Altitude sickness at Huanglong
 

Some of my relatives just came back from China, and suffered from some mild to moderate altitude sickness at Huanglong National Park in Sichuan province.

This wasn't a big problem in years past as people need to spend over 2 days by road to get to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong from Chengdu; and that most visitors will tour Jiuzhaigou (mostly under 3,000meter or 10,000ft) for a day or two first, before heading up to Huanglong (over 4,000 meter or 12,000ft at the highest touring spots).

However, now with the airport open (at over 11,000ft, 3rd highest commercial airport in the world), visitors don't have time to acclimiate. Making things worse, the airport (JZH) is closer to Huanglong than Jiuzhagou; and some people goes to Huanglong first.

That's what happened to my relatives' group. Many people suffer from headache, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.

So, if you're planning a trip to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, and is flying directly from Chengdu, please give youself a lot of time to accliminate before going to Huanglong. Do Jiuzhaigou first.

I am going to join a tour to Jiuzhaigou at the end of Aug. And because of what you mentioned about the airport nearby the Huanglong, we will go to Huanglong first before Juizhaigou. It is really out of our hand to ask the travel agency to change the itinerary, is there any medicine could prevent the altitude sickness?

Have your doctor give you a Rx for Diamox. It is quite effective at preventing or minmizing altitude sickness.

Make sure to start taking it 3 days before you get to altitude.

Kenstee, Thank you very much for your advice. I will ask my doctor about the medicine.