This Earth Day, CW goes to Yunnan in search of China’s best spots for eco-tourism.

by Mary Shaofung Dennis

Lashihai and Wenhai Lakes

Four Rivers Converge
Northwest Yunnan is China’s eco-tourism mecca. Featuring unrivaled biodiversity, this lush corner of the country hosts a trove of endangered species, while four of Asia's largest rivers—the Yangtze, Mekong, Salween and Irawaddy—pass within 55 miles of each other. Lashihai and Wenhai Lakes, easily accessed from Lijiang, offer a window on the tremendous natural beauty in the area, and the regional challenges to conservation. Eco-tourism in the area is managed by a network of environmental NGOs, including The Nature Conservancy. They offer a well-run combination of eco-lodges and Naxi homestays as well as hiking, biking and boat trips which allow visitors to enjoy themselves while making a direct contribution to conservation. Staying in housing which employs alternative energy sources and exploring areas maintained by eco-tourism organizations gives indigenous people environmentally-friendly, sustainable income. Plus, since many such lodges and tours are run by local people themselves, it puts tourists in touch with local culture, just as worthy of protection as the wildlife. For information on ecotourism in Yunnan, visit http://www.northwestyunnan.com.

Pudacuo National Park

The National Park
Although China has over 2,300 nature reserves, only one has achieved the status of a National Park—Pudacuo in Shangri-la county. Pudacuo comprises less than one percent of China's land mass, but is home to 20 percent of the country's plant species, about a third of its mammal species and over a hundred endangered species. With a big push from The Nature Conservancy, Pudacuo (￥190 entry fee) was designated a National Park in June 2007. Since then, the protected area has increased by a factor of 10, meaning more opportunity for environmental education and more employment for local conservation specialists. Boardwalk hiking paths snake through the area, and there is also a pleasant ferry ride across Bita Lake (￥30). The park is also a mere 45 minutes from the 300-year-old Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Pudacuo is an excellent example of the challenges presented to conservation in China, and an effective model for countering threats.

Laojun Mountain

Laozi Was Here
Legend has it that when Laozi passed by the mountain, he dropped a magic mirror, which shattered and became the 99 lakes of Laojun Mountain. Part of the mountain has been turned into a nature reserve, serving as habitat for the endangered Yunnan golden monkey, whose numbers have dropped to 1,500. Nineteen of the 92 mammal species here and 72 of the 152 bird species are endangered. Many of the mountain’s unique landforms are accessible to the public. Volcanic lava created the mountain while glaciers carved out gorges and lakes hemmed in by the mountain's signature rocks. On the eastern side at an elevation of 3,800 meters is 99 Dragon Pools-an abundance of crystal clear lakes, rivers and waterfalls which flow through the forest into the Jinsha and Mekong rivers. The color of the water in these glacial lakes comes in wild hues of blue, orange, yellow and green, depending on the depth, sunlight and chemical environment.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Backpacker Favorite
Close to the town of Shangri-la, Tiger Leaping Gorge is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and more remote than the Three Gorges. Intrepid hikers experience the gorgeous mountain scenery by hiking along a well-maintained path used by the local Naxi people. Thanks to efforts by conservation organizations and the local government, Tiger Leaping Gorge has become a success story for a developing China. The gorge had been short-listed as a site for a huge hydroelectric dam which would have displaced 100,000 people and virtually stopped the flow of the upper Yangtze. The project was shelved in December 2007, but the gorge still lacks permanent protected status. Sean's Guest House http://www.tigerleapinggorge.com, opposite a dramatic 2,000 meter cliff, is a favorite among backpackers. It provides 24-hour hot water, comfortable beds and Western-style toilets as well as running eco-tours.

Meili Snow Mountain

Peaks and Glaciers
Soaring 6,740 meters, Meili’s Kawagebo Peak is the tallest mountain in Yunnan and one of the sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also virtually untouched. The last summit attempt was in 1991 by a mixed Chinese and Japanese team, none of whom survived. With 13 peaks above 6,000 meters blanketed in brilliant white snow, the Meili Range offers spectacular mountain scenery. Get a panoramic view of the peaks from Feilai Temple. At the foot of Kawagebo is the Mingyong Glacier, a long ribbon of white stretching from 5,500 meters down to 2,700 meters, making it one of the lowest glaciers in the world. To the south of Kawegebo is the spectacular Yubenshenpu Waterfall, over 100 meters high. The varied landscape supports snow leopards, cloud leopards, Asiatic black bears and red pandas, while Meili’s seven different climactic zones host over 75 percent of Tibetan medicinal herbs. Meili is located within the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site, giving it a leg up in the race against development.