How to Plan Yunnan Birdwatching Tour

Birdwatching is a  a special and leisure tour. Due to varied terrain and enough sunshine & rainfall, Yunnan boasts half of China’s plants and animal species. Since the weather in most areas of Yunnan is mild in winter, thousands of various birds migrate to Yunnan, mainly from Sibiria during the winter. Therefore, winter birding tour is popular in Yunnan. Of course, apart from winter, you can also pay a visit to Yunnan to watch the birds and take nice pictures in other seasons.

Top Birding Places in Yunnan

In the season of winter when migratory birds flock into Yunnan, many (wetland) parks are highlighted by birds, such as the wintering grounds for the red-beaked seagulls in Kunming and black-necked cranes in Nianhu(Qujing) and Dashanbao Nature Reserve(Zhaotong). The Gaoligong mountains, near the tropical edge of the Himalayas, are one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. More than 500 bird species have been recorded in the area and these mountains which is an ideal destination for winter birding. Besides, Xishuangbanna is also a good destination for birding.

Other birding places include Heqing Caohai Wetland, Napahai Nature Reserve in Shangri-la, Lashihai Lake and Luguhu Lake in Lijiang, Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain in Dali, as well as the Golden Triangle of China Birding Zone including Tengchong, Baoshan, Dehong & Ruili.

Read More:
Top Places to Enjoy Wild Birds as Your Yunnan Birding Tour in Winter

Yunnan Birdingwatching Travel Packages

Winter Birding Tour

Dianchi Lake dam, Nianhu Lake Black-necked Crane Nature Reserve and Zhaotong Dashanbao Black-necked Cranes National Nature Reserve are always included in the winter birding tour in Yunnan. During this tour, tourists can have a view of diverse birds of Yunnan, especially red-beaked seagulls and Black-necked Crane. Seagull, another name: red-beaked gull, comes from cold Siberia. Indeed, Kunming has been an important destination for watching seagulls in winter in the southwest of China since the 1980s. Therefore, your tour will start from Kunming.

6 Days Northeast Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dianchi Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao
8 Days Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dongchuan Red Land, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao Nature Reserve
9 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Winter Birding Tour with Dianchi Lake, Caohai Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao Nature Reserve

Gaoli Gongshan Mountain Birding Tour

The Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve enjoys the diverse plants and animals. The highlight of Gaoli Gongshan Mountain birding tour is Baihualing birdwatching. Baihualing Scenic Spot is the first bird watching camp developed in Gaoligongshan Mountain. Because of well-protected natural environment, the number of birds species recorded accounts for 43.3% of the total recorded bird species in Yunnan Province, among which 5 species belong to the national first-class protection species and 33 species of national second-class protection species. It is known as “the Golden Triangle of China bird watching Zone” and “the five-star holy land” in bird photographers’ hearts.

8 Days Yunnan Gaoli Gongshan Mountain Birding Tour
13 Days Yunnan GaoliGongshan Mountain Birding Tour

Baoshan-Tengchong-Yingjiang-Ruili Birding Tour

Baoshan, Tengchong, Dehong & Ruili make up the Golden Triangle of China Birding Zone.

Things to Do During the Tour

10 Days West Yunnan Birding Tour with Gaoli Gongshan Mountain, Tongbiguan Nature Reserve and Ruili Tropical Forest

Other Birding Tours Including Golden Triangle of China Birding Zone

1 Day Yingjiang Hornbill Valley Birding Tour
2 Days Yingjiang County Birding Tour
14 Days West Yunnan Birding Tour with Gaoli Gongshan Mountain and Lijiang Lashihai Lake
15 Days Southwest Yunnan Birding Tour
22 days Yunnan Birds Watching Tour

Lijiang Birding Tour

The best places to get a birdwatching tour in Lijiang are Lashihai Lake and Lugu Lake.

Lashihai Lake is in the basin in Hengduan Mountain Range, 10 kilometers away from the Lijiang Old Town. Lashihai International Wetland Park was approved as a plateau wetland nature reserve in Yunnan Province in June, 1998. Since then, the nature reserve has been rehabilitated, protected and improved, which turns to be a paradise of thousands of birds consisted of 57 species, a place where biodiversity has been effectively conserved. In every winter, thousands of water fowls migrate afar from the north, among which there are some of national protected birds, such as Black Storks, Black Neck Cranes, Chinese Mergansers, etc.

Luguhu Lake is located between Yunnan’s Ninglang County and Sichuan‘s Yanyuan County, with a total area of 77,700-odd mu, the space within the precincts of Yunnan being 41,400 mu. Most of the birds in Lugu Lake come from Siberia, such as red-beaked gulls, wild ducks, geese and aix galericulata. The birds’ coming bring much joy to people in cold season. You can see anywhere that the seagulls play with people who are seating on the boats. There are so many birds inhabiting in Liwubi Island and She Island in Lugu Lake.

Birding Tours Including Lashihai Lake and Lugu Lake

1 Day Lashihai Lake Boat Cruise and Horse Riding Tour along the Ancient Tea Horse Road
11 Days Northwest Yunnnan Bird Watching Tour
14 Days West Yunnan Birding Tour with Gaoli Gongshan Mountain and Lijiang Lashihai Lake

Dali Birding Tour

Every winter, flocks of Red-beaked Seagulls flying from Siberia to Erhai Lake which is an important destination for locals and tourists watching seagulls. Little Putuo Island is the smallest island in Erhai Lake. If you visit in winter, you will see a vast number of seagulls. Cangshan Mountain lies in the West of Dali,  a great place for bird watching as well as for a great variety of plant species. It is home to 128 species of bird, amongst others Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Kalij Pheasant, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Black Woodpecker, Great Tit, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Red-breasted Parakeet and Grey-headed Parrotbill.

Birding Tours Including Dali

11 Days Northwest Yunnnan Bird Watching Tour
13 Days Yunnan GaoliGongshan Mountain Birding Tour
14 Days West Yunnan Birding Tour with Gaoli Gongshan Mountain and Lijiang Lashihai Lake

Xishuangbanna Birding Tour

Xishuangbanna is reputed as a fauna kingdom, which is true to name. It is one of the best places in Yunnan to plan a Birding Tour. According to statistics of scientific research, there are more than 450 kinds of birds living in the forest of Xishuangbanna. Jungle is the best home of these lovely cherubs, they are smart, naughty, cute and shy, so, it won’t be easy to see them even you have already heard they twittering around you. We are are going to take you to places where local zoological specialists highly recommended, and we truly believe that you will enjoy your time with these lovely creatures. During this trip, you will not merely watch the various kinds of birds, but also get closer to tropical rainforest and feel the wonder of the nature.

6 Days XishuangBanna and Puer Tropical Forest Birding Tour

Shangri-la Birding Tour(Napahai Lake Birding Tour)

The main birding place in Shangri-la is Napahai Lake. Napahai Lake is a true paradise for all types of birds, most especially for water fowl, such as the black-necked cranes, the bar-headed goose – as well as a number of other species of geese – the common mallard, the Himalayan griffon, the egret and the white-tailed eagle.

Birding Tours Including Napahai Lake

11 Days Northwest Yunnnan Bird Watching Tour
22 days Yunnan Birds Watching Tour

Best Birdwatching Tour in Yunnan

This 22 days birding tour includes almost all the birding places in Yunnan. The best birds watching tour in Yunnan will bring you to watch birds in the main attractions of Yunnan. During the tour, you will:

22 days Yunnan Birds Watching Tour

Read More: 
Travel Tips for Birding Travelers in Yunnan
Yunnan Birdwatching Tour
How to Plan a Kunming Tour