Long Lake 长海, Jiuzhaigou

Long Lake, Jiuzhaigou (17 October, 2005)

Long Lake (Simplified Chinese: 长海; Traditional Chinese: 長海; Pinyin: Zhǎng hǎi) is a beautiful highland lake located at 3,102 m above sea level in the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. The S-shaped Long Lake covers an area of 930,000 sq meters, making it the largest lake in Jiuzhaigou. It is 4390 meters long, and has an average width of 200 meters and reaches a depth of 80 meters. To me, Long Lake is the most scenic and majestic lake in Jiuzhaigou.

Long Lake is located at the furthest end of the road up Zechawa Gully. There is a viewing platform that allows visitors to get a good look of the lake from an elevated position. Steps also lead down to the lake side. One is not allowed to touch the water of the lake, however.

Throngs of visitors crowd the banks of Long Lake from the viewing platform, especially during the peak season of October, making it tough for many to get a good view of the lake.