Potatso National Park is located in Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is China's first national park and a 5A-level tourist attraction. Covering a total area of approximately 1,313 square kilometers, the scenic area is characterized by alpine lakes, forest meadows, and wetland ecosystems, boasting abundant rare flora and fauna resources, including national first-class protected animals such as black-necked cranes and snow leopards. The highest point in the park is 4,670 meters above sea level, and the lowest point is 2,347 meters. It includes three core areas: Potatso, Shudu Lake, and Bitahai Lake, and is an important part of the "Three Parallel Rivers" World Natural Heritage.
History and Culture
The Diqing region where Potatso is located is the core area of Khampa Tibetan culture, where Tibetan folk culture and nature worship are deeply integrated. Shudu Lake and Bitahai Lake in the scenic area mean "Cheese Lake" and "Sea as soft as cow hair felt" in Tibetan, respectively, reflecting the poetic cognition of natural landscapes by ancient Tibetan ancestors. The concept of "Shambhala" (ideal pure land) in Tibetan Buddhism is highly consistent with Potatso's ecological protection philosophy. Local traditional customs such as lake circumambulation and mountain worship have been preserved to this day. For example, during the "Mountain Circumambulation Festival" on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, herdsmen circle the lake to pray for the prosperity of people and livestock.
After Potatso was officially designated as a national park in 2007, a "community co-management" model was established, with surrounding Tibetan villages participating in ecological protection, achieving a balance between traditional cultural inheritance and modern eco-tourism. For instance, most of the sightseeing bus commentators in the scenic area are local Tibetan residents who can provide Tibetan interpretation services to inherit ethnic language and culture.
Major Attractions
Shudu Lake
As one of the largest lakes in Shangri-La City, Shudu Lake is 3,700 meters above sea level, covering an area of 1.2 square kilometers with an average water depth of 20 meters. Dense spruce and fir forests surround the lake, housing more than 30 species of birds such as egrets and ruddy shelducks. The scenic area has a 3.3-kilometer hiking plank road, where visitors can enjoy landscapes like "water and sky merging into one" and "forest reflections" along the way. Alpine rhododendrons bloom by the lake from May to June every year, and the forests are dyed in various colors from September to October, making these periods the best time for photography and bird watching.
Bitahai Lake
Bitahai Lake is 3,538 meters above sea level, covering an area of 2.4 square kilometers, and gets its name from its shape resembling a conch. The lake is home to a unique rare fish species—the Bitahai schizothoracin, which can grow up to 30 centimeters in length. The forest coverage rate around the lake reaches 80%, including primeval spruce forests with trees over 300 years old and an average height of 40 meters. Every June, the "five-flower meadow" by the lake is in full bloom with flowers such as globeflowers and stellera chamaejasme, forming a magnificent "flower sea surrounding the lake" landscape. In winter, the lake freezes with an ice thickness of up to 50 centimeters, allowing ice hiking activities.
Militang Subalpine Meadow
Militang Meadow is 3,700 meters above sea level, covering an area of approximately 500 hectares, and is a typical subalpine meadow landscape in Shangri-La. Seasonal streams and wetlands are distributed on the meadow, where plants such as alpine kobresia and polygonum viviparum grow. In summer, the grass can reach 30 centimeters in height, serving as a natural pasture for yaks and Tibetan fragrant pigs. An observation platform is built in the center of the meadow, offering a bird's-eye view of the "winding and tortuous" stream channels. From July to August every year, the wildflower coverage rate reaches 60%, forming a beautiful scene of "a green carpet inlaid with flowers."
Tour Route
Recommended Route: Scenic Area Entrance → Take a sightseeing bus to Shudu Lake (30 minutes) → Hike Shudu Lake plank road (3 hours, passing by Bird Watching Platform and Waterfront Platform) → Take a sightseeing bus to Militang Meadow (20 minutes) → Take photos at the meadow observation platform (1 hour) → Take a sightseeing bus to Bitahai Lake (25 minutes) → Hike Bitahai Lake circular plank road (2.5 hours, ending at Potatso Village) → Lunch at a Tibetan restaurant in Potatso Village → Return to the scenic area entrance. The entire journey takes about 8 hours, with a total hiking distance of approximately 8 kilometers.
Travel Tips
- The intensity of ultraviolet radiation on the plateau reaches UVI Level 12. It is necessary to carry SPF50+ sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, and reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
- It is recommended to wear waterproof hiking shoes when hiking. Some sections of the Shudu Lake plank road have an altitude drop of 200 meters, so please pay attention to anti-slip measures. Hiking poles can be carried (available for rent at the scenic area rental point for 30 yuan per pole).
- The altitude in the scenic area is above 3,500 meters. It is recommended to take Rhodiola rosea 3 days in advance to prevent altitude sickness. Maintain a walking pace of 60 steps per minute while hiking. If dizziness occurs, you can go to the sightseeing bus station for free oxygen inhalation.
- Summer (June to August) is rainy. Please carry a waterproof jacket. In case of sudden showers, you can take shelter from the rain at the rest pavilions along the plank road, with an interval of about 500 meters between rest pavilions.
- When tasting Tibetan cuisine, it is recommended to start with a small cup (about 100 milliliters) when trying butter tea for the first time to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort caused by excessive consumption at one time.
Notes
- Feeding wild animals is prohibited in the scenic area. Isolation belts are set up in the activity areas of protected animals such as black-necked cranes; please do not cross them. There have been cases where birds suffered from digestive system damage due to feeding by tourists.
- "No Fishing" signs are posted around Bitahai Lake. The schizothoracin in the lake is a national second-class protected animal, and illegal fishing will result in a fine of more than 2,000 yuan.
- The snow depth on the Shudu Lake plank road can reach 30 centimeters in winter. Sightseeing buses only stop at observation platforms. It is prohibited to enter unopened areas for hiking without permission, and there have been multiple cases of search and rescue due to getting lost.
- Respect Tibetan religious customs. The mani piles and prayer flag poles in the scenic area are sacred places; climbing them or taking stones is prohibited, and prayer wheels should be turned clockwise.
- The last sightseeing bus down the mountain departs at 17:30 (peak season) and 16:30 (off-season). Please arrange your time reasonably to avoid being stranded in the scenic area.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Depart from Shangri-La urban area, drive 22 kilometers northeast along National Highway G214, with a travel time of 40 minutes. The scenic area has a large parking lot, and the parking fee for small cars is 20 yuan per day.
- Public Transportation: Special shuttle buses to the scenic area operate from Shangri-La Passenger Station from 8:00 to 16:00 every day, with one bus per hour. The fare is 15 yuan, and the travel time is 30 minutes. The last return bus departs at 18:00.
- Tourist Special Line: Diqing Tourism Distribution Center operates a "Potatso One-Day Tour" special line, departing at 7:30 every day. It includes tickets, sightseeing bus rides, and tour guide services, with a price of 260 yuan per adult and 150 yuan per child.
Opening Hours
Peak Season (May 1 - November 15): 08:00 - 17:00; Off-Season (November 16 - April 30 of the following year): 08:30 - 16:30. The hiking plank roads of Shudu Lake and Bitahai Lake may be temporarily closed in winter (December - February of the following year) due to snow. Please refer to the scenic area announcement for specific information.
Tickets
Ticket price: 68 yuan per person; Sightseeing bus fare: 70 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "香格里拉普达措" to obtain the latest updates or book tickets online. As of May 18, 2025, the ticket booking function on this public account does not support direct ticket purchase.