Yunnan boast abundant resources for outdoor hiking routes. It is home to world-class classic trails such as the Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the top choice for outdoor novices, Meili Snow Mountain Circuit. Every year, some niche “internet-famous” destinations also emerge.
This year, Laojun Mountain National park, located in the southeastern part of the “Three Parallel Rivers” World Natural Heritage area in Yulong County, Lijiang, Yunan, has become incredibly popular due to its spectacular rhododendron sea in May and June.
This place, with its diverse topography and landforms, is the hallmark of the entire Laojun Mountain National Park. Every mountain here is a scenic wonder, and every inch of land is imbued with romance and poetry. Throughout the long geological evolution, Laojun Mountain National Forest Park has developed a complex and intricate geological landscape.
“Grassland in the Sky” Gelandan
Gelandan is located in the heart of Laojun Mountain at an altitude of approximately 3600 meters. As you enter Gelandan, you will discover a natural scenic gallery with rich layers of landscape, including vast grasslands, pastures, primeval forests, seas of irises and rhododendrons, lakes, and ethnic villages. The wide-open view and, on clear days, the surrounding snow-capped mountains a breathtakingly pleasant and beautiful experience.
The most beautiful blooming seasons for Gelandan Grassland is from May to August. In May and June, the hills are covered with purple rhododendrons, creating an especially romantic scene. In July and August, a spectacular sea of various irises blooms. In spring, the grass is lush and green; in summer, the famous flowers blanket the mountains; in autumn, the landscape is adorned with golden hues; and in winter, the trees are draped in a crystalline frost. Each season offers its own unique charm, making it a place worth visiting again and again.
At this moment, Gelandan is awash in shades of purple, gaining fame for the vibrant sea of rhododendrons in full bloom. The hillsides are blanketed with these flowers, with rhododendron groves interspersed among among spruce and pine forests. The densely packed blossoms surround the small wooden huts of the herders, dotting the pastures and meadows, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairy tale world.
Limu Danxia
The Limu Danxia landform in the northern part of Laojun Mountain is the largest, most fully developed, and most spectacular Danxia landform group in the county. Its relative height, grandeur, and vivid colors are unmatched nationwide. It is also recognized as one of the seven most beautiful Danxia landforms in China.
Due to the relatively concentrated landscape of the Limu Danxia landform, with short spatial distances, a unique phenomenon occurs where the sun appears to rise and set three times in one day. The Lisu people refer to this place as the “hometown of the Sun.”
The best time to appreciate this scenery is at sunset, when the colors of the Danxia landforms transition from a faint yellow to a deep bronze red. Watching these formations, sculpted by nature over millions of years of exposure to the elements, evokes a profound sense of timelessness and wonder.