Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area in Sichuan province, China, is a mountainous natural landscape known for its calcite-sinter travertine pools, terraced ponds and colorful mineral-rich waters. The site also includes forests, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks in the Minshan mountain range.

The most distinctive features are the series of stepped travertine pools and multicolored ponds that collect along the Huanglong Stream, producing bright blues, greens and ochres in a sequence of terraces. The area also supports diverse mountain vegetation and provides habitat for endangered species.

The formations are natural, created by long-term deposition of calcium carbonate in a high-altitude karst environment; forested slopes and alpine meadows surround the terraces and contribute to the scenic setting.

Huanglong lies in northern Sichuan near Songpan County and is north of the better-known Jiuzhaigou valley, accessible via mountain roads and park trails.

• Altitude and access: The site sits at high altitude and can be cold; visitors should allow time for the short mountain cable-car or uphill walks to reach the main terrace viewpoints and be prepared for altitude and weather changes.

What to See #

• Travertine terraces and Five-Color Pools: Series of travertine terraces and pools formed by calcite deposition along a high mountain valley stream, including the well-known multicolored pools collectively called the Five-Color Pools.
• Forests, waterfalls and peaks: Mountain valleys with mixed conifer and broadleaf forests, waterfalls and high peaks that form the catchment area feeding the terraced pools and streams.