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Building Up the Yellow River Delta.
According to ancient Chinese myth, the source of the Huang He (Yellow River) extends all the way to the Milky Way, which itself was thought to be a celestial river connecting Earth and heaven. Modern-day geographers tell a different story: the river starts as snow and ice in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province.
The river’s name comes from the abundant yellow-tinted silt the water picks up and transports eastward as it winds through the dusty, friable landscapes of the Loess Plateau in northwest China. 

Photo by NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland –

Top 10 Amazing Facts About Huang Long Pools

The Huanglong scenic area is in the Songpan county of Sichuan Province in China.

Designated as a heritage site under Natural Criterion vii by UNESCO, this area is made up of snow mountains, waterfalls, limestone formations and pools, hot springs, and virgin forest ecosystems. This area is also home to endangered animals and plants.

The name ‘Huanglong Valley’ means ‘Yellow Dragon Valley’ because of its colorful pools. This park is about 186 mi (300 km) from the capital city of Chengdu and can be easily visited by bus.

The best time to visit is April to November. However, autumn can be very pretty here as the clear water of the pools reflects the changing colors of the leaves. In winter, some of the pools here freeze over.

1. The water of the Huang long pools deposits the calcium carbonate as it flows down the mountain

Launch party of the cargo ship ‘Dun Huang’ . Members of the launch party of the cargo ship ‘Dun Huang’ built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd for the People’s Republic of China, 14 October 1966 –

Also referred to as a ‘Fairy Land on Earth’ and a ‘World Wonder’, this park is located in the southern area of the Minshan Mountain range. Huanglong Valley is quite close to the source of the Fujirang River.

The water that is formed from melted snow mixes with the underwater water that is rich in limestone. This water then deposits the calcium carbonate mixed in it onto rocks, branches, and stones as it flows down the mountain.

2. The limestone formations are the most important in the Huang long pools

Beautiful nature landscape of Huang Long and Jiuzhaigou Park National Park with amazing snow in Sichuan , China

This National Nature Reserve is 19.5 mi (31.5 km) long, 17.6 mi (28.4 km) wide, and covers a total area of 55,000 hectares (550 sq. km). It is comprised of two sites which are the Huanglong Valley and the Mounigou, or Muni, Valley.

The 22 mi (3.6 km) limestone formations located in Huanglong Gou are the most important in this area. They are made up of more than 3,300 colorful ponds that flow along the limestone terraces to form waterfalls and rapids.

3. A large amount of calcium bicarbonate in the water causes it to change color

 Red Lake lies in the heart of the Southern Moor. There is a distinctive landmark – the overgrown spoil tip of the China Clay works that started working in 1910 but had failed by 1933. Photo by Richard Knights –

A large amount of calcium bicarbonate, along with the various types of moss, algae, and bacteria in the water causes it to change color from blue to yellow, green, and milky. The colors of the pools also change during the various seasons as the clear water reflects the changing shades of the vegetation around them.

The largest of these pool formations is the Jinsha Pudi, or Golden Sand Beach, which is made of yellow tufa, also known as calcium carbonate. This long yellow pool is considered to be the largest limestone formation in the world.

4. The Zhaga Waterfall largest calcified waterfall in China

Hartlepool. Photo by Giorces –

Mounigou Valley is made up of mostly virgin forests. The Zhaga Waterfall in this area is the largest calcified waterfall in China. There are many limestone caves in the area of Erdao Lake. This connects it with other similar water bodies present here. The stalactites in the cave near Baihua Lake are the most magnificent of all.

The climatic conditions vary here with it being cold and damp in the mountains and dry and cool in the valley. The summers are wet and warm with most of the precipitation occurring from May to September.

5. The Welcome Pool is made up of pools that are of different shapes and sizes

Natural swimming pool in Litovel. Photo by Iveta Drábková –

One of the interesting geographical features in this scenic area is the Welcome Pool, or Yingbing Pool, which is made up of pools that are of different shapes and sizes and flow from the upper ponds to the lower ones.

The many streams of water that gush out of the forest and down the slope form a kind of ladder waterfall known as the Flying Waterfall.

6. The humid weather in Huanglong Valley is perfect for rhododendron to flourish

Natural swimming pool in Litovel 03. Photo by Iveta Drábková – Wikimedia Commons

The Bonsai Pool is made up of 300 small colorful ponds and is among the most beautiful of the many unique natural wonders in the world.

The cool humid weather in Huanglong Valley is perfect for rhododendron to flourish, flower, and thrive. Hence, there are many different varieties of this flowering plant in Huanglong Valley. These are in bloom between March and June.

7. The Lianyan Lake is the only lake in Huanglong Valley

Natural swimming pool. Photo by Iveta Drábkován-

Huanglong Valley has only one lake, the Lianyan Lake. This lake has shimmering clean water and is 21,527.82 sq. ft (2,000 sq. m). The water in all of the pools here is so clear that you can see the bottom with your naked eye, so much so that the waters of this lake are considered to be the cleanest and clearest of all.

8. The snow-capped peaks along the Huang Long Pools are called Minshan

Rangala Natural Pool is a beautiful natural pool situated in Rangala in the central province of Sri Lanka. Photo by Lahiru Bandara –

The Flowering Washing Pool, Jade Plants Pool, and Turning Flower Pool located in the north of the reserve, and the Stone Pagoda Village Sea Pool, are a few of the other famous pools here. The snow-capped peaks are called Minshan, and the tallest peak rises about 18,333 ft. (5,588 m) above sea level.

The population of this area is low at about 600 people. These belong to the Han and Hui ethnic groups. Geologically, as this area sits on quite a few faults or fracture zones, such as the Snow Mountain Great Fault and the Minjiang River Fault, earthquakes are a common occurrence.

9. The giant panda is among the animals that can be found around the Huang Long Pools

Chengdu, Sichuan, China: Giant Panda in the Chengdu panda breeding and research center. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas –

There are many different types of rare animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish that can be found in this area. Quite a few of these species are declared endangered species.

 Some of the animals that can be found here include the giant panda, the Himalayan black bear, various types of deer species, and the clouded leopard.

 A species of monkey known as the Sichuan golden snub-nose that is found here is also marked among the endangered species.

10. The proximity to the Wanglang Nature Reserve enlarges the population of the giant panda

Natural swimming pool in Litovel. Photo by Iveta Drábková –

Although the population of the giant panda is not very large at this site, its proximity to the Wanglang Nature Reserve makes it quite significant. In addition to the many types of waterfowl species that can be found here, bird species like the pheasant and the Rufus-headed robin are also commonly seen.