Huanglong’s Terraced Colored Pools

Huanglong’s Terraced Colored Pools

Huanglong features ancient glacial landforms where surface calcium carbonate deposits have accumulated and settled, forming numerous lake and pond clusters that resemble fish scales or terraced fields. Stretching 3.6 kilometers and situated at elevations between 3,145 and 3,578 meters, with a relative height difference of over 400 meters, these interconnected lakes, streams, and waterfalls form hundreds of winding, layered, and jade-like terraced colored pools.

The pools range in size from one or two acres to just a few square meters, shaped like hooves, palms, water caltrops, or lotus flowers—each uniquely formed. Mighty streams meander along the valleys, pouring into the terraced pools, cascading down layer by layer, weaving through forests, leaping over embankments, and surging across gravel beds. The first cluster of pools encountered upon entering the valley is nestled within lush, dense woods. Piercing through the verdant foliage, more than 20 pools are scattered in a staggered formation, their surfaces shimmering with ripples as they tumble down in tiers, accompanied by the gentle tinkling of flowing water. Some pools have low banks, with water spilling over and reflecting brilliantly off snow-white shores and azure waters, creating a dazzling spectrum under sunlight. Other lakes are dotted with ancient trees and vines, their forms reminiscent of an eagle spreading its wings or a tiger descending a mountain—strikingly vivid and lifelike. Still others are adorned with pine and cypress trees, some rising above the water’s surface, others submerged, graceful and enchanting, resembling “aquatic potted landscapes.”

The colored pools vary in size and shape. Some reflect a myriad of colors, displaying a brilliant and competing array of hues. Shallow streams ripple under sunlight, glistening with crystal-clear brilliance. A fine layer of light yellow moss carpets the underwater surface, and stepping onto the streambed feels soft and cool—transporting you, in this very moment, to a heavenly fairyland akin to the Jade Pool.