Huanglong, a dramatic tour

I was so thankful to the whole group, for their being so very cooperative by rising early at 5 am and being willing to take the breakfast box. Actually we had to do so, because in order to catch the flight back to Chongqing that afternoon after completing the tour to Huanglong scenic area, located about 2.5-3 hours from Jiuzhaigou. Huanglong area is the place with large forests , and lakes hidden deep inside, colored by various calcium aggregates.

It was so black out of windows when the bus began rolling. The guide explained over and again about the route, which was: after we should take cable to the summit, we would walk for over 2 kilometers to the lake side, and the highest altitude over 4000 meter. And we should be most careful. So after a short toilet stop, the group kinda finished shopping all oxygen mini-pumps in a tiny store nearby. So cold and early, and I couldn't help admiring those owners for their great character to get up so early to wait to charge the toilet money and sell goods.

So damn cold. The temperature would between 0-6 degrees the whole in Huanglong, and it would snow and rain. I mean, to snow and rain more. For there, when it was a little brighter, we noticed that all mountains along the way covered in snow from last night. And the higher we drove, the thicker snow. When our bus really stopped at the ex trance, smoothly and safely, all of us made a long sigh. After rushing to toilet again,awaited a long vote to go, or not, as many of them were beginning to feel sleepiness and headache from the high altitudes.

After minutes' discussion and changing minds, 12 out of 20 decided to continue while the rest staying and resting on bus. A pleasant trade on the spot of oxygen they'd formerly purchased. We were definitely the first group to be there, we all stumbled and reminded to each other about extremely icy and slippery roads even most snow from the floor had been swept.

From the foot to the top of the mountain, by cable it took only eight minutes. When my cable the last one to get there, some 4 persons were reported by the cable staff to cluster themselves around a heater themselves in a tiny staff's room, waiting for the cable to descend.

'It was so icy and slippery. We decided to go down now. Bu we have to wait for the ticket staff to come still.' We joked about the most efficient travel by them, who were soon joined by another two just returning from a toilet cabin 10 meters away. The toilet was free of charge, but the total cost was 320 yuan for it:
Details: the admission fee to Huanglong scenic spot is 200 yuan, cable ride upwards 80 yuan and then the cable ride downwards 40 yuan.

Only four braved away, but after around 45 minutes the guide called back mentioning they were returning after almost half of the walk. While waiting for their return, I saw a young woman staff, wearing red coat, and high heels sweeping snow from the walkways. Another girl, selling cable tickets, joined worrying and questioning why we left so quickly, kindly presented us a picture book of Huanglong. Surely on its pages, everything is so green, so so pretty, and so warm.