Potatso National Park, Shangri-La

Potatso National Park, Shangri-La

（迪庆州香格里拉普达措景区 dí qìng zhōu xiāng gé lǐ lā pǔ dá cuò jǐng qū）

Potatso National Park is located in the center of “Three Parallel Rivers” World Natural Heritage Area in northwest of Yunnan province. Covering a total area of 300 square kilometers, the park is 22 km away from the Shangri-La county. The Bita Lake Nature Reserve and Shudu Lake are located in the park as well.

The park’s name “Potatso” (Pudacuo) comes from the local Tibetan word for the divine assistance that ensures boat passengers a safe journey across the many lakes dotting the area.

As the first national park in China established in 2007, Potatso National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, it contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.

By any standard, Potatso deserves being called a natural wonderland. It contains endemic species of fish that are found nowhere else in the world, rare and beautiful orchids, black-necked cranes and a yew species whose extracts are indispensable to the creation of many cancer drugs.

Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA

Ideal Sightseeing Season: May to July and September to October

Opening Hours: November-March：8:00 am-4:00 pm; April-October：8:00 am-5:00 pm

Ticket Price: 190 yuan ($27.37)

Address: Shuangqiao, Shangri-La, Yunnan province

Tel: (+86-887)8232523

Note:
1. Buy oxygen bottles if you have acute altitude stress.
2. Wear warm clothes when climbing mountains.