Last updated on January 26th, 2025
Discover the magical Huanglong Scenic Area, known for its vibrant colorful lakes, snow-capped mountains, and a delightful village with a day trip to Huanglong itinerary.
Huanglong National Park, also known as Huanglong Scenic Area (Chinese: 黄龙景区), is located in Songpan County, northwest Sichuan. The Huanglong Valley is renowned for its vibrant, colorful lakes, snow-capped mountains, and charming villages. Along with Jiuzhaigou National Park, Huanglong is one of two fairy tale destinations in northwestern Sichuan Province and a must-visit on any Sichuan itinerary. This scenic area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
During my trip to Sichuan, I had the opportunity to visit Huanglong and was captivated by its natural beauty. The autumn leaves, frozen waterfalls, and colorful ponds displaying shades of blue and yellow create a surreal landscape. The views are truly stunning.
Continue reading to learn more about my trip to Huanglong. I will share information on how to get there, useful travel tips, and advice to help you plan your Huanglong itinerary.
How To Get to Huanglong
Huanglong Scenic Area is located approximately 360 kilometers north-northwest of Chengdu. Many travelers choose to combine their trip to Huanglong with a visit to Jiuzhaigou. Numerous attractions that can enhance your Sichuan itinerary.
There are several options for travelers to reach Huanglong from Chengdu:
1. By Flight: You can take a domestic flight to Jiuhuang Airport, the nearest airport in the region. From the airport, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive to Huanglong Scenic Area.
2. By High-Speed Train (Chengdu to Huanglongjiuzhai Station + Bus): This is the most economical and fastest way to reach Huanglongu. Upon arrival at the high-speed rail station, you will find a bus station conveniently located just outside the railway station. Be sure to check the train and bus schedules and make your bookings in advance.
3. By Long-Distance Bus: This was the most common and budget-friendly option to get to Huanglong from Chengdu before the high-speed train became available. The bus journey can be exhausting and usually takes about 8 to 10 hours, depending on road conditions and stops along the way.
4. By Private Tour: We recommend opting for a private charter tour that allows you to customize your trip to Huanglong and nearby attractions for a few days.
Huanglong Travel Guide Tips: Trip.com offers various transport options and public transport tickets, making it a reliable online travel agency for international travelers. Check out their Jiuzhaigou / Huanglong transport ticket options (train and bus).
How To Visit Huanglong
The must-see in Huanglong – Five-color Lake is located at the northernmost tip of the 7.2 km long Huanglong Valley in the scenic area. Travelers have the option to either take the 5 km altitude uphill walk from the entrance to the Five-color Lake or take a cable car to reduce the hiking distance.
Purchase the Huanglong Entrance Ticket
Uphill Walk: The walk from the entrance to the Five-Color Lake is approximately 5 kilometers uphill, and the altitude can make the hike quite strenuous. Be aware that the elevation ranges from 3,000 to 3,500 meters, and you may not have acclimatized to these heights.
Cable Car: A highly recommended alternative is to take an 5-minute cable car ride to the Wanlong Ping station. From there, it’s a manageable 2-kilometer hike to the Five-Color Lake.
When descending, you also have the same option to either take the cable car or hike the 5-kilometer journey.
Important: If you choose the cable car, please make sure to reserve your ticket in advance. Otherwise, the tickets may sell out, and you will need to hike the entire distance.
Huanglong Entrance Ticket
When visiting Huanglong, you will need to purchase an entrance ticket to access the Huanglong Scenic Area. While taking the cable car is an option, we strongly recommend riding the cable car up and then making your way down slowly. If you choose to hike up instead, be prepared for a challenging 3-hour journey up steep platforms at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, where oxygen levels are low.
Huanglong Entrance Ticket Prices:
- Peak Season (June 1st to December 15th): Rmb170 per person
- Off Season (December 16th to May 31st): Rmb 60 per person
- Cable Car Ticket (Optional, Highly Recommended): Rmb 80 (Ascent) + Rmb 40
Purchase the Huanglong Entrance Ticket
Huanglong Travel Tips: It is important to reserve your ticket because there is no ticket counter for ticket sales.
Our Huanglong Itinerary
We decided to take the cable car since walking at this altitude was still quite challenging. First, we walked to the bus station near the entrance to catch the electric shuttle bus to the lower cable car station. From there, we traveled in the cable car to the Wanlong Ping Upper Cable Car Station, which was a short five-minute ride.
As we ascended, the atmosphere became misty and the air grew colder.
Once we arrived at the Wanlong Ping Upper Cable Car Station, we began walking along the boardwalks toward our destination: Five-Color Lake. The walkway is mostly flat, with only a few occasional steps up and down. It is well-equipped with restrooms and trash bins conveniently placed along the route.
There is a lookout point that offers a breathtaking view along the treckking.
We continued our walk along the wooden walkway. After some times, we reached a beautiful temple, the HuangLong Ancient Temple.
The HuangLong Ancient Temple (Chinese: 黃龍古寺) is a well-maintained, 600-year-old Taoist temple. We took a quick peek through the main door and saw incense urns in the courtyard.
Next, we continued our Huanglong itinerary to view on the Five-Color Lake. There is a circular path that allows us to view the highlights, with an upper path and a lower path located right beside the Five-Color Lake. Each path offers a different perspective.
We embarked on a 450-meter uphill walk that would take us to the Five-Color Lakes. Although it was only 450 meters, it took us quite some time to reach the lake because the air was thin at this high altitude. We made a conscious effort to walk slowly and take plenty of breaks to prevent exhaustion.
Five-Color Lakes
The view on Five-Color Lakes (Chinese: 五彩池) and it was stunning!
The water was incredibly colorful, displaying shades of light blue, light green, and turquoise, surrounded by golden-yellow rocks. In the background, there was pure white snow and a bright blue sky, with the Tibetan Buddhist temples scattered throughout the valley. The scene resembled a fairyland!
The water in the Five-Color Lake resembles a multi-layered pool of blue, green, and turquoise. Although the colors were not as vibrant as those shown on the ticket, it was still a breathtaking sight.
There are also several viewing decks at higher elevations to view on Five-Color Lake Huanglong. The views from upper side were well worth the effort, as the scenes and colors of the Five-Color Lakes changed at different heights. When the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, the bluish hue of the water deepened, creating a lovely paradise.
The multi-layered pool view was truly stunning. When the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, the bluish hue of the water deepened, creating a lovely paradise.
Finally, we walked along the river. While descending during our Huanglong itinerary, we came across many beautiful sights, including terraced pools, river sections with yellow stone bottoms, and several waterfalls.
It took us about 4 to 5 hours to walk from the top to the exit.
More Huanglong Travel Guide Tips
If you’re planning to visit Huanglong National Park, here are some essential tips to ensure your trip goes smoothly:
The entire Huanglong itinerary took us about 6 hours, including the ascent by cable car and the descent on foot. So please plan accordingly.
Fitness Level: While it can be a challenging hike, it may be difficult for the elderly. Make sure your fitness level is suitable for the visit.
To help acclimatize to altitude sickness, it’s beneficial to stay in the Jiuzaigou or Huanglong area before your climb. This helps your body adjust to the elevation.
It is advisable to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress warmly, as the temperature can vary significantly.
The best time to visit Huanglong is from August to October; however, the crowds and summer heat can be quite frustrating.
Book Tickets in Advance: Securing your tickets ahead of time is essential to avoid disappointment. This is especially true for the cable car tickets, as you will need to hike up if they sell out.
Purchase the Huanglong Entrance Ticket
In addition to the entrance and cable car tickets required for your Hualong itinerary, there is an optional sightseeing bus available that runs from the cable car station to the Five-Color Lake. Please note that tickets for the sightseeing bus must be purchased in advance through the official Aba Tourism Network account in China. Unfortunately, there is a daily limit of 5,000 tickets, which makes it difficult for international travelers to buy them on the day of their visit.
Arrive Early: Be prepared for long queues for the cable car, so getting there early is advisable.
Overall: A Visit to Huanglong
Overall, the Huanglong Scenic Area is definitely worth a visit. This high-altitude natural attraction, with an average elevation of 3,500 meters, features stunning mountain ridges, snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, rivers, waterfalls, ponds, and lakes.
Although our visit was during the off-season at the end of November, it was still worthwhile, as the views remained magical. The hike was challenging but rewarding, and we were glad that we persevered. What an incredible experience!
Related Huanglong Travel Blog:
- Trip to Jiuzhaigou Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Jiuzhaigou Orange Hotel Review (Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area)
If you plan to visit Chengdu Sichuan and the surrounding areas, be sure to check out our travel blog below:
