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. ■