Yunnan, the magical and colorful painter, lies in the southwest frontier of the motherland. From Yunnan Tour, you’ll find the magnificent Yulong Snow Mountain, whose 13 peaks are covered in snow towering, like a “giant dragon” that’s jumping and dancing. There is also the quiet Erhai Lake, peaceful and clear, with pure waters and beautiful lakeside views.
Yunnan is a beautiful area and is full of mystery. In the charming Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, there are all kinds of tropical plant. In the broad Shangri-La Potatso National Park, there are alpine lakes and meadow wetland. If you are considering including this wonderful land into your China tours, we suggest that the best time to visit Yunnan’s natural attractions is October to April nest year. In this article, we will also recommend 7 top natural wonders for you to fully discover the beauty of Yunnan.
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Yulong Snow Mountain, a north-south oriented mountain range in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang, Yunnan Province. Hailed as one of the best nature in Yunnan, it is located in the southern section of the Salween Mountains in the Hengduan Mountains, with an elevation of 5,596 meters. The mountain, often shrouded in clouds and mist, looks just like a silver-white dragon from a distance. Therefore, it is named the Yulong Snow Mountain.
The valley is located at an average altitude of about 2,800 meters above sea level. Here you can revel in the wonderful mountainous and lake scenery and bask in the hot sun. You can also take a walk by the lake and feel the serenity in the ambiance of the picturesque surroundings.
At the park you can view the glowing, blue or green colors of the glacier in sunlight. It is, as the highest point of the Yulong Snow Mountain scenic area at around 4,500 meters, an experience like no other.
At an elevation of around 3,200 meters, this is a meadow with thick fir augmented forests. Having the majestic white mountain behind, you will feel like in another world. It is a perfect place for a relaxed walk and to soak in the peace and tranquility of nature.
Considered as every traveler’s dream destination, the Erhai Lake or the “Mother Lake” (known to the Bai people in the past), lays beautifully in Yunnan Province’s Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Erhai Lake is one of the best places in Yunnan offering interesting outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling. This stunning alpine lake has nearly everything to offer, including a breathtaking scenery, prime location, rich culture and history and superbly well-preserved clean nature around the lake.
On calm days, you can cruise across Erhai Lake’s mirror-like surface. It feels like floating through a painting. The lake is famed for the three islands, four sandbars, five lakes, and nine bends. There are also many beautiful bays like Haidong Bay, Wase Bay, Kanglang Bay, and Shuanglang Bay, all of which have greatly enhanced Erhai’s enchanting landscape.
Held annually around September 28th at Hongshan Peninsula, Shuanglang Town, this vibrant festival begins with ceremonial rites. Bai youths carry sacred statues to boats while maidens float lotus lanterns. Hundreds of fishing boats set out using traditional methods like cormorant fishing and net casting. The event features dragon boat races, folk songs, and lion dances.
Located in Hutiaoxia Town, Shangri-La City, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world’s most famous canyons and top natural attractions in Yunnan. It is steep and grand. Legend has it that a tiger could leap across the river by standing on a midstream rock for a second. That’s why it was given name “Tiger Leaping Gorge”.
The 18-kilometer-long gorge is divided into three segments:
As one of China’s most famous natural wonders, Tiger Leaping Gorge is more than just beautiful scenery. It is a perfect place for people looking for nature and hiking near Kunming of Yunnan province. Especially, hiking is the best way to travel Tiger Leaping Gorge. Through the legendary hiking trails you can see the raging rapids, waterfalls, cliffs, snow mountains and greenery.
Lugu Lake, a big flawless pearl in the southwest of China, lies on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. The 5,000 acre “Emerald” grassland on the east side of the lake is super beautiful. In summer, the lake is full of blooming water lilies, a romantic scene that will be etched in your heart.
Goddess Bay is just an ordinary bay facing Gemu Goddess Mountain, that’s why it’s called Goddess Bay. It’s one of the best place to watch the sunset and also one of the most beautiful around Lugu Lake.
Liwupi Island is in the middle-south of Lugu Lake. It’s the biggest island on Lugu Lake and where the Mosuo people first settled. The island is very beautiful and suitable for hiking. The Gelug Buddhist Lama Temple on the island has a long history, which just further makes it worthy.
Lige Island is the most beautiful island on Lugu Lake. It is surrounded by water on three sides and is close to Gemu Goddess Mountain. When shrouded in morning light, it appears and disappears like a fairyland. On sunny days, Lige Island, together with the blue lake water and the lush green mountains, forms a beautiful landscape painting. It is recommended that you visit by canoe.
Potatso National Park really is a breathtaking spot in Shangri-La, Yunnan. You’ve got to see it to believe it. Imagine clear, sparkling lakes, thick, green forests, and those beautiful alpine meadows. It is perfect for hiking and sightseeing with breathtaking natural beauty.
Bitahai Lake is pretty well-known for its stunning rhododendron forests. If you visit in May and June, there’s this wild thing that is called the “azalea-drunk fish.” It’s quite a sight. The fish actually float to the surface after consuming azalea petals.
When you step into the Xiazhai Tibetan Cultural Village, it’s like diving into a vibrant living tapestry of folk customs and traditions. Even though it’s just outside the main scenic area of Potatso National Park, it blends beautifully with the natural beauty around it. It’s really something special.
Yuanyang Terraces, the heart of the Honghe Hani Terraces, are a magnificent example of the agricultural civilization created by the Hani and other ethnic groups. It is a UNESCO site in Yunnan and one of the best places to visit. The terraces are vast and breathtaking. They are a mirror of the earth and a fallen rouge compact, framing clouds and blue sky.
This village exemplifies Hani terrace culture with its “four-in-one” features. The village’s mushroom-shaped houses are surrounded by terraces, forming a beautiful rural landscape with forests, rivers, and terraces.
Comprising over 6,900 mu of terraces, it has a 1,200-meter elevation difference from foot to summit. In autumn, harvesting varies with altitude. It’s the most spectacular terrace area in Yuanyang, with steep mountain slopes and a grand layout. The scenery changes constantly with time and space. Sometimes mist envelops the terraces, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere. At other times, the colors are so vibrant that they dazzle the eye.
Facing east and ideal for sunsets, it’s best visited in the evening when the sky is filled with red clouds. Photographers popularized the term “Sunset Glow,” a classic sunset spot for terraces, sea clouds, and villages. At dusk with the red glow in the clouds, the sun’s light shines on the layered terraces like a thousand mirrors reflecting and blending the sky and earth into a warm red glow.
Ideal for watching sunrises, particularly when the sun rises and the morning glow reddens the sky. The terraces then have golden light diffused over them while the mountains seem to wear a multicolored cloak.
The Stone Forest Scenic Area in Yunnan is quite a sight to behold. Spread over a massive 400 square kilometers, this area is filled with incredible karst landforms. Picture this: hundreds of towering stone clusters that really do look like dark forests. It’s pretty mind-blowing.
What makes the Stone Forest so special is that it’s one of the oldest and most diverse collections of karst formations in the world. The karst region here stretches even further—over 1,100 square kilometers. For nature lovers, visit the Stone Forest during Yunnan tours. If you ever get the chance to visit, it’s definitely worth it.
Right in the heart of the park, you’ll find this stunning area that stretches over 12 square kilometers. It’s actually the oldest part of the park and definitely the most iconic. Here, you can see some amazing karst landforms, especially those unique sword-shaped stone forests that people rave about — they’re really considered a “world-class wonder.”
Unlike the light-gray limestone of the large and small stone forests, the rocks here are dark gray. From above, it looks like a dense pine forest, hence the name “Black Pine Rock.” The scenery is also spectacular.
Also known as Feilong Waterfall, it is the largest and most spectacular waterfall in Yunnan Province. It is also the filming location where Jackie Chan jumped into the waterfall in the movie “Myth.” The view is extremely impressive.
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Hi, Jill Here
Hi! I’m Jill, a Dallas, Texas girl traveling the world. After a career in the Air Force and touring over 50 countries later, my need to explore keeps going! It’s time to rock & roll and find all those places I never knew I was missing.
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