Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

country. China

year of inscription. 2003 (modification: 2010)

criteria. Natural

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas WHS is composed of protected areas within the boundaries of the Three Parallel Rivers National Park in Yunnan province. The site covers the upper reaches of three great Asian rivers: the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong, and Salween. Here, the three rivers run almost parallel, from north to south, through a part of the Hengduan Mountains. Within the WHS are a large variety of landscapes (e.g., river gorges, forests, snow-clad mountains, glaciers, alpine karst, reddish sandstone landforms (Danxia), lakes, and meadows) as well as one the richest biodiversity in temperate regions.

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas consists of fifteen protected areas in eight geographic clusters. These areas comprise of:

• Baima-Meili Xue Shan Reserve
• Bita Lake Nature Reserve, part of Pudacuo National Park
• Three separate sections of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve
• Gongshan Scenic Area
• Haba Xueshan Nature Reserve, with the Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Hongshan Scenic Area, part of Pudacuo National Park
• Julong Lake Scenic Area
• Laojunshan Scenic Area
• Laowoshan Scenic Area
• Pianma Scenic Area
• Qianhushan Scenic Area
• Yueliangshan Scenic Area
• Yunling Nature Reserve

what. WHS visited (November, 2011)

[Canon Ixus 75, 20 November 2011]

what. postcard (China, 2013)