Jewels of nature

Shimmering blue lakes, forests rich with new spring growth and lingering snow on the surrounding mountains make a walk through Jiuzhaigou Valley a fairy-tale experience, Deng Zhangyu discovers.

Before I arrive in the Jiuzhaigou Valley, I've heard that even a top artist cannot capture the colors of this heaven-like place in paint. When I see the clear turquoise lakes with my own eyes, I'm overwhelmed by the breathtaking colors - a work of art never touched by a painter's brush.

Getting out of the Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, where the elevation is 3,348 meters, I am confronted by heavy snow when I am still in my T-shirt in early May. I quickly slip into my down jacket and jump into a waiting car.