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Best Food in Huanglongsi (2026)
Begin your culinary tour at the Huanglongsi Night Market, located at 88 Longmen Road. This bustling market is open daily from 5 PM to midnight and offers a wide variety of local… 🍜 Where to Start
Begin your culinary tour at the Huanglongsi Night Market, located at 88 Longmen Road. This bustling market is open daily from 5 PM to midnight and offers a wide variety of local street food. Try the famous spicy lamb skewers for 10 yuan each.
🥟 Must-Try Dumplings
Head to Dumpling King at 45 Temple Street for the best jiaozi in town. Their pork and chive dumplings cost 28 yuan for a plate of 12. The restaurant is open from 11 AM to 9 PM, and the queue moves fast.
🍲 Local Hotpot Experience
For an authentic hotpot, visit Chongqing Old Hotpot at 112 South Avenue. The spicy broth is a local favorite, and a meal for two costs around 150 yuan. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
🍢 Street Food Alley
Don't miss Snack Alley off East Market Road, where you can find grilled tofu skewers for 5 yuan and stinky tofu for 8 yuan. The alley is busiest from 6 PM to 10 PM, and vendors accept cash only.
🍚 Budget-Friendly Eats
For a cheap meal, try Noodle House at 23 West Street, serving bowls of dan dan noodles for 15 yuan. They are open from 7 AM to 8 PM. Another option is Rice Bowl at 67 Central Plaza, where a set meal costs 20 yuan.
🍰 Sweet Treats
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Sweet Hut Bakery at 9 Lotus Lane, known for its egg tarts at 6 yuan each. They also offer mango sago desserts for 18 yuan. The bakery is open from 8 AM to 9 PM.
☕ Best Coffee Spots
For a caffeine fix, visit Brew & Bean at 55 Park Road, a cozy café serving lattes for 25 yuan. They use locally roasted beans and have free Wi-Fi. Open daily from 7:30 AM to 6 PM.
🍺 Evening Drinks
End your day at The Pagoda Bar at 101 River Street, which offers craft beers starting at 30 yuan. The rooftop terrace provides a great view of the temple. Happy hour runs from 5 PM to 7 PM.
honestly the hotpot place is solid but if you want the real deal check out Old Grandma's Kitchen on the alley behind the temple, no sign just a red lantern out front. she does a beef offal stew that's been simmering for like 12 hours, costs 18 yuan a bowl and comes with rice. gets crowded with locals around 7pm so go a bit earlier
also worth mentioning the little pancake cart by the east gate of the temple, opens at 6am and does a scallion pancake with egg for 5 yuan. perfect breakfast before you start walking the grounds
seconding the scallion pancake cart by the east gate, that's my go-to breakfast whenever i'm in town. one thing the guide doesn't mention is the beef noodle shop at 14 Central Plaza, it's a tiny place with only four stools but they do a dry-tossed version with chili oil and pickled mustard greens for 14 yuan. the owner's been running it for twenty years and doesn't bother with a menu, just nods at you when you walk in. closes by 2pm most days so it's a lunch-only spot.
the night market is good but honestly the real hidden gem is the muslim noodle shop on the corner of temple street and longmen road, no english sign just a green awning. they do a hand-pulled beef noodle soup for 12 yuan and the broth is incredible, been simmering for hours. opens at 7am and they're usually sold out of the good stuff by 2pm
also if you're into sweets, the little old lady who sets up near the temple's west gate around 4pm makes these walnut and brown sugar cakes for 3 yuan each that are way better than anything at sweet hut. she's only there for a couple hours though
3 Days in Huanglongsi: Itinerary 2026
Huanglongsi is a scenic area in northern Sichuan, known for its colorful travertine pools and snow-capped peaks. The main attractions are spread across a high-altitude vall… 🗺️ Overview of the Area
Huanglongsi is a scenic area in northern Sichuan, known for its colorful travertine pools and snow-capped peaks. The main attractions are spread across a high-altitude valley, so plan for altitude acclimatization. This 3-day itinerary groups activities by neighborhood to minimize transit time.
🚌 Getting There and Around
Most visitors fly into Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (JZH), about 1 hour by bus to Huanglongsi. From Chengdu, a direct bus takes 8-9 hours. Within the area, shuttle buses connect the entrance, scenic spots, and nearby hotels. Taxis are available but expensive, so book shared shuttles in advance.
🏔️ Day 1: Arrival and Acclimatization
Arrive at Huanglongsi by midday and check into a hotel near the main entrance, such as Huanglong Hotel (address: Huanglong Scenic Area, Songpan County). Spend the afternoon on a gentle walk along the lower boardwalk to see the Welcome Pools. Avoid strenuous activity to adjust to the 3,100-meter altitude.
🌊 Day 2: Full Day at the Pools
Start early at 7:30 AM to beat crowds. Take the cable car (120 RMB round trip) to the top, then walk down the 4.2-km boardwalk past the Five-Color Pond, Golden Sand Beach, and the main travertine terraces. Bring snacks and water; the on-site restaurant is pricey. Finish by 4 PM to avoid afternoon rain.
🌲 Day 3: Nearby Nature and Departure
Visit the Muni Valley (30 minutes by shuttle) for a quieter hike through forest and waterfalls. Alternatively, explore the Red Star Lake area if you have extra time. Depart by 2 PM to catch your flight or bus. Book a shuttle to the airport (50 RMB, 1 hour) through your hotel.
🍜 Where to Eat
Most meals are at hotel restaurants or small eateries near the entrance. Try the local yak meat hotpot at Mama's Kitchen (near the bus station) for around 80 RMB per person. For a quick bite, the noodle stalls at the scenic area exit serve decent bowls for 20 RMB.
💡 Packing and Tips
Temperatures range from 5°C to 20°C even in summer, so bring layers and a waterproof jacket. Altitude sickness is common; carry Diamox or chew coca leaves available at local shops. The site opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM).
Solid guide, the altitude tip is spot on. I live in Chengdu and go up to Huanglongsi a couple times a year. One thing I'd mention is that the cable car line gets insane by 8:30 AM in peak season, I'm talking 45 minutes to an hour wait. If you can, buy your ticket online the night before on the official WeChat mini program, it saves you queuing at the window. Also, the walk from the cable car station down to the main pools is about 3.5 kilometers on wooden boardwalk, not the 4.2 they list. My knees thanked me for bringing walking poles, you can rent them at the entrance for 20 yuan.
the muni valley tip in the guide is solid but heads up the shuttle only runs every hour and stops around 4pm so don't get stranded like i did lol. also if you're fit enough skip the cable car on day 2 and walk up the boardwalk instead - it's steep but you see the smaller pools and forest on the way up that most people miss. the noodle stalls at the exit are a lifesaver after a long day, the beef one with pickled veg is 20 yuan and way better than the overpriced stuff inside. one thing nobody mentions - bring a power bank cause the cold drains phone batteries fast and you'll want photos at every turn
honestly this guide nails the timing thing, i went last october and the afternoon rain is no joke - it poured at 3pm sharp every single day. one thing i'd add is bring a cheap poncho from the local shops near the entrance instead of those expensive ones inside, they're like 15 yuan vs 50. the five-color pond is stunning but honestly crowded by 9am, so if you're not a morning person the golden sand beach around midday is way more chill and just as pretty. also the altitude thing is real but drinking ginger tea at the hotel lobby helped me more than any pills, theres a little old lady who sells it near the welcome pools for 5 yuan a cup. and yeah the power bank tip from the other reply is clutch, my phone went from 80% to dead in an hour up there