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Napahai Lake

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Napahai Lake

Napa Hai (Napa Lake) is 3270 meters above sea level and covers 660 square kilometers; it is approximately 8 kilometers northwest of Zhongdian town in Yunnan Province. It’s a valley surrounded on three sides by mountains which are covered in snow during winter and spring time. The water melting from the surrounding mountains and another over 10 rivers flow into the lake after zigzagging through grassland. There are nine caves in the northwest peak. During the rainy season, the lake expands and the water will rush through the nine holes and empty into the Jinsha River. During the dry season, the water recede and a grassland appears. In Autumn, the prairie changes into a golden color and flocks of yaks, horses, sheep graze there. Tibetan shepherds are occasionally viewed. Rare birds such as black necked crane, bar-headed goose and mallard flock to the area for winter. actually Shangri-la is home of the black necked crane, a rare and endangered species with a population of around 10,000 around the world. This area is one of the best places for horse-back trekking during the dry season. Many locals offer their horse to you for a reasonable fare.

Sitting on top of one peak in the northwest is a temple ruin called Gunqin Temple Ruin. The destroyed temple is heavily sheltered by old, tall trees. Dilapidated walls and wooden architecture scatter everywhere around the site. The temple was said to be build in the Ming Dynasty and deserved during the Qing Dynasty. The temple site offers a breath-taking view of the surrounding vast grasslands. There are several Tibetan villages located nearby. If you have any interests, you can visit one and have a brief taste of the local custom. Songzanlin Temple, the largest Buddhism Temple in the region is not far away and a tour to the Napa Lake is easily accompanied by a few hours visit to the temple.

Tips

1. How to get there?
   There are mini-buses leaving from Zhongdian Town to the area daily but you are recommended to avoid them for they are mainly for Chinese tourists. You may consider to take a taxi there for around 30 yuan.
2. Tents are available on rental and the price for one depending on traveling seasons. You may rent one for as low as 20 yuan in low season while price climb a lot during the high travel season.
3. The area has a relatively high latitude, so please well-prepare yourself before your journey.
4. Please bring warm clothing even in summer time for weather in highland is changeable and unpredictable.

 

 

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