Napa Hai (Yila Grassland)

In the folds of the mountains in northwest of the province, the Napa Sea hides the most dynamic breath of the plateau. This seasonal plateau wetland is like a canvas that will turn into magic. In the rainy season, it is a vast lake, reflecting the silver glow of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the yak herds stepping on the water grains over the meadow, the hoofs lifted in the raft, can count the clouds in the sky. The autumn wind rose, the water level retreated, and the marsh sprouted into pieces of wolf poison flowers, red as the sunset burning on the ground, the flocks shuttled between them, the shepherd's mountain song mixed with the long song of black-necked cranes, and sloshed out far in the wilderness. Slowly along the road around the lake, you will be full of surprises at any time: dry and flooded from the cave, the Chimae ducks past the water, the green truss in the distance piled up into golden towers, the smoke and morning mist of Tibetan villages linger. If you catch the horse racing festival, the horse rider will whip the horse, the horse hoof will beat the meadow, and the air will boil. Time here is scattered. You can sit by the lake in a daze and watch the clouds wander on the water; you can also follow the herdsmen to drive the sheep, so that the pants are covered with the fragrance of grass. When the last ray of sunshine kissed the snowy mountain top, the starry sky spread out like ink, and the galaxy fell low, as if you could pick a star by reaching out. Napa Sea never used to be strong ink, but the strength and gentleness of the plateau were brewed into an intoxicating wind.

Encountering Napahai, a spiritual purification journey✨ Before going, I saw a lot of photos of Napahai on the Internet and was deeply attracted by its beauty. When I really set foot on this land, I found that what I saw with my own eyes was far more shocking than the photos! 🌳Natural landscape: This is the largest grassland in northern Yunnan. Looking around, the vast grassland is connected to the blue sky, and the clouds seem to be within reach. It is really beautiful! The mountains in the distance are undulating, forming a beautiful picture with the grassland and lakes. 🚗Transportation: It is only about 8 kilometers away from the urban area of Shangri-La. We chose to charter a car, which costs about 150-200 yuan a day. We can arrange our time freely and navigate directly to the "Ring Sea Road". If you want more freedom, you can also rent an electric car in the ancient city, but you have to pay attention to the power. If you take the bus, No. 12 can reach the entrance of Yila Village, but there are fewer buses. 💡Travel experience: 1. Horseback riding experience: The price is about 100-200 yuan/hour, negotiable, the route length is different, I chose a longer route, deep into the grassland, the experience is great! 2. Take pictures with lambs: 20 yuan/live at the herdsmen's house by the lake, the lambs are super well-behaved, and the rate of photos is super high. 3. Water highway: Part of the road around the lake will be flooded during the rainy season from July to August. It is super exciting to drive through, but SUV is safer. 4. Bird watching paradise: Bring a telescope, you can see rare birds such as black-necked cranes and bar-headed geese, what a surprise! 🍱 Food: The food in Shangri-La is not to be missed, yak hot pot, pipa meat, barley cakes and other specialties, every bite is satisfying, let the taste buds also start a journey

Mistake into a fairy tale! The healing journey of Napa Haiyila grassland 🌄 Baozi, starting from Shangri-La city, in just half an hour, I plunged into the fairy tale world of Napa Haiyila grassland! As soon as I stepped into this grassland, it seemed that all my troubles were scattered by the gentle wind. At the foot is the furry grass, in the distance is the rolling mountains, and the blue sky and white clouds are within reach. The openness and tranquility can only be experienced by being immersive. The yaks and sheep on the grassland eat slowly and look up at you from time to time, super healing. 🌈 We also went to the horse farm and chose a tame pony to start a romantic ride. Follow the windy path between the grasslands, the breeze is blowing, mixed with the aroma of grass and earth, feeling like a free rider. On the way to ride, passing a meadow full of small yellow flowers, the picture of "wind grass and low see cattle and sheep" is so real in front of you, romantic! 🌅 In the evening, we came to the lake to watch the sunset, the scenery was simply amazing! The lake water is like a huge mirror, dyeing the sky a gorgeous orange color, the water and the sky are connected, the beauty is suffocating, and the mobile phone can't stop when there is no electricity! ❗ Small tips: 1. Remember to check the weather in advance, and take pictures on sunny days. 2. You can prepare some snacks and water in advance to replenish energy when playing. 3. Listen to the guidance of herdsmen when riding horses, pay attention to safety. #Napa Haiyila Grassland #Shangri-La Travel #Healing scenery

Napahai Nature Reserve is located in Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, at an altitude of 3,266 meters. Napahai, which means "the lake behind the forest" in Tibetan, is a wetland ecological type reserve. The main protected objects are seasonal lakes and marsh meadows on the plateau. It is the wintering habitat for migratory birds such as black-necked cranes. This is the largest grassland in Shangri-La and one of the most plateau-featured scenic spots. Napahai under the blue sky and white clouds is beautiful with water birds flying freely!

Different seasons: in summer, the grasslands and lakes are set off by green grass and wild flowers, like a paradise; in autumn, the grasslands are golden, and the blue sky and snow-capped mountains form a picturesque scenery; in winter, the grasslands and lakes are set off by the snow-capped mountains, and they are quiet and magnificent, and there are opportunities to see rare birds such as black-necked cranes; in spring, the grasslands gradually recover and are full of vitality. - Rich landscape: There are vast grasslands, clear lakes, majestic snow-capped mountains, herds of cattle and sheep, and the three snow-capped mountains of Shika, Yeka and Kunyin Yala in the distance stand upright, forming a picturesque plateau scenery.   Unique cultural experience - Rich folk customs: Napahai Yila grassland is the summer pasture of local Tibetan herdsmen, where you can experience the rich Tibetan culture, such as participating in activities such as horseback riding and archery, and feel the lifestyle of the Tibetan people. - Deep historical heritage: On the northwest mountain of the lake is the site of the ancient Zhongdian Temple, Liutongqin Temple, which has a long history. There was once a 36-foot-tall Qiangba Buddha statue that made the Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake regret for not being able to see it for the rest of his life, adding a deep historical and cultural heritage to the scenic area. Significant ecological value - Bird paradise: Napahaila Grassland is an ideal habitat for rare birds such as black-necked cranes, a national first-class protected animal. From September to March of the following year, black-necked cranes inhabit here for about half a year. In addition, a large number of migratory birds such as geese and ducks overwinter here. It is a bird's paradise. - Complete wetland ecosystem: As a wetland ecological type protection area, the plateau freshwater lakes and swamps here and the surrounding forest vegetation form a unique wetland ecosystem, which was listed in the "List of Internationally Important Wetlands" in 2004. Tourism facilities and services need to be improved - Transportation convenience is average: Although there are shuttle buses from downtown Shangri-La, the number of buses is limited. For independent travelers, transportation is not particularly convenient. If you choose to drive or carpool, you also need to consider the road conditions and driving difficulty.

The Napa Sea, which is called "Napaso" in Tibetan, means "the lake behind the forest", and it is actually the same area as the Yila grassland, but presents a different picture in different seasons. Seasonal changes, different landscapes: rainy season (late summer and early autumn): precipitation is abundant, rivers are injected, water levels rise, forming a vast lake, that is, the Napa Sea. At this time, the lake is sparkling, the water grass is beautiful, and the surrounding is a small pasture, cattle and sheep are flocked, and the lake and mountains are integrated. Drought season (winter and spring): The rainwater is reduced, the lake is reduced or even dry, and a large area of marsh meadows is revealed. In autumn, the grassland is golden, and the snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake, and the scenery is particularly charming. In winter, black-necked cranes wait for birds to inhabit here, adding vitality to the grassland. Geographical location and characteristics: Located in the northwest of Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, about 8 kilometers away from the county seat. The altitude is about 3,266 meters, which belongs to the seasonal lake of the plateau. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the peaks are between 3800-4449 meters above sea level. It is one of Shangri-La's most plateau-specific scenic spots and the largest grassland in the county. It has been listed on the "List of International Important Wetlands", with rich animal and plant resources, and is a migration transit station and wintering place for many birds. Experience: Tour around the lake: You can choose to charter a car or ride a bicycle around the lake to enjoy the grassland, lake and snow-capped mountains in different seasons. Some sections of the road around the lake will form a unique "water road" landscape during the rainy season. Horse riding: You can experience horse riding in the scenic area and feel the vast grassland. Bird watching: Winter is the best time to watch the black-necked crane waiting for birds. Photography: Napa Sea (Yila grassland) has beautiful scenery in all seasons, and it is a paradise for photographers. Experience Tibetan customs: There are some fruit stalls and wild spots along Huanhu Road, you can taste local cuisine and feel Tibetan culture. Warm reminder: Shangri-La has a large temperature difference between day and night. When you go to Napa Sea (Yila Grassland), pay attention to keep warm. The plateau has strong ultraviolet rays, please take sun protection measures. Respect local Tibetan customs. The best time to visit is June to October each year, with green grass, wildflower grasslands and abundant lake views. In winter, you can see rare birds. In short, Napa Sea (Yila Grassland) is a charming natural scenic spot, and its unique seasonal changes have created a variety of beautiful landscapes, whether it is the vastness of the grassland, the tranquility of the lake, or tourists interested in the plateau ecology and Tibetan culture. You can find your own fun here.

We rented an electric bike at the commercial street outside the east gate of Dukezong Ancient City to travel around Napahai. We used cycling navigation on Gaode Map to get to the ring road around the lake. We started from the west bank of Napahai in a clockwise direction and circled the lake. We returned to Shangri-La along the G214 National Road to the east bank. It took about 4 hours. Napahai belongs to a nature reserve located in the northwest of Shangri-La. It is a scenic spot with plateau characteristics. Snow-capped mountains, grasslands, cattle and sheep make up the scenery of the north of the southwest. Napahai means "lake next to the forest" and is located 8 kilometers northwest of Shangri-La County. Napahai is a plateau lake with many rare birds living here. The most famous of them is the black-necked crane, a first-class protected animal in the country. From September to March of the following year, you can see a large number of flying birds circling and gathering on the water. Napahai is also the largest grassland in Shangri-La. In spring, the grass is green and the mountain flowers are in full bloom; in autumn, the grassland is golden, which is a great time for photography. On the G214 National Road on the east bank of Napahai, Songzanlin Temple can be seen from a distance. Special reminder: Napahai is a seasonal lake on the plateau. In summer, the lake surface increases and the water depth increases; in autumn and winter, the lake water drops. There are many places around Napahai where you can ride horses. It is less than 40 kilometers around the lake. You can also take bus No. 12 to tour around the lake. The bus route is similar to the route we took on electric bikes.

A park that doesn't charge admission turned out to be the most beautiful stop on this Sichuan-Yunnan trip! From Aden to Shangri-La, the navigation shows 7.5 hours, but it's only 5 hours including lunch. The scenery along the way is so beautiful, especially when you enter the Shangri-La city boundary, you can see the Napa Lake from afar. Napa Lake & grassland are one, with more water in the north and more grass in the south. The proportion changes according to the season, and the whole is a wetland. Many people ride, drive, or take electric cars around the lake, which are the right way to open Napa Lake. The entire lake is not big or small, and it takes about 1.5-2 hours to stop and go. At one of the stops, I met the Tibetans who are said to be doing the clothing rental business. I bargained down from 40 to 20, one Tibetan costume per person for an unlimited time, and I can hold a lamb. The enthusiastic seller also took the initiative to take pictures for you, beautiful!