Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area
A protected landscape in Sichuan, China, famed for terraced travertine pools, waterfalls, hot springs, forests, and high mountain scenery.
Travertine: A limestone rock deposited from mineral-rich water, often around springs and streams. Huanglong’s signature terraces are built from this calcium-carbonate rock.
Huanglong Valley: A high-altitude valley in Sichuan containing Huanglong’s main travertine terraces and pools. It is the central scenic corridor for which the protected area is renowned.
Min Mountains: A mountain range in northern Sichuan, China, forming part of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin. Huanglong’s valleys and peaks lie within this mountain system.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its outstanding universal value. Huanglong received this designation for its exceptional natural features.
Calcium carbonate: A chemical compound found in limestone, marble, shells, and many mineral deposits. Its precipitation from spring water forms Huanglong’s travertine.
Five-Color Pond: A group of vivid mineral pools near the head of Huanglong Valley in Sichuan. Its clustered colors exemplify the landscape’s best-known pool formations.
Songpan County: A county in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, northern Sichuan, China. The protected area is located in Songpan County.
World Heritage Convention: An international treaty establishing a system to protect cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. The convention provides the framework behind Huanglong’s World Heritage inscription.
Karst topography: Terrain shaped by the dissolution of soluble rocks, commonly featuring caves, springs, and sinkholes. Dissolving and redepositing carbonate rock links Huanglong’s scenery to karst processes.
Huanglong Temple: A historic Buddhist temple complex in Huanglong Valley, Sichuan. The temple adds a cultural landmark to the valley’s natural attractions.