Huanglong | The Colorful Ponds in Textbooks

| The Colorful Ponds in Textbooks. The following is the content converted into rich text format (using Markdown as an example, you can convert it into other rich text formats according to actual needs): Huanglong Scenic Area Travel Guide I. Introduction to the Scenic Area Huanglong is located in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a World Natural Heritage Site and a national 5A scenic spot, famous for its calcified colorful ponds, snow-capped mountains and canyons, primitive forests, and Tibetan and Qiang customs. The core landscape is the "Golden Dragon", a 3.6 km-long surface calcification deposit, with more than 3,400 colorful ponds, known as "Wonderland on Earth". II. Best Time to Visit - July–October: Abundant water volume, the most colorful ponds, alpine azaleas and autumn leaves intertwined (September–October is the best). - May–June: Fewer tourists, snow-capped mountains have not melted, and the pool water is clear. - November–April: Some boardwalks are closed in winter, but the snow scene and icefall have a unique charm (pay attention to the scenic spot's opening announcement). III. Transportation Guide [External Transportation] 1. Airplane: - To Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (altitude 3,448m), transfer to the airport bus or charter a car to Huanglong Scenic Area (approx. 1 hour, there are direct buses during peak season). 2. Self-driving: - Departure from Chengdu: Chengdu → Wenchuan → Maoxian → Songpan → Huanglong (approx. 6–7 hours, many mountain roads with curves). - Jiuzhaigou → Huanglong: Approx. 2.5 hours drive, passing through Xueshan Liangzi (4,007m altitude viewing platform). 3. Bus: Take a bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Station to Songpan/Chuanzhusi Town, and transfer to the scenic spot's direct bus. [Transportation within the Scenic Area] - Cable car: CNY 80/person for the upward journey, CNY 40/person for the downward journey. It is recommended to take the cable car up the mountain → walk down the mountain (save energy). - Hiking route: Approx. 4.5 km of wooden boardwalk, altitude 3,100–3,600m, the tour takes 4–6 hours. IV. Must-Visit Attractions 1. Colorful Ponds - The calcified colorful pond group at the top of Huanglong, showing a gradient of blue, green, and yellow under the sunlight. The best time to take pictures is 11:00–15:00 (sunny day). 2. Contending Beauty Pond - The largest colorful pond group, with more than 700 ponds inlaid like gems. The pool water has different colors due to different mineral content. 3. Huanglong Temple (Back Temple) - An ancient temple of the Ming Dynasty, backed by snow-capped mountains, integrating Tibetan and Han styles. The viewing platform in front of the temple offers a panoramic view of the colorful ponds. 4. Flying Waterfall - A golden waterfall on the calcified beach, with water mist refracting sunlight to form a rainbow spectacle. 5. Sands Paving the Ground - A 1.3 km-long golden calcified beach, shining like giant dragon scales in the sun. V. Coping with Altitude Sickness - Preventive measures: - Take Rhodiola Rosea 1 week in advance, and do not take a bath, drink alcohol, or do strenuous exercise on the day of arrival. - Carry an oxygen cylinder with you (approx. CNY 30/can outside the scenic area) and glucose oral solution. - Relief methods: - If you experience headache or shortness of breath, rest and inhale oxygen immediately. In severe cases, retreat to a lower altitude area. VI. Featured Food Recommendations - Yak meat hot pot: The yak meat on the plateau is firm, with a wild mushroom soup base (recommended "Gaoyuan Yak Hot Pot" in Chuanzhusi Town). - Butter tea + highland barley cake: Traditional Tibetan breakfast to relieve altitude sickness discomfort. - Pickled cabbage noodles: Sour and spicy, suitable for replenishing energy after hiking. - Songpan Smoked Pork: Smoked pork with chili noodles, unique flavor. VII. Accommodation Recommendations - Entrance of the scenic area: - Serges International Hotel: A 5-minute walk to the cable car station, offering oxygen bar rooms (approx. CNY 600/night). - Chuanzhusi Town (40 minutes from the scenic area): - Minjiangyuan International Hotel: Cost-effective, convenient for visiting Jiuzhaigou the next day (approx. CNY 300/night). - Songpan County (1 hour from the scenic area): - Songpan Ancient City Homestay: Tibetan style, experience slow life (approx. CNY 200/night). VIII. Precautions 1. Ticket reservation: - Peak season (April–November) ticket is CNY 170, off-season is CNY 60, and you need to make a reservation in advance on "Aba Tourism Website". 2. Wearing equipment: - Waterproof and non-slip hiking shoes, windbreaker (mountain weather is changeable), and a thin down jacket in summer. 3. Environmental protection guidelines: - Do not step on the calcified ponds or throw coins, and take the garbage with you. 4. Signal and cash: - The signal is weak in the scenic area, so bring a small amount of cash to buy supplies. IX. Itinerary Reference [One-day tour] - Morning: Cable car up the mountain → Wanglongping Viewing Platform → Huanglong Temple → Colorful Ponds. - Afternoon: Contending Beauty Pond → Sands Paving the Ground → Flying Waterfall → Hike down the mountain. [Two-day tour to Jiuzhaigou] - Day 1: Chengdu → Huanglong → Overnight stay in Chuanzhusi Town. - Day 2: Chuanzhusi → Jiuzhaigou (2 hours drive) → Visit Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. Huanglong is an artwork sculpted by nature and time. The colorful ponds, snow-capped mountains, and forests jointly compose the poetry of the plateau. Prepare for altitude sickness prevention before departure, bring your camera and a heart of awe, and feel this visual feast! 🏞️📸💧