Top 5 Places to Visit In Summer In Yunnan

Yunnan is located in the south of China, bordering Guizhou and Guangxi to the east, Sichuan to the north, Myanmar to the west and Laos and Vietnam to the south. Many tourists come to visit Yunnan for its pleasant climate, diverse cultures, and spectacular landscapes. Yunnan has a very large area, this article will share you some places which is little known and full of charm.

Pudacuo National Park 

  • Location: Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
  • Altitude: Average 3,500 meters
  • Highlights: Virgin forests, clear lakes, various wild animals.
  • Suggested visiting time: 1 day
  • Unmissable food: Matsutake, a kind of mushroom and only grown in Yunnan. Matsutake Chicken Soup is fragrant and nourishing.
yunnan Pudacuo National Park

Everyone knows that Songzanlin Lamasery is praised as "the Little Potala Palace" and the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan Province. The gorgeous Songzanlin Lamasery was meticulously built by Tibetan ancestors, and Pudacuo is the natural beauty of Shangri-La. As if favored and blessed by the sun and moon, this mountain lake in the green forest has a strange beauty like emeralds.

Shudu Lake is the place full of poems. On the way to Shudu Lake, the sightseeing car passed by forests, creeks and pastures. Cows and horses played joyfully on the green and flat meadows. The reflection of the lake next to you was bright and clusters of azaleas inflaming the whole lake. The spruces and firs towered into the sky, and the matsutake was ready to get out of the earth... Everything was as beautiful as a dream. 

yunnan Pudacuo National Park

Jingmai Mountain

  • Location: Huimin Town, Lancang County, Pu'er City
  • Area: 66 square kilometers
  • Highlights: Virgin rainforest, rich tea culture, authentic lifestyle of ethnic minorities
  • Suggested visiting time: 1-2 days
  • Unmissable food: Cold tea leaves (like salad), Pu’er tea 

Pu'er Jingmai Mountain is one of the first areas to plant tea trees. The tea plantations in the deep mountains have been famous for producing good Pu'er tea since ancient times. Villages of the Hani, Dai, Bulang and Wa ethnic groups are clustered along the circling stone road. Among them, Nuogan Village and Wengji Village are hidden in deeper forests. As it’s remote from urban civilization, this beautiful and unspoiled village retains the most authentic Dai and Bulong ethnic lifestyles and quaint residential buildings. The village residents’ daily life of picking tea and making tea is busy and happy, and they all like to greet guests to drink tea at home.

yunnan Jingmai Mountain

In Jingmai Mountain, the sea of clouds in the morning and the colorful clouds in the evening are both amazingly beautiful. Living in a village full of tea fragrance, talking with the locals, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and then going to the ancient tea forest, this is also a pleasant life. 

Puzhehei

  • Location: Qiubei County, Wenshan Prefecture
  • Area: 388 square kilometers
  • Highlights: unique pastoral scene, minority ethnic culture
  • Suggested visiting time: 1-2 days
  • Unmissable food: Fried eggs with lotus leaves, Lotus leaf porridge, Sour chicken soup
yunnan Puzhehei

No matter whether it is called a small garden or paradise, few people dislike Puzhehei. It is a typical karst landscape which consists of clusters of limestone peaks, karst caves and natural lakes. The clear water and green mountains in the scenic area are quite similar to Guilin. In the central area, there is Puzhehei Lake, also called “Pearl Lake” by local people. Take a boat ride among the green leaves and red flowers on the lake, enjoy the fragrance of lotus while peacefully boating or splashing in the water. 

There are five ethnic minorities live nearby, namely Yi, Zhuang, Miao, Yao and Sani, and retain their ancient folk culture. In the evening, the lakeside villages begin to be lively. Villagers sell local produce and fresh and sweet lotus plants on the side of the road, which are local limited delicacies. Here is the perfect combination of natural fairyland and paradise on earth. 

yunnan Pudacuo National Park

Erhai Lake

  • Location: Dali City
  • Area: 256.5 square kilometers
  • Highlights: Beautiful natural scenery, authentic lifestyle of ethnic minorities
  • Suggested visiting time: 1 day
  • Unmissable food: Sweet and sour papaya fish, barbecue, grilled milk fan 
yunnan Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake is one of the seven largest freshwater lakes in China. The whole lake is shaped like an ear, hence the name Erhai Lake. Viewed from a distance, the snow-capped Cangshan Mountains and the sparkling Erhai Lake radiate with each other, giving Dali a unique beauty. 

If you want to appreciate the Erhai Lake in all angels, cycling 42 km in length around the lake is the best choice for people who has enough physical strength. From the idyllic scenery of farmers farming on the west bank, to the twists and turns of the wetland at the north end, and to the ethereal perspective of the cliffs on the east bank. Almost no scenery on the road is the same, and each village passed along the way also has its own folk charm. Not to be missed is that the country trail from Xizhou Town to Haitong Park is very flat, suitable for friends or couples to ride slowly together. 

The end of the ride in the evening may be the moment when the moon rises in Erhai Lake. In this atmosphere, chatting with friends in the inn and just enjoy the leisurely life that belongs to Dali. 

yunnan Dali Ancient Town

Blue Moon Valley 

  • Location: In the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, Lijiang City
  • Distance from Lijiang Ancient Towm: 15 kilometers
  • Highlights: Beautiful natural scenery, authentic lifestyle of ethnic minorities
  • Suggested visiting time: 1 day
  • Unmissable food: Lijiang Cured Pork Chop 
yunnan Blue Moon Valley

Despite the hustle and bustle of tourists in the ancient city of Lijiang, Yulong Snow Mountain will always exude a calming charm. In Naxi mythology, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the incarnation of the three gods, guarding the peace and prosperity of Lijiang. After the snow melted in the mountains, it flowed into the valley at the foot of the mountain and washed out small rivers and lakes. When the weather is clear, the sunlight on the plateau reflects the blue sky on the clear water, and the lake shows a deep blue. When you are in it, you will suddenly realize the origin of the name "Blue Moon Valley".

Strolling on the wooden road by the lake is like walking into a heavy-color landscape painting. The majestic appearance of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the background, and you are the person in the painting. 

yunnan Spruce Forest around the valley

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