Top Beautiful Lakes in Yunnan Province

Have you heard of the “Jewel of the Plateau” in Yunnan? These aren’t sparkling jewels from a jewelry store, but lakes that are embedded like precious stones on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. These lakes are nature’s well-crafted gifts – some resemble mirrors reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, others like sapphires refracting mysterious glows under the sunlight, and some tell stories that span thousands of years. Today, let’s explore the six most beautiful lakes in Yunnan and see how many surprises they hold!

The plateau lakes in Yunnan are locally called “Haizi” (海子), such as Erhai Lake (洱海), Lugu Lake (泸沽湖), Bita Lake (碧塔海), and many others, each with its own distinct characteristics. Fuxian Lake (抚仙湖) is named after a legend of immortals, Lugu Lake (泸沽湖) retains the Mosuo matriarchal culture, Bita Lake (碧塔海) is like an emerald on the plateau, Erhai Lake (洱海) takes the shape of a crescent moon, Nian Lake (念湖) is a paradise for black-necked cranes, Dianchi Lake (滇池) welcomes red-beaked gulls in winter, and Chenghai (澄海) and Swan Lake (天鹅湖) in Puzhehei (普者黑) showcase ecological beauty.

01. Overview of Lakes in Yunnan

In the magical plateau of Yunnan, there are many lakes, both big and small, affectionately called “Hai” or “Haizi” by the locals. Among them, famous lakes include Erhai Lake (洱海) in Dali (大理), Chenghai (澄海) and Lashi Lake (拉市海) in Lijiang (丽江), Napa Lake (纳帕海) and Bita Lake (碧塔海) in Shangri-La (香格里拉). Let’s dive into the top ten most beautiful lakes in Yunnan and their unique features.

▣ Fuxian Lake (抚仙湖)

Fuxian Lake, known as the “Crystal Bay,” is famous for its clear waters and beautiful legends. According to legend, two little immortals were enchanted by the clarity of the “Clear River Sea” (澄江海) and came to the lakeside, where they were so mesmerized by the breathtaking views that they couldn’t bear to leave. Eventually, they decided to turn into rocks to guard this beautiful land forever. The lake was named Fuxian Lake in honor of these immortals who stayed behind in their desire for the beauty of nature.

▣ Lugu Lake (泸沽湖)

Lugu Lake, renowned for its unique geographical location and the Mosuo people’s matriarchal culture, attracts many visitors. Located across both Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, it’s called the “Pearl of the Plateau,” “The Pure Land of Northwest Yunnan,” and “The Shangri-La in Dreams.” In this serene lake, the romantic and kind Mosuo people still maintain their ancient matriarchal marriage system, creating a unique harmony with the picturesque landscape of Lugu Lake.

▣ Bita Lake (碧塔海)

Bita Lake, known as the highest lake in Yunnan, sits at an elevation of 3,538 meters. Its purity complements the surrounding magnificent natural scenery. The pristine water seems like a masterpiece of nature, quietly telling the legendary tales of the plateau. Surrounding Bita Lake are towering ancient pines and oaks, providing a cool refuge for visitors. The clear, transparent waters shine under the sun, resembling an emerald set among dark mountain ranges.

▣ Erhai Lake (洱海)

Erhai Lake, also known as Kunming Pool or Night Rain Lake in ancient times, is located in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. It’s famous for its unique ear-like shape, nestled between the Cangshan Mountains and Dali Basin, resembling a crescent moon. The beautiful scenery around the lake makes it one of Dali’s four famous scenic spots. The clear moon over Erhai Lake is particularly famous, drawing countless tourists each year.

02. Other Famous Lakes

▣ Nian Lake (念湖)

Nian Lake, officially known as “Yuejin Reservoir,” was discovered by a traveler in 2008. Located in the Black-necked Crane Nature Reserve at the boundary between Huize County (会泽县) of Qujing (曲靖) and Zhaotong (昭通), it’s a gem that attracts large groups of black-necked cranes from November to March each year. The cranes freely sing, fly, glide, or leisurely walk through this protected area.

▣ Dianchi Lake (滇池) and Yilong Lake (异龙湖)

Dianchi Lake, as the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan and the sixth-largest in China, hosts Siberian red-beaked gulls from November to March every year, adding a stunning color to the lake. Yilong Lake, though the smallest of Yunnan’s nine largest lakes, offers unique charm. Its shores are lined with phoenix flowers that bloom in a riot of color, adding endless romance to the landscape.

▣ Chenghai Lake (澄海) and Swan Lake in Puzhehei (普者黑)

Chenghai Lake, also known as Black Mist Lake (黑雾海), is the second-largest freshwater lake in western Yunnan, located in Yongsheng County (永胜县). Swan Lake in Puzhehei (普者黑) attracts numerous birdwatchers and nature lovers with its karst landscapes and rich ecosystem. It is home to more than 100 species of migratory birds, including swans, geese, and storks.

Yunnan’s lakes are like scattered sapphires on the plateau, each hiding a unique secret. Have you seen a lake that “breathes”? One that swallows entire grasslands in summer and then releases cows and sheep in winter? Have you heard the legend of an ancient city submerged beneath the lake? Standing on the shore, you might even hear whispers from history beneath the water. Even more magical, some lakes’ waters can be used as mirrors, and you can scoop up the water and drink it! These aren’t fairy tales – they are the true wonders of Yunnan’s seven famous lakes. These lakes weave a magnificent painting with their vast blue waves. Let’s reveal the mysteries of these plateau pearls:

First Stop: The Rebirth of Dianchi Lake (滇池)

Dianchi Lake, like a jewel embedded at the edge of Kunming, covers 330 square kilometers. Its surface reflects the outline of the Sleeping Beauty Mountain (西山). Twenty years ago, it was known as “Kunming’s Tears” due to pollution, but after more than 70 billion yuan in remediation efforts, the lake is now clear again. Even red-beaked gulls have become regular visitors. Riding along the greenway in the morning, you can see elderly people watering flowers with Dianchi water, young couples taking wedding photos by the water, and egrets gliding across the surface, creating ripples. The most magical moment is during sunset when the entire lake turns golden red, and the boat’s wake looks like scattered diamonds.

Erhai Lake: The “Ear” That Tells Stories (洱海)

The people of Dali often say, “Cangshan (苍山) is a timeless painting, and Erhai is a thousand-year-old melody.” This ear-shaped lake holds many romantic tales. Riding an AI-powered electric sailboat around the lake, Bai women share stories of a princess who turned into a conch, and how every stone on the shore is a frozen love song. A photographer spent three years capturing Erhai’s 8,760 different faces, from dawn to the stars reflecting on its surface.

Fuxian Lake: The Drinkable Plateau Blue (抚仙湖)

If there’s a “beauty ceiling” for Yunnan’s lakes, Fuxian Lake, with an area of 212 square kilometers, would undoubtedly be at the top. The water’s clarity exceeds 7 meters. In the Ming Dynasty, Xu Xiake was amazed by its clarity, calling it the clearest lake. Today, visitors love to experience “water drifting” on Moon Bay Beach, where they can see fish swimming beneath transparent boats. International singer Sarah Brightman once drank a sip of Fuxian Lake water during a concert and praised it as “sweeter than mineral water”! Scientists have also discovered what seems to be the ruins of the ancient Dian Kingdom under the lake, with ancient stone carvings faintly visible in the water.

Chenghai: The Magical Lake That Produces “Green Gold” (程海)

Located in Yongsheng County (永胜县), Chenghai Lake may seem unremarkable, but it’s one of only three natural lakes in the world where spirulina grows. This spirulina is rich in 18 amino acids and is so nutritious that 1 gram is equivalent to 1 kilogram of vegetables. At the Green A Bio-Industry Park, visitors learn that astronauts have taken it to space, and research teams rely on it to survive in Antarctica. Every May, the lake hosts a “Spirulina Harvest Festival,” where visitors can harvest these “green ribbons” and make special spirulina cookies.

Lugu Lake: The Starlight on the “Walking Marriage Bridge” (泸沽湖)

Spanning across Yunnan and Sichuan, Lugu Lake, covering an area of 50 square kilometers, is home to the last matriarchal society in China. Mosuo people paddle their pig-shaped boats on the water with blossoms of “water lilies” around. In the evening, staying in lakeside guesthouses, visitors can see the Milky Way stretching across 120 degrees of the sky. A travel blogger once recorded a touching scene: an 80-year-old Mosuo woman sitting by the fire, telling the century-old family story carved in 27 wooden rings. At night, young women with oil lamps walk across the Marriage Bridge, with fireflies lighting up the path and turning them into flowing rivers of light.

Yilong Lake: The Ancient City Supported by Lotus Flowers (异龙湖)

Yilong Lake, known as “The Lake That Blooms,” turns into a sea of pink and white lotuses every summer. With small boats rowing into the lotus-filled depths, visitors can taste freshly picked lotus pods, with their sweetness healing the summer heat. The lakeside tofu feast is another highlight—made with water from Yilong Lake, the tofu puffs up when grilled, and a poke releases fragrant soy milk.

Xingyun Lake: A Sky Full of Stars in the Water (星云湖)

Xingyun Lake, located just across from Fuxian Lake, has a magical ability to capture the starry sky in its waters. Every fifteenth day of the lunar month, its 34.7 square kilometers of surface display both the moon and thousands of “stars,” thanks to a special optical effect caused by minerals in the water. Local fishermen still use ancient methods, creating a circle of fire torches from pine branches to attract silverfish into their nets. A photo of the Milky Way, fishing lights, and fish leaping from the water won the top prize at the recent “Starry Sky Photography Competition.”

From the profound transformation of Dianchi Lake to the spirulina miracle at Chenghai, from Erhai’s romantic tales to the fragrant lotus of Yilong Lake, Yunnan’s lakes are like seven magical mirrors, reflecting the vibrant beauty of the plateau. A traveler who visited Yunnan for ten years once said, “Seeing these lakes is like reading half of China’s landscape chronicles.” Next time you stand by one of these lakes, try bending down to touch the water—perhaps you’ll find a story waiting to be discovered within the ripples.