Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong （2） 九寨沟/黄龙

Before going to Huanglong (黄龙 Yellow Dragon)Scenic Park , another renowned World Heritage Site, I heard many stories about altitude sickness, cancellation of trip due to adverse weather ....

More so if the local Chinese tour guide's frightening tales in order to make few more bucks by selling oxygen canisters and altitude sickness herbal drug.

It might be true only if one was ill-prepared (and careless) and physically unfit.

Huanglong is about 130kms from Jiuzhaigou, a 3-hour journey by bus through winding mountainous roads and would take us to the highest point of about 4300 meters above sea level before descending to Huanglong at about 3300 m.

On Thursday, Oct 17 morning, we left Jiuzhaigou for Huanglong.

En route, we made our first shopping stop at a tea factory. Our tour itinerary has spelt out clearly that  only 4 shopping stops throughout the journey.

We continued our journey after lunch at a small town. As our bus climbed higher, we saw a layer of snow blanketing the mountain tops. We reached Huanglong at noon and spent 3.5 hours in the park.

There are 2 ways to view the park: By cable car and by foot. ( Tour fee did not include cable car ticket)

We opted to walk as far as our feet could go.

My mother in law was walking too slowly (on uphill steps) that holding us back, thus we were only able to make it slightly below halfway mark.

Javin was very patient and caring to help my mother in law. However, we felt uneasy if we were to leave them behind, so slowed down our pace too.

There was a small cabin providing free oxygen to those in need at about 1 km from the entrance. It was run by the park authority and charged RMB 1.00 for the breathing kit only.

My mother in law seemed to hold on well. I bought from the guide a can of oxygen (RMB 50.00) in case she needed it ... however, it rendered useless while oxygen was provided free.

Anyway, I paid RMB 1.00 to have a try and would like to share this news with intended travelers - Free oxygen is being provided at the park!

The travertine landscape and pools are Huanglong's main attraction.

A few tour members made it to the top.

I was glad that our group had completed the journey of Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong safely. (Altitude sickness being the main concern)

For me, I heaved a sigh of relief for myself and mother in law.

I was suffering from insomnia since the first night landed in Chengdu.  Without good rest, I was worried about making it to the Huanglong ....

However, due to my good preparations, one of the measures was taking altitude sickness medicine HongJingTian days before departure, and my prayer in faith, I survived.

My wife, and many other members too had trouble sleeping, also made it through ... Praise the Lord, Alleluia !

The Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong journey reminded me of Daocheng-Ya Ding trip we made about same time last year.

After seeing the swamps of local tourist here, I was very glad that we traveled to Daocheng-Ya Ding Scenic Park last year before the invasion of them in great number expected with the opening of  Daocheng Airport last month. It is the highest airport in the world.

We enjoyed the serenity, peacefulness and beauty of Daocheng-Ya Ding Scenic Park (click to see) more than Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong (although each has it own uniqueness).

In less than 3 years, the crowd condition in Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong would be worsen ... so see it before local tourists choke you out !

(During the recent China national day holidays, few thousands local tourists were trapped inside Jiuzhaigou for more than 11 hours due to bad transport management and unruly crowd.)

(Pictures in Facebook)

(Video in Youtube)

黄龙，是另一个世界遗产地点。

我还没有到此之前，就听闻了许多有关高山症，天气不佳而行程取消的故事。。

更糟糕的是当地的导游以惊悚的语调，告诉你一些“抬下山”的事故，也就只是为了多卖几瓶氧气罐，红景天等，多赚一些外快，但却令你忧心。

这也许是真实的，但也只因为你没做好准备，大意或身体状况不佳，才会出现问题。

黄龙离开九寨沟大约130公里，约需三个小时车程，经过弯曲的上山陡道，到了大约4300米高度，然后下落，抵达3300米的黄龙景区。

17/10星期四，我们离开九寨沟，前往黄龙。

途中，我们停留在一家茶庄。这是行程里清楚说明的四个购物点中的一个。

午餐过后，我们继续行程。

当我们的巴士攀到某个高度时，可以看到远山之峰，白茫茫的一片，被霜雪覆盖了。我们在中午过后，抵达黄龙景区，在那儿逗留三个半小时，观赏美景。
 
观赏黄龙可用两个方法：乘搭缆车（索道）或步行。（团费不包括缆车票）

乘搭缆车，可直达最高点（3800米），由上而步行下山观赏。问题是缆车的山上总站，还需步行大约四公里，才到第一个景点，然后才往下走。假如身体出现状况，也还得强行下山。

我们选择步行，能够走多远，就远多远。许多团员都能够在不到三个小时内，登顶后在下来。

岳母因为步行缓慢，我们也放缓脚步陪同。Javin 虽然愿意照顾她，但我们也不好意思把他们丢下而自行观赏，就在视线范围内，观赏拍照。我们只能够到达半途之下而已。

途中有一个“氧吧”，是园区管理局设立，为那些需要的旅客提供免费氧气。 我们虽然不需要，但为了试试，付了人民币一元，购买一套吸氧管子，也趁机休息一会。这个氧吧离开入口大约一公里，敬请以后要去黄龙的朋友，注意这设备。

岳母看起来还不错，可以步行到氧吧。我本来购买了一支氧气筒（人民币50），以备她紧急需要。不过，这已不管用了，再说，还有免费氧吧呢！

大自然经过千万年形成的洞石（石灰岩）及水池，是黄龙的主要景点。

我很高兴的所有队员都顺利及平安的完成了九寨沟/黄龙的行程，（高山症是主要的忧虑），特别是为自己及岳母，确实是松了一口气。

从抵达成都的第一晚开始，我就每晚失眠。我担心身体的状况，会在黄龙出现问题。

幸好我们都事先作好了准备功夫，就是出发的前两天，就开始服食红景天（预防高山症的药物），以及藉着信德的祷告，心灵及意志协调，平安的完成了行程。

我的太太及一些团员也有睡眠困难，但都平安无事。阿肋路亚！

九寨沟/黄龙之行，使我想起去年几乎同一个时期，我与太太去的稻城-亚丁之旅。

在此见到了汹涌的人潮，我们庆幸去年就去了稻城-亚丁。随着稻城机场在上个月的启用，我不敢想象，那将涌去的人山人海，鲁莽及肮脏的内地游客，会把那美丽的亚丁景区蹂躏的如何呢？

我们至今还回忆着稻城-亚丁景区 的安详，清幽，美丽及浪漫的风景，这是九寨沟/黄龙所不能给予的。（虽然两个景区各有不同风姿，但人潮及污染是主要的因素）

我想，不到三年的时光，九寨沟/黄龙的游客人数将激增及更拥挤。。。所以，要去，就尽快吧，别让内地游客把你给窒息或挤扁！

（在今年十月的国庆假期，数千名内地游客，滞留在景区内大约十一个小时，主要原因是交通管理不当及不守规矩的横蛮人潮）

(更多照片Facebook)

(录影Youtube)