Huang Long in last week of December

Question

Hi I am going to Chengdu for a full week and have a couple of days free to do overnight trips to Jiuzhaigou and Huang Long in the last week of Dec /New Year. I know they are usually done together, however is Huang Long open or closed or is it even worth going this period? I have seen conflicting reports, some say its not worth it as there's no water. Or are there other things you would recommend during this period. I am already going to Dujiangyuan Panda Facility, Sanxingdui Leshan area and possibly Qingcheng.

Answer

Visiting Huang Long Scenic Area (Sichuan) in the last week of December is possible, but there are important caveats — and in many ways, it may *not* be the best choice if you’re looking for the classic “colourful pool” scenery. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help decide whether it’s worth going, along with alternatives.

Status & accessibility in late December

Some sources say the park is “closed for winter” — for example “from December to the next April Huang Long is closed due to dried up lakes and ponds”.
Others report it *is* open — for example one forum post says: “Huanglong is definitely open during the period you said… The entrance fee for the low season (Dec 16–May 31) is 60 RMB …”
There is a note that the cable car and shuttle transport may be suspended for maintenance in November/December.
The best-time guidance universally says June to November is ideal, and winter is the least recommended season.

What you’ll actually see and conditions

The famous travertine pools may have very low water or be frozen/ice-covered in winter, reducing the vivid colours the site is known for.
Weather is very cold, high altitude (above ~3200-3600 m) so additional risk of altitude sickness and icy/slippery boardwalks.
If the cable car is not functioning, you’ll need to hike up/down which adds physical demand and time.

Verdict: is it worth going in that period?

Given your timing (“last week of December”), yes, you *can* attempt to visit Huang Long, but you should expect compromises. If you are primarily aiming for the iconic colourful pools and the full “best season” experience, you may be disappointed. The combination of lower water levels, possibly frozen surfaces, and maintenance closures (or harder access) means the payoff is less than in peak season.

If I were advising you, I’d say: unless you have a strong reason or really like winter/quiet landscapes and are okay with rougher conditions, you might skip Huang Long for the moment and focus on other destinations and keep Huang Long for a later trip (spring/early autumn) when it’s at its best.

Alternative suggestions for the period

Since you already plan to go to the Jiuzhaigou Valley area and are covering several places, here are some adjustments that may better suit a December visit:

Prioritise Jiuzhaigou – the winter scenery there remains quite good (frozen lakes, snow, fewer crowds) and access is better.
Spend more time in and around the Chengdu area: your plans for the panda facility (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding), the Sanxingdui Museum, the Leshan Giant Buddha area and possibly Qingcheng Mountain are very good for December when high-altitude alpine scenery is more challenging.
If you still want to go high-altitude/winter scenic, look for less demanding altitudes or those reliably open with easier access and known winter conditions. For example, choose valleys that maintain water and views in winter rather than travertine pools which dry/ice up.

Final recommendation

For your full-week in Chengdu with a couple of overnight trips: I would allocate one overnight to Jiuzhaigou (for sure) and use the other day for a lower-altitude or easier access scenic area rather than Huang Long — unless you accept that Huang Long will be “off-peak”, possibly partially closed, and with reduced visuals.

If you *do* decide to go to Huang Long, make sure you:

Check latest transport status (cable car/shuttle) ahead of time
Dress very warmly and be prepared for snow/ice and altitude
Allow extra time for walking/hiking if the lifts aren’t running

Let me know if you’d like suggestions for alternate scenic spots around Chengdu that work well in December (lower altitude, snow friendly, good views) and I can pull some up for you.

Huang Long in last week of December

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