Two very rare and hard-to-see gibbons; Black-crested and Hoolock

And two very rare and hard-to-see monkeys; Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey and Phayre’s Leaf Monkey

In the most bird-rich province in China, with over 770 species recorded including nearly 40 endemics

Where the spectacular birds include the likes of Black-necked Crane, Green and Purple Cochoas, Red-tailed and White-crested Laughingthrushes, Fire-tailed Myzornis and Fire-tailed Sunbird

As well as several rarely seen pheasants and partridges

All in a beautiful part of the world, which is mainly mountainous with a famous diversity of colourful flowers

Please be aware that parks and reserves in China are subject to random and unpredictable closures.

China is a huge country, the third largest in the world, with a birdlist of over 1400 species, and there are several other great birding destinations. In southeastern China it is possible to see Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Nov-Mar, mostly November and March), Chinese Crested Tern (mostly mid-May to August) and White-faced (Swinhoe's) Plover (Apr-May at least) on the Minjiang Estuary near Fuzhou, White-eared Night Heron at Jiulianshan, Cabot’s Tragopan at Wuyishan and, especially in April, in Hong Kong, one of the best shorebird shows left on Earth, possibly including Spoon-billed Sandpiper, as well as Asian Dowitcher, Nordmann’s Greenshank and Great Knot, along with other birds such as Black-capped Kingfisher and Black-faced Spoonbill, plus ‘pink’ Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins; there are many spectacular birds in Sichuan, a province best visited in May and sometimes combined with neighbouring Tibet where it is possible to see several rare mammals and birds, notably Tibetan Wild Ass and Tibetan Sandgrouse, especially in June and July; in Central China there is a good chance of seeing Golden Snub-nosed Monkey and birds such as Crested Ibis; during the northern winter Hooded, Siberian and White-naped Cranes, as well as Oriental Stork, occur at Poyang Hu, a huge inland lake in Eastern China, with the rare Scaly-sided Merganser on the nearby Xin River; Beidaihe and Happy Island, on the northeast coast a few hours from Beijing, lie on one of the world's major bird migration routes where in spring (mostly in May) and autumn (mostly in September) it is possible to experience migration in action with falls of numerous birds; and finally if arriving in China or departing China via Beijing it may be worth visiting the nearby Bai He River for a chance of Ibisbill.

Best Wildlife in Yunnan

Mammals

A chance of Western Black-crested and Eastern Hoolock Gibbons, Phayre’s Leaf Monkey (Langur), Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, Indian, Chinese Giant, Red Giant and Spotted Giant Flying Squirrels, and Giant Black Squirrel. Also an outside chance of Red Panda (at Xia Geza, about 50 km from Shangri La, for example, and in Bingzhongluo NP in the far northwest).

Birds

The lists below are for the northern winter, especially December-January.

Specialities

Black-necked Crane, Slender-billed Oriole, Black-bibbed and Black-browed Tits, Yunnan Nuthatch, Crested Finchbill, Black-breasted and Chinese Thrushes, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Spotted Elachura (formerly Wren Babbler, now in a family of its own), Long-tailed Wren-Babbler, Rufous-tailed Babbler, Grey Sibia, Brown-winged and Pale-billed (Lesser Rufous-headed) Parrotbills, and Fire-tailed and Gould’s Sunbirds. Also a chance of Hume's, White Eared and other pheasants, several partridges, Solitary Snipe, Derbyan Parakeet, Ward's Trogon, Ruddy Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Hooded Pitta, Collared Treepie, Giant Nuthatch, Green and Purple Cochoas, White-speckled (Biet’s) Laughingthrush, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Himalayan Cutia, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler and Collared Myna, and an outside chance of Gould's Shortwing.

Others

Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Falcated Duck, Black Stork, (Eurasian) Black and Himalayan Griffon Vultures, Black and White-tailed Eagles, Common Crane, Himalayan Swiftlet, Red-headed Trogon, (Eurasian) Hoopoe, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Blue-throated, Golden-throated and Great Barbets, Greater Yellownape, Long-tailed Broadbill, Ashy Woodswallow, minivets, (Red-billed) Blue Magpie, tits, bulbuls, Chestnut-headed, Grey-bellied and Slaty-bellied Tesias, warblers including Black-faced, parrotbills, Large Niltava, forktails including Black-backed, White-tailed Robin, Himalayan Bluetail, redstarts, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, thrushes, laughingthrushes including White-crested, Red-faced Liocichla, Red-billed Leiothrix, Silver-eared Mesia, Red-tailed Minla, sibias, scimitar-babblers, Black-headed, Blyth’s (White-browed) and Green Shrike Babblers, wren-babblers, yuhinas, Golden-fronted and Orange-bellied Leafbirds, Black-throated Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, buntings, rosefinches and Plain Mountain Finch. Also a chance of Smew, Ibisbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Great, Oriental Pied and Wreathed Hornbills, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Common Green and Yellow-billed (Blue) Magpies, Wallcreeper, Maroon-backed Accentor, and Crimson-browed and Gold-naped Finches.

Plants

There are over fifteen thousand species of plants in Yunnan, including 1400 species of higher plant in the Gaoligongshan mountain range alone, a paradise for plant hunters, as famous Victorian ones like George Forrest, Frank Kingdon-Ward and Ernest Wilson found out a long time ago. Many familiar garden plants originate from this region where rhododendrons especially cover many slopes.

Other Natural Wonders in Yunnan

Jade Dragon Snow Mountains

Thirteen peaks, many with permanent snow, reminiscent of a dragon’s back, rising to 5596 m (18,360 ft) at Shanzidou.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

This scenic canyon, which may be the world’s deepest at about 2000m (6600 ft), is about 17 km (10 miles) long and just 25-30 m (80-100 ft) wide at its narrowest point, where, local legend has it a Tiger was once seen leaping across. Carved by the Jinsha (Golden) River it has some of the roughest rapids on Earth.

Best Sites for Wildlife in Yunnan

Zixishan, near Chuxiong, Kunming region A chance of Hume's Pheasant, and Giant and Yunnan Nuthatches.

Ruili, including Moli Waterfalls and Nanjingli Red-headed Trogon, Grey-bellied Tesia, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Large Niltava, Black-backed Forktail, White-tailed Robin, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla and Fire-tailed Sunbird. Also a chance of Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-breasted (Greater Rufous-headed) Parrotbill, Grey Sibia and Collared Myna.

Nabang A chance of Black-tailed Crake, Ibisbill, Grey-headed Parakeet, Ruddy Kingfisher, Blue-bearded and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, hornbills, Long-tailed Broadbill, Hooded Pitta, Collared Treepie, Green Cochoa, Sapphire Flycatcher, White-crested Laughingthrush, White-hooded Babbler, Vinous-breasted Starling and Collared Myna, and an outside chance of Grey Peacock Pheasant.

Tengchong including Laifengshan Park Slender-billed Oriole (Laifengshan Park), Black-breasted Thrush (Laifengshan Park), Red-faced Liocichla (Laifengshan Park), Brown-winged Parrotbill (Laifengshan Park). Also a chance of Mountain Bamboo Partridge and Maroon-backed Accentor.

Baihualing, Gaoligongshan tesias, Blue-winged, Red-tailed and Scaly Laughingthrushes, Black-headed and Blyth's Shrike Babblers, Spotted Elachura, Long-tailed Wren Babbler, Brown-winged Parrotbill, and Fire-tailed and Gould’s Sunbirds. Also a chance of Hume’s and Silver Pheasants, Hill and Rufous-throated Partridges, Ward's Trogon, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Purple Cochoa, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Grey Sibia, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler and Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Fire-tailed Myzornis and Himalayan Cutia, and an outside chance of Gould’s Shortwing.

Gaoligongshan NR (via Baoshan where permits must be obtained) Eastern Hoolock Gibbon, Phayre’s Leaf Monkey, Red and Spotted Giant Flying Squirrels, and Giant Black Squirrel.

Wuliangshan NR (via Jingdong where permits must be obtained from the visitor centre) Western Black-crested Gibbon, Phayre’s Leaf Monkey, and Chinese Giant and Indian Flying Squirrels.

Cangshan Mountain (via cable car, Dali) Green Shrike Babbler, Bar-winged Wren Babbler and White-collared Yuhina.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan), Lijiang Black-bibbed Tit, Yunnan Nuthatch, Giant Laughingthrush, Rufous-tailed Babbler and rosefinches. Also a chance of White Eared and Koklass Pheasants, Szechenyi's Monal Partridge, White-throated Redstart, Chinese Babax, Maroon-backed Accentor and White-winged Grosbeak, and an outside chance of White-speckled Laughingthrush.

Lashihai Bar-headed Goose, Falcated Duck and Common Crane.

Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang Brown-winged Parrotbill. Also a chance of Wallcreeper.

Shangri La (3200 m (10,500 ft) Himalayan Griffon, White-tailed Eagle and Giant Laughingthrush. Also a chance of Smew, White Eared Pheasant, Solitary Snipe, Wallcreeper, Brown-winged Parrotbill, White-throated Redstart and Pink-rumped Rosefinch.

Na Pa Hai Reserve Bar-headed Goose, Falcated Duck, Black Stork, Black Vulture, and Black-necked and Common Cranes.

Baima Snow-Mountain NNR (near Tacheng) Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey.

Best Times for Wildlife in Yunnan

The best time for birds in Yunnan is during the northern winter, especially December-January, when migrant species from further north are present, including Black-necked Crane, and late April-early May for many forest species. Because of the wide range of altitudes weather conditions during the winter are very variable, from cold and damp, including snow, to hot and sunny. High up, gloves and warm clothes are essential. Also during this time it is best not to travel during the Chinese New Year holidays which usually last two weeks at the end of January and/or beginning of February. The best time for the widest variety of flowering plants is late May through June.

Recommended Books etc. for Yunnan

Mammals of China (Pocket Edition) edited by A Smith and Y Xie. PUP, 2013.

A Guide to the Mammals of China by A Smith, Y Xie et al. PUP, 2008.

The Mammals of China by Sheng Helin et al. China Forestry Publishing House, 1999.

A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia by C M Francis. New Holland Publishers, 2008.

A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia by C Robson. New Holland Publishers, 2011 (Second Edition flexi-cover).

A Field Guide to the Birds of China by J MacKinnon and K Phillipps. OUP, 2000.

Bradt Travel Guide: Yunnan by S Mansfield. Bradt, 2007 (Second Edition).

Bradt Travel Guide: Chinese Wildlife by M Walters. Bradt, 2008.

Where to watch birds in Asia by N Wheatley. Helm, 1996.

Don’t know which country/countries/regions to visit in Asia? Then it may be worth considering taking a look at this book, written by this website’s author. It is many years old of course but it still provides a starting point, an overview and a guiding light to the best birds and the best places to look for them in the region, and could save hours of searching for similar information on the internet. However, it is important to check more up-to-date sources for sites which have been opened up, sites and species which have been discovered, lodges that have been built etc. since the book was published.

Trip Reports for Yunnan

Many trip reports, some for Yunnan, are posted on the websites listed here. On some of these websites some reports are independent and some are posted by tour companies who organize tours to Yunnan. These tour companies and others also post their own reports on their websites, which are listed under 'Some Organized Tours to Yunnan' below.

Local Guides and Tours in Yunnan

The costs of organized tours partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional skills of the local guides they employ. If you are travelling independently, employing such local guides will greatly increase your chances of seeing the wildlife you wish to see.

Some Organized Tours to Yunnan

There are many tour companies who organize tours to see mammals, birds, other wildlife and other natural wonders. The cost of these tours vary considerably according to such variables as the airlines used, the number of days the tours last, the number of sites visited, the number of people in the group (an important consideration if you wish to see such wildlife as rainforest mammals and birds), the number of tour leaders, the standard of accommodation and transport, and the percentage profit the company hopes to make. Generally, where the number of days tours last and the number of sites visited are similar, the cheapest tours are those that use the cheapest airlines, accommodation and local transport, that have the largest groups with the least number of leaders, and that make the least amount of profit. The most expensive tours tend to be those which are exceptionally long, use the most expensive accommodation (ridiculously lavish in some cases, even for single nights) and which make the most profit. Some tour costs partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional skills of the local guides they employ.

While tour companies organize tours with set itineraries many also organize custom tours for individuals and private groups who instead of taking a tour with a set itinerary want to follow their own itinerary to suit their own personal tastes, whether it be mammals, birds, other wildlife, other natural wonders or even man-made attractions, or a mixture of them all. Many organized tours with set itineraries are also fast-paced and target as many species as possible, whether they are mammals, birds or other wildlife or everything, which usually leaves little time to enjoy the best sites and individual species, but on a custom tour those taking part can specify the pace and the sites and species they wish to concentrate on. Custom tours also suit people who like to travel with people they already know, rather than with a group of strangers, and people with partners with different interests. Individuals and small groups will almost certainly have to pay more than the price of an organized tour with a set itinerary but a large group of friends may be able to travel for less than the price quoted for a set tour.

Tour companies who are running organized tours to Yunnan in the next couple of years include the following. Many of these also offer custom tours.