Huanglong Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in Songpan County, China
Huanglong Biosphere Reserve is a protected nature reserve in Songpan County, in China's Sichuan Province. The reserve stretches along a high mountain valley and contains hundreds of terraced pools formed by calcite deposits, alongside dense forests and snow-capped peaks.
The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992, which brought it formal international protection. Before that, local communities had long used the valley for farming, herb gathering, and religious visits to its hilltop temple.
The name Huanglong means "Yellow Dragon" in Chinese, and locals say the long chain of terraced pools resembles a dragon winding through the valley. Near the top of the valley, a small temple serves as a destination for pilgrims who have visited this site for generations.
The reserve sits above 9,800 feet (3,000 m), so visitors should move slowly and watch for signs of altitude sickness, especially on arrival. A cable car runs to the upper section of the valley and saves a long uphill walk, though it is not always in service.
The colors of the pools, ranging from yellow to deep blue, come not from algae but from varying concentrations of calcium carbonate dissolved in the water. As the minerals settle, they slowly build natural travertine dams that create new pools over time.
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