Get to know Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
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- Administrative area
- Autonomous prefecture · 自治州
- Part of
- Sichuan
- Chinese name
- 凉山彝族自治州
- Local areas
- 17 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 60,261.00 km²
- Population · 2020
- 4,858,359
- Administrative seat
- Xichang
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Xichang has the Xichang Qingshan Airport and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The prefecture also features a substantial network of railways for both passengers and freight.
Explore Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Huili Ancient City 会理古城
Xichang Satellite Launch Centre Scenic Area 西昌卫星发射中心旅游区
Lingshan Temple 灵山寺
Luoji Mountain 螺髻山
Luoji Ninety-Nine Li Hot Spring Waterfalls 螺髻九十九里温泉瀑布
Lugu Lake Sichuan Side 泸沽湖四川段
Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain 邛海与泸山
Jianchang Ancient City 建昌古城
Yuexi Hometown of Wenchang 越西文昌故里
Mahu Lake 马湖
Xichang 西昌市
Huili City 会理市
Muli Tibetan Autonomous County 木里藏族自治县
Yanyuan County 盐源县
Dechang County 德昌县
Huidong County 会东县
Ningnan County 宁南县
Puge County 普格县
Butuo County 布拖县
Jinyang County 金阳县
Zhaojue County 昭觉县
Xide County 喜德县
Mianning County 冕宁县
Yuexi County 越西县
Ganluo County 甘洛县
Meigu County 美姑县
Leibo County 雷波县
Places to explore around Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Huili Ancient City · 会理古城Huili Ancient City会理古城
Huili is a city at the southern tip of Sichuan, in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and a National Famous Historical and Cultural City; its old city is laid out as a chessboard grid of streets and lanes around a central bell-and-drum tower.
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Xichang Satellite Launch Centre Scenic Area西昌卫星发射中心旅游区
The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre is a launch base built mainly for geostationary satellites; its headquarters is in Xichang city, the China National Space Administration puts the launch area about 60 km north-west of that city, and Sichuan's provincial gazetteer office places the centre inside Mianning County, in a valley called Zeyuan, in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
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Lingshan Temple · 灵山寺Lingshan Temple灵山寺
Lingshan Temple stands in deep forest on the western flank of the Xiaoxiangling range, east of the county town of Mianning in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, and takes its name from the mountain that rises immediately behind it.
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Terraced rice paddies near Xianren Cave on Luoji Mountain, Puge County, Sichuan · 四川普格县螺髻山仙人洞附近的梯田 Source-recorded photograph date: 12 September 2010 (original upload date).Luoji Mountain螺髻山
Glaciated range in Liangshan, Sichuan, with a 4,359 m conch-shaped peak, Black Dragon Pool and hot-spring cascades on its Puge side.
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Luoji Ninety-Nine Li Hot Spring Waterfalls · 螺髻九十九里温泉瀑布Luoji Ninety-Nine Li Hot Spring Waterfalls螺髻九十九里温泉瀑布
Luoji Ninety-Nine Li is a group of hot-spring waterfalls on the north bank of the Dacao river, in the middle of the eastern flank of Luojishan, within Qiaowo town in Puge County, in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan.
Read the place guide →
Lugu Lake Sichuan Side · 泸沽湖四川段Lugu Lake Sichuan Side泸沽湖四川段
Lugu Lake is a plateau lake at 2,690 m whose Sichuan section lies in Luguhu town in Yanyuan County, in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and is managed as a scenic and historic area by a dedicated prefecture administration.
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A broad blue lake with chop on the water seen from the shore, a timber-and-chain viewing platform jutting in at the right with one person standing on it, and a long dark mountain ridge running the full width of the far shore under cumulus cloud.Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain邛海与泸山
Qionghai is a lake at Xichang, in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, and Lushan is the mountain that rises beside it on the west; the two are registered together as a single 4A-rated scenic area.
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Jianchang Ancient City · 建昌古城Jianchang Ancient City建昌古城
Jianchang is the Ming walled city in Xichang, in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, founded in 1387 and still laid out on its original cross of streets around a central pavilion.
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Yuexi Hometown of Wenchang越西文昌故里
Wenchang Guli is a scenic area in the heart of Zhongsuo town, in Yuexi County in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, held to be the birthplace of Zhang Yazi, the deity Wenchang Dijun, and built around the Wenchang associations of Jinmashan and the Guanyin river.
Read the place guide →
Mahu Lake · 马湖Mahu Lake马湖
Deep mountain lake in Leibo County, Sichuan, with a temple to the Yi leader Meng Huo on Golden Turtle Island and a basalt dam on its north shore.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture local specialties
凉山彝族自治州特色美食 · 11 specialties to discover
Yi-Style Boiled Meat Chunks 坨坨肉
Yi-Style Boiled Meat Chunks (坨坨肉) is a Yi (彝族) dish associated with Liangshan (凉山), made from meat cut into substantial pieces and boiled.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Xichang brazier barbecue 西昌火盆烧烤AI illustration · AI 示意图
Direct heat creates browned, smoky surfaces, while dips and dry seasonings supply salt, chili and aroma.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Yi Pickled Vegetable Soup 彝族酸菜汤AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Yi Pickled Vegetable Soup (彝族酸菜汤) is a fragrant sour soup in the Yi (彝族) food traditions of Liangshan (凉山). It uses leafy greens or leaves of the local yuangen (圆根) vegetable, preserved as dried or wet-pickled sour vegetables.
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Huili Flaky Steamed Buns 会理抓酥包子Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Huili Flaky Steamed Buns (会理抓酥包子), often shortened to zhuasu bao (抓酥包), are a bun from Huili (会理) in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (凉山彝族自治州), Sichuan.
Read the dish guide →
Photo adjustments
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Huili Shredded Chicken and Ham 会理鸡火丝AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Huili Shredded Chicken and Ham (会理鸡火丝) is a bowl of shredded rice cake in stock from Huili (会理) in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (凉山彝族自治州), Sichuan.
Read the dish guide →
Mianning Cured Ham 冕宁火腿AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Mianning Cured Ham (冕宁火腿) is a cured pork-hind-leg speciality of Mianning (冕宁), in Liangshan (凉山). Its preparation includes curing, washing and drying, shaping, fermentation and storage.
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Leibo Fish with Water Shield 雷波莼菜鱼AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Leibo Fish with Water Shield (雷波莼菜鱼) is listed among the local specialties of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. The name includes 鱼 (fish).
Read the dish guide →
Xichang Drunken Shrimp 西昌醉虾AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Xichang Drunken Shrimp (西昌醉虾) is a raw shrimp speciality associated with Qionghai Lake (邛海) in Xichang (西昌). One local version uses the lake's smallest live shrimp mixed with a strongly seasoned sauce.
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (11)
- Yi-Style Boiled Meat Chunks · 坨坨肉
- Xichang brazier barbecue · 西昌火盆烧烤
- Yi Pickled Vegetable Soup · 彝族酸菜汤
- Huili Flaky Steamed Buns · 会理抓酥包子
- Huili Shredded Chicken and Ham · 会理鸡火丝
- Mianning Cured Ham · 冕宁火腿
- Leibo Fish with Water Shield · 雷波莼菜鱼
- Xichang Drunken Shrimp · 西昌醉虾
- Yi Roast Suckling Pig · 彝族烤乳猪
- Buckwheat Flatbread · 荞麦饼
- Pickled Vegetable and Potato Soup · 酸菜土豆汤
More dishes from across Sichuan are in the Sichuan food guide.
Counties & districts in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
17 areas belong directly to Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
17 areas
Xichang 西昌市
Xichang (Northern Yi: /o̝˨˩dʐo̝˧/) is a city in and the seat of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the south of Sichuan, China.
Explore the area →County-level cityHuili City 会理市
Huili is a county-level city of far southern Sichuan province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →Autonomous countyMuli Tibetan Autonomous County 木里藏族自治县
Muli Tibetan Autonomous County is in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the southwest of Sichuan province, China, bordering Yunnan province to the southwest.
Explore the area →CountyYanyuan County 盐源县
Yanyuan County is a county in Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, bordering Yunnan province to the west. The county is located in Sichuan's rugged Hengduan Mountains in southwest Sichuan, but the…
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Dechang County 德昌县
Dechang County is a county of southern Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyHuidong County 会东县
Huidong County is a county in the far south of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyNingnan County 宁南县
Ningnan County is a county in the south of Sichuan Province, China, bordering Yunnan province to the east. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyPuge County 普格县
Puge County is a county in the south of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyButuo County 布拖县
Butuo County is a county of southern Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. It was incorporated in 1952, and has continuously existed since 1960.
Explore the area →CountyJinyang County 金阳县
Jinyang County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyZhaojue County 昭觉县
Zhaojue County is a county in the south of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. It has a population of 322,600 as of 2021, including 98.53% Yi.
Explore the area →CountyXide County 喜德县
Xide County is a county in the south of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyMianning County 冕宁县
Mianning County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyYuexi County 越西县
Yuexi County is a county located in the north of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the south of Sichuan Province, China.
Explore the area →CountyGanluo County 甘洛县
Ganluo County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the area →CountyMeigu County 美姑县
Meigu County is a part of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the south of Sichuan province. Located in the northeast of Liangshan Prefecture, it has a major concentration of the Nuosu or Yi people.
Explore the area →CountyLeibo County 雷波县
Leibo County is a mountainous county of southern Sichuan province, China, along the border with Yunnan. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and has a population of…
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 凉山彝族自治州 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Huili Ancient City and Xichang Satellite Launch Centre Scenic Area are both listed here. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Sichuan →More in Sichuan
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Background text adapted from Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1353083240.
Photo: Huili Ancient City · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Lingshan Temple · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Luoji Mountain · aisccd · CC BY 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Luoji Ninety-Nine Li Hot Spring Waterfalls · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Lugu Lake Sichuan Side · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain · 杨志强Zhiqiang · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Jianchang Ancient City · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Mahu Lake · 雷馬峨屏調查記，常隆慶, 施懷仁, 俞德浚著，中國西部科學院，1935 · Public domain. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.