Yunnan, a province full of natural beauty and rich culture, is home to many fascinating tourist attractions. Here are the top 10 attractions in Yunnan, each unique and worth a visit.
1. The Old Town of Lijiang
Features: Lijiang Ancient City is famous for its intact and preserved ancient style and unique Naxi culture.
With small bridges and ancient alleys, it is a perfect place to experience the slow life in Yunnan and the flavor of the ancient city.
Highlights: Naxi ancient music performance, Sifang Street, Wooden Mansion and so on.
2. Dali Old City
Features: Dali Old Town is located at the back of Cangshan Mountain and facing the Erhai Sea, forming a city pattern of “a water surrounding Cangshan Mountain and Cangshan Mountain embracing the Old City”.
The ancient city has a unique architectural style of the Bai people and a deep cultural heritage.
Highlights: Longshi Pier to watch the sunrise over the Erhai Lake, Yangren Street, Wuhua Building, etc.
3. Yulong Snow Mountain
Features: Yulong Snow Mountain is one of the iconic attractions in Yunnan, attracting countless tourists with its majesty and magnificent, year-round snow.
Take the ropeway up the mountain to enjoy the magnificent view of snow-capped mountains and glaciers up close.
Highlights: Spruce Peak, Blue Moon Valley, Glacier Park, etc.
4. Erhai Lake
Features: The Erhai Lake is the “mother lake” of Dali, with crystal clear water and surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.
Taking a cruise on the Erhai Lake, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake.
Highlights: fishing villages, Bai minority houses, rape flower fields, etc. along the way.
5. Stone Forest Scenic Area
Features: The Stone Forest Scenic Area is known as “the first wonder under the sky”, attracting countless tourists with its peculiar karst landforms.
The stones here are of different shapes and forms, as if they are works of art carefully carved by nature over hundreds of millions of years.
Highlights: Big Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, Ashima, etc.
6. Patatson National Park
Features: Located in Shangri-La, Patatson National Park is a national park focusing on rare wildlife conservation and natural scenery.
It has a variety of ecosystems such as primitive forests, alpine lakes and wetland meadows.
Highlights: Zhidu Lake trestle, Bita Sea, primitive forests and so on.
7. Wild Elephant Valley
Features: Located in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Wild Elephant Valley is a scenic spot with the theme of Asian elephant protection and viewing.
Here you can not only see the traces of wild Asian elephants, but also learn a wealth of knowledge about elephants.
Highlights: rainforest elephant-watching trestle, elephant school, butterfly garden and so on.
8. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Features: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences is one of the largest tropical botanical gardens in China, where a large number of tropical plant species are collected and displayed.
Walking around the botanical garden, you can feel the rich tropical flavor and rich biodiversity.
Highlights: Exotic Flower Garden, Palm Garden, Aquatic Plant Garden and so on.
9. Lugu Lake
Features: Lugu Lake is the “mother lake” of the Mosuo people, with beautiful lakes and mountains and unique ethnic culture.
Taking a piggyback boat tour of Lugu Lake, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains, and at the same time, you can also gain a deeper understanding of the culture and life of the Mosuo people.
Highlights: Rimubi Island, Grass Sea, Wedding Bridge and so on.
10. Samaba Ten Thousand Mu Terraces Scenic Spot
Features: Located in Honghe County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Samaba Ten Thousand Mu Terraces Scenic Spot is one of the largest Hani terraces in South Asia.
The terraced fields here are layered and staggered, just like an exquisite picture scroll spread over the earth.
Highlights: rape flower sea in spring, rolling rice waves in fall, traditional Hani culture, etc.
The above top ten attractions cover a variety of aspects of Yunnan's natural scenery, history and culture, ethnic customs, etc. Whether you want to find peace of mind and far away, or want to experience different ethnic customs and cultural heritage, Yunnan can meet your expectations.