Pudacuo National Park 普达措国家公园

About Pudacuo National Park

Shudu Lake offers a focused introduction, with open water set against wooded slopes and a managed lakeside walking route. The wider park includes Bita Lake and subalpine pasture, but these names do not imply that every circuit is open. The operator currently notes that parts of Bita Lake are unavailable. Plan around the route actually offered on your date, with Shudu’s lake-and-forest landscape as the main point of interest.

The park's conservation history includes the creation of a provincial nature reserve around Bita Lake (碧塔海) in 1982 and a regional prohibition on logging natural forests in 1998. The provincial forestry authorities established the park in 2006, with trial opening that August and formal inauguration on 21 June 2007. It became a national park system pilot area in 2016 and remains provincially administered.

The forests are dominated by firs and also contain spruce, birches, rhododendrons and honeysuckles. Alpine oaks grow around the lake and on its island. The varied habitats support musk deer, bears, leopards and golden cats, as well as black-necked cranes. The park was designated a national 5A tourist attraction (国家5A级旅游景区) in November 2012.

What to look for

• Shudu Lake combines open water with forested highland slopes.
• The managed lakeside route reveals the transition between forest, meadow and wetland edges.

Location & getting there

Getting to Pudacuo National Park

The visitor destination is Pudacuo National Park at Hongpo Village, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La. Arrange the road journey to the park visitor centre, then use the current internal transport and authorised walking routes.