Puzhehei
A "Shangri-La" of karst peaks, lakes and vast lotus fields, made famous as a filming location for "Where Are We Going, Dad?" and "Eternal Love", and reachable by high-speed rail.
Puzhehei lies in Qiubei County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. It is a national scenic area known for solitary karst peaks, a cluster of plateau lakes, vast lotus ponds and limestone caves. "Puzhehei" is a Yi word meaning "place with plenty of fish and shrimp", and the area is home to Sani (a Yi subgroup), Zhuang, Miao and other peoples. Its lakes and hills have earned it the nickname "a paradise on earth", and it shot to fame as a filming location for season three of the reality show "Where Are We Going, Dad?" and the TV drama "Eternal Love" (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms).
Best time to visit: June–August, when the lotus blooms and you can join boat-borne water fights, is the most popular season (it's also the rainy season, with frequent afternoon showers). September–October brings golden rice fields, clear weather and fewer visitors. In spring (Mar–Apr) rapeseed and peach blossoms bloom; winters are mild but the scenery is rather bare.
Suggested itinerary: ① Core area — Puzhehei Village and Xianrendong Village: take a boat on the lakes, climb Qinglong Hill for sunset, cycle around the lakes past lotus ponds and karst peaks, and explore the caves. ② Surroundings — Caihuaqing Village (an "Eternal Love" filming location) and the countryside around Bailong Lake, great for exploring by car. Allow 2–3 days.
Getting there: Puzhehei Station on the Yunnan–Guangxi high-speed railway is about 1.5 hours from Kunming South and about 5 hours from Guangzhou South. The scenic area is just over 20 km from the station, reachable by shuttle bus or taxi. The nearest airport is Wenshan Yanshan Airport. Within the scenic area, electric carts, bicycles and boats are the main ways to get around.
Tips: Accommodation is tight and prices rise during lotus season and the summer holidays, so book ahead. During water fights, waterproof your phone and camera and avoid splashing people hard in the face. The lakes are deep — children must wear life jackets. Check official announcements for current prices of admission, boat rides and cave tickets.
Top sights
- Puzhehei Lake – A highland lake cluster surrounded by karst peaks. Take a small wooden boat through lotus leaves and peak forests, and in summer the 'water…
- Qinglong Mountain Viewpoint – A viewpoint on a solitary karst peak beside Puzhehei Village. Climb about 500 steps for panoramic views of lakes, lotus ponds, and peaks, m…
- Puzhehei Lotus Ponds – Vast lotus ponds bloom across Puzhehei's lakes and wetlands in summer, with pink blossoms and green leaves set against reflections of karst…
- Xianrendong Village – A lakeside village of the Sani, a branch of the Yi people, where most homes run guesthouses with windows that look out on lone peaks and th…
- Puzhehei Village & Lakeside Camping – The core village and visitor hub of the scenic area, with a lakeside campsite, boat pier and Qinglong Hill all within walking distance. It…
- Puzhehei Karst Caves – Numerous caves lie beneath the peak forest, with stalactites and stalagmites that glow in colored light. Reached by boat or on foot, they m…
- Caihuaqing Village – Filming location for the TV series *Eternal Love*, where the Qingqiu scenes were shot. Thatched pavilions, wooden bridges and a lake bay fr…
- Bailong Lake – A blue-green highland lake west of Puzhehei, ringed by lone peaks. In autumn and winter, wild ducks and egrets gather in flocks, and it is…
- Shede Grassland – More than 100,000 mu of high mountain meadows in northwest Qiubei County, known as Wenshan's “Little Shangri-La.” Wildflowers cover the hil…
Itineraries
- Southeast Yunnan Spring Flowers & Rice Terraces Grand Loop – A spring loop through Southeast Yunnan, connecting Luoping's canola flowers, Puzhehei, Bamei, Yuanyang, and Jianshui.