Napa Sea(Yila Prairie) Review

Napa Sea, Shangri-La, Diqing, Yunnan. Located in an important location in the bird migration channel of Hengduan Mountain. Two of the eight world-recognized bird migration routes pass through here. Special geographical location and seasonal characteristics, become an important bird station in the Hengduan Mountain, where about 370 species of birds live and breed.

Napa Sea is located 8 kilometers northwest of Shangri-La, at an altitude of 3266 meters. Chinese meaning "the lake behind the forest" is surrounded by three snow-capped mountains of Shika, Yeka and Xinyala, and is connected with the Yila grassland. It is the largest meadow in Shangri-La. The scenery is the best in June and July!

The Napa Sea around the lake is free, and the scenery along the way is very good. Although there is no green grass in winter, the blue sky and white clouds are also beautiful on the lake. Many water birds and seagulls live in harmony with nature. There is no experience of riding yak and cuddling sheep and taking pictures, so I am not interested in this. The water level is low in winter, and there is no need to wading in the water section. All cars can pass, and it is better to open clockwise.

I rented an electric car to travel around Napa Sea in the commercial street outside the East Gate of Dukezong Ancient City. We used cycling to navigate to Huanhu Road on the Gaode map. We started to circle the lake from the west bank of Napa Sea in a clockwise direction, and returned to Shangri-La along the G214 National Road to the east bank. It took about 4 hours. Napa Sea belongs to the nature reserve located in the northwest of Shangri-La, is a scenic area with high plateau characteristics. Snow mountains, grasslands, cattle and sheep form the scenery of Saibei in the southwest. Napa Sea means "lake next to the forest" and is located 8 kilometers northwest of Shangri-La County. The Napa Sea is a plateau lake with many rare birds inhabiting it, the most famous of which is the national group of protected animal black-necked cranes, and from September to March of the leap year, a large number of birds can be seen hovering on the water. Napa Sea is also the largest grassland in Shangri-La. In spring, green grass and mountains are beautiful. In autumn, the grassland is golden. It is a good time for photography. On the eastern bank of Napa Sea, you can see Songzanlin Temple from a distance. Special reminder: Napa Sea is a seasonal lake marsh on the plateau. In summer, the lake is enlarged and the water depth is deep. Autumn and winter, the lake falls. There are many places around the Napa Sea to ride horses, about 40 kilometers around the lake, and you can also take the 12 bus around the lake. The bus route is similar to our route of riding an electric car.

[View] OK, quite big lake. [Fun] There are birds, very good. [Cost-effective] OK.