Special Trip photos – Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, 2012/11/04

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In 2011 we made a scouting trip to this part of northern Sichuan, and in 2012 we made our first group visit to the area. It wasn't the smoothest first visit – we had a lot of problems with flight cancellations and changes about a month before departure, and ended up making it a five-day trip instead of four.

We visited the beautiful blue lakes of Jiuzhaigou National Park and Huanglong National Park, and explored two of the ancient towns in the area. In this part of Sichuan there are a lot of Tibetans, and the Qiang ethnic group and Muslims have also lived here for a long period of time.

On the first day we were in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, where we visited Wuhou Temple and Huanglongxi ancient town.

The next day we flew out to Jiuzhaigou, travelling on the next day to Huanglong and Songpan.

Songpan is an ancient town was first settled during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD)

This was our first time travelling to northern Sichuan province, to visit its most beautiful blue lakes and interesting towns in Sichuan: Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Songpan, which were originally built during the Tang Dynasty 618-907 AD, and rebuilt in the Ming dynasty 1368-1644 AD.

On the extra day of the trip, we made a visit to Munigou National Park to take a look at the waterfalls and forests there, and then it was back to Chengdu for our flight to Beijing.

Huijie took a lot of photos on the trips; below you'll find her favourites.

Our group, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

We spent some time in Chengdu, and visited Wuhou Temple on the first day of the trip. In this photo we're listening to our tour guide's explanation about this temple.

A red wall, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Red walls along the path and green bamboo outside the walls.

temple, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Wuhou Temple features large gardens full of greenery.

temple buildings, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

One of the main temple buildings.

food street, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Two Tibetans were shopping at Chengdu's Jinli food street.

Shadow Puppets, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Colourful shadow puppets.

An old lady, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

We took a walk about the ancient town of Huanglongxi, and spotted an old lady was selling some flowers.

Huanglongxi, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Small shops line this street in Huanglongxi.

An old lady, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

An old lady with prayer beads, outside of her house at dusk.

walking around the town, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

We took a break by this nice-looking building.

school kids, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

We visited in the afternoon, and it seems we were about just as school finished for the day. We saw a lot of local kids and their families walking home – quite interesting to see the life of regular folks in the area!

Good friends, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Good friends.

Running home, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Running home.

A family members, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A family heading home with the bike.

Huanglong, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Next stop: Huanglong National Geological Park

Minshan snow mountain, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Behind Huanglong National Park is the Minshan Snow Mountain, over 5,000 metres high at the peak.

A spectacular view, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

This is what Huanglong is famous for: travertine terraces and pools, filled with impossibly clear water.

A Tibetan lady, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

One of the park attendants, wearing traditional Tibetan clothes.

Jiuzhaigou, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

After a day in Huanlong, the next stop was the Jiuzhaigou National Geological Park.

What clean water, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

What clean water!

Blue lake, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Jiuzhaigou's Blue Lake.

water, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A fallen tree submerged in clean, blue water.

landscape, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A beautiful landscape – autumn colours behind Blue Lake.

a blue lake, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

The blue colour comes from deposits of minerals in the water.

A wild bird, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A wild bird we spotted.

Songpan ancient town, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

The gates of Songpan's ancient town.

A stone, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A stone carving on the city wall.

Local Tibetan ladies, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Local Tibetan ladies, wrapped up against the cold.

Local people, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Perhaps the young one is getting an early start at learning his father's trade.

Silversmith, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A silversmith.

A nice group picture, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A nice group picture in front of the largest waterfall at Munigou National Park.

A nice waterfall., Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Another shot of the waterfall.

People, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Hikers enjoying the view.

A Tibetan lady, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

Neil is getting to know the locals.

A Local farmer, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

A farmer plowing with his two strong yaks.

Local people's house, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

The farmer's house.

Our birthday girl, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

On the left, our birthday girl! One of two people to have their birthday on this trip.

A group picture, Beijing Hikers Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Nov04, 2012

We took a group picture at a restaurant on our way back to Chengdu.