Simply Gentians - Yunnan in autumn - China

Like so many pieces of fallen sky, Yunnan's abundant gentians litter the ground in autumn, part of a surprisingly rich late season display that also includes many lovely Swertia, Cyananthus, silvery edelweiss, Delphinium and vivid pink Satyrium ciliatum orchids. The rice fields are golden and the views clear and spectacular. High screes have dainty Allium beesianum, elegant Aconitum pulchellum and Saussurea quercifolia whilst a variety of golden saxifrages decorate the rocks throughout. 

Day 1     Arrive Lijiang, Yunnan (23 September)

Day 2            Yulongxue Shan (24 September)

Our first day should see clear views of the imposing Yulongxue Shan and a chance to experience its rich autumn flora. Here we will soon find our first gentian; Gentiana primuliflora, alongside bicoloured Pedicularis alopecuros, the white balls of Pterocephalus hookeri and the blue stars of Cyananthus delavayi. Soft yellow Salvia digitaloides will still be in good flower among the pines too, mixed in with the ever-present Halenia elliptica. Heading into the hills there is deep blue Delphinium beesianum, Cyananthus incanus, limestone outcrops have the dainty lilac trumpets of crinkle-leaved Corallodiscus lanunginosus, whilst the showy yellow flowers of Impatiens delavayi burst out from fences around the neat fields. Overnight Lijiang.

Day 3          Tiger Leaping Gorge (25 September)

An early departure is necessary today to make the most of scenic route that takes us through the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge, where towering cliffs asoar up form the Yangtse River. Above the gorge are pine woods with pretty Swertia delvayi, S. patula and S. cincta, rocks plastered with deep yellow Saxifraga brachypoda before we reach the Zhongdian Plateau where the abundant Euphorbia jolkinii will be colouring an intense red and the violet starred rosettes of Saussurea stella stud the turf. Overnight Shangri-La.

Day 4          Napa Hai (26 September)

The botanic reserve at Napa Hai and areas around the city of Shangri-La have some fine displays of Gentiana veitchiorum, G. haynaldii and silvered Leontopodium caespitosum, golden-tubed Pedicularis longiflorus and spires of Delphinium grandiflorum. Overnight Shangri-La.

Day 5          Tianchi Hai (27 September)

A superbly rich area at any season, the route to this high altitude lake give us the chance to find at least 14 taxa of gentianaceae. Around the lake itself are good populations of both Gentiana sino-ornata and G. arethusae, both bearing wonderful big striped blue trumpet flowers. Comastoma traillianum lines the road there in countless thousands, carpeting the banks with pale blue flowers. Overnight Shangri-La.

Days 6 & 7         Hengduan Shan (28-29 September)

The complex of mountain ranges that converge here has created exceptional biodiversity. Roads permitting we will undertake a drive and then hike to an outstanding area with vast numbers of gentians in flower. Overnight Deqin.

Days 8         Baima Shan (30 September)

We will drive onto Benzilan and then up to the spectacular Baima Shan, where we will spend the next couple of days exploring the slopes of this diverse range. Rock type varies with granite and limestone and different species on each. Fine patches of Gentiana hexaphylla can be found with G. nanobella, whilst up on the higher turf and screes are soft-lilac bells of G. georgei. The Sorbus will be colouring an intense scarlet and firing the dark forests. Overnight Deqin.

Day 9          Baima Shan (1 October)

With luck the sunrise will have been clear and we will have seen the golden glow on Kawa Karpo, the highest peak in Yunnan (and still unclimbed). A second morning will be spent on Baima Shan to look at the granite slopes before descending and driving on to Benzilan for the night.

Day 13         Return flights (5 October)