Huanglong Valley; Located in northwestern China’s Sichuan province, it is one of the natural wonders and is famous for its magnificent scenery. Huanglong means “yellow dragon” in Chinese. From a bird’s eye view, Huanglong resembles a giant dragon shining in the sun with its scales. The area is named after the legend that a yellow dragon, who believed to have helped the king of the Xia Kingdom about 4000 years ago, helped create the Min river.
Located in the southern part of Minshan Mountain, Huanglong is about 150 km northwest of the provincial capital, Chengdu. It attracts attention with its rich natural resources, ancient forests and unique scenery. Emerald lakes, waterfalls, colorful forests, snow-capped peaks and villages inhabited by Tibetan people in the region come together and are referred to as “fairy land in the mountains”. Due to all these features, the region has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
Features of Huanglong Valley
The most striking feature of the Huanglong valley is the interesting limestone landforms. These limestone shapes result from the sedimentation process caused by mineral waters flowing over the centuries. The crystal clear water in the pools and terraces presents variable colors in turquoise, green and yellow tones. These colors can vary depending on algae, minerals and other factors in the water.
When to Visit Huanglong Valley?
Huanglong Valley is closed from December to March every year. After the winter months, the ideal time to visit is from June to October, as the water level decreases. The visit and departure of tourists is very carefully controlled by the officials. The government, which works very meticulously for the protection of the natural life here, has even enacted special laws here.
Once you enter the park, elegant and clear pools will welcome you. This is a stunning valley with limestone terraces in blue, green, orange, yellow and white. There are 3400 large and small pools scattered on the valley floor in the region. Visitors can walk the entire valley in about 1.5 to 2 hours. However, there are also those who want to explore the region by cable car, due to the high altitude and mostly slopes of the region. Those who prefer to walk can walk along the path where they will encounter the Huanglong Buddhist temple and other small ponds.
Huanglong Valley has a wooden walkway and, due to the high altitude of the area, oxygen cans are sold at many stalls along the way. However, due to the high prices of food and beverages within the park, it is recommended that you bring your own snacks and beverages. If you’re on your way to China and want to get away from the noisy life of crowded cities, Huanglong is definitely a place you should visit. This magnificent natural wonder is waiting for you. You can also check out our other exploration routes.
