The valley is a Y: Five-Colour Pool and Long Lake up Zharu, Pearl Shoal and Nuorilang on the Rize fork, Shuzheng linking the villages. The shuttle is the skeleton. Walking is how you actually see the water. Five Flower Lake wants both a high view and a bank.
You are at two to three thousand metres. Do not run on day one. Huanglong is often paired with Jiuzhaigou; they have different rhythms. The Tibetan village names — Heye, Shuzheng, Zharu — are a reminder this is not an empty park.
After earthquake and closures the valley is still putting itself back. Stay on the boardwalk. Stay out of the water. That is the minimum courtesy. A good trip takes the colour and leaves the stone.
What to do
- Take the shuttle to the top of the valley and walk down. Everybody does the reverse and fights the crowd.
