Laojun Shan 老君山
Presentation of the Laojun Shan National Park
The site of the Laojun Shan National Park (Laojun Mountains) offers a simply breathtaking view of a set of vertiginous karst reliefs with a dominant ochre tones on a background of lush green vegetation to more sparse depending on the altitude. All contrasting perfectly with the blue sky above the pine forests. This protected area makes the park the second in China for its biodiversity and cultural richness. Its surface area of 1085 km2 is a land inhabited by the Lisu minority. The park is also home to 168 species of animals and plants threatened with extinction, including the golden monkeys of Yunnan.
Here we find 10% of the Rhododendron species listed throughout the world. Do not miss either the impressive natural formations which are reminiscent of the shell of turtles, thus earning the park the nickname of “turtle mountains”. Laojun Shan has the merit of being a little away from the most visited sites in Yunnan, and is therefore in principle a peaceful place while remaining easily accessible if you have a little time between two essential stages. It can also be a unique opportunity to then join the Mekong Valley and the high mountains bordering Tibet by the back roads, before going back down to Shangri-La.
The village of Liming, which is about twenty kilometers from the entrance to the site, is only a 2-hour drive from Lijiang. On the way from Lijiang, do not hesitate to stop at Shigu for a panoramic view of a bend in the Yangtze River. The discovery of Laojun National Park takes 2 to 3 hours, with access by cable car. The entrance fee is 70 RMB and the cable car costs 140 RMB for the round trip. However, we advise you to go back down on foot: about 3 easy km, on a path with footbridges and steps, without any danger and largely in the cool of the forest.
Laojun Shan National Park on video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6LX4S_CnWk&list=PLagfii9jMPHuakH2RqVkYYnrVgacrRJr3&index=12