Wenhai, Yunnan Province

Wenhai is located on the southern slope of Yulong (Jade Dragon) snow mountain and it is a part of the Lashihai provincial level Alpine Wetlands Nature Reserve. The elevation at Wenhai is 3,100 meters. The Wenhai area is an ideal location for visitors to explore and learn about northwestern Yunnan's dramatic grological formations and rich biodiversity. The unique climate and soil in the area nourished a variety of vegetative covers and plant species. Including old-growth forests, shrubs and meadows. There are also unique wild flowers that bloom all four seasons. Including over twenty species of rhododendrons. Wenhai is also home to a variety of economically viable mushrooms and precious medicinal herbs.

The Wenhai lake is a seasonal alpine lake and wetland. Throughout the Spring and Summer. The Wenhai lake basin is one big grazing ground with various little streams winding through the grassland. Water collects on the south end of the basin, then disappears from the ground (through the Karst rock formation underneath) flowing toward Lashihai to the south. During every July and August when the rain season arrives, water begins to rise in Wenhai, and the lake is usually filled up by October. Then during the winter season, Wenhai water level lowers again until March of the next year. Then ,the entire lake is emptied of water ,when the basin turns into a grassland again. Every year between November and January of the next year,birds from as far as Siberia and Qinghai come to Wenhai to rest, creating a great opportunity for bird watching in the area.

In the earlier times, the well- known Tea and Horse Caravan Trail that traversed between Yunnan and Tibet came through the Wenhai area. This ancient commercial corridor originated in the Ming Dynasty and was part of the "Southern silk Roud".
 
The Naxis have lived in Wenhai for over 300 years. There are five clans in the Wenhai upper village, whose ancestors were of Tibetan and Han origins. Overtime, however, these people were regarded as Naxi by the other villagers. There are two clans in Wenhai lower village,whose bloodlines are from the Tibetans and the Bais,  but are also being regarded as Naxi people now. north of the Wenhai villages is the Xuehua village where there lives a group of yis ,who still maintin their very simple and traditional lifestyle of the yi people.

Wenhai trail information
There are many route choices to reach Wenhai from the Lijiang old town ,the distance is between 20 to 25 kilometers long. On each of the route, you can ride in a car for some distance, and the rest of the distance you can hike or horse-back ride up to Wenhai are mostly uphills. The elevation rises fron 2,400 meters in Lijiang to 3,100 meters in Wenhai are meters im Wenhai. Beginning the hike from Yuhu or Longquan (a.k.a. Shuhe),most visitors take about 4 hours to get to Wenhai.

There is a variety of extraordinary scenery aling the hiking trail to Wenhai, and with the exception of a few places, the vegetative covers of the area are mostly intake. On a good day, you can view from the various scenic look-out points the widely-spread Lijiang basin below or the towering Jade Dragon snow Mountain above. The various rhododendron shrubs and plants around Wenhai provide great opportunities for visitors to relax, enjoy and learn in the area.

The trails from Yuhu and Longquan (Shuhe) to Wenhai have been improved to ensure basic safety along the trail, completed with simple signage. Therefore, these trails are suitable for independent hikers who have experience in wilderness treks. Other trails marked on this map have interpretive signs at the trailheads, however the trails have not been improved and lack signage along the way. For visitors who are interested in trekking these unmarked trails, we recommend that you hire local guides to ensure reaching Wenhai safely and timely.

The purpose for the Wenhai trail improvements and promotion project is to encourage visitors to fully experience and understand the spectacular ecological and cultural diversity in the Lashihai watershed (where Wenhai is a division). At the sane time, it is hoped that ecotourism can be promoted in the Wenhai area to allow the local community and environment to directly benefit from your visit. As you are trekking in this very special area, let us remind you to please safeguard the resources surrounding you and to please follow the "Visitor Code of Conduct" below.

Lashihai Nature Reserve Visitor Code of Conduct

Environmental Protection
(1)The size of tour groups visiting the nature reserve shord not be over 10 people per group and should always be accompanied by a local guide.
(2)When you are in the Nature Reserve, please follow the regulations and laws of the reserve;
a.Please do not throw trash on the ground. Please put all trash in the designated places;
b.Do not take any "souvenirs" or specimens from the wild;
c.Please do not cut or dig up trees or bushes;
d.Please do not start any fires within the Nature Reserve;
(3)IF you are a visitor coming to do research, training, or filming, please turn off the engine of your vehicle when you are in the Nature Reserve staff.
(4)Please respect our wildlife friends and do not disturb them and their habitat.
(5)Please do nit drive near the lake shore. Please turn off the engine of your vehicle when you are in the Nature Reseve.
(6)You can buy local products to help improve the lives of local people, but please do not buy endangered wildlife products such as fur ,feathers, and leather.
(7)When yiu are watching the birds, please do not wear bright clothing, make loud noises or frighten or feed the birds. Please do not cone within 100 neters of the birds.

Cultural Protection
(1)please respect the local people and their customs and religion. please do not touch things before you get permission, and do not bi loud and disrespectful in the village.
(2)Please ask permission before you take pictures in the villages, especially when you take pictures of people.
(3)Please respect the holy places. Please do not touch or move the religious objects.
(4)Giving to children only encourages egging. A donation to a project, health center or school is a more constructive way to help.
(5)Visitors who value local traditions encourage the local pride and maintain local cultures, so please  show an interest in their culture and an interest in their culture and an interest in understanding their traditions.

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