An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2024 shows tourists visiting Jiuzhaigou scenic spot in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Jiuzhai Valley, also known as Jiuzhaigou National Park, is known for its spectacular waterfalls, lush forests, serene plateau lakes and karst rock formations. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

CHENGDU, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China has established a new research center dedicated to the protection and scientific management of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jiuzhai Valley in the southwestern province of Sichuan, according to a local university.

The center, jointly established by the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection at Chengdu University of Technology and the administration of the Jiuzhai Valley, marks a new phase of institutionalized collaboration between high-level research and heritage site management, the university said on Tuesday.

The center will focus on several core research areas, including geological hazard risk identification and prevention, post-earthquake ecological restoration, protection of the travertine landscape and lake ecosystems, and long-term monitoring and evaluation. It is also dedicated to translating scientific findings into practical conservation applications, it said.

The establishment of the center is expected to provide long-term scientific and technological support, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of heritage site management, the university said in a press release.

Covering approximately 720 square kilometers, Jiuzhai Valley, also known as Jiuzhaigou National Park, is renowned for its stunning travertine lakes, waterfall clusters, and well-preserved glacial relics, making it one of China's most iconic natural treasures.

Located in the mountains on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is one of the most acclaimed tourist destinations in China.