本文所及之岷江峡谷,谨其由灌县城至汶川县映秀湾之一段,适当康藏大地块与四川盆地之接触地带,区内主要大道有三,一循岷江北岸经龙溪越娘子岭至映秀湾以通岷江上游,二循岷江南岸径漩口至映秀湾与前道合为通岷江上游之偏道,三沿岷江南岸经漩口转循支流寿河而上以通懋功,除第一道较宽坦可通骡马外,其余二道均为小道,谨供人行。

The surneyed area is situatad at the north of Chengtu in the Min-kiang Gorge between Kuanhsien and Ying-Siu-Wan in Wenchuan Hsien, Lying at thp contact zone of the Tibetan Plateau and the Szechnan Basin，it is essentially a region of sieep mountains dissected by deep valleys, Allu-vial plain is strictly limited, except narrow river terraces which form the chief centers of agriculture Sheltered by high mountains, the Minkiang Gorge receives insufficient sunshine with low temperature but high relat-ive humidity.