Huanglong Park of Jiuzhaigou

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Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Park is located in northern Sichuan's Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, and is a neighbor of Jiuzhaigou. It was named after the ancient Huanglong Temple.


The Huanglong Temple is situated on the top of the scenic area. South of the temple is Xuebaoding, the main peak of the snow-capped Minshan Mountain which stands 5,588 meters above sea level. It is covered in snow all year round.


The most remarkable vista is the Huanglong Valley, which is noted for its unique open limestone landscape. The main attraction of the valley is the 3.6-kilometer long and 30 to 70-meter-wide pale yellow calcareous deposits. At the end of the valley, water from melting snow mixes with limestone water from underground, which flows down the mountain terraces and deposits the calcium carbonate from the water on the rocks and fallen branches in its path. The calcium carbonate develops into solid, low limestone banks and as a result of chemical reactions, different kinds of calcareous deposits look like gold flashing in the sunlight. When the water runs down the slopes, it appears like a yellow dragon flying down the mountain. The water then flows into two separate streams, creating colorful lakes and waterfalls and forming a lake group. The water is crystal clear and the mineral deposits at the lake's bottom look like jade.