Puzhehei Scenic Area in Qiubei County, Wenshan

Why is Puzhehei Scenic Area So Special?

Puzhehei in the Yi language means a pond teeming with fish and shrimp. There are more than 3,000 Yi people living there. Their traditional festivals are "Dragon Worship Festival祭龙节" and "Torch Festival". As the typical karst landscape, Puzhehei scenic area is abound in green hills and clear waters, which are similar to Guilin. Therefore, Puzhehei is praised as a unique pastoral scene in China.

Features of Puzhehei Scenic Area

Wenshan Qiubei Puzhehei Scenic area is located in Qiubei County of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is 13 kilometers away from the county seat. It is a national scenic area and a national AAAA level tourism area. The total area of the scenic area is 388 square kilometers, and the core scenic spot is 165 square kilometers, belonging to the karst area of southeastern Yunnan. As a typical karst landform, Puzhehei Scenic Area is famous for its six major landscapes "pastoral scene, lakes & mountains, Yi villages, karst wetland, lotus world and Migratory Bird Paradise".

Karst caves are the main attractions in Puzhehei. At present, moon holes, torch cave, Guanyin cave and Xianrendong cave are open to tourists. There are many kinds of stalactites, as well as many myths and legends in these caves.

Where is Puzhehei Scenic Area?

The Puzhehei Scenic Area is 13 kilometers northwest of Qiubei County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is a charming fairyland boasting beautiful karst landscapes, lakes and the unique cultures of the Zhuang, Miao, Yi and Bai ethnic groups.

Main Attractions in Puzhehei Scenic Area

1. Luoshuidong Lake落水洞湖

It is the first leg of the Puzhehei tour. Stretching 10 km from south to north, it is the deepest lake in the scenic area with an average depth of 4 meters, and the deepest point is 30 meters. Tourists can hear the Zhuang girls singing their love songs while sailing along with the current on the crystal water. The Yi, Sani and Miao live a peaceful life here.

2. Puzhehei Lake普者黑湖

Puzhehei Lake is a plateau freshwater lake, also known as Lantern Lake. Puzhehei is the transliteration of Yi language, meaning "a pond is full of fish and shrimp." Local people also call it Pearl Lake. Lake is clear, in summer, boating in the lake, you can see 10,000 mu of lotus blooming, the scenery is amazing.

3. Qinglong Mountain青龙山

Qinglong Mountain is located in the central part of Puerhei Lake, the main peak is 1555.8 meters above sea level, opposite to Phoenix Mountain in the south, forming the pattern of "Dragon and Phoenix". There are 8 karst caves including torch cave, moon cave, Zhangju stone cave and so on. Cave entrance is connected with lake, exceptionally mysterious. Standing on Qinglong Mountain, overlooking the full view of Puzhehei, Qinglong mountain top is also the best place to watch sunrise and sunset.

4. Swan Lake天鹅湖

Puzhehei Swan Lake is an ecotype lake, composing of karst solitary peak group, lake group, karst cave group and wetland ecological group. The wetland organism in the lake area is extremely rich, and there are more then 100 species and 10000 migratory birds, like wild geese, swans, herons, egrets and so on. Since October 1, 2013, Puzhehei Swan Lake has been open to tourists for four times a day. Visitors can choose to walk or ride in battery cars and battery boats to roam the lake area, watch the view of all birds fly together, as well as feel the harmony between people and nature, human beings and animals.

How to Get there 

You have three ways to get to Puzhehei, bus, train and airplane.

1. By Bus

Departing from Kunming, you should travel to Qiubei County by long-distance bus first. And then, you can take the bus from Qiubei Bus Terminal to Puzhehei. Time is 8:00-17:30 every day, the bus runs every 30 minutes, and the fare is 2 yuan. Qiubei County to Puzhehei Scenic Area is 13 kilometers.

Kunming East Bus Station-Qiubei Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 7:20-20:10

Price: 117 CNY

Distance: 330 kilometers

Consume Time: 4.5 hours

2. By Train

There are trains from Kunming South Station to Puzhehei Station. The ticket price is about 75 yuan, and you will spend 1 hour and 15 minutes on train.

3. By air

You can fly from Kunming to Wenshan Puzhehei Airport first and then take a taxi to the scenic spot. There are daily flights, and the travel time is 50 minutes. It is 80 kilometers from Puzhehei airport to Puzhehei Scenic Area, and The taxi fare is expensive. Therefore, this way is not recommended.

Accommodation in Puzhehei Scenic Area

 There are hotels and hostels in Puzhehei Scenic Area. Accommodation in Puzhehei is convenient.

1. Guyue Lakeview Inn 普者黑沽月精品湖景客栈

Address: Puzhehei Village, Qiubei County, Wenshan Prefecture文山壮族苗族自治州丘北县普者黑村

Tel: 0876-4673288

Starting Price: 270 CNY

2. Pu Zhe Hei Time inn普者黑拾间里精品民俗

Address: No.61, Xianrendong Cave, Qiubei County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州丘北县仙人洞村61号

Tel: 18388665105

Starting Price: 368 CNY

3. Ya Bei Boutique Hotel普者黑雅贝精舍酒店

Address: Close to Lover Bridge, Puzhehei Scenic Area, Qiubei County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州丘北县普者黑风景区情人桥旁

Tel: 0876-4897998

Starting Price: 298 CNY

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Puzhehei Scenic Area is from May to October, and especially in July and August. May to October is on season. At that time, the lotus flowers are in full blossom. And the local "Painted Face Festival(Hualian Festival)", the local busiest and happiest festival, usually celebrates around July 18, lasting for about one month.

Useful Travel Tips

1. In summer, the most joyful thing in Puzhehei is to fight a water war. If you like photography, you'd better prepare a waterproof cover for your camera.

2. In highland area, temperature difference is large between daytime and night, you must bring sun cream, sunhat, sun glasses, umbrella, coats and some medicines that protect from heatstroke.

3. Local food is kind of salty and spicy, people who like light food may not like to eat, but try it. Chili is also one of the specialties in Qiubei county.

4. The local torch festival is around the 6th lunar month and Hualian festival(Painted Face Festival) is about the 2nd lunar month. If you travel in Puzhehei during the festival, you will have a chance to experience the festival party.

5. It is free of charge to enter the Puzhehei Village. Ticket package price is 200, including a round trip boat ticket, Moon Cave, Xianrendong Cave, Torch Cave and Guanyin Cave. If you just want to visit the Karst caves, Guanyin cave is 15 yuan, Moon cave and Torch cave are 20 yuan respectively, Xianrendong cave is 20 yuan(The boat charge in the caves is included).

Tour Including Puzhehei Scenic Area

6 Days Yunnan Ancient Villages Tour with Puzhehei Scenic Area and Bamei Xanadu Village

3 Days Puzhehei Lotus Flowers Tour and Bamei Xanadu Discovery By Speed Train(June,July,August)

3 Days Yi Ethnic Minority’s Hualian Festival Tour Held in Puzhehei

8 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Karst Landform Tour and Ethnic Minorities Discovery