Potatso National Park: A land of idyllic beauty

Shudu Lake is one of the major features of Potatso National Park, which is located in Shangri-La, southwest China's Yunnan Province. In the Tibetan language, "Shu" means cheese, and "Du" means stone. A legend has it that a long time ago, a monk arrived here and was offered cheese by the local herdsman. The monk enjoyed the cheese very much and prayed that the cheeses would remain long-lasting as the rocks, thus was the name born. Potatso National Park covers a total area of 1,300 square kilometres, and is the first national park in China. [Photo: China Plus]

Bita Lake is the highest lake in southwest China's Yunan Province. It is about 3,500 meters above the sea level. "Bita" refers to a place covered with trees in the Tibetan language. The water in the lake is crystal clear, while century-old trees grow around the lake. [Photo: China Plus]

Snow-covered mountains can be seen in Potatso National Park. [Photo: China Plus]

Horses roam freely in Potatso National Park. Besides Bita Lake and Shudu Lake, forests, valleys, alpine meadows and other natural features can also be seen in the park. [Photo: China Plus]