2025 Huanglong Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

**II. Transportation Guide** 1. **Self-drive**: - **From Beijing**: Take the G6 Jingzang Expressway → Exit at Huailai → Follow Provincial Road S241 to Huanglong Villa (approx. 2.5 hours). - **From Zhangjiakou**: Take the Jingxin Expressway → Huailai County → S241 (approx. 1 hour). 2. **Public Transport**: - Take a high-speed train from Beijing/Zhangjiakou to **Huailai Station**, then take a taxi to the scenic area (approx. 30 minutes). - Direct buses are available from Huailai County to the scenic area (limited schedules, check in advance). --- **III. Must-Visit Attractions** 1. **Cloud Meadow** - Alpine grassland at the mountaintop, accessible by hiking or cable car (cable car fee: ~¥60/person). - Summer blooms are perfect for photos; autumn offers stunning foliage. 2. **Fairy Cabinet Mountain** - Unique cabinet-shaped rock formation with legendary immortal relics (~1-hour hike). 3. **Huanglong Lake** - Crystal-clear mountain lake surrounded by forests, ideal for picnics. 4. **Activities** - Grass sliding, horseback riding, archery (¥30-100/activity). --- **IV. Accommodation Tips** 1. **Inside the Scenic Area**: - **Huanglong Villa Resort**: Wooden cabins or standard rooms with mountain views (peak season: ~¥400-600/night). 2. **Nearby Options**: - **Huailai County Hotels**: Budget-friendly (e.g., Huailai Blue Whale Hotel, ¥200-300/night). - **Farmstays**: Rural charm at affordable prices (¥100-200/night). --- **V. Food Guide** 1. **Local Specialties**: - **Huailai Grapes**: Famous local produce (harvest season: Aug-Oct). - **Iron Pot Fish Stew**: Fresh reservoir fish cooked in rustic style. - **Oat Noodle Rolls**: Traditional Zhangjiakou staple. 2. **Recommended Eateries**: - Scenic area restaurants (~¥50-80/person). - **"Guanting Reservoir Fish Banquet"** in Huailai (e.g., "Lakeside Fishing Village"). --- **VI. Sample Itinerary (2 Days, 1 Night)** **Day 1**: - Morning: Arrive → Cable car to Cloud Meadow → Hiking & photos. - Afternoon: Hike Fairy Cabinet Mountain → Relax at Huanglong Lake. - Evening: Stay at the resort for stargazing. **Day 2**: - Morning: Grass sliding/horseback riding → Walk in birch forests. - Afternoon: Return via Huailai for reservoir fish feast. --- **VII. Tips** - **Best Season**: June-October (summer escapes, autumn foliage). - **Clothing**: Pack layers (mountain temperature swings) + sun protection. - **Tickets**: ~¥60/person (cable car/activities extra). - **Essentials**: Mosquito repellent + comfortable shoes.

It takes about 2hours from Huanglong Jiuzhai Station to Chengdu East East Station. E-tickets have been fully implemented for trains in the Chinese mainland. Paper tickets are not required for either adult or child tickets. If the ID document used for ticket booking is a passport, you can also directly swipe your ID card to enter and exit the station.High Speed train Jiuzhaigou - ChengduHigh Speed train Jiuzhaigou - ChengduHigh Speed train Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu

Went to Huanglong on November 20th, it was very beautiful after the snow. Took the cable car up the mountain at 8:30 in the morning, and changed to a sightseeing minibus. The snow was piled up and it was very beautiful. There were not many people and there was basically no queue. But a warm reminder that the road is slippery after the snow, suitable for people with good legs and feet. After seeing the Five-Colored Pool, walk down the mountain. The downhill road is about 3,000 meters and you will arrive at the exit at 12 noon. The accommodation and dining at Huanglongmenkou are quite good, with floor heating and hot water, and a good rest

On the way to Hukou Waterfall, the tour guide gave a serious and responsible explanation, and promoted the self-funded activities with his hard-working and unremitting spirit, but he would also know when to stop and would not ask you to go for too long, resulting in insufficient time. The introduction to local customs and the stories of Shaanxi dialect opened my eyes to a new world.

Huanglong County is a very livable small town, with many houses built along the mountains, free from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Everything is well-organized, exuding a pastoral slow life vibe. It's truly a natural oxygen bar with plenty of oxygen. It is recommended to stay overnight for a day trip. The experience is absolutely different from a self-driving tour and the suburban areas of Xi'an! Treetop Walk Science Tower (Eye of the Forest) Hiking up and down the mountain, sightseeing the Treetop Walk Science Tower, enjoying a 360-degree panoramic view of the 8,000-acre primeval forest from a God's eye view, listening to the wind and birdsong, and learning about the ecology of birds, vegetation, and the environment. Jungle Zip Slide Fully appreciate the charm of Huanglong, understand the concept of traceless forest walking at the treetops, and enhance environmental awareness while having fun. Serpentine Slide The serpentine slide is 55 meters long, with a height difference of 24 meters, and a sliding speed of 6 meters per second, providing an extraordinary experience for teenagers and adults to release psychological pressure! Path of Nature A 1.7-kilometer journey through nature, observing the trees around, listening to the sounds of nature, identifying animal tracks, and freeing your hands and feet

🍁The autumn season in Xi'an is the most beautiful time of the year. From mid-October to late October, Shaanxi's autumn colors gradually spread from the north to the south. Departing from Xi'an, it only takes 1-3 hours to catch the tail end of autumn. Let's set out together while the weather is clear🌤 and the temperature is pleasant!🍂🍁 ✅Heading North: 1. Huanglong Treetop Walk Located in Huanglong County, Yan'an City, about 3.5 hours' drive from Xi'an, you can search for 'Huanglong Treetop Walk' in your GPS. 2. Qinzhidao Golden Forest Through History Qinzhidao is a traffic artery built during the Qin Dynasty, with many existing relics, especially beautiful in autumn is the section in Fuxian, Yan'an City, about 3.5 hours' drive from Xi'an, search for 'Fuxian Qinzhidao Relics'. 3. Xishan Scenic Spot's Poetic Autumn Colors Xishan Scenic Spot in Tongchuan City is a Danxia landform area, the creation site of 'Xishan Travel Map'. The red leaves cover the mountains every autumn, creating a stunning view, about 2 hours' drive from Xi'an. 4. Shimen Mountain Colorful Forest A less-traveled tourist route located in Xunyi County, Xianyang City, about 3 hours' drive from Xi'an. The autumn colors are particularly beautiful from the Shimen Forest Farm Qilichuan Management Station to the Malan Revolutionary Site. 5. Zhaojin Xiangshan Red Leaf Appreciation Zhaojin Xiangshan Tourist Area in Yaozhou District, Tongchuan City is also a Danxia landform area, with mountains covered in red leaves every autumn, creating a stunning view, about 2 hours' drive from Xi'an. ✅Heading South: 1. Huanghualing Autumn Colored Forest Driving to Huanghualing from Ningqiang, Ankang to Zhashui, Shangluo is a mountain ridge with a spectacular view of overlapping peaks, with colorful autumn scenery, like driving through a world of oil paintings. 2. Liping Mountains and Red Leaves Liping Scenic Area is located within Liping Town, Nanzheng District, Hanzhong City, at the border of Sichuan and Shaanxi in the Daba Mountains. The autumn scenery is comparable to that of Guangwushan, about 6 hours' drive from Xi'an. The Xihan Expressway is not open until the end of the year, so it is recommended to go through Baoji and take the Yinkun Expressway. 3. Shenheyuan Bashan Grassland Located at the Shenheyuan Bashan Grassland, bordering Chongqing in Langao County, Ankang, about 4.5 hours' drive from Xi'an. The autumn here combines the splendor of the north with the agility of the south, as if turning on an oil painting filter in the gentle autumn breeze, making it unforgettable. 4. Tianpeng Mountain Fortress Red Leaves Located in the Tianpeng Mountain Fortress Scenic Area in Shanyang County, Shangluo City, the mountains are covered with red leaves in autumn, resembling a beautiful gouache painting, silently depicting beauty, tenderness, and charm. At the mountain top, there are Danqing stilted house homestays and cliff tent campsites available for accommodation, about 3.5 hours' drive from Xi'an.