Potatso National Park

Potatso National Park

About 13.5 miles (22km) southwest and 40 minutes’ drive from Shangri-la downtown area, Potatso National Park covers an area of 115 square miles and ranges from 3,827 yards to 4,548 yards high. It is renowned for well-preserved primitive landscape, which is endowed with lakes, wetlands, forests, meadows, streams, brooks, rare plants and animals. Meanwhile, Tibetan culture and custom are also component parts of the park.

As the first national park on the Chinese mainland, Potatso was open to visitors in 2007. In the park, there are three main scenic areas open to visitors: Bita Lake in the south, Shudu Lake which is a part of Three Parallel Rivers Scenic Area in the north and Militang Alpine Pasture in the middle. The sightseeing buses run among these scenic spots and stop at fixed stations. Passengers can get on and off freely with one ticket. As Bita Lake is a sacred place and Tibetan Buddhists walk around it clockwise for good luck, visitors are advised to sightsee clockwise too, in an order of Shudu Lake, Militang, and Bita Lake. Travel route in the park is about 42 miles (69 kilometers) and it takes about 4 – 6 hours to cover all the spots.

Map of Potatso National Park

It is about 20 minutes’ ride from the sightseeing bus stop near the park entrance. Reputed as a pearl in plateau, Shudu Lake is 4,046 yards above the sea level. The lake is crystal clear, with wild ducks paddling in group. There was a rare kind of fish species called Liefu Fish (fish with cracks on their bellies) living inside; but now visitors can barely see them due to damage to local eco-system. Along the shore, flocks of cattle and sheep wander freely. The lake is surrounded by rolling hills covered with forest. The primitive forest seems to be a verdant protective screen, where many rare animals inhabit, such as musk deer, bears, leopards, golden cats, tufted deer and eared pheasant.
 Militang is the largest pasture in Potatso National Park, about 3.7 miles and 10 minutes’ drive from Shudu Lake. Under the azure sky dotted with clouds, the grassland is like a giant green carpet paved on the ground, with yaks and sheep scattered around and smoke from herdsmen’s chimneys drifting in the breeze. In spring and summer, a number of flowers are blossoming, which decorates the grassland into a colorful picture. In autumn, the land will be carpeted by spruce, azalea bosk, quercus, aquifolioides and redwoods. Wild mushrooms can be seen everywhere. It looks golden on the whole, tranquil and elegant. In winter, the land will turns into a tranquil white paradise.
 About 20 minutes’ drive from Militang Alpine Pasture, Bita Lake is the highlight of Potatso National Park. There is a 2.5 miles long planked path that visitors can walk along. Oak trees, spruces and firs are growing on both sides of the path. Beard-like usneas are winding on the tree, which is the favorite food of golden monkey. There is a tiny island in the lake, where spruces, firs and azaleas grow on and black-necked cranes, sheldrakes and other water birds perch on. The island is said to be the place where Tibetan Hero King Gesar killed monsters. Many fishes live in the lake. It is said that the fish fed on the falling toxic petals of rhododendron, so the fish are paralyzed floating on the lake. The bears will seize the opportunities to get the fish for dinner. Actually, there is a kind of treasured double lips fish living in the lake, which is a palaeobios from Quaternary Glacier. Tibet people regard the fish as a sacred animal, so people who see the fish will be very lucky. In the forest inhabit many endangered animals, such as macaques, lynxes, musk deer, leopards, golden cats, red squirrels and black bears.
 1. Shudu Lake Scenic Area has two trekking routes: One is 1.6 miles and the other is 0.3 miles. Trekking along them, one can witness the essence of the lake scenery. At the starting point of the route and near the two small lakes, there is a hiking trail leading to Militang Pasture. If you are a hiking lover and have made full preparations, you can take that route. Otherwise, you’d better turn right and walk along the previous route.
2. During the sightseeing bus ride from Militang to Bita Lake, you can ask the driver to made a detour to Sangcuoka Tourist Service Center, where buffet meals are provided.
3. Also on the way to Bita Lake, the bus will go over a mountain range, where there is a sightseeing platform. It is the best site to overview the lake and take photos.
4. The best way to appreciate Bita Lake: Trekking along the 2.5 miles long plank road. If you are energetic and eager to see the best part of the lake, it is the best way.
 

Admission Fee	CNY 68 Free for children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) and seniors over 70.
Sightseeing Bus	CNY 70
Boat on Shudu Lake	CNY 65
Opening hours	8:30 – 16:00

 Taking a taxi from the airport to Shangri-la Bus Station, then take a direct bus there to Potatso Park. The bus departs from 08:30 - 12:30 every hour and at 14:00, taking CNY15.
  By bus: Take the bus from Shangri-la Bus Station to Potatso; the bus departs from 08:30 - 12:30 every hour and at 14:00 with a duration of 1-1.5h; the ticket fare is CNY 15.
 By taxi: It takes 40 minutes from Shangri-la County; a single trip costs CNY 120 - 150.
 1. Shika Snow Mountain
2. Meili Snow Mountain

 Further Reading:
Top 10 Things to Do in Yunnan
In-depth Guide to Top 10 Yunnan Destinations