The long short of it is that China lost Hong Kong to the British during the Opium Wars. In the nineteenth century, tea-obsessed Britain was absolutely in love with all the tea in China. However, there was a problem: Britain wanted China’s tea but they didn’t want to exhaust their stock in golds and silvers to get it. Another problem: the Qing Dynasty didn’t want anything Britain was willing to trade. This prompted Queen Victoria to redirect their opium exports to China in an attempt to get the Chinese people addicted and willing to trade their precious tea. When the Chinese government learned of this, the narcotics were destroyed prompting the First Opium War.

China was defeated and Hong Kong was seized by British control. A Second Opium War began and ended, giving Britain full control over the entire tea trade by granting them possession of the neighboring territories surrounding Hong Kong’s port. It was all on the condition of a 99-year lease which has since expired, returning all British-held land to the PRC.

The travertine landscape found there is said to resemble the shape of a dragon. Waterfalls, caves and beautifully colored pools and ponds dot the land. The water of the 3,000 different pools is in shades of yellow, green, blue and brown.The whole story can be found at http://dedyiswanto.com/2011/07/28/huanglong-scenic-area/ At Huanglong’s elevation of 10,000 feet, there are glaciers, snow topped mountains and limestone rock formations. There are also forests and hot springs in the area, as well as sparkling streams. The scenic area is located about 93 miles north of the capital of Sichuan, Chengdu, in the Minshan Mountains. There is an ancient Buddhist temple at the top end of the valley and Xishen Cave Waterfall at the other end.

Huanglong is a fascinating and interesting area that clearly demonstrates what thousands of years of geological change is able to create. The atmosphere is a mixture of arctic and alpine. Huanglong is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Jiuzhaigou Valley is renowned for its natural beauty including beautiful waterfalls and lakes. The Jialing River has its source in the valley. With a concentration of over 140 species of flora, the valley serves as a haven for China’s native wildlife. It provides a home to the rare giant panda and snub-nosed monkey. In 1992, the United Nations declared the valley as a World Heritage Site. In recent years, China has opened up the area and promoted the valley for tourism.

The people of Sichuan Province have endured war and disaster over the centuries. In May 2008, an earthquake rocked the province causing many deaths and massive devastation. Three years later, life is finally returning to a normal pace. Soon people will return to the Jiuzhaigou Valley to see the many natural wonders of this treasured historic site.