This is my first trip to China. I have to admit that I am pretty skeptical about the hygience of the place and that's the reason why China is not my top choice when it comes to travelling. I think China has improved a lot in general. I have heard of some horror stories from my other friends who visited China a few years back. I didn't experience some of what they have seen. Cleaniless of the toilets is still a problem. Toilets in JiuZhaiGou and Huanglong are satisfactory, while toilets in the less touristy areas like Hailuogou and Luding county are horrible. I saw toilets without doors and toilets which are really very smelly. I feel that the whole package is important. Hygience plays a part in ensuring that the whole travel experience is comfortable. I really like Japan when it comes to this. It is a very clean country.

Day1- Huang Long

We reached Chengdu at around 6.30am, but we would spend the rest of the morning on the plane as we had to take a domestic flight to Jiu Zhai Gou Huang Long airport. The tour guide had reminded us to be careful when we reached the airport as the air is thinner with the the airport at about 2000/3000m above the sea level. She had reminded us to be walk slowly and recommended us to buy a supplement called 红景天。

The route to Huang Long is very rough and uneven. It wasn't a comfortable ride at all. We reached Huang Long in the late afternoon and by then the face of one of the tour mates had turned real pale. She couldn't make it for the tour of the national park. I was feeling alright, but I could sense the difference in the oxygen level.

I have browsed the website of Huang Long National Park and hence tend to have high expectations of the scenery. It may be due to this high expectations that I didn't feel that the scenery is nice when I was there.

After the tour, we had to continue our journey back to our hotel, Sheraton hotel which is near the entrance to Jiu Zhai Gou. The roads to the hotel are really in a very poor condition. They are uneven and full of rocks. Another male tour mate was throwing up half way through the journey and the auntie who had previously felt uncomfortable was feeling worse. She had to rely on the supply of oxygen from the oxygen tank. Half way through, my dad and I were  having headaches. 

On our way to Huang Long from the airport.This is a typical Tibetian shop. I find it rather unique.

Inside the Huang Long national park.

I like this part of the national park the best. It was a gloomy day. The tour guide was telling me that the reflection of the water in the sun will be more scenic.

The clear water..