Huanglong Scenic Area

黄龙

Over 3,400 colored pools are stacked in travertine valleys at altitudes of 3,100–3,600 meters. Golden sands, the Five-Colour Pond and the Competing Beauty Pool make Huanglong a 'Jade Pool of Paradise' that shares UNESCO World Natural Heritage status with Jiuzhaigou.

Huanglong lies at the foot of Xuebao Peak (5,588 meters), the main summit of the Min Mountains in Songpan County. It is about 130 km from the Jiuzhaigou entrance and about 45 km from Chuanzhusi town. A valley about 3.6 km long and 30–170 meters wide is colored golden yellow by travertine deposits, like a yellow dragon winding down the mountain ridge. More than 3,400 travertine pools are stacked layer upon layer in the valley. Huanglong was added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list in 1992 and is also part of the giant panda habitat. The main sights, from bottom to top, are: Welcome Pool (the first group of pools at the entrance), Flying Cascade (a travertine waterfall about 60 meters wide), the Bathing Cave, Golden Sand Slope (a huge golden travertine slope about 1.3 km long, with water spreading across it), Bonsai Pool, Mirror Reflection Pool, Competing Beauty Pool (658 pools with the richest colors), Huanglong Ancient Temple (a Ming dynasty temple), and the Five-Colour Pond (at 3,576 meters, with 693 pools). It is the peak and emblem of Huanglong. The pools display blue, green, yellow and white, and the viewing platform behind the temple offers a panoramic view. How to visit: take the cable car (about CNY 80 one way, about 4 minutes) to the upper station at about 3,500 meters. Then walk about 3 km along a forest boardwalk on level ground to the Five-Colour Pond. From there, follow the valley trail down past Competing Beauty Pool and Golden Sand Slope to the entrance. The full route takes about 3.5–4 hours. If you are fit, you can walk the whole way, which takes about 2.5 hours uphill. Tickets: CNY 170 in peak season (April 1 to November 15), and CNY 60 in the off-season. Getting there: Chuanzhusi town is about an hour from Huanglong, and Jiuzhaijiuzhai Huanglong Airport is also about an hour away. From the Jiuzhaigou entrance to Huanglong takes about 2.5–3 hours. Huanglong is usually visited after Jiuzhaigou (Jiuzhaigou, then Huanglong, then Chuanzhusi or the airport), or you can take the train from Chengdu to Huanglong-Jiuzhai Station and transfer. Tips: the Five-Colour Pond is at 3,576 meters, so altitude sickness is common on the way up. There are free oxygen stations along the route. It is best to take the cable car up and walk down, and to go slowly. Mornings and evenings are cold, and the ultraviolet light is strong. In peak season the viewing platform at the Five-Colour Pond is crowded, so it is best to head up as soon as the park opens in the morning. In winter the pools have less water and their colors fade, so much of their appeal is lost.

Huanglong Scenic Area

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby