Pudacuo National Park is located in Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is China's first national park and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area covers a total area of approximately 1,313 square kilometers and features alpine lakes, forest meadows, and wetland ecosystems as its core characteristics. It is home to abundant rare animal and plant resources, including national first-class protected animals such as the black-necked crane and snow leopard. The highest point in the park is 4,670 meters above sea level, and the lowest point is 2,347 meters. It comprises three core areas: Pudacuo, Shudu Lake, and Bita Lake, and is an important part of the World Natural Heritage site "Three Parallel Rivers."
History and Culture
The Diqing region, where Pudacuo is located, is the core area of Khampa Tibetan culture, where Tibetan folk customs and nature worship are deeply integrated. Shudu Lake and Bita Lake in the scenic area mean "cheese lake" and "a sea as soft as felt" in Tibetan, respectively, reflecting the poetic perception of natural landscapes by Tibetan ancestors. The concept of "Shambhala" (an ideal pure land) in Tibetan Buddhism is highly consistent with Pudacuo's ecological protection philosophy. Local traditions such as lake circumambulation and mountain worship are still preserved today. For example, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year, during the "Mountain Circumambulation Festival," herdsmen walk around the lake to pray for the prosperity of people and livestock.
After Pudacuo officially became a national park in 2007, a "community co-management" model was established, in which surrounding Tibetan villages participate in ecological protection, achieving a balance between traditional cultural inheritance and modern eco-tourism. For example, most tour bus commentators in the scenic area are local Tibetan residents and can provide Tibetan-language commentary, preserving the ethnic language and culture.
Main Attractions
Shudu Lake
Shudu Lake is one of the largest lakes in Shangri-La City, with a lake surface elevation of 3,700 meters, a lake area of 1.2 square kilometers, and an average water depth of 20 meters. Dense spruce and fir forests surround the lake, and more than 30 species of birds such as egrets and ruddy shelducks inhabit the area. The scenic area has a 3.3-kilometer wooden hiking boardwalk along which visitors can enjoy views such as "water and sky merging into one" and "forest reflections." From May to June each year, alpine rhododendrons bloom by the lakeside, and from September to October, the layered forests are dyed in autumn colors, making it the best season for photography and birdwatching.
Bita Lake
Bita Lake is 3,538 meters above sea level and has a lake area of 2.4 square kilometers. It is named because the lake shape resembles a conch. The lake is home to a unique rare fish species, the Bita Lake heavy-lipped fish, which can reach 30 centimeters in length. Forest coverage around the lake reaches 80%, among which the primitive spruce forest is over 300 years old and averages 40 meters in height. Every June, the "five-flower meadow" by the lakeside blooms with golden lotus, langdu flowers, and others, forming a magnificent "sea of flowers around the lake" landscape. In winter, the lake surface freezes, and the ice layer can reach 50 centimeters in thickness, allowing ice walking activities.
Militing Subalpine Meadow
Militing Meadow is 3,700 meters above sea level and covers about 500 hectares. It is a typical subalpine meadow landscape in Shangri-La. The meadow contains seasonal streams and wetlands and supports plants such as alpine kobresia and viviparous bistort. In summer, the grass can reach 30 centimeters in height, making it a natural pasture for yaks and Tibetan pigs. There is a viewing platform in the center of the meadow where visitors can overlook the meandering stream channels. From July to August each year, wildflower coverage reaches 60%, creating a beautiful scene of a "green carpet inlaid with fresh flowers."
Suggested Tour Route：
Recommended route: Scenic area entrance → take the tour bus to Shudu Lake (30 minutes) → hike the Shudu Lake wooden boardwalk (3 hours, passing the birdwatching platform and waterside platform) → take the tour bus to Militing Meadow (20 minutes) → take photos at the meadow viewing platform (1 hour) → take the tour bus to Bita Lake (25 minutes) → hike the Bita Lake lakeside boardwalk (2.5 hours, ending at Pudacuo Village) → lunch at a Tibetan-style restaurant in Pudacuo Village → return to the scenic area entrance. The entire journey takes about 8 hours, with a total hiking distance of about 8 kilometers.
Travel Tips：
The plateau ultraviolet intensity reaches UVI level 12, so it is necessary to bring SPF50 sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, and reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
For hiking, it is recommended to wear waterproof mountaineering shoes. Some sections of the Shudu Lake boardwalk have an elevation difference of up to 200 meters, so attention must be paid to slip prevention. Trekking poles can be brought (available at the scenic area rental point for 30 yuan each).
The scenic area is above 3,500 meters above sea level. It is recommended to take rhodiola 3 days in advance to prevent altitude sickness. During hiking, maintain a pace of 60 steps per minute. If dizziness occurs, go to the tour bus station for free oxygen.
Summer (June-August) is rainy, so a waterproof冲锋衣 should be brought. If encountering a shower, take shelter in a boardwalk rest pavilion; the distance between rest pavilions is about 500 meters.
When tasting Tibetan food, if trying butter tea for the first time, it is recommended to start with a small cup (about 100 milliliters) to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort from drinking too much at once.
Precautions：
Feeding wild animals is prohibited in the scenic area. Isolation belts are set up in areas where protected animals such as black-necked cranes are active. Please do not cross them. There have been cases of tourists feeding birds that led to digestive system damage.
" No fishing" signs are posted around Bita Lake. The heavy-lipped fish in the lake is a national second-class protected animal. Illegal fishing will result in a fine of more than 2,000 yuan.
In winter, snow on the Shudu Lake boardwalk can reach 30 centimeters in thickness. Tour buses only stop at viewing platforms. Entering unopened areas for hiking without permission is prohibited. There have been multiple rescue incidents involving lost visitors.
Respect Tibetan religious customs. Mani piles and prayer flag poles in the scenic area are sacred sites. Climbing them or taking stones away is prohibited. Prayer wheels must be turned clockwise.
The last downhill tour bus departs at 17:30 (peak season) and 16:30 (off-season). Please arrange your time reasonably to avoid being stranded in the scenic area.
Transportation：
Self-driving: From Shangri-La city center, drive northeast along National Highway G214 for 22 kilometers, about 40 minutes by car. The scenic area has a large parking lot, and the parking fee for a small car is 20 yuan per day.
Public transportation: Shangri-La City Passenger Transport Station operates dedicated scenic area shuttle buses from 8:00 to 16:00 daily, one bus per hour, with a fare of 15 yuan and a travel time of 30 minutes; the last return bus is at 18:00.
Tourist route: The Diqing Tourist Distribution Center operates a "Pudacuo Day Tour" route, departing daily at 7:30, including tickets, tour bus, and guide service. The adult price is 260 yuan per person, and the child price is 150 yuan per person.
Opening Hours：
Peak season (May 1-November 15): 08:00-17:00; off-season (November 16-April 30 of the following year): 08:30-16:30. The hiking boardwalks at Shudu Lake and Bita Lake may be temporarily closed in winter (December-February of the following year) due to snow. Specific arrangements are subject to scenic area announcements.
Tickets：
Ticket: 68 yuan per person; tour bus: 70 yuan per person.