caps and a reservation-only system.
This system is now a case study in managing overtourism. The mandatory use of park shuttles on hybrid or electric engines minimizes the carbon footprint. The extensive network of boardwalks protects the fragile calcareous terrain and lake edges from erosion. Visiting Long Lake today is a lesson in how to balance awe-inspiring access with vital preservation. It’s a privilege, not a right, and that awareness enhances the experience.
The tourism boom centered on landmarks like Long Lake has a significant community impact. The nearby towns of Zhangzha and the larger Songpan region have seen a renaissance in local culture. Homestays run by Tibetan and Qiang families offer authentic experiences. Artisans sell traditional crafts like Thangka paintings and embroidered textiles. Restaurants serve up hearty, local cuisine like yak meat hotpot and barley wine. The economic benefits of preserving this natural wonder are directly channeled into sustaining the indigenous cultures that have called these mountains home for centuries.
Ultimately, the statistics, geology, and tourism trends fade away when you are finally there, on the wooden platform overlooking Long Lake. The scale is humbling. The water holds a dark, deep intelligence, its colors shifting from jade near the shores to an inky, mysterious blue at its center. You breathe the thin, pure air. You hear nothing but the wind sighing through the firs and the distant call of a bird.
It’s a place that demands quiet contemplation. In a world of constant noise and stimulation, Long Lake offers a rare commodity: profound stillness. It reminds you of the earth’s ancient rhythms, of processes that move in millennia, not minutes. You leave not just with photos, but with a feeling—a sense of having touched something timeless. The journey back down the valley feels different; the lower lakes seem brighter, the waterfalls more joyful, as if you’ve been to the solemn, wise elder at the head of the family and now better understand the vibrant children playing below. Long Lake isn’t just the highest lake in Jiuzhaigou; it’s the spiritual summit of the journey.
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Author: Jiuzhaigou Travel
Link: https://jiuzhaigoutravel.github.io/travel-blog/jiuzhaigous-long-lake-the-highest-alpine-lake.htm
Source: Jiuzhaigou Travel
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