Puzhehei Scenic Area is located in Qiubei County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, 13 kilometers away from Qiubei County seat. The total area of the scenic area is 388 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering 15 square kilometers. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national wetland park, the only pilot area for tourism circular economy in Yunnan Province, and one of the first provincial-level all-for-one tourism demonstration zones in the province. "Puzhehei" is a term in the Yi language, meaning "a lake full of fish and shrimp". The scenic area is part of the karst region in southeastern Yunnan, featuring a typical developed plateau karst landform. It is famous for six major landscapes: "waterfront countryside, Yi ethnic water town, lotus world, karst wetland, lake and peak forest, and paradise for fish and birds". There are 312 isolated peaks, 83 karst caves, 54 connected lakes, 26.67 square kilometers of wild lotus flowers, and 40 square kilometers of plateau karst wetlands in the scenic area.
History and Culture
Qiubei County, where Puzhehei is located, has a long history. During the reigns of Emperors Yao, Shun, and the Shang Dynasty, it belonged to Liangzhou. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, it was inhabited by the Baidan people. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was part of the State of Chu. In the Qin Dynasty, officials were appointed to govern some parts of the area. During the Western Han, Eastern Han, Shu Han, and Western Jin dynasties, it was under the jurisdiction of Tongfeng County. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was managed by Kunzhou under the Nanningzhou General Government. In the Tang Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of the Qianzhou Military Governor's Office. During the Taihe period, it was annexed by Meng Guiyi of the Nanzhao Kingdom. In the Song Dynasty, it was known as the Weimo Tribe. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Guangxi Road. From 1300 to 1669, it belonged to Weimo Prefecture. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was part of Shizong Prefecture. In 1731, Qiubei Sub-prefecture was established under Shizong Prefecture. In 1770, Qiubei Sub-prefecture was downgraded to Qiubei County. In 1840, Qiubei was upgraded to a regular county under the jurisdiction of Guangxi. In 1913, it was under the jurisdiction of Mengzi, and later directly under Yunnan Province. In 1949, it belonged to Wenshan Prefecture. In 1958, Qiubei County was placed under the jurisdiction of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which has remained unchanged to this day.
As early as 1.7 million years ago, ancient apes lived in the Puzhehei Scenic Area of Qiubei. The Heijinglong ancient ape relics and fossils in the Puzhehei Scenic Area, and the "bird totem" ancient cliff paintings on Shizishan Mountain in Yuezhe, are all relics of the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages. Seven ethnic groups, including the Han, Zhuang, Yi, Miao, Hui, Bai, and Yao, live in Qiubei County. The Puzhehei Scenic Area is mainly inhabited by the Zhuang, Yi, Sani, Miao, and Yao people. These ethnic groups have created a diverse range of ethnic cultures and living customs. Among the many traditional festivals of ethnic minorities, the "Flower Face Festival" and "Torch Festival" of the Yi people are the most grand and lively.
Major Attractions
Swan Lake Scenic Area
Located in the Puzhehei Karst National Wetland Park, it was built on October 1, 2013, and is a habitat for migratory birds in the karst wetland of southwest China. It covers an area of 3 square kilometers, including 2.6 square kilometers of wetland. There are four types of wetlands: river wetlands, lake wetlands, marsh wetlands, and artificial wetlands. There are nearly 10,000 migratory birds of various types, and more than 200 species of wetland animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds.
Xianren Lake
Located north of the Shanhewan area and northwest of Xianrendong Village, it covers an area of 0.7 square kilometers, with a north-south length of about 2 kilometers and a winding lakeshore. There are 54 isolated peaks about 10 meters high, as well as many scenic spots such as "Lion Lying on the Wave", "Fairy Lying on the Wave", and Shizishan Mountain.
Xianren Cave
Located southeast of Xianren Lake, it has a total length of 244 meters and a height of 3 to 5 meters. Inside the cave, there are landscapes such as stalactites, stone pillars, stone tubes, stone curtains, and rimstone pools. There is an underwater cave connected to Xianren Lake, about 150 meters long with a water depth of 0.5 to 2 meters, where small boats can sail. Additionally, there is a 90-meter-long underwater channel inside the cave, and after landing, there is a 600-meter-long dry cave.
Puzhehei Lake
Located north of Xianren Lake and west of Puzhehei Village, it is about 2.5 kilometers long and covers an area of about 1 square kilometer. The average width of the lake surface is about 300 meters, and the average water depth is about 3 meters. There are more than 50 isolated peaks on the east and west banks, and three more isolated peaks north of the lake surface. It is named "Puzhehei" because it is rich in carp, grass carp, and crucian carp.
Qinglong Mountain
Located west of Puzhehei Lake, the main peak has an altitude of 1555 meters, about 108 meters above the lake surface. The vegetation is evergreen shrubs. At the top of the mountain is the Qinglong Mountain Observation Deck, which offers a panoramic view of Puzhehei. Inside the mountain, there are 8 karst caves, including Huoba Cave, Yueliang Cave, and Zhangzui Stone Cave.
Tour Routes
One-day Tour: Xianrendong Village - Puzhehei Lake - Qinglong Mountain Observation Deck - Swan Lake Scenic Area. In the morning, visit Xianrendong Village to experience Yi culture; then take a boat tour on Puzhehei Lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery; in the afternoon, climb to the Qinglong Mountain Observation Deck for a panoramic view, and finally go to Swan Lake Scenic Area to watch migratory birds and enjoy the wetland scenery.
Two-day Tour: On the first day, visit Puzhehei Village - Huoba Cave - Yueliang Cave - Xianren Lake. Experience folk life in Puzhehei Village, then visit Huoba Cave and Yueliang Cave to enjoy the karst cave landscapes, and watch the sunset at Xianren Lake in the evening. On the second day, go to Swan Lake Scenic Area - Bailong Lake - Shede Grassland. Visit Swan Lake in the morning, go to Bailong Lake in the afternoon, and then head to Shede Grassland to experience the grassland scenery.
Travel Tips
- Visiting in summer allows you to see large areas of blooming lotus flowers, but you need to take sun protection and mosquito prevention measures.
- You can choose to take a boat tour to better enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, but please pay attention to safety and wear a life jacket.
- If you want to experience ethnic culture, you can participate in activities such as the Yi people's "Flower Face Festival" and "Torch Festival".
Notes
- There are many lakes in the scenic area. Do not swim in the water casually to avoid dangers.
- Respect the customs and habits of the local ethnic minorities to avoid conflicts caused by cultural differences.
- Protect the environment in the scenic area, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean.
Transportation
- By Air: You can first arrive at Wenshan Puzhehei Airport, then take an airport bus or taxi to the scenic area.
- By Train: There is a railway station in Qiubei County. After arriving at Qiubei Railway Station by train from various places, you can transfer to a bus to the scenic area.
- By Bus: There are buses from Qiubei County seat to Puzhehei Scenic Area, and you can also take a taxi from the county seat to the scenic area.
Opening Hours
Puzhehei Scenic Area is open 24 hours a day, but the opening hours of specific attractions may vary. For example, Swan Lake Scenic Area is generally open from 08:00 to 18:00, and the specific hours are subject to the official announcement of the scenic area on the day.
Tickets
Admission to the scenic area is free, but fees are charged for tourist activities inside. For example: boat tour costs 130 yuan, night tour costs 39 yuan, etc.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "普者黑景区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.