Thousand Lakes Mountain

Thousand Lakes Mountain

Known in Tibetan as "Lhamo Dongco," meaning "Goddess' Thousand Lakes" or "Fairy's Thousand Lakes," Thousand Lakes Mountain centers around Sanbhaihai and Dahei Sea, spreading out in all directions. The lakes here vary greatly — some are round as mirrors, others long like swimming fish; some are broad and flat, others deep and serene; some nestle in deep mountain hollows, others hide among rhododendron bushes, some are strung together like strings of pearls, others hang alone in the middle of meadows; some have strange rocks jutting out like crocodiles poking their heads, others have dark, unfathomable waters like bottomless abysses... Truly, they take on a thousand forms. The area surrounding Thousand Lakes Mountain is covered in primeval forests, mostly tall, straight fir and spruce trees. Rhododendron thickets grow along the lakeshores, mainly yellow, red, and white rhododendrons, with large, brightly colored blossoms.

The Thousand Lakes Mountain area is distributed between altitudes of 3,900 meters and 4,000 meters, centered around Sanbhaihai and Dahei Sea, covering a radius of about 150 square kilometers, with thousands of lakes under 10 acres in size. These lakes vary greatly — some are round as mirrors, others long like swimming fish; some are broad and flat, others deep and serene; some nestle in deep mountain hollows, others hide among rhododendron bushes, some are strung together like strings of pearls, others hang alone in the middle of meadows; some have strange rocks jutting out like crocodiles poking their heads, others have dark, unfathomable waters like bottomless abysses... Truly, they take on a thousand forms. The lakes are surrounded by primeval forests, mostly tall, straight fir and spruce trees. Rhododendron thickets grow along the shores, mainly yellow, red, and white rhododendrons, with large, brightly colored blossoms. The rhododendrons twist and turn, forming a spectacular natural sight. The tranquil lake surfaces are often graced by the flight of yellow ducks playing in the water, adding charm to the serene lakes and delicate mountain scenery.

Legend has it that fairies once combed their hair here and accidentally dropped a mirror, whose shattered pieces scattered across the mountains and turned into numerous lakes. There are nearly 300 high-altitude lakes of various sizes on Thousand Lakes Mountain, centered around Sanbhaihai and Dahei Sea, all located between 3,800 and 4,000 meters above sea level, making it the most concentrated area of high-altitude lakes in Yunnan.

The large and small alpine lakes and wetlands at the summit of Thousand Lakes Mountain have not yet undergone systematic ecosystem research and remain an important, yet little-understood, part of the biodiversity conservation efforts for high-altitude wetlands in northwestern Yunnan. In 1982, the Kunming Institute of Zoology conducted a survey of the region’s vertebrates (including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish). Unfortunately, data on birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish were scattered across various publications and not comprehensively compiled, while data on vertebrates were never published at all. Thousand Lakes Mountain is home to a rich diversity of animal and bird species, many of which are classified as national first- and second-class protected species. Therefore, the value of species conservation in Jisha Village is immeasurable.

Time Needed

2 hours

Transportation

Thousand Lakes Mountain is located in Tuanjie Village, Xiaozhongdian Township. It is about 50 kilometers south of Shangri-La along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. You can hire a car in Xiaozhongdian for around 400 yuan.

Admission Fee

The entrance fee is 20 yuan per person, and you also need to hire a local villager as a guide at a cost of 100–160 yuan.

Opening Hours

All day

Location

Tuanjie Village, Xiaozhongdian Township, Shangri-La, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province