Yuanmou Earth Forest

Home of Yuanmou Man, where the Langbapu, Wumao and Banguo earth forests rise like sandcastles and golden earth pillars glow most spectacularly at sunset — a paradise for photographers.

Yuanmou lies in the north of Yunnan's Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the hot, dry valley of the Jinsha River. It is the home of “Yuanmou Man” and the most classic example of earth-forest landforms in China. The county seat, Yuanma Town, sits in the Longchuan River valley; the climate is hot and dry, with spring-like warmth even in winter, making it one of China's best-known producers of early winter vegetables and tropical fruit. The highlights are the three earth forests: the Wumao (Hutiaotan) Earth Forest in the northwest, the first to be developed and a nationally rated 4A scenic area, is best for sunrise; the Langbapu (Xinhua) Earth Forest in the west has the tallest and densest pillars and is most spectacular at sunset; and the Banguo Earth Forest, closest to town, is quiet and unspoiled. In town, the Yuanmou Man Museum and the Yuanmou Man Site to the southeast tell the story of the discovery of these 1.7-million-year-old early humans, while the riverside area in the north offers views of the Jinsha River gorge. The best season is the dry season from November to April, with plenty of sunshine and deep blue skies; the rainy season from May to October is hot with frequent downpours, leaving the earth forests slippery and prone to collapse. Yuanmou has a railway station, with bullet trains on the double-track Chengdu–Kunming Railway to Kunming and Panzhihua — about 1.5 hours from Kunming. Allow 2 days: one with Wumao in the morning and Langbapu at sunset, and another for the museum and the Banguo Earth Forest. There are no direct buses between sights, so hiring a car with driver is recommended. Bring sun protection and plenty of water, don't climb the earth pillars, and be sure to try Yuanmou beef hotpot and the local tropical fruit.

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