When we got back to Songpan (松潘), we set our stuff down at the same hostel as before, and had them get us a taxi to Huanglong. The driver was Hui (Muslim) Chinese named Meng En Fu (蒙恩富), and he took us through the winding mountains roads.
We stopped to take pictures once we were at the highest point along the route:
This is XueBaoDing(雪寶鼎 - Precious Snow Peak), the highest peak in the area, and a sacred Tibetan mountain:
It rises to 5600m (18,400 ft – more than 3 miles high!).
We continued on, going downhill on the remainder of our 40 minute journey. We got to Huanglong (黃龍) at around 3pm.
"How long does it take to walk through the park?" Larry asks.
"It's usually about 4 hours to walk there and back (it's 4km each way), but maybe you can do it in 3 if you're fast," Mr. Meng responded.
"I see."
"The park closes at 6pm though. However, there's also a tram which will take you close to the top."
"That's okay. We'll walk and be sure to make it back by 6pm!"
We headed to the counter to buy tickets, which, incredibly, were the same price as Jiuzhaigou (九寨溝) tickets (220 RMB full fare, 170 RMB discounted fares for students, seniors, etc)! Huanglong was nowhere as big as Jiuzhaigou, which you couldn't see in 4 hours even if you tried.
After using their magnificent bathrooms (that's where all the money goes), we headed up the trail. We came across a map of the park:
It was fairly straightforward - pretty much a single path up to the top (a few alternate routes), which was Multi-Colored Ponds (五彩池), the crown jewel of Huanglong Park. Most of the alternate paths were closed due to the weather conditions, and it wasn't long before we start seeing the turquoise waters lying in those calcite pools.
It was quite pretty, but there did look to be less water at this time of the year. Moved on, and in some areas, we could see snow and ice:
It reminded us it was still somewhat chilly, as we were at around 3300 meters (10,000+ feet) above sea level.
We continued our climb upwards, and soon we saw what was called the "Golden Sands" (金沙) of Huanglong, the yellow travertine slope that gives Huanglong, which translates to Golden Dragon, its descriptive name when viewed from afar:
After a couple more kilometers, we came across a set of very pretty lakes. They are called the Zheng Yan Ponds (争艳池), also known as the Beauty Competing Ponds / Glamorous Pool:
Going several hundred meters further, we finally manage to get all the way to where we can see the path ahead of us:
It seems we've finally creeped into the valley. A few hundred meters ahead, there was a temple, which was probably the one seen in all the shots with the Multi-Colored Ponds.
We reached the Multi-Colored Ponds:
Absolutely gorgeous, though they seem to be short on water - some of the pools, if full, probably would provide an even greater range of colors.
Some close-ups of the pools:
The water was extremely clear, but at certain angles, you can see the reflection:
A shot of the temple with some reflection from the pools:
We looked up. The scenery around us was splendid as well:
The air was chilly, and the water levels were lower than expected, but Huanglong is still quite a sight. Satisfied, we walked back down the road, out of the valley.
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