Huanglong

Overview

About

Huanglong (“Yellow Dragon”), in Songpan County of the same prefecture, covers 700 km² and is known for its high-altitude coloured pools and terraced travertine cascades. The main gorge runs 3.7 km from Fuyuan Bridge at the mouth to the Zhuanhua Jade Pool by Huanglong Temple, covering about 1 km², with the Huanglong Temple, Danyun Gorge, Xueshanliang and Mount Xuebaoding areas and the Dani Valley. Sights include the Welcoming Pools, the Flying Waterfall, the Body-Washing Cave, the Bonsai Pools, the Mirror Pools, the Azalea Pools, the Contending Pools, the Golden Dragon’s Back cascade, the Jade Tree cascade, the Middle Temple, Horseshoe Lake, Huanglong Cave, Huanglong Temple, the Stone Pagoda Pool, the Five-Colour Pools and the Zhuanhua Jade Pool.

Outside the main area is the Dani Valley, with the Erdaohai lakes and Zhaga Waterfall among primeval forest. Xueshanliang is an important stop on the road to Huanglong.

Mount Xuebaoding, 5,588 m, is the highest peak of the region, with four alpine lakes and climbing and skiing; Danyun Gorge is a well-forested canyon.

It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992, as a natural site.

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