Established in 1984, Napahai Nature Reserve (纳帕海自然保护区, Napa Lake Nature Reserve) covers a total area of 2400 hectares, surrounded by mountains on three sides. With peaks ranging from 3800 to 4449 meters above sea level, it is located between 99°37′E to 99°40′E longitude and 27°49′N to 27°55′N latitude. The primary focus of conservation here is on nationally protected bird species such as the black-necked crane, black stork, and hooded crane, as well as wintering waterfowl and subalpine wetland ecosystems. It stands as the largest grassland in Zhongdian County, offering one of the most distinctive alpine landscapes in the region. Thanks to the meticulous care of the Tibetan people, numerous migratory birds visit the area every autumn, including the black-necked crane, yellow duck, and bar-headed goose, flying and circling gracefully above the grassland, creating a scene of natural beauty.
Despite being located within the subtropical horizontal climatic zone of Central Asia, Napahai exhibits clear characteristics of a plateau climate due to its location in the southeastern extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The region experiences intense solar radiation, with an average of 2180 hours of sunshine annually. Temperature fluctuations throughout the year are relatively small, with significant differences between day and night. Summers are short and cool, while winters are long and cold. The annual average temperature is 5.4°C, with July being the warmest month (average temperature of 13.2°C) and January the coldest (average temperature of -3.7°C). Additionally, there is a distinct dry and wet season, with November to May experiencing pronounced dryness, while May to November is notably wetter.
Napahai is a seasonal natural lake on the plateau, consisting of a series of freshwater ponds and marshes fed by eight small rivers from the surrounding mountains, such as the Shangri-La Alpine Botanical Garden and Yila Grassland. Water from the lake flows into underground rivers through a cave in the northwest corner, then re-emerges and drains into the Jinsha River via the Tomdui Outlet in Nixi Township. At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, frequent rainfall, combined with water inflows from sources like the Qinglong Pool, Naqu River, and Wangqu River, leads to the formation of large expanses of water, with the lake surface reaching several thousand hectares at its maximum. After November, the water level recedes, with water from the lake draining into underground rivers through nine sinkholes in the northwest corner, reducing the lake size to around 500 hectares.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 18.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0887-8200077 0086-0887-8229045 |
Location and Transportation
Napahai Nature Reserve is located in the northwest part of Shangri-La, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, approximately 8 kilometers from the county town. To reach Napahai, you can take the Shangri-La Route 12 bus (a circular route around the lake) to the Hamugu Village bus stop, then walk for about 3 kilometers to reach the reserve.
