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Unveiling the Mystery of Huanglong
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2007-11-20 15:40:42
CRIENGLISH.com
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Arriving at our destination in snowy dusk:
The temperature dropped suddenly and an unexpected snowfall came on the third day I stayed in Jiuzhai Valley. I was quite exited to see this winter's first snowfall.
My partner and I thought this snowy afternoon afforded the perfect time to visit the picturesque snow-capped mountain and wonderland of Yellow Dragon Valley, or Huanglong in Chinese.
Known as the "secret wonderland and heavenly scenery on earth", the Huanglong scenic spot is located in the virgin forests of north-west tableland of Sichuan Province; which is within the administrative territory of Songpan County in Aba Tibetan and Qing Autonomous Prefecture.
Huanglong's major scenery is concentrated in the 3.6 kilometre long (2.2 miles) Huanglong Valley, that includes snow-clad peaks and the easternmost glaciers of China. Due to its layered calcium-carbonate deposit patterns, the valley resembles a golden dragon winding its way through the virgin forest, stone mountains and glaciers. Along the valley are scattered numerous colourful ponds of different sizes and shapes, which are strewn with a gold-coloured limestone deposit that gives a shimmering golden hue to the water. So in sunlight, a golden dragon seems to surge forth from the forest. And so it was named 'Huanglong Valley', or Yellow Dragon Valley.
With its "six wonders" of unique coloured ponds, beach flows, snow mountains, fascinating canyons, ancient temples and folk customs, Huanglong attracts millions of tourists both from home and aboard every year.
After a two-hour drive on the slippery and zigzagging mountain roads, we finally arrived at the foot of the mystical tourist attraction. We settled in at a nearby hotel and made a detailed plan for our expedition the next day.
We slept deeply and soundly that night. It was deadly quiet outside, still snowing heavily¡.
The long kike:
I could not believe my eyes the next day when I got up, because the whole world was in only one colour¡ªwhite! Everything had been covered with a layer of snow overnight.
"I cannot wait to go to Huanglong, Let's hurry up!" my partner hastened me.
After we put on all our thick clothes and ate a simple breakfast, we started our journey.
Beautiful scenery assaulted our eyes as soon as we arrived at the front gate of the scenic spot. A strong feeling flashed into my mind: to compare Huanglong with a fairyland on Earth is not an exaggeration. The beauty of this place is beyond any words. You need to see it in person to truly appreciate its unique charm.
The magnificent snow mountain, the vast primeval forest, the crystal clear blue sky and the white clouds composed a florid watercolour painting.
Huanglong is famed for its outstanding travertine (calcium carbonate) formations. With the virgin forest as its backdrop, the travertine scenery contains colourful ponds, beaches, lakes, springs, waterfalls and caves. Most of them are scattered along the way to the top of the main scenic spots.
Instead of taking a cable car to the top of the mountain, we walked¡ªa more toilsome but economical way to go. If we took the cable car, we would surely have felt regretful at missing so many fascinating creations of nature along the way.
After an almost 30-minute trek, a group of exquisite, crystal clear ponds immediately caught our eye with their unparalleled and aesthetic charm. These are the Yingbin Colored Ponds, or Welcoming Guests Ponds. In winter, the lily-white snow and falling leaves enhance their glamour even more. From the ponds, you can see the interwoven reflection of trees, mountains, clouds and sky, which is a veritable feast for the eyes.
One of my favourite ponds is the beautiful Competing Pond. It covers an area of 20,000 square meters, and consists of 658 small ponds. It was given the name because the sunlight reflects on the ponds' water in an array of eye-catching colours. The ice forest, bamboo shoots and waterfalls form a truly breath-taking and magically icy scene. This pond is believed to be the grandest and most colourful travertine pond cluster in the world.
After an almost four-hour trek, we finally climbed to the highest ponds¡ªWucaichi, or Multicoloured Ponds, the largest pond cluster of Huanglong, which is almost 3,600 meters high.
Because of its high altitude, many travellers got altitude sickness here. But luckily, besides the feeling of excitement, the two of us had no other ill affects.
The five-coloured pond is filled with green water in shallow areas, making it such a wonderful sight. This "jade tray" reflects the sunlight in red and purple colours.
Everything is wrapped in white snow, except this pond that reflects the blue sky, as if a celestial emerald has been scattered on the ground. Therefore, the pond is believed to be the eye of Huanglong, and one of its greatest attractions.
Huanglong impression:
We rewarded ourselves for successfully climbing to the top scenic spots by returning by cable car.
I prefer Huanglong over Jiuzhai Valley, for everything there is so natural and magnificent. Walking along the devious roads and under the shadow of the trees whose leaves are covered with thick snows, made me feel I was completely part of nature.
With so many wonderful views in one place, Huanglong is not only one of China's greatest treasures, but also the world.
Without a doubt, huanglong's beauty is beyond description.
It has been believed for centuries that the Qingzang Plateau is the platform to paradise. Huanglong is the eastern end of this plateau, so it is the first step toward heaven.
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