With terrain ranging from tropical rainforest to snow-capped peaks and people from Thai to Tibetan, Yunnan is the most varied of China's provinces and is one of the most alluring destinations in the entire country.

It is also the sixth-largest province and home to a third of China's ethnic minorities (nearly50%). There are 55 minorities in China, 25 of them live in Yunnan and the province also boasts half of China's plants and animal species. Yunnan is also well known for its year-round mild climate and the word "Yunnan" actually means "South of the Clouds". There are numerous excellent areas for bird watching in Yunnan.

Migratory birds have to pass by Wei Mountain, Nan Jian and Lijiang when they migrate. The terrain is largely mountainous, especially in the north and west. A series of high mountain chains spreads across the province. There is a distinct canyon region to the west and a plateau region to the east. 

When birds migrate from the north, there is no barrier because they pass by plain areas. While when they come to Yunnan; many of them can’t fly over mountains so they can only migrate along the canyon. Birds fly low during the night, and it looks spectacular when large numbers of birds gather together. This scene can be observed from more than 40places in Yunnan, such as the Niaodiao Mountain in Eryuan, Dali; Niaodao Xiongguan inWei Mountain; Dazhong Mountain in Nanhua County and Fenghuang Mountain in NanJian.

In the winter, enthusiastic birdwatchers come to the Lashi Lake to watch birds. There are more than 100,000 birds of more than 100 species in the Lijiang Lashi Lake Bird Sanctuary. You can see 1/10 of the world black-necked cranes in the Zhaotong Dabaoshan Black-necked Cranes Reserve.