The charm of Huanglong, the thousand-year-old secret, the spiritual beauty between heaven and earth.

Huanglong 1. Introduction to Huanglong Huanglong is located in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a world natural heritage and national 5A scenic spot, famous for its unique calcified pools, snow-capped mountains, canyons and forest landscapes. The core attraction, the "Five-Colored Pool", is composed of thousands of calcified colored pools. Under the sun, it looks like a fairyland and is known as the "Fairyland on Earth". The best season to visit is summer and autumn (June-October), when the pool water is at its most colorful. 2. Eat at Huanglong Huanglong is located in the Tibetan-Qiang cultural area, and the food is mainly plateau flavor and Sichuan cuisine: Must-try features: Yak beef hotpot: The meat is tender and can keep you warm. The ancient city yak beef hotpot in Songpan County is recommended. · Butter tea/barley wine: a must-have for Tibetans to entertain guests and experience the authentic plateau flavor. · Tsampa: Fried highland barley flour kneaded into balls, served with milk tea or yogurt. · Potato glutinous rice cake: soft and dense, a daily snack for locals. Restaurant recommendations: Chuanzhusi Town (40 minutes’ drive from Huanglong): Jufuyuan Yak Beef Soup Pot, Plateau Wild Mushroom Soup Pot. Songpan Ancient City: Ma Ji Muslim Restaurant (mutton pilaf). Tips: There are few and expensive dining options in the scenic area. It is recommended to bring your own dry food and enjoy hot food after going down the mountain! 3. Play in Huanglong Core attractions: Five-Color Pool: Located at an altitude of 3,576 meters, the calcified pools present a gradient of blue, green, yellow and white under the sun. Huanglong Temple: An ancient temple from the Ming Dynasty, with snow-capped mountains behind it and a panoramic view of the Five-Colored Pond. · Golden sand paving: The 1.3-kilometer-long golden calcified beach looks like a "dragon's back". · Colorful pools: more than 700 pools are densely distributed, with colorful pools competing with each other. Tour route: Cableway + hiking (recommended): Take the cableway (80 yuan) to Wanglongping → hike for 2 hours to Wucai Pool → walk down the mountain to visit the attractions along the way. Full hike: Scenic area entrance → Welcoming Pool → Waterfall → Colorful Pool (about 4 hours, high physical requirements). · Nearby joint tours: Jiuzhaigou Valley (2 hours’ drive): It is known as one of the “two wonders of western Sichuan” along with Huanglong Valley. It has stunning red leaves in autumn. Munigou (in Songpan County): a small secret place, Zhaga Waterfall and Erdaohai primeval forest. Songpan Ancient City: An important frontier town in the Tang Dynasty, where you can experience the culture of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. 4. Living in Huanglong Nearby scenic spots: · Searchao International Hotel: Located at the entrance of Huanglong Scenic Area, it has Tibetan style and is suitable for people with severe altitude sickness. Hualong Villa: Highly cost-effective, with floor heating, essential for keeping warm in winter. · Chuanzhusi Town (accommodation center): Minshanyuan Hotel: oxygen supply room + free shuttle to scenic spots, considerate service. · Legend of Zangwang Resort Hotel: Tibetan culture theme, you can experience thangka painting. Songpan County (more economical): Songpan Ancient City Inn: Renovation of a century-old house, experience the history of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road Tips: During the peak season (July-October), room rates double, so book one month in advance and give priority to oxygen-supply hotels! 5. Traffic Guide External transportation: · ✈️Plane: Jiuhuang Airport (highland airport, easily affected by weather) → take a taxi to Huanglong (1 hour, about 200 yuan). · 🚌Bus: Chengdu Chadianzi Station → Songpan/Chuanzhusi (6-8 hours), then transfer to the scenic area through bus. · 🚗Self-driving: Chengdu→Wenchuan→Songpan→Huanglong (about 7 hours), the road condition is good but there are many mountainous bends. Transportation to scenic spots: Cableway: 80 yuan for going up and 40 yuan for going down, the first choice for saving energy. · Sightseeing bus: Not available (the whole journey requires walking or cable car). Note: There is a Xueshanliang Observation Deck on the way from Jiuhuang Airport to Huanglong, where you can overlook the main peak of Minshan Mountain, Xuebaoding! 6. Tips 1. Altitude sickness: Huanglong Scenic Area is 3100-3576 meters above sea level. It is recommended to take Rhodiola rosea one week in advance and bring an oxygen cylinder (50 yuan/can in the scenic area). Move slowly and avoid strenuous exercise. If you have a headache or vomiting, get off the mountain immediately. 2. Ticket information: Peak season (April to November) 170 yuan, off-season 60 yuan; cableway charges are extra. Seniors over 60 years old and students can enjoy half price with ID. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the official website "Aba Tourism Network". 3. Clothing Guide: In summer, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large (5-20℃), so you need to prepare a jacket; in winter, there is snow, so wear non-slip boots + down jacket. 4. Environmental protection requirements: · The calcified pool is fragile. It is strictly forbidden to step on the pool water or throw garbage. Violators will be fined from 500 yuan! 7. Hidden gameplay Starry sky photography: There is little light pollution around Chuanzhusi Town, so you can take photos of the Milky Way and snow-capped mountains in the same frame in summer. Tibetan home visit: Experience yak milking and butter tea making in Songpan County, the cost is about 100 yuan per person. · Horseback riding: Ride through the primeval forest in Munigou (200 yuan/hour). Summary: Huanglong is a perfect combination of plateau ecology and calcification wonders. It is recommended to arrange a one-day tour and combine it with Jiuzhaigou and Songpan Ancient Town to form a 3-4-day western Sichuan loop. Pay attention to preventing altitude sickness, keeping warm and protecting the environment, and immerse yourself in the shock of the "Fairyland on Earth"!