Return to Sichuan: Huanglong

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, or Huanglong Scenic Area for short, is the only well-preserved highland wetland in China, located on a ridge that gradually rises from south to north. It covers an area of 700 square kilometers, 100 kilometers away from Jiuzhaigou, with an altitude of 1,700–5,588 meters. The core area is dotted with more than 3,000 colorful ponds. The main attractions are the surface travertine landscape with exquisite structure and bright colors, consisting of Huanglong Valley, Danyun Gorge, Munigou, Xuebaoding, and the Red Army Long March Memorial Park. The valley is covered with milky yellow calcium carbonate deposits, arranged in terraces. The snow water flowing down from the top of the mountain converges into streams, forming terraced lakes and marshes in Huanglong Valley. The water is clear and dust-free, and the color of the water is yellow, green, light blue, or blue due to the changes in the sediments at the bottom of the water and the trees and mountains. It is a national 5A tourist attraction. 📍Address: Near Pingsong Road, Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province 🕙Opening hours: April 13–October 31: 7:30 am–6:00 pm; November 1–April 12: 9:00 am–5:30 pm ⏳Duration: 3–5 hours 💰Ticket price: Peak season: CNY 90/person; off season: CNY 60/person; cable car: CNY 80 for uphill, CNY 40 for downhill (cable car operating hours: 8:00 am–5:30 pm) ❤Recommended route: Take the cable car uphill → take the sightseeing bus → walk to the Five-Color Pond → go downhill to the Zhengan Pond → exit the scenic area at the Yingbin Pond. You will need to walk about 8 kilometers if you don't take the sightseeing bus. 🌟Highlights: It has the largest open-air travertine pond group in the world and is known as the Yaochi on earth. 📝Tips: 1. Huanglong sightseeing bus: CNY 20 (Tip: The number of tickets is limited, with only 5,000 tickets sold per day, so remember to book three days in advance!) 2. The distance between the entrance of Huanglong and the cable car station is long, so you must think about how to play and get off at the designated entrance. 3. Go to the cable car early to avoid queuing. If you see people queuing but there are no wooden railings, it is recommended that you turn around, walk, or change the day. It is normal to queue for 4–5 hours for the cable car in peak season. 4. It is recommended that those traveling in groups give up the Five-Color Pond on the top of the mountain and go downhill from the path of the Zhengan Pond. 2–3 hours is not enough to enjoy the tour. 5. About the altitude: The altitude is about 3,000 meters at the entrance of Huanglong Scenic Area and about 3,500 meters at the highest point of the scenic area. Do not force yourself if you have altitude sickness.