March 27th 2025, Chengdu, China

On Wednesday, March 26, I took the high-speed train from Chengdu to Huanglong and Jiuzhai Valley. Upon arriving near the Tibetan Plateau in northwest Sichuan province, I immediately noticed several differences. First, there was still snow on the ground, and the incredible mountains reminded me of Nepal. Second, the Tibetan influence was everywhere—beautiful temples and villages scattered throughout the region.

I arrived without really knowing what to do or how to get anywhere, but that's the beauty of traveling. I knew I wanted to visit Huanglong, but I had no idea what it actually was or what the trip would entail. I asked someone about Huanglong by simply saying, "Huanglong?" and they pointed me toward a bus. I hopped on, not realizing the ride would take an hour and a half.

When we arrived at Huanglong National Park, I bought a ticket for the cable car up the mountain. From there, I hiked down, taking in the breathtaking mountain scenery and surreal-colored pools. I also flew my drone for the first time and captured an incredible shot.

After exploring Huanglong, I took a two-hour ride to Jiuzhaigou, home to the most famous national park in China. By then, I was pretty exhausted, so I grabbed dinner at a Tibetan restaurant. I tried yak yogurt, really good butter tea, a yak meat pie, and some delicious dumplings. The restaurant had a great atmosphere, making for a nice way to end the day.

The next morning, Thursday, March 27, I headed straight to Jiuzhaigou National Park. Tickets were supposed to be purchased in advance online, but I didn't believe that—and it turned out to be cheaper in person via WeChat. I took an electric bus into the park and spent the entire day walking around, exploring waterfalls and vibrantly colored lakes. While Jiuzhaigou had the most stunning lakes, I thought the mountains in Huanglong were more impressive.

After a full day of exploring, I took a two-hour bus ride back to the train station and caught a train. Since I booked too late, I didn't have a seat and had to sit on the floor for the two-and-a-half-hour ride. It made for a long travel day, but it was absolutely worth it.

Seeing China's unique landscapes and getting a glimpse of Tibetan culture outside of the big cities was an unforgettable experience.