[2025 Yulong ] Travel Guide for Baishuitai (Updated Jan)

🏨 Baishuitai A beautiful and little-known place. 🌟Highlights: A natural wonder formed over thousands of years, the white calcified pools are stacked layer upon layer, like a waterfall. In the sunlight, the clear water shimmers and shines, appearing blue or green. Known as the "Fields of the Immortals", this place is like a fairyland, and you'll be amazed by the wonders of nature. It's best to visit on a sunny morning or evening! 📍Address: Baishuitai is located between Shangri-La and Tiger Leaping Gorge, about 2 hours' drive from Shangri-La. The roads are good, so it's best to drive or carpool. 🚉Transport: Navigate to Baishuitai Scenic Area. There are several buses from Lijiang to Baishuitai every day. 💰Average cost: Tickets are CNY 30 per person. Entry closes at 16:30. 🅿️Parking is CNY 5 per time, no time limit. ⏳Time needed: About 2 hours. The route is circular, so you won't have to backtrack. Take photos of the beautiful scenery. 📝Tips: There are stairs in the scenic area, which take about 15–20 minutes to climb. You can ride a horse when you first enter the scenic area, but be sure to haggle (CNY 50 per person is possible) and confirm whether the horse will take you to the top of the mountain to avoid being charged extra halfway.

Baishuitai (or the White Water Terraces) are definitely one of my most memorable views of the year. The bright blue water, the naturally unique rock forms, and the gorgeous mountain backgrounds. The views here are truly unbelievable, making Baishuitai a Yunnan Province must visit! Here are a few tips if you’re planning a trip here too: When you get to the entrance you’re going to be surrounded by locals trying to sell you a 100 yuan horse ride to the top of the scenic area. I tried to say no but they were very insistent… and in the end I enjoyed the short ride! But if you’re definitely not interested, make sure you stick your ground, clearly say no, and keep walking!! Getting to Baishuitai was hard to figure out at first. But there’s a bus that goes from Shangri-La bus station to Baishuitai every morning, and then goes back in the afternoon (around 2pm for me). You can buy the first ticket in advance at the bus station, and then just pay through QR codes on the way back. But make sure that in the morning you ask the driver what time he will be driving back, because they won’t wait for you! #2024mapped