Napa Hai Nature Reserve
Napa Hai Nature Reserve is located in Shangri-la County, it is about 8 kilometers northwest of Shangri-la town. Napa Hai Nature Reserve was established in 1984, with a total area of 3,125 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,266 meters. Napa Hai Nature Reserve is a wetland ecological type reserve, the main protected objects are seasonal lakes and swamp meadow on the plateau. It is the largest grassland in Shangri-la and one of the most plateau featured scenic spots.
Napahai (Napa Lake) is called “Napatso” in Tibetan language, which means “the lake behind the forest”. As a very typical seasonal lake, it is also the wintering habitat of the national first-class protected wild animals, such as Black-necked Crane, Yellow Duck and Bar-headed Goose. In September every year, groups of birds gather in Napa Lake, which is very stunning. Napa Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with an altitude of 3.800 to 4,449 meters, and it is connected with Jiantang Dam in the south.
At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, a large amount of water accumulated in the lake, together with the water from Qinglong Pool, Naqu River and Wangqu River, formed a large area of seasonal lake, the largest area of Napa Lake can be thousands of hectares. There are 9 swallow holes around the Napa Lake, from which the lake water flows into Jinsha River through Nixi Mantang River and Wujing Jiren River. In winter and spring, the lake surface shrinks, and the sparkling lake water turns into a large marsh meadow, and that is Yila Grassland, the largest spring pasture in Yunnan.
The Best Time to Napa Hai Nature Reserve
The best time to visit Napa Lake is from June to November every year. The climate at Napa Lake Nature is humid, Napa Lake is covered by green grass in every May, all kinds of wild flowers are blooming in June and July, and you can see cattle and sheep everywhere. In August, herds of sheep and cows are munching grass on the prairie, and sometimes wild boars run past you. When autumn and winter come, the grassland turns to golden, Black-necked Cranes, Yellow Ducks and Bar-headed Geese play in the grass or on the water, which bought vitality to the vast grassland. Napa Hai Nature Reserve can be regarded as the must see site during Shangri-la trip.
What to See at Napa Hai Nature Reserve
Napa Hai (Napa Lake )
Napa Hai is a seasonal lake, which is located 8 kilometers northwest of Shangri-la city. It is an intermountain basin with an altitude of 3,266 meters and an area of about 3,125 square kilometers. In the dry season, the lake gradually recedes, and Napa Lake has become an endless green grassland or swamp, which is the golden season for grazing. Every summer, in addition to melting snow mountains and flowing into Napa Lake, more than a dozen rivers such as Naqu River and Naizi River also flow into Napa Lake. Every September, Napa Lake has become a paradise of water birds. The Bar-headed Geese, Black-necked Cranes and other rare birds fly here for winter. Among those water birds, the Black-necked Crane is particularly precious, it is one of the most precious crane species in the world.
Yila Prairie
In winter and spring, when the surface of Napa Lake shrinks, it becomes a large swamp meadow – Yila Prairie, which is the largest spring pasture in Yunnan. Yila means “Leopard Mountain” in Tibetan. It is said that the leopard mountain in the north of Yila Prairie is a “holy mountain.” There is an eight petal lotus white tower at the entrance of the scenic spot. There are only two eight petal lotus towers in the world, and the other one is in India. Every spring and summer, all kinds of wild flowers are booming in Yila Pririe, and herds of cattle and sheep are running among the flowers. Such stunning view makes people feel relaxed and happy. There are horse farms run by local people on the grassland, and it’s also a great experience to run two laps on the grassland.
Black-necked Crane
Black-necked Crane is one of the rare cranes in the world, and they are only distributed in Qingzang-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Napa Lake is an ideal habitat for Black-necked Crane because of its abundant grass and suitable environment and climate. On January 24 of 1989, the crane foundation of the United States investigated and counted the number of Black-necked Crane in Napa Lake. There were 76 Black-necked Cranes at that time. Ten years later, the number of Black-necked Crane in Napa Lake Nature Reserve has increase to 150. Napa Hai Nature Reserve is famous for the Black-necked Crane. In addition to the Black-necked Crane, there are Gray Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Grey Crane and a large number of water birds, which can be called a paradise for birds.
Guiyin Temple Site
In the Dongshan Mountain of Napa Hai is the site of Guiyin Temple. You can see towering old trees, broken walls and rubbles everywhere. Guiyin Temple was built at the end of Yuan Dynasty and destroyed in the battle of early Qing Dynasty. Climb up to the Guiyin Temple Site, you can have a panoramic view of Napa grassland. According to historical records, there was a Jamba Buddha statue of three zhangs (1 zhang=3.33 meters) six feet. A famous tourist Xu Xiake in Ming Dynasty was going to travel Guiyin Temple at Shangri-la, but he was stopped by the Tusi of Lijiang Mu Family.
How to Get to Napa Hai Natural Reserve
1. By Bus: Travels can take bus at the Parking lot of Dukezong Old Town.
2. Private car: Easy Tour China can arrange private Shangri-la trip to Napa Hai Natural Reserve which will be more comfortable and convenient.
