Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with Facebook
Helpfulness
Also, although you are extremely unlikely to come across them, the small groups of wild elephants have a reputation for being unfriendly and have attacked people recently. Do not, under any circumstances, approach elephant groups here. The tree-top viewing structures higher up, by the cabins, are the best place to observe elephants but they do not come to the stream every day.
The climate here is affected by the southwest monsoon, providing more than 1200mm of rainfall, mainly between May and October. While the distinct seasons are unusual for rainforest areas, the climate and topography in this area creates more than 100 foggy days which helps to maintain the humidity during the dry winter season.
There is an extremely diverse range of bird-life in Xishuangbanna - 40% of all China's bird species are found here - with 301 resident species and a further 100 visitors in the wetter summer months. Most of these birds can be seen at Sanchahe and there is a good, large aviary not far from the main gate (just below cable car station). In Sanchahe, there are small numbers of the endangered great hornbill.
The mammals are also impressive with black bears, tigers, clouded leopards, black gibbons, Phayre's leaf monkey and slow loris found in Xishuangbanna.
Do not be put off by the tourist facilities at the main entrance - shops, dreadful modern buildings, ugly concrete restaurants and the cabel car: this is a special reserve and there is much to see, especially if you get off the beaten track with a guide.
Written Dec 4, 2004
Address: North of Mengyang
Helpfulness
Sanchahe is visited for its wild elephants, but the whole area has fascinating rainforest ecosystems and there is actually some subtle differences around the valley.
Forget the rubbish written in most of the tour brochures and on the China tourist websites (all of which copy each other anyway).
There are three types of rainforest in the Sanchahe valley, and all three can be seen at very close range. The trail down from the top of the cabel car passes through two of them, and the third is just across the valley.
Five forest zones are found in Xishuangbanna: tropical monsoon forest, tropical montane rainforest, subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, limestone monsoon forest and riverine monsoon forest.
The latter is extremely rare because it is found on fertile ground by rivers and so has usually been cleared away long ago.
The Sanchahe valley ranges from around 500 metres to just below 1100 metres, and is primarily limestone monsoon forest, especially in the lower reaches of the valley and on the north-facing slopes. Higher up there is a gradual transition to the tropical montane forest, while the south-facing slopes have a sub-tropical evergreen broad-leaf forest, heavily invaded by bamboo. The trail passes through the montaine forest, for a very short distance, but is mainly in the evergreen forest the whole way down. There are points where you can get access into limestone forest, but do take care as this is wild country and the reserve covers almost 3 million hectares, with no inhabitants. If you get seriously lost here, you may not be found. Ever.
Written Dec 4, 2004
Address: Sanchahe 'village'
Helpfulness
A useful map showing the reserve known as Wild Elephant Valley at Sanchahe.
Note that the main entrance is the upper entrance on the road on the left hand side, but if you walk down from the top of the valley, you end up at the lower of the two entrances. There is no easy way back from one to the other, except by walking up the zig-zag road out of the car park to the main road, turn right and back along the rather narrow main road to the main entrance.
It took about twenty minutes before a bus passed by to return to Jinghong.
Written Dec 4, 2004
1 - 3 of 3
Reviews and photos of Sanchahe attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Sanchahe sightseeing.
A useful map showing the reserve known as Wild Elephant Valley at Sanchahe.Note that the main entrance is the upper entrance on the road on the left hand side,...
Our members can help!
1
Sanchahe is about 75 minutes by bus from the #2 bus station in Jinghong (Yunjinghong in VT for some reason!). The bus stops outside the main gate and the second entrance is another 500m down the road....
Build your own Sanchahe page
