Huanglong | Winter is the best time to visit Huanglong. Fewer people, beautiful scenery, no crowds!

Wow, I was so lucky! It was sunny every day during my two days in Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. The scenery was so beautiful it made me want to cry 😭!

But I always get altitude sickness when I come here. The altitude is only 3,500 meters, but I just can't get over it 😫! Be careful when you travel, everyone!

Here are some practical tips I learned from my trip to Huanglong Scenic Area. Be sure to read them!

✅ How to buy tickets for Huanglong?
🎫 There are several types of tickets:
Full-price ticket (including admission and cable car up)
✅ This is a must-buy!
Cable car down ticket (optional)
Sightseeing bus ticket ✅ (must-buy! Limited to 5,000 tickets per day, so be sure to book in advance)

❷ Order of visiting the scenic area
Queue at the entrance to take the bus to the cable car station

⚠️ Some people say there are long lines in the morning. I suggest entering the park around 12 pm. The sunlight is just right, and there are no lines!

⚠️ The cable car ride takes about 10 minutes. After getting off the cable car, take the sightseeing bus if you have a ticket, then walk 800 meters to the Five-Color Pond. After visiting the Five-Color Pond, if you don't have a cable car down ticket, walk 4 km to the exit, stopping to enjoy the scenery along the way. This takes about 2 hours.

⚠️ If you don't get a sightseeing bus ticket after getting off the cable car, walk along the boardwalk for about 3 km (there is an uphill section).

Be sure to visit the Five-Color Pond first! There is a fork in the road to the Competing Colors Pond, which is downhill. Don't take the wrong path 😭, or you'll have to walk an extra 2 km.

🗓 Order of visiting:
🚌 Sightseeing bus version
Cable car up ➟ sightseeing bus ➟ walk to Five-Color Pond ➟ walk down ➟ Competing Colors Pond ➟ walk down past other ponds ➟ park entrance

🚶 Walking version
Cable car up ➟ walk to Five-Color Pond ➟ walk down ➟ Competing Colors Pond ➟ walk down past other ponds ➟ park entrance

❸ How to take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong?
[Chengdu East - Songpan Station]
[Chengdu East - Huanglong Jiuzhai Station]
[Chengdu East - Huangshengguan Station]
You can take any of these three stations, then transfer to a bus/business car/taxi to Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong.
There are also many trains between Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. I personally recommend going to Jiuzhaigou first, then Huanglong, because Huanglong is more tiring and you are more likely to get altitude sickness, which could affect the rest of your trip!

❹ Other notes ⚠️
It takes about 4-5 hours to visit Huanglong. The Five-Color Pond and Competing Colors Pond are must-sees ✅
Even on sunny days, the sun starts to set at 3 pm, so 12 pm to 3 pm is the best time to visit
Altitude sickness varies from person to person. If you feel unwell, go to an oxygen station in the park and get a nasal cannula.