Beihai Wetland
腾冲北海湿地
Yunnan’s only highland volcanic dammed-lake wetland, where floating grass mats up to 1 meter thick can be walked on, and boats glide between purple Beihai irises and water shield.
Beihai Wetland lies in Shuanghai Village, Beihai Township, about 12 km north of Tengchong city. It is a highland lake formed when a volcanic eruption blocked the river. The lake covers about 0.5 square kilometers and is the only national wetland reserve in Yunnan. Its most distinctive feature is the floating grass mats: mats of water plants, moss and peat matted together, about one meter thick, spreading across the water. You can walk on them, feeling the ground dip slightly underfoot, and locals have cut grass, rowed boats and fished on them since ancient times. From April to May, large patches of purple Beihai iris bloom on the mats. The lake also grows water shield and water lilies, and it is framed by volcanoes and farmland, with the sunset on the water especially beautiful. There are several ways to explore: walk the lakeside wooden boardwalk, about 1.5 km and one hour; or buy a boat ticket and be ferried through the grass mats by a boatman for about 30 minutes. Other experiences include walking on the mats, pedal boats and traditional fish-trap fishing. Admission is 55 yuan, and a boat ticket costs about 90 to 110 yuan. Opening hours are 8:30 to 19:00, adjusted for crowds. To get there, take bus No. 13 from Tengchong city (about 20 minutes, 5 yuan), or take a minibus from the West Gate bus station; by car, drive along Provincial Highway S238 for about 20 minutes. It pairs well with the Tengchong Volcano Park and the columnar joints in a northern day trip. Notes: wear non-slip shoes and stay in the staff-designated areas on the mats, since the edges can give way; it is windy on the lake, so dress warmly; and the flowering season is short, so visit between late April and mid-May to see the Beihai irises.
Opening hours
8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Nearby sights
- Mayugu Hot Spring Town
- Tengchong Museum
- Tengchong Volcanic Geopark
- Baofeng Mountain & Temple
- Dieshui River Waterfall
- National Heroes Cemetery & Western Yunnan Anti-Japanese War Memorial
- Laifengshan National Forest Park
- Heshun Ancient Town