Huanglong: The Five-Coloured Travertine Pools
Huanglong (“Yellow Dragon”) is famous for its Five-Coloured Pools — thousands of travertine terraces filled with mineral-rich water that shifts from turquoise to gold depending on the light. A UNESCO site at 3,000–3,500m in northern Sichuan.
The route
Take the cable car up, then walk downhill along the boardwalks past the main pools — easier than climbing. Allow 3–4 hours. The higher you go, the more vivid the colours.
Best time
Late autumn (Oct–Nov) has the clearest water and golden forests; spring brings melting snow and full flows. Summer can be rainy and crowded.
Nearby
Huanglong shares an airport with Jiuzhaigou (about 2h drive). Most visitors do both in one trip — book the Jiuzhaigou–Huanglong combo ticket to save.
Altitude tip: walk slowly, hydrate, and watch for mild altitude symptoms above 3,000m.
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