World Natural Heritage
Huanglong Scenic Area,
China's 5A-level
tourist attractions
Explore Huanglong Scenic Area
Where Sacred Earth Reveals Its Golden Veins.
Located in the mountainous north of Sichuan, Huanglong Scenic Area is a dazzling highland sanctuary famed for its cascading travertine terraces and jewel-like pools. Recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and a National 5A Scenic Area of China, Huanglong unfolds at elevations rising above 3,000 meters, where limestone formations sculpted over millennia create a luminous chain of golden basins. Fed by crystal-clear mountain springs, these terraces shimmer in hues of amber, turquoise, and emerald, resembling a celestial dragon winding through the valley—an awe-inspiring spectacle shaped by time and water.
Celebrated for its rare harmony of calcified landscapes, alpine forests, snow-capped peaks, and rich Tibetan culture, Huanglong presents a landscape both sacred and surreal. In spring and summer, forests cloak the valley in vibrant green; in autumn, crimson leaves frame the glowing pools; and in winter, delicate snow transforms the terraces into a quiet crystalline wonderland. Beneath the vast plateau sky, every step through Huanglong feels like wandering across a living tapestry of color, light, and legend—an unforgettable encounter with one of nature’s most intricate masterpieces.
Huanglong Valley
Huanglong Valley : A Golden Dragon Winding Through the Clouds.
Five-Color Pool
Huanglong Five-Color Pool · Nature’s Kaleidoscope
The Huanglong Five-Color Pool dazzles with its intricate layers of mineral-rich waters, each tier glowing in shades of turquoise, emerald, gold, and amber. Nestled among verdant forests and limestone terraces, the pools sparkle under sunlight, their vivid hues shifting with every angle and season. Gentle ripples and tiny cascades connect the pools, creating a harmonious mosaic that seems almost otherworldly.
Zhengyan Pool
Zhengyan Pool · A Prism of Golden Splendor
Zhengyan Pool glimmers atop the Huanglong terraces, where mineral-rich waters catch the sunlight to reveal a dazzling spectrum of gold, green, and turquoise. Framed by limestone formations and verdant alpine forests, the pool reflects the surrounding cliffs like a living canvas, its colors shifting with every breeze and ray of light.
Golden Sands
Golden Sands · A Glimmering Tapestry of Nature
The Golden Sands stretch across Huanglong like a vast, shimmering carpet, where fine travertine deposits catch the sunlight and sparkle like scattered gold. Flowing waters wind gently through the terraces, reflecting the surrounding peaks and forests, turning every ripple into a dance of light and color.
Muni Valley
Muni Valley · A Hidden Gem of Forests and Cascades
Zaga Waterfall
Zaga Waterfall · A Thundering Jewel of the Highlands
Zaga Waterfall tumbles gracefully from the Huanglong terraces, its waters plunging over rocky cliffs into a foaming pool below. Surrounded by lush forests and alpine meadows, the cascade roars through the valley, creating a spectacular display of motion and sound, while in winter the waterfall freezes into a glittering ice formation, reflecting sunlight like a crystal chandelier.
Second Sea
Second Sea · A Mirror of Tranquil Splendor
Second Sea lies nestled within Muni Valley, its calm waters reflecting the surrounding forests and limestone terraces like a flawless mirror. Framed by lush alpine greenery and kissed by gentle sunlight, the lake shimmers with hues of turquoise and emerald, creating a serene panorama that changes with every season, from the vibrant greens of summer to the golden glow of autumn.
