Get to know Zhaotong
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Yunnan
- Chinese name
- 昭通市
- Local areas
- 11 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 23,192.00 km²
- Population · 2010 census
- 5,213,533
- Administrative seat
- Zhaoyang District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Transport
Zhaotong Airport (ZAT), flight destination to Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, Guiyang Train service to Kunming, Chengdu, Guangzhou Zhaotong is connected to the Chongqing-Kunming National Highway network. China National Highway 213 G85 Yinchuan–Kunming Expressway
Zhaotong has several bridges over the Jinsha River, an upstream section of the Yangtze.
Explore Zhaotong
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Dashanbao 大山包
Huanglian River Scenic Area 黄连河
Zhaxi Meeting Memorial Site 扎西会议纪念地
Dashanbao Crane Reserve Viewing Area 大山包外围合法观景区
Zhaotong Ancient City 昭通古城
Western Grand Canyon Hot Spring 西部大峡谷温泉
Manan Mountain Grassland 马楠山草原
Doushaguan Ancient Town 豆沙关古镇
Zhaoyang District 昭阳区
Ludian County 鲁甸县
Qiaojia County 巧家县
Yanjin County 盐津县
Daguan County 大关县
Yongshan County 永善县
Suijiang County 绥江县
Zhenxiong County 镇雄县
Yiliang County 彝良县
Weixin County 威信县
Shuifu 水富市
Places to explore around Zhaotong
Rock formations on a ridge overlooking canyon scenery in the Dashanbao area, Zhaotong · 云南昭通市大山包附近山脊岩石与峡谷景色 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 21 March 2009.Dashanbao大山包
Dashanbao combines rolling highland grassland with the abrupt edge of Jigongshan Grand Canyon. Dahai Lake and other wetlands also form an important wintering environment for black-necked cranes, though birdwatching access is…
Read the place guide →
The tiered Huanglianhe waterfall cascading over rock steps in a forested gorge, Daguan County · 大关县黄连河瀑布，层叠而下的瀑布景观 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 9 June 2012.Huanglian River Scenic Area黄连河
Huanglian River is a national AAAA-grade scenic area southeast of the Daguan county seat, Zhaotong, covering 42 square kilometres in total and holding 47 waterfalls concentrated within it, the largest drop being the 147-metre Qinglang (Sweetheart) Falls.
Read the place guide →
Zhaxi Meeting Memorial Site · 扎西会议纪念地Zhaxi Meeting Memorial Site扎西会议纪念地
The Zhaxi Meeting Memorial Site, in Weixin County, Zhaotong, commemorates a series of Communist Party Politburo meetings held from 5 to 10 February 1935 during the Long March, at three venues within the county: Huafangzi in Shuitianzhai, Zhuangzishang in Dahetan, and the Jiangxi Guild Hall in Zhaxi township, collectively known as the Zhaxi Meeting.
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Dashanbao Crane Reserve Viewing Area大山包外围合法观景区
This viewing area lies on the periphery of the Dashanbao Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve in Zhaoyang district, Zhaotong, 63 kilometres from the city centre. The reserve covers 19,200 hectares between 2,210 and 3,364 metres elevation and was upgraded to national-level status by the State Council General Office on 25 January 2003, after county-level designation in 1990 and provincial-level status in 1994.
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Zhaotong Ancient City · 昭通古城Zhaotong Ancient City昭通古城
Zhaotong Old City, in Zhaoyang District, Zhaotong, was first built in 1732, the tenth year of the Qing Yongzheng reign, and today covers a protected area of 2.3 square kilometres, with a core zone of 0.54 square kilometres, home to about 19,000 households and 52,000 residents. A People's Daily Online Yunnan channel report filed on 9 July 2026 said Zhaotong had recently been awarded the title 'Yunnan Provincial Historic and Cultural City', citing the provincial department of housing and urban-rural development and the provincial cultural heritage bureau.
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Entrance plaza and waterwheel feature at the Xibu Daxiagu (Western Grand Canyon) hot springs resort, Shuifu, Zhaotong · 昭通市水富市西部大峡谷温泉园区 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 21 August 2010.Western Grand Canyon Hot Spring西部大峡谷温泉
Xibu Daxiagu Hot Spring is a national AAAA-grade hot-spring resort on the Jinsha River in Shuifu, Zhaotong, drawing on a spring found 2,380 metres beneath the surrounding canyon, its water at 82.5 degrees Celsius. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's own route materials describe it as Asia's largest open-air hot spring, within a county it credits with the description 'First Port of the Ten-Thousand-Li Yangtze, Northern Gateway of Colourful Yunnan'.
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Manan Mountain Grassland · 马楠山草原Manan Mountain Grassland马楠山草原
Manan Mountain (马楠山) is a highland grassland in Yongshan County, Zhaotong, Yunnan, promoted locally as 云上马楠 ('Cloud-top Manan') for the sea of clouds that gathers over its slopes.
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Doushaguan Ancient Town · 豆沙关古镇Doushaguan Ancient Town豆沙关古镇
Dousha Pass (豆沙关, historically Shimen Guan/石门关) is a mountain pass and reconstructed old town in Yanjin County, Zhaotong, Yunnan, where a Qin-dynasty stone road, a Tang-dynasty cliff inscription and Bo-people hanging coffins sit together in one gorge.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Zhaotong local specialties
昭通市特色美食 · 12 specialties to discover
Zhaotong rice-cake and fritter wrap 昭通油糕饵块AI illustration · AI 示意图
Soft, chewy rice cake contrasts with the crisp fritter and moist potato center. Pickles or sauces add sharpness and salt.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Zhaotong Small Meat Skewers 昭通小肉串
Zhaotong Small Meat Skewers (昭通小肉串) are small bamboo skewers of local beef, grilled over charcoal and dipped in sauce, from Zhaotong (昭通), the Yunnan city where Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou meet.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Zhaotong Fermented Sauce 昭通酱AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Zhaotong Fermented Sauce (昭通酱) is a fermented soybean condiment named after Zhaotong (昭通), Yunnan (云南).
Read the dish guide →
Fried Cake with Pea Porridge 油糕稀豆粉AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Fried Cake with Pea Porridge (油糕稀豆粉) pairs a golden fried rice-and-potato cake with a hot pea-flour preparation in Zhaotong (昭通).
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Chicken Stewed with Gastrodia 天麻炖鸡AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Chicken Stewed with Gastrodia (天麻炖鸡) is a local dish in Zhaotong (昭通), Yunnan (云南), pairing fresh gastrodia with free-range chicken.
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Ludian Taoyuan Air-Dried Beef 鲁甸桃源牛干巴
Ludian Taoyuan Air-Dried Beef (鲁甸桃源牛干巴) belongs to the local Muslim tradition of curing beef. Zhaotong’s official news outlet describes Taoyuan’s version as a halal food with a history of more than three centuries.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Yanjin Starch Noodles 盐津水粉AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Yanjin Starch Noodles (盐津水粉) are handmade sweet-potato starch noodles served with broth and a sharp, spicy mixture of seasonings.
Read the dish guide →
Qiaojia Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cakes 巧家小碗红糖糍粑Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Qiaojia Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cakes (巧家小碗红糖糍粑) is listed among the local specialties of Zhaotong, Yunnan. The term 糍粑 points to pounded-rice cakes.
Read the dish guide →
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All dish names · 全部菜名 (12)
- Zhaotong rice-cake and fritter wrap · 昭通油糕饵块
- Zhaotong Small Meat Skewers · 昭通小肉串
- Zhaotong Fermented Sauce · 昭通酱
- Fried Cake with Pea Porridge · 油糕稀豆粉
- Chicken Stewed with Gastrodia · 天麻炖鸡
- Ludian Taoyuan Air-Dried Beef · 鲁甸桃源牛干巴
- Yanjin Starch Noodles · 盐津水粉
- Qiaojia Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cakes · 巧家小碗红糖糍粑
- Zhenxiong Pig Trotters in Sour Soup · 镇雄酸汤猪脚
- Weixin Sour Fish · 威信酸鱼
- Yiliang Gastrodia Chicken Soup · 彝良天麻鸡
- Zhaotong Cold Starch Jelly · 昭通凉粉
More dishes from across Yunnan are in the Yunnan food guide.
Counties & districts in Zhaotong
11 areas belong directly to Zhaotong.
11 areas
Zhaoyang District 昭阳区
Zhaoyang District is the only district and the seat of the city of Zhaotong, in the northeast of Yunnan Province, China. It borders the provinces of Guizhou to the east and Sichuan to the west.
Explore the area →CountyLudian County 鲁甸县
Ludian County (simplified Chinese: 鲁甸县; traditional Chinese: 魯甸縣; pinyin: Lǔdiàn Xiàn) is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zhaotong, it lies in the north east of Yunnan…
Explore the area →CountyQiaojia County 巧家县
Qiaojia County is a county in the northeast of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north and west. The population was 625,000 in 2019, 33,200 of whom belonged to ethnic minorities.
Explore the area →CountyYanjin County 盐津县
Yanjin County (simplified Chinese: 盐津县; traditional Chinese: 鹽津縣; pinyin: Yánjīn Xiàn) is located in the northeast of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Sichuan Province to the north and east.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Daguan County 大关县
Daguan County (simplified Chinese: 大关县; traditional Chinese: 大關縣; pinyin: Dàguān Xiàn) is located in Zhaotong Prefecture in northeastern Yunnan Province, China.
Explore the area →CountyYongshan County 永善县
Yongshan County is a county in the northeast of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Sichuan Province to the north and northwest across the Jinsha River.
Explore the area →CountySuijiang County 绥江县
Suijiang County (simplified Chinese: 绥江县; traditional Chinese: 綏江縣; pinyin: Suíjiāng Xiàn) is a county in the northeast of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province across the Jinsha River to the…
Explore the area →CountyZhenxiong County 镇雄县
Zhenxiong County (simplified Chinese: 镇雄县; traditional Chinese: 鎮雄縣; pinyin: Zhènxióng Xiàn) is a county in the northeast of Yunnan province, China, under the administration of Zhaotong prefecture and…
Explore the area →CountyYiliang County 彝良县
Yiliang County is a county in the northeast of Yunnan Province, China, bordering the provinces of Sichuan to the northeast and Guizhou to the south.
Explore the area →CountyWeixin County 威信县
Weixin County is a county in the northeast of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Sichuan Province to the north. It is under the administration the prefecture-level city of Zhaotong.
Explore the area →County-level cityShuifu 水富市
Shuifu is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Zhaotong, in the northeast of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan to the east and northeast across the Jinsha River.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 昭通市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Dashanbao and Huanglian River Scenic Area are both listed here. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Yunnan →More in Yunnan
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Background text adapted from Zhaotong — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1373359696.
Photo: Dashanbao · hilloo · 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.
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Photo: Huanglian River Scenic Area · dgykx · 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: Zhaxi Meeting Memorial Site · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Zhaotong Ancient City · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Western Grand Canyon Hot Spring · hilloo · 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.
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Manan Mountain Grassland · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Doushaguan Ancient Town · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
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