Lashihai Wetland Park (拉市海湿地公园) is the largest plateau lake within the territory of Lijiang, with an elevation of 2437 meters above sea level. It is also the first nature reserve in Yunnan Province to be named after “wetland.” “Lashihai” is a transliteration from the ancient Naxi language, where “la” means barren and “shi” means new. Together, they indicate a new barren plateau. In Yunnan, being an inland province, lakes with vast surfaces are referred to as “hai” or sea, hence the name Lashihai.
The wetland park boasts a rich biodiversity, including 566 plant species, among which 150 are wetland plants and 416 are terrestrial plants. Moreover, it serves as a habitat for numerous migratory birds. Every winter, migratory birds from Siberia, Mongolia, Qinghai, and other regions fly to Lashihai for wintering, creating a spectacular scene. Within the wetland park, visitors can enjoy various colors and shapes of migratory birds such as cranes, black-necked cranes, egrets, and gulls from the bird-watching corridor.
Furthermore, the wetland park features a variety of landscapes and facilities, including the Wetland Museum, Naxi Dongba Sacrificial Museum, Chinese Ethnic Villages Memorial Hall, National Expo Redwood Home Art Museum, Zodiac Avenue, Lakeside Boardwalks, Glass Walkway, Wild Duck Lake, Swan Lake, West Lake, Old Wharf, and Children’s Playground. Surrounding the lake are Naxi villages, each with a horse ranch, making it an excellent destination for horse riding, boating, and bird watching in Lijiang.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 30 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 19.30 |
Location and Transportation
Lashihai is located in the central part of Lashiba, Haidong Town, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. From Lijiang Old Town to Lashihai Wetland Park is approximately 12 kilometers. You can take bus route Yulong 36 to Anzhong Village (Wetland Park) bus stop and walk about 839 meters to reach the park.
Map of Lashihai Wetland Park
I spent a few days in Lijiang, and Lashi Lake was the most disappointing attraction. The entrance fee for Wetland Park is 48 yuan per person. Once inside, it’s just a very ordinary park. They claim that you can see various birds in the area, but in reality, it’s only pictures and plastic sculptures of birds. They also advertise a “mirror of the sky” effect, but it’s just a regular lake with muddy water. Overall, the experience was very poor;… Read more »
The grass in Lashihai Wetland is not very green yet, but it doesn’t diminish its beauty. There are sheep, horses, and cows; I personally love this atmosphere.
The taxi driver kept insisting that horseback riding is great. In reality, he was just trying to earn a commission, and the horseback riding route is just through the village, with the horses being very smelly! Fortunately, I didn’t end up riding!