Huanglong

a,introduction: Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Scenic Area, also in northern Sichuan‘s Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, neighbors the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. It was named after the ancient Huanglong Temple within the area. The most remarkable scene in the area is the Huanglong Valley noted for its unique open karst landscape. The main attraction of the valley is the 3.6-kilometer-long and 30 to 70-meter-wide pale yellow calcareous deposits. At the end of the valley, water from melting snow mixes with limestone water from underground, flowing down the mountain terraces, depositing the calcium carbonate from the limestone water on the rocks, stones, and fallen branches in its path. The calcium carbonate, in turn, develops into solid, low travertine banks and reacts chemically with organic and inorganic substances, resulting in various kinds of calcareous deposits that reflect a golden color in the sunlight in the water that flows down the slopes just like a huge yellow dragon flying down the snow mountain. When water flows into two separate streams, it naturally turns into more colorful lakes and waterfalls, forming a ladder-shaped lake group. The water is crystal clear. The mineral deposits at the lake bottom look like jadeite and agate – magnificent and beautiful. The Huanglong Temple is situated on the top of the scenic area. South of the temple is Xuebaoding, the main peak of the snow-capped Minshan Mountain. Rising 5,588 meters above sea level, it is covered in snow all year round. This mountainous landscape is famed for its colorful pools, snow-capped mountains, deep forests, waterfalls and diversified cultures. The scenic area was made a world natural heritage site in 1992.

b)Traffic information: Bus：
Air: the newly opened Jiuzhaigou airport is located in Zhuanzhusi, 10 minutes by car to Songpan. For the moment, six daily flights fly from Chengdu to this airport.

Bus：1）Chengdu --> Songpan: Y35-40
The bus leaves early in the morning. The trip will take more than 8 hours.

2）Songpan --> Huanglong,

 Huanglong is 56 KM from Songpan. An ideal way is to share a minibus with other individual travelers to do this trip. Alternatively you can take a bus heading for Pingwu from Songpan in the morning. But don't count on the public buses in Huanglong to return to Songpan as nobody knows exactly when they pass by.

3）No direct connection by public bus. The best way to go to Huanglong is to rent a minibus (for 6 persons) from Jiuzhaigou, which costs around RMB 200 - RMB 280 depending on your negotiation skills.

c)Scenic climate:

d)Food and hotels:there is a fast food restaurant near the Huanglong Taoist Temple. It was the only restaurant in the valley. The medium-sized, well-decorated restaurant offered mutton, ham, highland barley cakes, potatoes, mushrooms, wild vegetables and instant noodles.

e)Warm cue:  1)Be careful with high altitude and cool temperature.
At the entrance of the park, the altitude is at 3160 m, the ascent is around 300m.
 2)Walk up slowly.
3) Don't forget your umbrella.
Lot of rain falls between May and September in the region.

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