{"id":7563,"date":"2019-07-15T21:22:26","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T03:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/living-abroad\/5-national-parks-to-visit-in-china\/"},"modified":"2021-04-07T14:01:37","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T20:01:37","slug":"5-national-parks-to-visit-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/blog\/living-abroad\/5-national-parks-to-visit-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"5 National Parks to Visit in China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.6.6&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<p>China is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldatlas.com\/articles\/the-largest-countries-in-the-world-the-biggest-nations-as-determined-by-total-land-area.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">world&#8217;s largest countries<\/a>, spanning about 9.6 million square kilometers. It isn\u2019t surprising, then, that China boasts 225 national parks. (For reference, there are 58 in the US and 15 in the UK.)<\/p>\n<p>It can be daunting in the face of so many choices to figure out where to go on your next trip, so we\u2019ve compiled a list of the top five national parks that you might want to pay a visit to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\">while you\u2019re in China!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/mount-huangshan.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"791\" height=\"316\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>1. Mount Huangshan<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Not only is this historical and breathtaking mountain a national park, but it\u2019s also a<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNESCO World Heritage site<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Mount Huangshan has been important to Chinese culture and history since the 8th\u00a0century, when during the Tang Dynasty a legend described the mountain as the location of the <strong>elixir of mortality<\/strong>. The landscape as well as the legend fascinated poets and landscape artists, inspiring the <strong><em>Shanshui<\/em><\/strong> (\u201cMountain and Water\u201d) school of landscape painting, which depicts heavy clouds and mist floating around and above soaring mountains, with trees and waterfalls cascading from their peaks.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Located in Anhui Province, it can be easily reached by train from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\/ci__hangzhou\">Hangzhou<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\/ci__shanghai\">Shanghai<\/a> but is far enough into the countryside that you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve entered a new and ancient world.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Check out the four wonders: four unique views from the park. These are <strong>Strange Pines<\/strong>, <strong>Absurd Stones<\/strong>, <strong>Sea of Clouds<\/strong>, and <strong>Hot Springs<\/strong> respectively. We suggest taking a hike to view the Absurd Stones at the peak of the mountain, and then relaxing in a 42.5 degree Celsius hot spring.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><em>Bonus: <\/em>Stay alert: you might be able to spot the greater spotted eagle, the gray wolf, and the Asiatic wild dog.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/mount-huangshan-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"790\" height=\"316\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>2. Zhangjiajie<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>This national park in central China is home to some of the most gorgeous views in the country.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The scenery is second to none, and whether you\u2019re taking a tour through the famous pillar formations in the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, hiking to as many waterfalls as you can find, waking up early for the sunrises and staying outside until sunset, or sampling the spicy, strong-flavored Hunan cuisine in Zhangjiajie, you won\u2019t regret your visit.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Zhangjiajie is actually a city nestled between mountains, and\u00a0it has a small airport but no high-speed railway. As a result of this, it can be a bit more difficult to get there from some of China\u2019s major tourist cities such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\/ci__beijing\">Beijing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\/ci__shanghai\">Shanghai<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\/ci__chengdu\">Chengdu<\/a>. That being said, consider taking a connecting flight or connecting to a slower train to get to Zhangjiajie \u2013 and you won\u2019t regret it!<em><br \/> <\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Zhangjiajie National Park is just part of the Zhangjiajie National Forest, which offers plenty of things to do and places to explore. This is where you can walk across the world\u2019s longest <strong>glass bridge<\/strong> \u2013 if it sounds scary, that\u2019s because it is! Our tip: don\u2019t look down. You can also take the <strong>world\u2019s longest cable car<\/strong> to the top of a mountain, snapping plenty of gorgeous photos as you go.<em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><br \/> <\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em> <strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/em><strong> If you\u2019re one of the many people worldwide who saw James Cameron\u2019s 2009 box office smash <em>Avatar<\/em>, you might recognize one of the mountains, formerly known as the Southern Sky Column but now referred to the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Huangguoshu-waterfall-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"795\" height=\"318\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>3. Huangguoshu <\/strong>\u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Head to western China to see one of Asia\u2019s biggest waterfalls!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Huangguoshu Waterfall is enough to draw you in alone, at approximately 250 meters in height and width. That\u2019s not all, though \u2013 there are 18 waterfalls in the park in total.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The park is located Anshun City, Guizhou Province, and is 150 kilometers from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\/ci__guiyang\">downtown of Guiyang<\/a>. You can take a train from Guiyang to Anshun, at which point you can take a bus to the park.<em><br \/> <\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Enter the cave behind the falls to explore without getting wet and peer out at the curtain of water that makes up the falls. Walk along the viewing platforms and walkways, and hope that you\u2019ll catch a view of a rainbow within the mist.<em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><br \/> <\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em> <strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/em><strong> The Huangguoshu Waterfall Resort has received top ratings from the government and many media outlets. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings as well as a breath of fresh air in this beautiful resort that has been described as \u201clung-washing.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/mount-lu.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"790\" height=\"316\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>4. Lushan<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lushan boasts more than 200 Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucius relics and temples.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Lushan National Park is 500 square kilometers\/320 square miles and encompasses rivers, mountains, caves, and lakes. If the natural landscape itself isn\u2019t enough to draw you in, the spiritual and historic value of the park certainly will be.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>A bus leaves the long-distance bus station of Jiujiang City to Mount Lu every 30 minutes and the ride takes about an hour for 9 RMB.<em><br \/> <\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Bus routes circle the park so that you can see everything it has to offer, which is recommended to do at the beginning of your visit. The Five-Old Man Peak is a must-see \u2013 from the Haihui Temple at the base of the mountain, the five peaks are often shrouded in fog, talking to one another as five old men sitting in a park.<\/p>\n<p>Visit the Donglin Temple, which was built by a Buddhist monk during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and is one of the oldest temples on the mountain.<em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><br \/> <\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em> <strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/em><strong> The Bailudong Academy (White Deer Cave Academy) is located on Mount Lu, and is one of the four most famous ancient academies in China.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Huanglong.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"312\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>5. Huanglong<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Nicknamed \u2018World Wonder\u2019 and \u2018Fairy Land on Earth,\u2019 Huanglong is a beautiful destination with colorful pools, lakes, mountains, and forests.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Huanglong Valley offers 2.2 miles of scenery that includes snow-clad peaks and the easternmost glaciers in China. The valley, from above, looks like a golden dragon (huanglong) snaking through virgin forest, stone mountains, and glaciers.<em><br \/> <\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Huanglong is located in the northwest part of Sichuan Province and sits above 5,580 feet. Meaning: bring lots of water! You can take a bus from Chengdu to Songpan, and from there, to Huanglong.<em><br \/> <\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Throughout the Huanglong Valley are colorful ponds with gold colored limestone deposit, offering a golden hue to the water. In the Mounigou Valley is Erdao Lake, the largest in the area and surrounded by underground limestone caves. The water changes color depending on the season.<\/p>\n<p>Also in the Mounigou Valley is Zhaga Waterfall, at the base of which is a round stone the water falls upon and splatters off from, looking like jade \u2013 called the Jianyu Tai (spattering jade platform). At Guhuashi you can see prehistoric, fossilized animals, plants, and finish, well-preserved and intact. Dip into Feicui (Emerald) Spring and experience the water\u2019s medicinal value before heading back home.<em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><br \/> <\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em> <strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/em><strong> Visit the Yellow Dragon Cave, to see three sitting Buddha figures encrusted with calc-sinter crystals.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Ready to find your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/job-board\/c__china\">next teaching position in China?<\/a> Check out what it&#8217;s like to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/jobs\/destinations\/teach-in-china\/living-in-china\/\">live and teach in China!<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While in China, there are 5 national parks that you need to add to your bucket list!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7564,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"China is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldatlas.com\/articles\/the-largest-countries-in-the-world-the-biggest-nations-as-determined-by-total-land-area.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">world's largest countries<\/a>, spanning about 9.6 million square kilometers. It isn\u2019t surprising, then, that China boasts 225 national parks. (For reference, there are 58 in the US and 15 in the UK.)\n\nIt can be daunting in the face of so many choices to figure out where to go on your next trip, so we\u2019ve compiled a list of the top five national parks that you might want to pay a visit to <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">while you\u2019re in China!<\/a>\n\n<img src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/mount-huangshan.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"791\" height=\"316\">\n<h2><span><strong>1. Mount Huangshan<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<strong><span>Not only is this historical and breathtaking mountain a national park, but it\u2019s also a<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNESCO World Heritage site<\/a>.<\/strong>\n<h3><span><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nMount Huangshan has been important to Chinese culture and history since the 8<sup>th<\/sup> century, when during the Tang Dynasty a legend described the mountain as the location of the <strong>elixir of mortality<\/strong>. The landscape as well as the legend fascinated poets and landscape artists, inspiring the <strong><em>Shanshui<\/em><\/strong> (\u201cMountain and Water\u201d) school of landscape painting, which depicts heavy clouds and mist floating around and above soaring mountains, with trees and waterfalls cascading from their peaks.\n<h3><span><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nLocated in Anhui Province, it can be easily reached by train from <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcity_multiselect%5D%5B%5D=hangzhou\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hangzhou<\/a> and <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcity_multiselect%5D%5B%5D=shanghai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shanghai<\/a> but is far enough into the countryside that you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve entered a new and ancient world.\n<h3><span><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nCheck out the four wonders: four unique views from the park. These are <strong>Strange Pines<\/strong>, <strong>Absurd Stones<\/strong>, <strong>Sea of Clouds<\/strong>, and <strong>Hot Springs<\/strong> respectively. We suggest taking a hike to view the Absurd Stones at the peak of the mountain, and then relaxing in a 42.5 degree Celsius hot spring.\n\n<span><strong><em>Bonus: <\/em>Stay alert: you might be able to spot the greater spotted eagle, the gray wolf, and the Asiatic wild dog.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<img src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/mount-huangshan-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"790\" height=\"316\">\n<h2><span><strong>2. Zhangjiajie<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<span><strong>This national park in central China is home to some of the most gorgeous views in the country.<\/strong><\/span>\n<h3><span><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe scenery is second to none, and whether you\u2019re taking a tour through the famous pillar formations in the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, hiking to as many waterfalls as you can find, waking up early for the sunrises and staying outside until sunset, or sampling the spicy, strong-flavored Hunan cuisine in Zhangjiajie, you won\u2019t regret your visit.\n<h3><span><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nZhangjiajie is actually a city nestled between mountains, and&nbsp;it has a small airport but no high-speed railway. As a result of this, it can be a bit more difficult to get there from some of China\u2019s major tourist cities such as <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcity_multiselect%5D%5B%5D=beijing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Beijing<\/a>, <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcity_multiselect%5D%5B%5D=shanghai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shanghai<\/a>, and <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcity_multiselect%5D%5B%5D=chengdu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chengdu<\/a>. That being said, consider taking a connecting flight or connecting to a slower train to get to Zhangjiajie \u2013 and you won\u2019t regret it!<em>\n<\/em>\n<h3><span><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nZhangjiajie National Park is just part of the Zhangjiajie National Forest, which offers plenty of things to do and places to explore. This is where you can walk across the world\u2019s longest <strong>glass bridge<\/strong> \u2013 if it sounds scary, that\u2019s because it is! Our tip: don\u2019t look down. You can also take the <strong>world\u2019s longest cable car<\/strong> to the top of a mountain, snapping plenty of gorgeous photos as you go.<em><\/em>\n\n<em>\n<\/em><em> <span><strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><span><strong> If you\u2019re one of the many people worldwide who saw James Cameron\u2019s 2009 box office smash <em>Avatar<\/em>, you might recognize one of the mountains, formerly known as the Southern Sky Column but now referred to the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<img src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Huangguoshu-waterfall-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"795\" height=\"318\">\n<h2><span><strong>3. Huangguoshu <\/strong>\u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<span><strong>Head to western China to see one of Asia\u2019s biggest waterfalls!<\/strong><\/span>\n<h3><span><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nHuangguoshu Waterfall is enough to draw you in alone, at approximately 250 meters in height and width. That\u2019s not all, though \u2013 there are 18 waterfalls in the park in total.\n<h3><span><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe park is located Anshun City, Guizhou Province, and is 150 kilometers from the <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcity_multiselect%5D%5B%5D=guiyang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">downtown of Guiyang<\/a>. You can take a train from Guiyang to Anshun, at which point you can take a bus to the park.<em>\n<\/em>\n<h3><span><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nEnter the cave behind the falls to explore without getting wet and peer out at the curtain of water that makes up the falls. Walk along the viewing platforms and walkways, and hope that you\u2019ll catch a view of a rainbow within the mist.<em><\/em>\n\n<em>\n<\/em><em> <span><strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><span><strong> The Huangguoshu Waterfall Resort has received top ratings from the government and many media outlets. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings as well as a breath of fresh air in this beautiful resort that has been described as \u201clung-washing.\u201d<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<img src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/mount-lu.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"790\" height=\"316\">\n<h2><span><strong>4. Lushan<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<span><strong>Lushan boasts more than 200 Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucius relics and temples.<\/strong><\/span>\n<h3><span><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nLushan National Park is 500 square kilometers\/320 square miles and encompasses rivers, mountains, caves, and lakes. If the natural landscape itself isn\u2019t enough to draw you in, the spiritual and historic value of the park certainly will be.\n<h3><span><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nA bus leaves the long-distance bus station of Jiujiang City to Mount Lu every 30 minutes and the ride takes about an hour for 9 RMB.<em>\n<\/em>\n<h3><span><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nBus routes circle the park so that you can see everything it has to offer, which is recommended to do at the beginning of your visit. The Five-Old Man Peak is a must-see \u2013 from the Haihui Temple at the base of the mountain, the five peaks are often shrouded in fog, talking to one another as five old men sitting in a park.\n\nVisit the Donglin Temple, which was built by a Buddhist monk during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and is one of the oldest temples on the mountain.<em><\/em>\n\n<em>\n<\/em><em> <span><strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><span><strong> The Bailudong Academy (White Deer Cave Academy) is located on Mount Lu, and is one of the four most famous ancient academies in China.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<img src=\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Huanglong.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"312\">\n<h2><span><strong>5. Huanglong<\/strong> \u2013 <\/span><\/h2>\n<span><strong>Nicknamed \u2018World Wonder\u2019 and \u2018Fairy Land on Earth,\u2019 Huanglong is a beautiful destination with colorful pools, lakes, mountains, and forests.<\/strong><\/span>\n<h3><span><strong>Why visit:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe Huanglong Valley offers 2.2 miles of scenery that includes snow-clad peaks and the easternmost glaciers in China. The valley, from above, looks like a golden dragon (huanglong) snaking through virgin forest, stone mountains, and glaciers.<em>\n<\/em>\n<h3><span><strong>How to get there:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nHuanglong is located in the northwest part of Sichuan Province and sits above 5,580 feet. Meaning: bring lots of water! You can take a bus from Chengdu to Songpan, and from there, to Huanglong.<em>\n<\/em>\n<h3><span><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThroughout the Huanglong Valley are colorful ponds with gold colored limestone deposit, offering a golden hue to the water. In the Mounigou Valley is Erdao Lake, the largest in the area and surrounded by underground limestone caves. The water changes color depending on the season.\n\nAlso in the Mounigou Valley is Zhaga Waterfall, at the base of which is a round stone the water falls upon and splatters off from, looking like jade \u2013 called the Jianyu Tai (spattering jade platform). At Guhuashi you can see prehistoric, fossilized animals, plants, and finish, well-preserved and intact. Dip into Feicui (Emerald) Spring and experience the water\u2019s medicinal value before heading back home.<em><\/em>\n\n<em>\n<\/em><em> <span><strong>Bonus:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><span><strong> Visit the Yellow Dragon Cave, to see three sitting Buddha figures encrusted with calc-sinter crystals.<\/strong><\/span>\n\nReady to find your <a href=\"job-search?search_line=&amp;filters_array%5Bfilters%5D%5Bcountry%5D%5B%5D=china\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">next teaching position in China<\/a>? Check out what it's like to <a href=\"teach-abroad\/teach-in-china\/living-in-china\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">live and teach in China!<\/a>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[21,44],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 National Parks to Visit in China - Teaching Nomad<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you&#039;re just visiting China or moving here for good, these are 5 national parks that you should go see!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/blog\/living-abroad\/5-national-parks-to-visit-in-china\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 National Parks to Visit in China - Teaching Nomad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whether you&#039;re just visiting China or moving here for good, these are 5 national parks that you should go see!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/blog\/living-abroad\/5-national-parks-to-visit-in-china\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Teaching Nomad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-07-16T03:22:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-04-07T20:01:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/391d45802a606be64095bd7b66c67316.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Helen Armstrong\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/\",\"name\":\"Teaching Nomad\",\"description\":\"Jobs and programs for teaching English abroad, International school employment and teaching job vacancies in Asia. 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