Pianma Border Port in Lushui County, Nujiang

Attraction Overview

Pianma is the only one provincial-level port in Nujiang Prefecture, Northwest Yunnan. It’s situated in the west part of Gaoligong Mt. Natural Reserve.

Attraction Type: Border Port

Chinese Name: 片马口岸(Pinyin: Pianma Kouan)

Best Time to Visit: All-year-round

Open Hours: All Day

Admission Fee: Free

Highest Altitude: 1897 meters

Location: Pianma Town of Lushui County in Nujiang, Yunnan

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The Piemar Border Port (片马口岸) is located in the western slope of the Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve (高黎贡山国家级自然保护区) in Lushui County (泸水县), Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省). It borders Myanmar (缅甸) to the south, west, and north, and is the only provincial-level open border port in Nujiang Prefecture. The port has become an important gateway for Yunnan Province‘s opening to the outside world, with significant potential in resource development, processing, and trade.

Location and Climate

Geographical Area: The port covers a total area of 153 square kilometers.

Altitude: Situated at an altitude of 1,897 meters.

Climate: The region has a temperate rainforest climate, typical for this area of the western slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains.

Distance: Located 736 kilometers from the provincial capital Kunming (昆明), the port serves as a shortcut for access to Myanmar, India, and other Southeast Asian countries, significantly shortening the travel distance by 1,800 nautical miles compared to routes through Kunming, Zhanjiang, or Guangzhou.

Strategic Importance

Piemar serves as a crucial economic gateway for Nujiang Prefecture and plays a pivotal role in Yunnan Province‘s broader strategy of international trade and cross-border cooperation. It facilitates trade between China and Myanmar, with Piemar Town (片马镇) being the focal point for this dynamic border interaction.

Access to Southeast Asia: From Piemar, the journey to Myitkyina (密支那) in Myanmar is approximately 220 kilometers, with further access to Southeast Asian countries and Europe, making it an important trade route for the region.

Key Economic Development: The port is rapidly developing into a multi-functional, comprehensive border port, focusing on resource development, trade, and processing.

Economic Development

Core Functions: The port is becoming a key hub for resource extraction, product processing, and import/export trade. As one of the most vital economic assets in Nujiang Prefecture, it plays an essential role in regional economic growth.

Cross-Border Trade: The port’s development supports the growth of trade between China and Myanmar, and further with Southeast Asia, positioning Piemar as a crucial international trade gateway.

I. Strategic Location & Geography

🛰️ Border Significance

Located on the western slopes of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve in Pianma Town, Lushui City, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Pianma is Yunnan’s only provincial-level land port to Myanmar, sharing 64.44 km of international border on its south, west, and north with the neighboring country.

Since ancient times, it has served as a vital gateway from northwest Yunnan into Myanmar, historically described as “the throat to Myanmar and Tibet.” As early as the Tang Dynasty, civilian trade routes passed through this area.

🏔️ Natural Terrain & Access

Elevation: Ranges from 1,800 to 3,200 meters

Travelers must traverse the Gaoligongshan Fengxue Pass (3,200m)

Approximate 2.5-hour drive from Liuku town; 4×4 vehicles recommended for certain segments

II. Historical Layers: From Trade Hub to Battlefield

🐎 Ancient Border Trade

Salt-Horse Route (Yunlong–Liuku–Pianma–Myanmar)
Emerging in the late Ming to early Qing dynasties, this caravan trail carried salt from inland China to northern Myanmar. The route was once referred to as “Shangyangjiao”, marking its prominence in cross-border trade.

Administrative History:

Tang Dynasty: Under the Nanzhao Kingdom

Ming Dynasty: Designated as Chashan Chiefdom

Late Qing: Temporarily occupied by British and Japanese forces

1961: Officially returned to Chinese sovereignty

✈️ Wartime Legacy

Hump Air Route Relics
During WWII, Pianma became a pivotal stop on the infamous “Hump Route,” known as the “Sky Death Line.”

Visit the C-53 Crash Site Memorial Hall, dedicated to the nearly 2,000 Allied pilots who perished flying over the Himalayas.

III. Modern Border Port Functions

🔁 Cross-Border Trade

Imports: Burmese timber, hollow bamboo

Exports: Chemical products, mining equipment, daily necessities

In 2023, the Mutual Trade Service Center was launched, streamlining customs procedures.

• Peak single-day trade volume exceeded 100 million RMB

• Total import/export volume reached 616 million RMB as of Sept 2023

🛂 Public Services

Legal aid stations offer guidance on immigration laws

Local officers assist villagers with farming tasks (e.g., plum harvesting) and job placement — strengthening community-police ties

IV. Cultural Tourism & Heritage

📍 Must-Visit Sites

Hump Route Memorial Hall: Exhibits the remains of a C-53 aircraft and detailed war archives

Anti-British Battle Site: Commemorates local resistance during colonial incursions

🌏 Cross-Border Ethnic Culture

Pianma Town:

• Permanent residents: ~1,740

• Floating population: Over 20,000

Cultural mix of Lisu, Jingpo (Tea Mountain branch), and Burmese influences creates a uniquely transnational community

V. Traveler Essentials

⚠️ Policy & Outlook

Since the full reopening in 2023, cross-border trade has surged. Future plans include resource processing zones and integrated cross-border tourism initiatives.

💡 A place where caravan bells once echoed through salt trails, now humming with diesel engines and customs flows—Pianma remains a vital artery connecting Yunnan to Myanmar, past to present.