Swan Lake in Puzhehei, Wenshan
Attraction Overview
Swan Lake is located in the Puzhehei Karst National Wetland Park(Puzhehei Scenic Area). It is the most representative karst wetland migratory bird habitat in the southwest of China. The integration of wetland and mountains forms unique natural landscape and a special karst lake wetland ecosystem, presenting the plateau water countryside scene of "the water and sky merge in one color" and "Ten thousand birds gather together".
Chinese Name: 普者黑天鹅湖
English Name: Swan Lake in Puzhehei, Wenshan
Type: Lake and Landscape
Best Time: May to October, especially in July and August
Recommended Visiting Hours: 1-3 hours
Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30
Ticket: 80 CNY
Address: Puzhehei Scenic Area, Puzhehei Village, Qiubei County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州丘北县普者黑村普者黑景区
Why is Swan Lake in Puzhehei So Special?
Puzhehei Swan Lake is an ecotype lake, composing of karst solitary peak group, lake group, karst cave group and wetland ecological group, located in Puzhehei national scenic area and national AAAA level tourist attractions. 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. 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.
Features of Swan Lake
Since October 1, 2013, Puzhehei Swan Lake of Qiubei County has been officially open to tourists, the time for migratory birds to fly is 8: 30, 11: 00, 14: 00, 16: 00. Visitors can watch the view of all birds fly together.
There are tourist recreation area, viewing pavilion, photography platform, bird feeding area, popular science propaganda column, battery car waiting station and other facilities in Swan Lake, which can provide visitors with a lot of services, such as garden tour, leisure and popular science study and so on.
Swan Lake, located in Puzhehei Scenic Area, is the most representative karst wetland migratory birds habitat in the southwest of China. The integration of wetland and mountains forms a unique natural landscape and peculiar karst lake wetland ecosystem, presenting the plateau waterside scene of “the water and sky merge in one color” and “Thousands of Birds gather and fly together”.
Nearby Attractions
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. Puzhehei
The Puzhehei Scenic Area is in Qiubei County of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, 13 kilometers away from county seat. It is a charming fairyland boasting beautiful karst landscapes, lakes and the unique cultures of the Zhuang, Miao, Yi and Bai ethnic groups.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Swan Lake in 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.
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.
Kunming Railway Station-Puzhehei Station
Departure Time: 10:36, 12:00, 12:19, 13:35, 13:52, 14:05, 14:31, 17:12, 17:42
Price: 85.5 CNY
Distance: 324 kilometers
Consume Time: About 1 hour 40 minutes
Kunming South Railway Station-Puzhehei Station
Departure Time:
Price: 75 CNY
Distance: 318 kilometers
Consume Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
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 Around Swan Lake
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
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. It is free of charge to enter the Puzhehei Village. Ticket package price is 200 yuan, including a round trip boat ticket, Moon Cave, Xianrendong Cave仙人洞, Torch Cave and Guanyin Cave. The opening hours of the Lake are from 8:00 to 17: 30, and the time for migratory birds to fly is 8: 30, 11: 00, 14: 00, 16: 00.
4. Swan lake is open for free on Sept 30 and Oct 1, and charge starts on Oct 2.
5. Try to avoid Chinese legal holidays and festivals, especially Labor’s day and National day, at that time, there are a crowd of people traveling.
