Yele Lake, Liangshan, Sichuan | A Little Hokkaido Under the Snowy Mountains

In the north of Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, there is a place called Yele Township, where a hidden paradise called Yele Lake is located. This lake is also known as Yele Reservoir, located on a plateau at an altitude of over 2,600 meters, offering the magnificent scenery of a plateau lake. What's more, it is located in a remote area inhabited by the Yi people of the Daliang Mountains, with few tourists visiting, allowing it to retain its almost pristine natural appearance. Yele Lake showcases different beauty throughout the year. The lake water changes color with the seasons, sometimes deep blue, sometimes emerald green. Surrounded by primeval forests, the snowy mountains are reflected in the lake, creating a stunning picture. Especially from June to September, the lake is azure, rhododendrons and wildflowers bloom on the meadows, and cattle and sheep graze peacefully in the waist-deep grass, creating a paradise-like scene. Yele Lake is located in the Yele Nature Reserve, a provincial nature reserve with a maximum altitude of 5,299 meters and a minimum altitude of 2,600 meters. 📸【Best Photo Spots】 👉By the lake: Stand by the lake, with the lake and distant snowy mountains as the background, and every shot is a masterpiece📷. In the early morning, the lake is shrouded in mist, like a fairyland, making it even more beautiful for photography😜. 👉Grassland: There are vast grasslands around Yele Lake, where cattle and sheep graze leisurely🐑🐄. Taking photos here captures the natural and rustic grassland scenery. 🚗【Transportation Guide】 🚙Self-driving: Depart from Chengdu, drive along the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway (Ya'an-Xichang section) for about 30 km, and reach Yele Lake in about 4 hours. After the expressway, you need to drive a section of mountain road, but the road conditions are good, just drive carefully😉. 🚌Public transportation: First take a train or plane to Chengdu, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Mianning County, and finally hire a local car to Yele Lake🚕. 🏠【Accommodation】 1. Lakeside boutique homestay: Enjoy the charm of the lake up close💃. 2. Camping: Yele Lake has designated camping sites, such as the lawn or terrace of Sujiumuga Family Farm. Camping on the lawn brings you closer to nature, but be mindful of moisture; the terrace offers better shade and is closer to restrooms and water points, but is slightly farther from the lake🤔. 🍲【Food Recommendations】 1. Yi-style Tuotuo Pork🥩: A specialty of the Yi people, made with local pork, cut into large pieces, marinated with unique seasonings, and then stewed. The meat is tender, rich in flavor, fatty but not greasy, leaving a lasting impression with every bite😋. 2. Yi-style Sauerkraut Fish🐟: Fresh lake fish paired with unique Yi-style sauerkraut, resulting in a tangy and spicy fish soup with tender and smooth fish, very appetizing😜. 3. Buckwheat Pancakes: Made with buckwheat flour, crispy texture, with a subtle buckwheat aroma, can be served as a main dish or snack😉. 4. Butter Tea☕: A Tibetan specialty made with butter, tea leaves, salt, and other ingredients. A sip fills your mouth with a milky aroma, providing energy and warmth against the plateau cold🥰. 5. Liangshan Flame Roasted Miniature Pig🐷: A unique small pig breed in the Liangshan area, with tender meat. The miniature pig is marinated and then roasted over charcoal or open flame until golden and crispy, served with chili, cumin, onions, and other seasonings, offering a rich and aromatic taste😍. 💕【Travel Tips】 1. Yele Lake is located in a high-altitude area with significant temperature differences between day and night, so be sure to bring enough warm clothing🧥. 2. Take sun protection measures, as the ultraviolet rays are stronger at high altitudes, to avoid sunburn🌞. Yele Lake, this mysterious and beautiful place, awaits your exploration💖!