This scenic area, with the highest altitude of 5,588 meters and the lowest of 1,700 meters, is composed of Huanglong Valley, Danyun Valley, Muni Valley, Xubao Peak, Snow Mountain Ridge, Hongxing Rocks, West Ditch and some other sights of interest. The area is acclaimed as a comprehensive scenic and historic interest area featuring large-scale open-air karst travertine landscape, natural scenes, and elegant folk bearing. The huge travertine karst formation in Huanglong valley is such an extraordinary example of karst landscape, which is of largest scale and best preservation in the world.

 

With an elevation of 5,588 meters, Xuebao Peak, the summit of the Minshan Mountain Ridge, is covered by snow all the year round. It is often enveloped in mist and clouds. The Tibetans regard the summit sacred. According to local people, you can have a whole picture of the summit only in July and August. The water from melted snow provides moisture to this valley. This is the famous Huanglong Valley. It is a travertine valley that is 3.6 kilometers long and 300 meters wide. As the mountain resembles a dragon, it is also known as Hidden Dragon Mountain.

 

On the hillsides by the two sides of the Huanglong Valley are virgin forests. Different types of flowers and plants are found in the forests. The evergreen coniferous trees and precious flowers and plants add to the beauty of Huanglong. According to statistics, Huanglong has a forest coverage of 65.8% and a vegetation coverage of 88.9%.

 

Many rare animals are also found in the forests in Huanglong. Occasionally, these lovely birds visit the colored ponds.

 

The scenic area was made a world natural heritage site in 1992.

 

Colored travertine ponds are the main landscapes in Huanglong. Five-colored rushing water climbs over the dyke, leaving an impressive travertine waterfall in Huanglong. Altogether Huanglong has over 2,300 colored ponds in eight groups. Different layers of ponds are joined together just like terraced fields. Large ponds are dozens of square meters, and the small ones are only a few square meters. The main part of travertine waterfall is 2,500 meters long and 30 to 170 meters wide. Under the sun, the calcium water slowly flows down just like golden sand. The flowing golden water makes the valley look like a golden dragon lying between the snow-capped mountain and the forest.

 

Fundamentally, the colored ponds in Huanglong came into being when limestone was eroded by water. Geologically, this is known as karst landform. In China, karst landforms are found in many areas. So why are there large colored ponds only in Huanglong?

 

A careful observation shows that many plants such as azaleas and willows grow by the colored ponds in Huanglong. The branches of these plants have long been immersed in the water. As a result, the water is covered by travertine and algae. The minerals in travertine and algae combine to make the water appear in blue, yellow and green. Thanks to the beautiful water, Huanglong appears to be gorgeous against the snow-capped mountains and forests nearby.

 

In the world, large-scale travertine caused by deposited cold water is very rare. Just like Huanglong, Turkey’s Herablis also has large colored ponds. But these ponds are not so big as those in Huanglong either individually or as a whole. An individual colored pond in Huanglong has an outside vertical height of 6.8 meters and is the highest in the world. And it is 3.5 kilometers long. Huanglong has 2,331 colored ponds which constitute the largest such landscape in the world.

 

Located in the Huanglong Valley, the Huanglong Monastery was the first Taoist building in northwest Sichuan Province. It was first built during the reign of Ming Emperor Hongwu. It is now a religious place for the local Tibetan, Han, Qiang and Hui people with different religious beliefs. The annual Huanglong Monastery Fair attracts large numbers of people.

 

Not far from the Huanglong Monastery is the Huanglong Cave. The cave contains different kinds of stalactites and stalagmites. It is the largest travertine cave in China. In addition, it is a natural ice cave with the longest frozen period in China.

 

The county seat of Songpan is the center of the area. Up till now Songpan has been the largest fair on the borders of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai.

 

The ancient city of Songpan was first built in 1378. It took 60 years to complete. Although the city was ravaged by long wars in history, we can still feel its magnificence from the remaining thick walls and tall gates.

 

Songpan, including Huanglong, is home to people of the Tibetan, Han, Qiang and Hui nationalities. But the main residents here are Tibetans. According to experts, they began to live here over 2,000 years ago. They raise yaks and grow high barley.

 

The residents here believe in Buddhism. Both monks and ordinary villagers can recite Buddhist scriptures. Buddha statues are hand made with high barley powder. They are replaced by new ones once every fortnight.

 

Having finished work for the day, they come home in the evening to enjoy their dinner with buttered tea and high barley cakes. They lead a simple but fulfilling life. People do the harvesting. They sing a song to thank the earth and nature.

 

Huanglong has always had an important position in local Tibetans. They regard Xuebaoding “sacred peak” and call the Huanglong Valley “sacred water.” On every June 15 of the Tibetan calendar, Tibetans in Huanglong and elsewhere pay homage to this sacred peak of Xuebaoding.

 

Since a very long time ago, the residents here have been coexisting with rivers and mountains. They enjoy what nature has for them. They do not stop praying here even in cold winter. They even climb to the top of the snow mountain to say their prayers.

 

It is spring now. The water in the Huanglong Valley is flowing endlessly and vigorously. South of the Huanglong Monastery are a stone tower and a small temple. They were built in 1620. About two meters of them are covered by travertine. According to experts, travertine deposits are increasing by three millimeters a year. Geologically speaking, Huanglong is still full of vigor as it is growing everyday.