“Amazing experience at Huanglong Park!
Thank you World Heritage Network !"
When we arrived in Jiuzhaigou, we didn't know anything about Huanglong, other than that it was the name of the airport. As it turns out, it is also an amazing natural park near the airport, well worth a visit to anyone in Jiuzhaigou! We hired a guide from World Heritage Network for the whole journey (Our hotel in Jiuzhaigou at 9am - arrived Huanglong at 11ish, departed at 5ish - Airport by 6pm for a 9pm flight). I also would recommend doing this, especially if you're travelling in a group of 4. We were just 2 people, but if there are 4 you can split the costs even more! Also, the drive between Juzhaigou-Huanglong is an experience in itself! Truly amazing scenery. There is a cable car at the park that you can take up to the top. Note that the highest part of the park is 3600m, and some people do experience altitude issues. We are fairly fit people, but we felt a bit slow and headachy, upon advice from our guide, we decided to take the cable car up (it takes you most of the way) and then walk the rest and walk back down. No shame in taking this option! Overall, I think you're crazy not to visit Huanglong if you're in Jiuzhaigou. Jiuzhaigou is so hard to get to by plane or bus, so don't waste the opportunity and just go and for transport convenience and total peace of mind, hire a local guide from World Heritage Network as they are the best!!!
...by Catherine Lee, Singapore
“A guide for westerners who want to explore Huanglong Scenic Valley. Go with World Heritage Network !”
If you have an extra day after exploring Jiuzhaigou, you MUST take a full-day trip to Huanglong, which is in the opposite direction from the airport from Jiuzhaigou town. Huanglong is a scenic national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site that is more wondrous than Jiuzhaigou. Huanglong is a narrow valley with multi-colored pools of water, culminating in the “5-colored Lake” at the top, a large natural lake divided by mineral deposits into several pools of luminescent colors, from yellow to bright turquoise. This is sort of a Yellowstone National Park experience as the sites are the result of colorful mineral deposition. At the top of the valley is an old temple and viewing platforms on the valley wall with spectacular views over the lake, down the wooded valley to snow-capped peaks in the distance. Only a fraction of the Jiuzhaigou visitors make it to Huanglong.
This valley is best explored by engaging a local guide service provided by World Heritage Network. Our guide, Amy, was friendly and professional and kept us comfortable at all times that made our trip so enjoyable. Our private transport took us there and back from Jiuzhaigou town. It’s about a 4-hour drive from Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong. The driver will park at Huanglong and wait for you and your guide to return from your trek in the park. Beware, if you travel independently without a guide, it appeared that most taxis were chartered, so if you get a one-way ride to Huanglong you may have trouble finding an available taxi to get back to Jiuzhaigou town. Again, avoid buses as the trip is long and would take hours longer on a bus, and again you should leave early in the morning to beat the bus tours. The drive is quite scenic and goes over a high mountain pass. Your guide and driver will be passing buses and trucks on narrow mountain curves, so take your prayer beads with you. You’ll probably see yak herds along the way, and our driver got stuck momentarily in a herd that was crossing the highway.
At the park entrance, our guide Amy advised us that we should pick up bottled water and whatever snacks we can get (hard boiled eggs, local breads, boiled corn on the cob). From the entrance, you’ll be walking on the usual boardwalks about 4 km (2.4 miles) up the valley. However, the altitude begins at about 3,000 meters and ascends another 500+ meters. You’ll be walking uphill continuously and the oxygen deprivation will be significant. For the normal human, this is an all-day trek to get to the top of the valley and back. Elderly visitors and small children probably won’t be able to make it. Take warm clothing and be prepared for rain. You can buy bottles of oxygen at the entrance shops but it seemed to me of dubious efficacy, plus you have to lug them uphill with you. They have a small mask which you place over your mouth and breath in as you release the oxygen (like using a spray can). Toilets are convenient and water/sodas can be bought along the way at premium prices. At the top is an aid station where you can sit and suck some oxygen, as well as a small snack dining room with noodles and hard boiled eggs. Overall with Amy looking behind our backs and with some of her most funny jokes, we enjoyed our trip there. It was memorable, so if you wish to explore this valley, go with World Heritage Network as they provide transport, guide and mostly a peace of mind for foreign travellers like us.
This valley is best explored by engaging a local guide service provided by World Heritage Network. Our guide, Amy, was friendly and professional and kept us comfortable at all times that made our trip so enjoyable. Our private transport took us there and back from Jiuzhaigou town. It’s about a 4-hour drive from Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong. The driver will park at Huanglong and wait for you and your guide to return from your trek in the park. Beware, if you travel independently without a guide, it appeared that most taxis were chartered, so if you get a one-way ride to Huanglong you may have trouble finding an available taxi to get back to Jiuzhaigou town. Again, avoid buses as the trip is long and would take hours longer on a bus, and again you should leave early in the morning to beat the bus tours. The drive is quite scenic and goes over a high mountain pass. Your guide and driver will be passing buses and trucks on narrow mountain curves, so take your prayer beads with you. You’ll probably see yak herds along the way, and our driver got stuck momentarily in a herd that was crossing the highway.
At the park entrance, our guide Amy advised us that we should pick up bottled water and whatever snacks we can get (hard boiled eggs, local breads, boiled corn on the cob). From the entrance, you’ll be walking on the usual boardwalks about 4 km (2.4 miles) up the valley. However, the altitude begins at about 3,000 meters and ascends another 500+ meters. You’ll be walking uphill continuously and the oxygen deprivation will be significant. For the normal human, this is an all-day trek to get to the top of the valley and back. Elderly visitors and small children probably won’t be able to make it. Take warm clothing and be prepared for rain. You can buy bottles of oxygen at the entrance shops but it seemed to me of dubious efficacy, plus you have to lug them uphill with you. They have a small mask which you place over your mouth and breath in as you release the oxygen (like using a spray can). Toilets are convenient and water/sodas can be bought along the way at premium prices. At the top is an aid station where you can sit and suck some oxygen, as well as a small snack dining room with noodles and hard boiled eggs. Overall with Amy looking behind our backs and with some of her most funny jokes, we enjoyed our trip there. It was memorable, so if you wish to explore this valley, go with World Heritage Network as they provide transport, guide and mostly a peace of mind for foreign travellers like us.
...by Pamela Gillins, Sydney, Australia
