Pudacuo National Park is a 1,295 km2 large national park located in Shangri-La County in the north of Yunnan Province. The park was announced on 25.June 2007 and is notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards. It incorporates the Bita Lake Nature Reserve and the Duhu Scenic Area in the Hongshan region. As such they are part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site.
Fauna and Flora
The region of this park contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species, though it comprises only 0.7 percent of China's land area. It is notably home to vulnerable Black-necked cranes, many rare and beautiful orchids, and Himalayan Yew, a coniferous tree whose extracts are a source of the anticancer drug, paclitaxel.
Visitor information
The park is about a 50 minute drive from Zhongdian (Shangri La). It has two lakes, a visitor center, several interesting minority villages, lush forests and pasture views. From the visitor center a park bus takes visitors to the first stop, 13 kilometers away from where there are several miles of raised wooden walkways around the 300 acres (120 ha) Shudu Lake.
The next bus destination is Bita Hai Lake, 3,500 m above sea level. It is surrounded by dense deciduous forests. The bus stops a few feet from a wharf from where visitors can take a boat ride around the lake and to the island in the center. It is just over a mile from the where the boat disembarks to the bus pick up point. Alternatively, one may walk down the 2 kilometers) path from the South entrance and hike to and exit the park from the West entrance. Getting to the West entrance requires both a boat and ferry ride. The entire hike can take 4-6 hours. Riding horses are also available. (wikipedia)
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