Nujiang Beautiful Highway
A scenic highway running north along the Nu River Grand Canyon from Liuku in Lushui to Bingzhongluo in Gongshan, with a cycling lane, the Stone Moon and the First Bend of the Nu River.
The Nujiang Beautiful Highway starts in Liuku, Lushui, the prefectural seat of Nujiang Prefecture. It runs north through Fugong and Gongshan, ending at Bingzhongluo. The total length is about 286 kilometers. Completed in 2020, the road was widened from the existing gorge road and includes bike lanes, lookout points and service stations. It is the most suitable gorge road for self-driving and cycling in the Three Parallel Rivers area.
The road runs almost the entire way beside the Nu River, with the Gaoligong Mountains and Biluo Snow Mountain on either side. The difference between the river and the mountain tops can reach three to four thousand meters. Along the way you can see Lisu and Nu villages. Laomudeng Village offers a view over the Nu River and Crown Mountain. Lawuyan Waterfall and the Stone Moon in Fugong, a through-cave high in the mountains, are landmark sights. At the northern end, Bingzhongluo has the First Bend of the Nu River, the Shimen Pass and the Chongding Catholic Church. From here you can head west to the Dulong River or north along the Bing-Cha-Cha road into Tibet.
Allow 2–4 days. Fugong, Gongshan and Bingzhongluo all have accommodation. The road surface is good, but the river has many bends and cliffs, rockfalls are frequent in the rainy season, and you should slow down when light is poor in the evening. If you are coming from Baoshan or Dali, you can detour through the Fengxue Yakou in Pianma, Lushui, to see the Gaoligong Mountains.