Huanglong 
cctv.com 11-24-2003 16:51
This is the place to escape from the concrete jungle. In North-western Sichuan province, the landscape is shaped by magnificent mountains and deep valleys. The place is bursting with natural wonders and old ways of life.
Often called 'a heaven kingdom', Sichuan is known throughout China for its fertile land and leisure oriented lifestyle. In the northern part of the province, knife-like rivers cut through surging mountains, creating amazing views. In amongst the spectacular scenery, are some undisturbed corners where nature has really gone wild.
Now of all the attractions in Sichuan we've chosen to start out trip in the Huanglong area. The place has both natural and historic value and regular flights connect it with a number of big cities such as Chengdu and Chongqing.
The Huanglong park sprawls over 700 square kilometers and is surrounded by damp forests, mountains, coniferous woods, grasslands and the Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau. Climatically, it lies close to the intersection of four regions: Eastern Asia, the Himalayas, and the subtropical and tropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere. About 65% of the site is forested, with much of the remainder being above the tree-line.
Without a doubt, the region's big attraction is its karst formations which surface in the form of limestone pools, shoals and travertine falls. To see them, you have to go to Huanglonggou, a valley hidden among steep hills and snowy mountains.
Why people call this place a Yellow Dragon probably is the rock formations are just like yellow scales on the back of a gigantic dragon.
The water is crystal clear and contains all kinds of minerals, drawn out of the limestone mountain behind. Each small pool displays a heartbreakingly beautiful colour that would defy any painter's palette.
The limestone dams remind me of coral slowly reaching out across a seabed. The calcium deposits are a sharp, golden contrast to the clear yet mysteriously colorful water. This is the so-called Ten-Mile Golden Beach. When there's no algae or bacteria to interrupt it, the deposition process forms a kind of limestone shoal. Here, a network of shoals extends in an unbroken chain over some 3 and a half kilometres! A very thin layer of water gushes down the hill as if in a rush to be somewhere else.
The landscape is three thousand meters above sea level and a non-stop walk from the bottom to the top takes about an hour. Altogether, it's seven-kilometre uphill climb. But be careful at these heights, the exertion can be a problem for many people. The view is breathtaking and it also takes my breath away.
All in all, the view along the road is rewarding enough to carry you to the very top. Once you get there, you'll find yourself at the so-called Five-Color Pond, the eye of the Yellow Dragon. It's hard to describe the water. The surface ripples in baby blues and lush greens. Its nature run riot with colour and it all changes within a matter of meters, from one pool to another. The place is so dazzlingly unreal that people imagine it be where goddesses come to bathe.
But don't be too drawn in by its beauty. The weather in the area is unpredictable 鈥 it can change at any minute.
Editor:Han Ling Source:CCTV.com
