Pearl Shoal Falls

Pearl Shoal Falls is located in Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan Province, China, within the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Jiuzhaigou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its multi-level waterfalls, colorful lakes, and mountainous terrain.

The waterfall cascades over a wide, gently sloping travertine shoal, and the water splashes and sparkles as it tumbles across the uneven surface, resembling scattered pearls. The name directly describes this visual effect that is characteristic of the calcite-rich travertine formations in Jiuzhaigou.

Pearl Shoal Falls has a drop of approximately 21 meters and a crest width of about 162 meters, making it one of the widest waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou Valley. The wide travertine face over which the water fans out gives it its distinctive appearance.

Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral-rich spring water, and it creates the distinctive wide, terraced surfaces over which the falls cascade. The calcium carbonate in the water also contributes to the vivid turquoise and blue coloring of the pools and streams throughout Jiuzhaigou.

Yes, Jiuzhaigou Valley was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 for its outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity. The park is also a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and is home to endangered species including the giant panda.