Where are the best camping spots in Yunnan

I still remember when I was a kid, our school would organize camping activities every spring. Back then, the college students in our class would help the teachers take care of the elementary school students. We didn’t need to sign any agreements or worry about safety. As times have progressed, elementary school students rarely have such opportunities besides camping with their families, mainly out of safety concerns. But I fell in love with camping as a child. Here are some of the best places I’ve been to over the years, especially in Yunnan, and some good places to camp there.

Qinghai – Nianbaoyuze

This place name might sound strange, but the scenery here is unique. Nianbaoyuze is a beautiful place, surrounded by sacred mountains and lakes. It is known as the “Backyard of the Gods”. Every July and August, flowers bloom everywhere, the grass is green, and the clouds are misty, like a fairyland. This is also the peak tourist season, with many tourists coming here, including mostly students.

I really like this place, mainly because it has not been deeply developed yet. So the scenery here can be described as perfect. If you haven’t been here, you can close your eyes and feel it. Camping among glaciers, lakes, plateaus, and flowers is a rare experience.

Tip: Because Nianbaoyuze is located on the plateau, there is a large temperature difference between day and night, and the weather changes unpredictably. Rain and snow may alternate with sunshine, even in the warmest months of July and August. It’s best to wear thermal underwear, fleece jackets, and windbreakers. Because of the rain, shoes and clothing should be waterproof.

Badain Jaran

“The desert smoke rises straight, the long river sets the sun round.” I still remember this poem I learned in elementary school. When I saw the real scene for the first time, it was still very impressive. After all, Badain Jaran is the third largest desert in the world and the highest desert in the world. No wonder there is such a relevant poem. This place can satisfy all your fantasies about the desert.

Waiting for the night to come, there is no light pollution, no sound, just a pitch black. Suddenly you feel that time has stopped. However, the sky above is bursting with a different kind of brilliance, very dazzling.

Tip: 

1. You need a professional guide to lead you into the sand 

2. Be careful not to get sand on electronic products such as phones and cameras 

3. The ultraviolet rays in the desert are very strong, pay attention to sun protection, be careful not to turn black as charcoal when you come back.

Along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway

Actually, many people start their journey along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway because of their love for Tibet. The scenery along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is ever-changing and colorful. Walking along it, you can experience the magical feeling of “different mountains, different skies, four seasons in one day.”

In such an environment, the blue sky, white clouds, fresh air, especially when you can go to ancient towns around Chengdu, Hailuogou, Daocheng Yading… all the beautiful scenery along the way can make your mind and body completely relax.

Tip: 

1. There are wolves and other wild animals along the road, so try to avoid camping in unpopulated areas 

2. Pay attention to the weather, landslides and other conditions can occur easily 

3. Keep warm at high altitudes, if you get a cold and cause altitude sickness, the consequences will be serious.

Erhai Lake

Speaking of Erhai Lake, I always think of One Meter of Sunshine. Erhai Lake is the most naturally scenic and semi-primitive tourist area in Dali. The air is fresh, the sunshine is abundant, the water is as blue as the sky, and everyone who comes to Erhai Lake leaves with a happy smile.

By Erhai Lake, at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, a different kind of feeling. You can watch the sunrise and sunset by Erhai Lake, cycle and hike, it’s so comfortable and relaxing. When you’re tired, just lie in your tent and watch the stars twinkling in the sky, listen to the sound of flowers blooming. What’s it like when night falls and you look up at the different stars? It must be wonderful.

Tip: 

1. If you want to see the sunrise, you can choose the west side of Erhai Lake 

2. There is a large temperature difference between day and night, pay attention to keep warm 

3. When encountering ethnic minorities, respect their customs.