Sichuan | Don't come to Huanglong Scenic Area in April, or you will
Gain a lot! ❗️
Currently, in Huanglong Scenic Area, you can see snow-capped mountains, multi-colored pools, and welcoming pools. The dry season in Jiuzhaigou Valley had already set my expectations low, so taking advantage of the fewer crowds to visit Huanglong, I actually found it quite alright. Here's a guide to Huanglong during the early April dry season for your reference.
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1: Attraction ticket: 250+20 (ticket + uphill cable car + sightseeing bus), playtime: about 4 hours.
2: Note that the sightseeing bus is taken after riding the cable car up, and with a daily sales volume of 5000 tickets, it's best to purchase them three days in advance if needed.
3: If you choose not to take the cable car in the scenic area, you will have to walk the same route twice. It is recommended to take the cable car up, which can be boarded for free at the bus station next to the scenic area entrance.
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1: After taking the cable car up, those who have bought tickets for the sightseeing bus can go directly to the queue, while those who haven't will need to walk for about 30 minutes.
2: After arriving by sightseeing bus, you can start walking on foot. At this point, you can already see the snow-capped mountain straight ahead, and the most famous attraction, the multi-colored pools.
3: Right under the snow mountain, keep walking to Huanglong Ancient Temple. There are two paths next to each other leading to the multi-colored pools; we first took the right side to view from the hillside, and on the way back, we took the lower path (you can choose either side).
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1: After enjoying the multi-colored pools, you can follow the plank road all the way down. Although the most beautiful multi-colored pools have been seen, the pools along the way down still have their own characteristics! Definitely worth visiting!
2: The plank road is all downhill, not as tiring as going uphill, just a bit tough on the calves haha, but it's much easier compared to Jiuzhaigou!
Along the way down, you will see the Competing Beauty Pool, Reflecting Colors Pool, Mirror Pool, and Bonsai Pool.
3: Further on, you will see a large area of calcified ground and a small waterfall. At this point, you are not far from the exit of the scenic area. Personally, I feel the scenery is not as stunning as above.
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Scenic Area Summary
1: The scenery is completely different from Jiuzhaigou, so it's worth a visit.
It's not as large as Jiuzhaigou, relatively less tiring, but at a higher altitude, so friends who suffer from altitude sickness should prepare in advance.
2: This attraction is very weather-dependent, mainly because it's about seeing the water. If the weather is bad, the experience can be said to be halved. I only recommend coming on a sunny day (we had a sunny day, but during the short period when the sun was blocked by clouds, the pools looked very ordinary), but when the sun comes out, the experience is maximized! ❗️
Dianchi Lake is really beautiful, shocking beauty! During the dry water period during May 1st, most of the pools have no water, but fortunately, there is still water in the colorful Dianchi Lake. The most unfortunate thing is that the traffic car management is too bad. During May 1st, there is a limit of 5,000, which is obviously much less than tourists. I hope to learn from Jiuzhai, a little more cars, and I can book in advance for fear of waste. Otherwise, you can see it online, forming a vicious circle, and looking forward to improvement.
The scenery of Huanglong colorful pool is not said, quite beautiful! Nature is magical! However, Huanglong's station wagon service is really not good. It is actually limited to 5,000 people. It is not the bus model similar to Jiuzhai and other attractions. It is only more than 3 kilometers on foot. It is already a very high place. It is not a temporary car on holidays. It is a mess. The May 1st ropeway line also has a headache. After waiting for almost an hour, follow the ticket inspection of the tour group faster, and the individual passengers will swipe their ID cards slowly. I hope to learn from Jiuzhaigou and do more travel buses. If you are really afraid of waste, you can also make an appointment online in advance.
The highlight of Huanglong is a variety of pools, cableway up the mountain, of course, you can choose not to go up the mountain, you can see the beautiful snowy mountains after going up the mountain, after the top, you can reach the colorful pool, and then walk down the mountain, the basic scenery can be seen.
Huanglong is about one and a half to two hours drive from Jiuzhaigou. The gate of Huanglong Scenic Area is about 3,100 meters above sea level, and the highest is 3,580 meters above sea level. It is easy to have high reactions. The walking movement should be slow and not suitable for strenuous exercise. Especially in winter, the temperature is very low, only the temperature of noon to a few hours in the afternoon is above zero, pay attention to keep warm, and choose a good time to visit. The wooden plank road on foot is well repaired and it is very comfortable to walk. Most of the water in Huanglong in winter is frozen, but the welcome pool with the lowest altitude and the colorful pool with the highest altitude have water, which is very beautiful, especially the colorful pool with the highest altitude in the scenic spot. The magnificent display of karst landforms, and the color is very rich. It is worth it to climb the stairs on the plateau to the top without effort! We entered the scenic spot at 11 am and came out before 4 pm, just about the warmest time with the sun.
Don't climb up, don't save the money you should spend, it's more expensive. Be sure to walk down, the way to go, money can't replace it, otherwise you can't see too much beauty! Huanglong is a place where you must come once in a lifetime. Leave enough time to stroll slowly and experience slowly. Generally speaking, high reaction is not a big problem. Most people can afford it!
Huanglong is really a ghost of nature. The only regret is that we are here during the dry water period. If the dry water period is recommended, we must do a sightseeing car. Go directly to the end to see the colorful pool. After watching, we will do a sightseeing car directly. You don’t need to walk 7.8 kilometers. If the water season comes, you must walk down the mountain. Watch the scenery along the way.
When I went there, I was lucky. It was a sunny day. Although the colorful pool water was small, it was also very beautiful. The snow-capped pools were all ice, and it was basically snowing. When I went down the mountain, it started to snow and hail. It was raining, and I had seen a different scenery.