Pudacuo National Park
Xiang Ge Li La, Yunnan
A high-altitude national park centred on two alpine lakes, Bita and Shudu, ringed by pine, oak, and rhododendron forest.
Why visit Pudacuo National Park?
As the first park in China built to International Union for Conservation of Nature standards, Pudacuo offers a genuinely wild alternative to Shangri-La's monastery and old-town sights — home to golden cats, pheasants, and dense high-altitude forest.
How to experience it
The park uses shuttle buses between key points; plan for a half to full day to see both lakes properly.
Tip
Altitude here can exceed 3,500 metres in places — bring warm layers even in summer, as weather shifts quickly.