A Dreamy March Journey: Encounter Highland Spring Snow and Colorful Pools
Itinerary Overview
1. Time: March 5–7. This is not just an ordinary 72 hours, but a dreamy time during which you can collect the wonders and beauty of Huanglong, like rare treasures, and keep them in your heart.
2. Destination: Huanglong Scenic Area, hidden in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is like a mystery box carefully sealed by nature. This is a pure land forgotten by the hustle and bustle of the world, like an otherworldly fairy who stands aloof from the mundane world, quietly standing in the depths of time, waiting for you to embark on a romantic encounter that will amaze the years and start a wonderful adventure full of surprises.
3. Suitable for: If you are a "nature enthusiast" who is hopelessly devoted to nature and can't move your legs when you see green mountains and clear waters; or a "photography chaser" who keeps a camera in hand at all times and is bent on framing all the beautiful pictures of the world with the lens; or a "leisurely stroller" who prefers to stroll along mountain paths and enjoy the quiet time, then Huanglong will undoubtedly become your spiritual haven, helping you turn all your whimsical travel ideas into reality.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Songpan and Encounter the Charm of the Ancient City
• Morning: Embark on this flight journey full of anticipation from your departure point and dive into Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport. The moment the cabin door opens, the cool but fresh air of the plateau is like a warm embrace, surrounding you in an instant. The tiredness and fatigue accumulated during the journey are swept away by this refreshing energy. Then, you can either choose to take the airport bus and enjoy the scenery along the way in the stable carriage, or, if you desire more freedom and ease, you can also make an appointment with a few like-minded friends to share a ride and start a relaxing 1-hour drive towards the mysterious Songpan County. After arriving, check in to a warm, comfortable hotel decorated with local characteristics, lie down on the soft bed, relax for a while, let your body gradually adapt to the unique rhythm of the plateau, and recharge your batteries for the exciting journey ahead.
• Afternoon: Step into the ancient city of Songpan. Every step is like stepping on the heavy classics of history, and you can truly feel the strong pulse of the years. The ancient city walls are covered with mottled traces, which are the unique textures engraved by time; the towering city gates, which have withstood countless storms, still stand proudly. They are like silent historians, standing there quietly, silently telling the magnificent or tender stories of the past. Walking through the winding streets and alleys, a strong ancient charm comes to you. The buildings and shops on the street exude a unique charm in every detail. Of course, don't miss the food exploration journey. Take a bite of the fresh and juicy Songpan yak meat, and the aroma of the meat will linger between your teeth. Then try a bite of the soft and sweet potato cake, and the delicate taste will instantly capture your taste buds. The feeling of happiness is like the flowers blooming in spring, filling your heart.
• Evening: Find a unique restaurant in the bustling Songpan County, order a table of authentic Tibetan and Qiang cuisine, and let your taste buds revel in this food carnival where each dish contains a unique ethnic flavor. After dinner, go to watch an ethnic song and dance performance. The passionate dancing of the dancers on the stage seems to be expressing their ardent love for life; the melodious singing seems to travel through time and space, presenting the unique customs of the Tibetan and Qiang nationalities to you without reservation, drawing a perfect and wonderful end to this fulfilling and wonderful day.
Day 2: Explore Huanglong and Indulge in Natural Wonders
• Morning: After enjoying a delicious breakfast, set off with great anticipation towards the unforgettable Huanglong Scenic Area. In order to maintain sufficient physical strength during this beautiful trip, it is strongly recommended to take the cable car up the mountain. As the cable car slowly ascends, the scenery outside the window is like a beautiful movie playing automatically, slowly transitioning from a dense, deep, and vibrant forest to a majestic and snow-capped mountain. Every frame is breathtakingly beautiful. After arriving at the upper cable car station, rush towards the Five-Color Pool. Under the gentle caress of the warm spring sun, the water in the Five-Color Pool is like a palette accidentally knocked over by God, showing dreamy and colorful colors, reflecting the snow that has not yet completely melted around it. It is like stepping into a fairy-tale world of ultimate beauty. Any gorgeous words seem pale in front of this beautiful scenery. You can only immerse yourself in it and feel the magic of nature.
• Noon: Take a short break at the rest stop in the scenic area, have a bowl of steaming hot instant noodles, with soft and delicious bread and fragrant sausages. Although simple, every bite can bring full satisfaction. These foods will quickly replenish your energy and allow you to greet the more exciting itinerary in the afternoon in the best condition.
• Afternoon: Start a wonderful hike along the downhill trail, encountering famous scenic spots such as Zhengyan Pool, Xishen Cave, and Golden Sand. In March, the ice and snow in Huanglong begin to melt quietly, and the gurgling streams add dynamic vitality to this land, as if it were a joyful song sung by nature. The holy snow-capped mountains, lush forests, and fantastic calcified pools along the way together outline breathtaking landscape paintings. Every scenery is like a work of art carefully carved by nature. You will definitely stop frequently, raise your camera, and freeze every wonderful moment into eternal memory. Hike for about 3–4 hours, enjoy this visual feast generously bestowed by nature, and let your body and mind be greatly relaxed and satisfied in this picturesque scenery.
• Evening: Return to Songpan County with fond memories, find a restaurant you like, have a hearty and delicious dinner, and reward yourself for the tiring but happy day. Then go back to the hotel early to rest, eliminate the fatigue of the day in sweet dreams, and look forward to tomorrow's journey.
Day 3: Farewell to Songpan and Cherish Beautiful Memories
• Morning: Free activities in the county. Stroll around the bustling local market, which is filled with a strong atmosphere of daily life, and various specialty products. Carefully select some unique local products, such as fragrant yak jerky, which has firm meat and exudes a mellow aroma with every bite, making it an excellent gift for relatives and friends; or health-preserving Tibetan tea, which has a unique aroma and long-lasting charm. Brew a cup, as if you can taste the beautiful memories of the entire Huanglong trip, and leave a precious souvenir for this trip.
• Afternoon: Go to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport in advance according to the flight schedule. Sit in the waiting hall and quietly reminisce about the bits and pieces of these days, filled with feelings of reluctance. As the plane slowly takes off, this pleasant and unforgettable Huanglong trip officially comes to an end, but those beautiful moments, like bright stars, will forever be treasured in your memory, becoming a shining and precious memory in your life, which you can savor at any time in the future.
Good time with family, enjoy with nature, no air pollution and people
The experience is great!!! Book a car in advance, it's easy and convenient to travel, no need to worry about long distances, car use and transportation. The driver contacted us in advance, the service was very good, on time, and the car drove very well and smoothly! The scenery is beautiful!
It's worth it!!! Book a car in advance, it's easy and convenient to travel, no need to worry about the long journey! The scenery is so beautiful, our car drove very smoothly and on time along the way! Have a pleasant journey, the scenery is beautiful,
The train came down for 2 hours without traffic jams and arrived at Huanglong smoothly. This time, I chose the labor-saving route: the ropeway and sightseeing car directly to Wucaichi (tip: the sightseeing car needs to be bought in advance on the official account of Aba Tourism Network, and the daily limit is 5,000. It is basically impossible to buy it on the same day). Walking down the plank road from the top to the bottom, it rained heavily in the first half, and the second half was cloudy. A journey experienced a different beauty.
The scenery is very good, walking up, about two hours, then hiking, down, an hour and a half, the scenery is beautiful, but there is very little water in this season, if you go in July, June and July, I think it is more beautiful or autumn, there is altitude sickness
Many people said that they should not go to Huanglong when they go to Jiuzhaigou, but they do not think that Huanglong's colorful Tianchi is worth a visit. Remember to buy tickets for cable cars and sightseeing tickets from the Internet in advance. You must do a good job of sun protection.
The scenery of the scenic spot is beautiful and the fare is slightly more expensive. The sightseeing car is limited every day and needs to be booked in advance. The scenic spot is not perfect, there is no boiling water supply, and the service area is small. It feels not too convenient, but it is still worth going.
We are more casual, high-speed rail to Zhenjiangguan Station, down to take the direct train to the guokou of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, the next day Jiuzhai one day, the evening is Jiuzhai, set to Huanglong through train, 10:30 to Huanglong, take the cable car, visit Huanglong for 3 hours, take a taxi back to Songpan accommodation in the afternoon, and then return to Chengdu by high-speed rail