Puzhehei
普者黑 · Qiubei County, Wenshan, Yunnan, China
A lake-and-wetland landscape among karst peaks, where some 70 lakes are linked into about 20 km of waterways and 300 solitary peaks are mirrored in the water; in summer lotus flowers cover the surface, and you can glide among them in a traditional Yi canoe.
Know before you go
- Entering homes uninvited
- taking close-up photos of villagers without asking
- picking lotus flowers or leaves
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Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The Flower Face Festival
Around 18 July each year the Puzhehei area celebrates the Flower Face (Painted Face) Festival, when locals paint their faces, sing and dance. The festive mood lasts about a month, the liveliest time of year in the lakeside villages.
Source: Travel China Guide: Puzhehei
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Puzhehei lies in Qiubei County of the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture; its name is Yi for "a pond teeming with fish and shrimp". At its heart, Puzhehei Lake is an upland freshwater lake that locals call "Pearl Lake", and other large lakes include Luoshuidong Lake and Xianren Lake. The scenic area has more than 200 karst caves, about 80 of which can be visited; villages of the Yi, Zhuang, Miao and Yao peoples, and of the Sani, a branch of the Yi, are scattered along the shores, each keeping its own traditions.
Local customs
Take a small boat across Puzhehei Lake and Luoshuidong Lake, weave through the lotus ponds in summer, climb to the Qinglong Mountain viewing platform to look over the peaks and lakes, spend a night in a lakeside village and try Yi cooking, and catch the local Flower Face Festival in mid to late July.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Entering homes uninvited
- taking close-up photos of villagers without asking
- picking lotus flowers or leaves
Locals appreciate DO
- Respect the customs of the villages
- follow the boatman's instructions on the water
- waterproof your phone and camera
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The best time to visit is May to September, with lotus at its peak in July and August. There are no banks or ATMs in the scenic area, so bring small-denomination cash. Mornings and evenings are much cooler, so pack a jacket and rain gear. Boat and entry tickets follow the official notice.
- From Kunming it is about five hours by bus to Qiubei town, then a little over half an hour on the scenic-area bus
- you can also fly from Kunming to Wenshan Puzhehei Airport and take a taxi from there.
Photos
Photos
Nyx Ning · CC BY-SA 3.0
Nyx Ning · CC BY-SA 3.0
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