Caohai Lake
草海
Guizhou's largest natural freshwater lake, a high-plateau wetland at about 2,170 meters. It is a national nature reserve and an important wintering site for black-necked cranes.
Caohai Lake lies on the southwest side of Weining County town. It is Guizhou's largest natural freshwater lake and one of China's three major plateau lake wetlands. It covers about 25 square km at an altitude of about 2,170 meters. Caohai is a national nature reserve. Every winter, tens of thousands of migratory birds, including black-necked cranes, gray cranes and bar-headed geese, overwinter here. The black-necked crane is a first-class national protected species and is known as the 'paradise for birds.' To visit, board a small wooden boat poled by a local fisherman at the lakeside pier. It glides into the water plants for close-up bird watching, about 1–1.5 hours. You can also ride along the lakeside boardwalk and cycle path to see highland sunsets and their reflections on the water. Boat fares are charged per boat, so confirm the price and duration with the boatman before boarding. Weining town is within walking distance of Caohai. It is about 2 hours' drive from Bijie city and about 1.5 hours from Liupanshui. Keep your distance from the birds and do not feed or chase them. Sunlight is strong at this altitude, and mornings and evenings are cold. Winter morning fog improves visibility, though temperatures often hover around 0°C.
Opening hours
Open all day (boat tours about 8:00–18:00)