諾日朗瀑布

Nuorilang Waterfall is one of the most famous and most photographed waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou Valley, the great UNESCO World Heritage Site of northern Sichuan, and one of the iconic sights that define the park. Set at the junction where the valley's main branches meet, it is a broad, curtain-like waterfall where the clear, calcium-rich waters of the Jiuzhaigou streams pour over a wide travertine cliff in a shimmering sheet, framed by forested mountains on either side. For most visitors, it is one of the highlights of a day in the valley.

The waterfall takes its name from the Tibetan word for "majestic" or "grand," and the name fits the sight. Unlike a single plunging cascade, Nuorilang spreads across a wide face, so that the water descends as a broad, textured curtain whose shape shifts with the seasons, the light, and the volume of flow. In the height of summer, when the snowmelt is at its peak, the waterfall is at its most powerful, while in winter it can freeze into extraordinary ice formations that transform the cliff into a crystalline sculpture.

The setting is an essential part of its beauty. The waterfall sits within the deep forested valley of Jiuzhaigou, surrounded by the rich alpine woodland that gives the park its character, and the combination of turquoise water, white cascade, dark rock, and green forest creates a scene of remarkable color and contrast. The boardwalks and viewing platforms of the park are positioned so that visitors can approach the waterfall from several angles, each revealing a different aspect of its scale and character.

Nuorilang Waterfall is visited as part of the standard shuttle-bus circuit through Jiuzhaigou Valley, and because it sits at a natural junction of the park's branches, almost every visitor passes it during their day. Allow time to walk the viewing areas rather than simply photographing it from one spot, since the waterfall reveals different moods from different vantage points. For anyone exploring Jiuzhaigou, Nuorilang is one of the most memorable and defining sights in the whole valley.