Long long ago, there was a sage named Huang Long who lived in the upper reaches of the Ming Jiang River. He had once help Da Yu govern the Chang Jiang River, the Yellow River, Huai He River, and Ji He rivers. Afterwards he became a hermit and lived in the Erdao Lake and then mounted a white deer to Huang Long and trained in the Huang Long cave. The place is thus called Huang Long.

Huang Long is located in Songpan County, in the northwest part of Sichuan Province and encompasses the Huanglong and Muni Valley. Huanglong's major scenery is concentrated in the 3.6-kilometer (2.2 miles) long Huanglong Valley that includes snow-clad peaks and the easternmost glaciers in China. Due to its layered calcium carbonated deposit patterns, the valley resembles a golden dragon winding its way through the virgin forest, stone mountains and glaciers. Along the valley are scattering numerous colorful ponds of different sizes and shapes, which are strewn with gold colored limestone deposit giving a shimmering golden hue to water, so in sunlight, a golden dragon seems to surge forth from the forest. Thus it was named 'Huanglong Valley' (Yellow Dragon Valley).

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area is famed for its outstanding travertine formations. With the virgin forest as its backdrop, the travertine scenery holds colorful ponds, beaches, lakes, springs, waterfalls, caves, etc. The travertine formations scenery is No.1 in China.

Huang Long scenic spot has very special sceneries, rich natural resources, and primeval forest. Huanglong is thus called "A Fairyland on Earth". There are snow mountains just like those in Canada, the Great Gorge in America, the primeval forest in Colorado, and the glamourous ponds in Huangshi Park. With so many wonderful views gathered in one place, Huang Long is not only the treasure of China, but also the treasure of the world.