Huanglong travertine cascades: limestone beauty – in spades.

Not far from Jiuzhaigou National Park (100 km by road) there’s another unique beautiful natural object – the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area. It features a cascade of travertine (limestone) baths, pools, lakes and waterfalls of various forms and colors. The cascade is around 3km in length in a straight line, or ~5km if you take the tourist paths beside it. The spectacle is fantastic:

But why the words? Let the photos speak for themselves…

I’d been here before – in 2015, but the place was so awesome I knew I needed to return. And I want return again already!…

As per tradition, a bit of technical information for those who may decide to come here and see all the beauty for themselves…

First, you need to prepare for the fact that you’ll have to walk at an altitude of 3200-3600m. If that’s a little scary, you can buy oxygen cans at the airport. Second, since it’s all about mountains, it can get quite cold. For example, this time in mid-October it snowed – even though it’s on the same latitude as northern Africa! And third, you need to plan the time of your visit: since Huanglong is extremely popular with local tourists, even in the generally quiet and crowd-free days immediately after Golden Week, you still have to stand in lines such as this one (for the cable car):

Still, it wasn’t so bad; it could have been worse line-wise…

…Much worse! ->

Therefore, I recommend spending the night just before a visit in the nearby hotel; you can get to the entrance to the cable car before the line forms…

But you may have to forego breakfast since it starts at the same time as the cable car opens! Or you could take a quick breakfast and get to the cable car before the buses arrive at 9am…

Be prepared for a four-five-six hour walk!…

If you arrive around noon and there’s a long line (at the entrance – to the left on the map), you could forego the cable car and simply walk. It’s five kilometers up and five back, with a rise/fall in altitude of around 400 meters. You’ll be able to see some great views from different angles, for the tourist paths run along both sides of the water flows and travertine pools with lakes. You can go up on one side, and come back down on the other.

We took the cable car though. We bought tickets (for foreigners – only available at the ticket office, and strictly upon presentation of your passport), piled into the cabin, and off we popped. About half-way the scene began to turn white with fresh snow! ->

After the cable car we still had to walk some 3km+ to the furthest point of the route…

Here was something new (since last time): mini-buses can be taken from here by those too lazy to walk. We passed – even though there was hardly a line:

Better to walk through the mountain forest:

The path had been neatly swept of snow:

Below – cascades of colorful lakes:

Just a little farther, and we’re there…

Here we were at the very top of the route. And the idea is that around this time the sun starts to light up the valley and all these blue and green pools:

Alas, we were not given sunshine in the morning, but there were still some of the bright colors. These pools are called Five-Color Pond ->

Buddhist Temple. Up there’s a mountain range with a peak of almost 5600 meters; alas – covered with clouds.

It wasn’t raining; the water was from the melting snow on the roof:

Before going any further, a few words about local tourism infrastructure. Here, as usual in China, everything is designed for the convenience of curious visitors. There are rather wide paths everywhere:

Gazebos for thoughtful contemplation:

Resting places, eateries, and other amenities:

Signs and maps in both Chinese and English (it’s impossible to get lost) ->

Next up for us – the travertine pools…

Up close, you can see this here wall – built up of calcium and other minerals that have colored the whole scene in shades of yellow:

This cascade in the forest areas looks especially grand:

On and on we stroll, marveling at cascade after cascade…

The next section is just water flowing across the yellow rock bed. Yellow? Yes, of course! Huanglong literally translates as Yellow Dragon!

Well, that’s one way to carry three huge boxes ->

…A popular method ->

Obviously, this kind of delivery of FMCG to the top is cheaper than via cable car:

We asked how much the boxes weighed. Answer: 80kg!! No wonder he’s grimacing! ->

And we continue further through these fantastic constructions:

Stylish glamor. With paths as solid as this – why not? Wearing a business suit and office shoes would be doable here )…

More… catwalkers ) ->

Turns out – they were headed for a photoshoot ) ->

Near the end of the route – waterfalls:

And again colorful lakes:

And another waterfall:

And again a lake – when will it end?!…

But the views are magical:

Again, travertine pools:

If you tire of the pools, you can take a path that’s away from them – through the forest:

And we’re at the exit – done!

What a fantastic place. And, like I say, I already want to go back!…

And a few more photos taken by my travel companions:

Two thumbs up!

The rest of the photos from our China-2024 trip are here.

READ COMMENTS 0
Leave a note