Is Huanglong National Park Closed in Winter

Huanglong National Park is closed in winter stopping accepting tourist groups. On the other hand, Huanglong is open to individual tourists in winter in certain conditions. For example, if the snow is too heavy for all the cars, Huanglong stops accepting all the tourists. So it is highly suggested that to contact us for more information before booking tickets and accommodations.

Huanglong National Park

The ticket price of Huanglong National Park in winter (60 RMB) is relatively cheaper than in the autumn (200 RMB). The low season starts from 16th, November to 31st, March.

Introduction of Huanglong National Park

Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, Huanglong National Park is famous for its colorful lakes formed by calcite deposits, diverse forest ecosystems, snow capped peaks, silver waterfalls, hot springs and friendly environment to endangered animals. Huanglong is located in the northwestern Sichuan Province, China and 150km away from the provincial capital, Chengdu. Because of centuries of geological evolution, Huanglong consists of numerous unique landscapes and crystal lakes.

Sliver waterfall

Huanglong means Yellow Dragon in Chinese. Seen from a far distance, Huanglong’s landscape looks like a golden dragon arching across the valley.

Huanglong’s landscape looks like a golden dragon arching across the valley

Huanglong Weather in Winter

The weather in Huanglong is relatively more changeable than in plain area. Because of its average altitude of 3500m, the regional climate of Huanglong is Alpine Plateau Climate with lower average temperature, huger temperature difference within one day, higher UV level, longer sunshine duration and stronger wind.

In winter, the lowest temperature comes to -16 degrees when the highest reaches 11 degrees. The average temperature is -5 degrees. The temperature difference is more than 15 degrees.

Daily temperature of Huanglong in January

In winter, the precipitation is small, in which most forms are snow. Even in early October, Huanglong starts to snow. The lakes are half-frozen and the waterfalls stop. The ice roads are extremely slippery, so that every car going to Huanglong has to equip tire chains, and sometimes the park forbids all the car going up during bad weather conditions.

The lakes in Huanglong Park are half-frozen in winter

In winter, there is only 3-5mm precipitation in one month. The disasters like landscape and rockflow appear less. But tourists should still pay attention to the snowstorm.

Even in winter when the temperature is low, tourists should always wear sunscreen for the high UV level.

Altitude of Huanglong National Park

Huanglong is located in Songpan County, Ngawa (Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, northwest Sichuan Province with an average altitude of 3500m above the sea level. The temperature is low, so that heavy down jacket, scarf, and thick sweater are needed.

3 Days Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong National Park Local Tour

People might suffer from the high-altitude sickness while visiting Huanglong National Park. So preparing a bottle of oxygen and medicines is necessary. Going to Huanglong by plane is more uncomfortable than by bus, because the bus slowly goes up to Huanglong giving tourists some time to adapt the level difference.

Please Note:

1. Do not jump or run in Huanglong at first. Tourists should wait and relax for one night or one day to adjust the altitude.

2. Do not drink too much.

What to See in Huanglong National Park

Travertine is one of Huanglong’s most defining features. It is a type of limestone deposited by mineral springs, formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate. After several centuries, the water in Huanglong separated by calcium carbonate deposit, which birthed countless mineral lakes like Five-color Ponds, Mirror ponds, welcoming guests ponds, Penjing Lake, and Zhuanhua Lake.

Huanglong National Park Map

The lake in Huanglong is crystal and clean thanks to the calcium carbonate depositswhich is breath-taking. Tourists can witness more than 5 colors co-existing within one lake: green, light blue, peacock blue, yellow and orange. One of the most famous lake is five-color ponds with a legend of 5 fairies coming down to the earth lying in the highest point of Huanglong which consists of 693 calcific lakes. Min Mountain is right before the five-color ponds. Different shaped colorful lakes are like watercolor board cut into pieces.

The lake in Huanglong is very crystal and clean

Huanglong is also famous for its biology diversity. Some endangered animals like giant panda and golden snub-nosed monkey have been living in Huanglong for centuries, where has been protected well in these years.

In winter, the forest and mountain are covered by snow. The trees put on silver and white suit, and the animals start their hibernation. The world is peaceful and quiet. If you come to Huanglong in October, when it begins to snow, you might see the half-frozen lakes and stopped waterfalls, which are rare in any other seasons. You can also enjoy the hot spring without modern interruptions.

The forest and mountain are covered by snow

How to Get to Huanglong National Park

There are 2 ways going to Huanglong in winter.

By Plane

At least 14 major cities like Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an in China are opened a direct airline to Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Airport. However, in winter, most of these cities stop this route because less tourists going to Huanglong in winter. So you have to take a plane in Chengdu or Chongqing.

Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Airport

Flying from Chengdu to Huanglong, the ticket price is about 1000 RMB. But in winter, you can buy it at up to 50% discount as a promotion strategy encouraging tourists to go to Huanglong in winter. It takes you about 1 hour in the air. Nonetheless, the weather condition strongly influenced the plane especially in winter.

After arriving at Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Airport, touristscould take the shuttle bus, which is also effected by the weather condition, to Huanglong National Park in 1 hour with 20 RMB. The safest way is booking a car to pick you up. The price is about 200 RMB per car.

Booking a car to pick you up

By Bus

There is no direct bus connecting Chengdu and Huanglong. Tourists can choose to take the bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou in the morning in Xin’nanmen Bus Station to Jiuzhaigou which costs about 9 hours and 160 RMB and transfer to Huanglong in the next day.

Xinnanmen Bus Station

Taking bus from Chengdu (Chadianzi Bus Station) to Chuanzhusi is also available. After arriving at Chuanzhusi, you can book a car or share a private car with others to go to Huanglong at a round price of 100 and arrive within 1 hour. There is no public bus between Chuanzhusi and Huanglong.

Chadianzi Bus Station

Bus schedule is strongly influenced by the weather as well. It is suggested to contact the information center for certain information.

By Self-driving

For tourists who is legal in driving in China, self-driving is the most interesting way to feel the nature. Also you can make your schedule all by yourselves. But it is not recommended in winter with complex road condition and weather change.

4 Days Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Overland Tour

Price From: USD 490

Here is a route for your reference:

Day 1: Chengdu-Dujiangyan-Wenchuan-Maoxian-Songpan (400km) staying in Songpan and visitingSongpan Ancient Town.
Day 2: Songpan-Chuanzhusi-Huanglong (100km)
Day 3: Huanglong-Songpan-Maoxian-Wenchuan-Dujiangyan-Chengdu (500km)

Where to Live in Huanglong

There are fewer hotels in Huanglong National park. The most famous one is Seercuo International Hotel with a price of 500 RMB per night. But in winter, you can always find a discount price online. Other hostels are less comfortable at a price of 100 RMB.

Seercuo International Hotel in Huanglong National Park

On the other hand, Huanglong is situated in a high altitude place, so that people might feel uncomfortable spending a whole night there. Tourists can book a hotel in Songpan, where is only 1 hour away from Huanglong. There are less people in winter so the price is relatively low and the service is relatively better.

NOTES:

Some hotels close in winter in Songpan because of less tourists traffic. Booking a hotel in advance is necessary.

Alternative Places to Go in Winter

If Huanglong National Park is closed in winter, you can choose to go to Munigou (also known as Mounigou) and Guergou where the sceneries are equally charming and the entrance price is lower than in the autumn.

Munigou in winter