View source for Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| image         = 1 huanglong pools aerial 2011.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption       = 
| official_name = <!-- leave empty unless the official WHS name is different from the title of the infobox -->
| location      = [[Songpan County]], [[Sichuan]], [[China|People's Republic of China]]
| criteria      = {{UNESCO WHS type|(vii)}}(vii)
| ID            = 638
| coordinates   = {{coord|32.7432|N|103.8330|E|type:landmark_region:CN-51_source:Gaode|format=dms|display=it}}
| year          = 1992
| area          = {{convert|60,000|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone   = 
| locmapin      = Sichuan
| map_caption   = 
}}
'''Huanglong''' ({{zh|s=黄龙 |t=黃龍 |p=Huánglóng |l=yellow dragon}}) is a scenic and historic interest area in the northwest part of [[Sichuan]], China. It is located in the southern part of the [[Minshan]] mountain range, {{convert|370|km}} north-northwest of the capital [[Chengdu]].<ref name=unesco>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=638|title=Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area}}</ref> This area is known for its colorful [[travertine]] pools formed by [[calcite]] deposits, especially in Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and [[hot springs]]. Huanglong is also home to many endangered species including the [[giant panda]] and the Sichuan [[golden snub-nosed monkey]].<ref name=unesco/> In addition, a large population of the [[endemic]] orchid species 'Cypripedium plectrochilum' was discovered at the site.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Li |first1= P. |last2= Luo |first2= Y. |last3 = Bernhardt |first3 = P. |last4 = Kou |first4 = Y. |last5 = Perner |first5 = H. |date= 27 February 2008 |title= Pollination of ''Cypripedium plectrochilum'' (Orchidaceae) by ''Lasioglossum'' spp. (Halictidae): the roles of generalist attractants versus restrictive floral architecture |journal= Plant Biology |volume= 10 |issue= 2 |pages= 220–230 |doi=10.1111/j.1438-8677.2007.00020.x|pmid= 18304196 }}</ref> Huanglong was declared a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]] in 1992 because of its outstanding [[travertine]] formations, waterfalls and limestone formations as well as its travertine terraces and lakes rating among the three most outstanding examples in the world.<ref name = unesco /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/638/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:HuangLong World Heritage Natural Site.png|400px|HuangLong World Heritage Natural Site]]
Repeated [[glaciation]] events, the unique [[terrane]] structure, the formation of [[tufa]], the stratum of carbonic acid rock, and climatic conditions such as Arctic-alpine sunlight have created this world-famous [[travertine]] landscape. Huanglong covers an area of 700&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> at an altitude between 1700m and 5588m. Major scenic areas include:
 
* Huanglong Valley ({{lang|zh-hans|黄龙沟}})
* Danyun Gorge ({{zh|links=no|s=丹云峽 |l=red cloud gorge}}): A canyon more than 1,000 meters in depth. The snow melt from the nearby [[Mount Xuebaoding]] travels through this canyon, providing much of the water for the region.<ref>{{cite book |last= Huadong |first= Guo |date= 2013 |title= Atlas of Remote Sensing for World Heritage: China |publisher= Springer |pages= 282–287 |isbn= 978-3-642-32823-7}}</ref> 
* Muni Valley ({{lang|zh-hans|牟尼沟}})
* [[Mount Xuebaoding|Xuebaoding]] ({{zh|labels=no|s=雪宝顶 |l=snow treasure peak}}) – {{convert|5588|m|abbr=on}}. The highest peak in the [[Min Mountains]]
* Xueshan Ridge ({{zh|labels=no|c=雪山梁 |l=snow mountain ridge}}) – {{convert|4007|m|abbr=on}}, the highest point on the road from Jiuhuang Airport to Huanglong Valley.
* Red Star Rock ({{lang|zh-hans|红星岩}})
* Sigou ({{zh|labels=no|s=四沟 |l=fourth gully}})

===Huanglong Valley===
The total length of the travertine in Huanglong Valley is 3.6&nbsp;km and it is thought to look like a huge golden dragon wheeling through the snow-capped mountains of the valley. The main landscapes are travertine banks, colorful ponds and travertine waterfalls and caves. The main body of water starts from the ancient Buddhist/Benbo temple at the top of the valley and ends at the Guests Welcome Pond in the north with a length of 2.5&nbsp;km and a width of 30–170m. The colours of Huanglong's waters consist of yellows, greens, blues and browns.

[[File:Map of Huanglong Scenic Spots.png|thumb|none|upright=2.5|Map of Huanglong Valley Scenic Spots]]
[[File:1_huanglong_aerial_pano_2023.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Zhengyan Pools]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 
!| !! Scenic spots in Huanglong Valley !! Sea level !! Remarks !!
|-
| 1 || Guests Welcome Pond 迎宾池 ||  3230m || 350 pools || [[File:黃龍-迎賓池.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 2 || Marvelous Flying Waterfall 飛瀑流輝 || 3245m || 14m tall 68m wide || [[Image:HuangLong 2002-09-12 53.jpg|170px]]
|-
| 3 || Lianyan Pond 瀲灩湖|| 3251m || 2000sq.m || [[File:黃龍-瀲灩湖.jpg|170px]]
|-
| 4 || Flying Waterfall on Lotus Platform 蓮台飛瀑 || 3260m || 45m tall 19m wide || [[File:黃龍-蓮台飛瀑.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 5 || Washing Cave 洗身洞 || 3280m|| 10m tall 40m wide || [[File:黃龍-洗身洞.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 6 || Golden Sand Pavement 金沙鋪地 || 3305m|| 1300m long || [[File:黃龍-金沙鋪地.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 7 || Seven Mile Golden Sand 七里金沙 || 3400m || || [[File:黃龍-七里金沙.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 8 || Bonsai Pond 盆景池 || 3320m|| 330 pools || [[File:1 huanglong 2011.jpg|170px]]
|-
| 9 || Mirror Pond 明鏡倒映池 || 3400m || 180 pools || [[File:黃龍-明鏡倒映池.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 10 || Azalea Pond 娑蘿映彩池|| 3415m|| 400 pools || [[File:黃龍-娑蘿映彩池.JPG|170px]]
|-
| 11 || Flamboyant Pond 爭豔池|| 3414m|| 658 pools || [[File:1 huanglong 2.jpg|170px]]
|-
| 12 || Huanglong Middle Temple 黃龍中寺 || 3470m || || [[File:Huanglong middle temple.jpg|170px]]
|-
| 13 || Huanglong Ancient Temple 黃龍古寺 || 3568m || || [[File:Huanglong ancient temple.jpg|170px]]
|-
| 14 || Multi-Colored Pond 五彩池 || 3576m || 693 pools || [[File:黃龍-五彩池.JPG|170px]]
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:1 huanglong 2011x.jpg
Image:HuangLong 2002-09-12 19.jpg
File:Huanglong-calcific-ponds.jpg
File:Water-of-Five-colored-Pond Huanglong Sichuan China.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Baishuitai]], Yunnan, China
*[[Badab-e Surt]] in Iran
*[[Mammoth Hot Springs]] in [[Yellowstone Park]], United States
*[[Band-e Amir]] in Afghanistan
*[[Semuc Champey]] in Guatemala
*[[Plitvice Lakes]] in Croatia
*[[Pamukkale]] in Turkey
*[[Travertine]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* http://www.huanglong.com/

{{Commons|Huanglong}}
{{World Heritage Sites in China}}
{{National parks of China}}
{{Sichuan topics}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:World Heritage Sites in China]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of China]]
[[Category:National parks of China|Huanglong]]
[[Category:Geography of Sichuan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Sichuan]]


{{Sichuan-geo-stub}}