China Eco Lodges – In The Red Dragon
Embark on a sustainable adventure with China Eco Lodges. This is where ancient culture meets breathtaking natural beauty! Visit the misty mountains of Yunnan, the bamboo forests of Sichuan, or the remote grasslands of Inner Mongolia! China eco lodges provide the perfect base for conscious, nature-loving travelers. You can spot pandas, hike sacred peaks, or explore rural villages.
China Ecolodges And Resorts
Great wall of China
China Ecotourism
China’s concept of “eco-civilization”, promoted since 2007, means building a society where economic growth, social progress, and environmental protection are balanced. It emphasizes sustainable development, pollution control, conservation of resources, and harmony between humans and nature as a core part of modernization.
It is presented as a system change in:
• energy use.
• urban development.
• agriculture and forestry.
• industry.
• law and governance.
Popular ecotourism regions include:
• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan.
• Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Sichuan.
• Mount Wuyi, Fujian.
• Changbai Mountains, Jilin.
Eco systems
• Tropical rainforests – mainly in Hainan and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, in the southern part of China.
• Mixed deciduous forests – central and eastern China.
• Alpine flora – found in high-altitude regions like in Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. These are in southwestern China.
• Desert plants – grow in arid regions like the Gobi Desert, which stretches across Mongolia and the southwest part of China, and the Taklamakan deserts in the northwest.
Tips for sustainable travel in China
Choose the high-speed train over flying where possible – super fast, reliable, and low carbon footprint.
Use WeChat or Alipay for paperless payments and access to public transport.
Check out our 40+ Sustainable travel tips.
The Best EcoTourism Destinations in China
Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Sichuan
• Waterfalls, forests and colorful limestone formations.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to endangered species such as the panda.
Wuyishan National Park, Fujian
• UNESCO site, tea plantations, biodiverse forest.
• Biosphere reserve with tea plantations, rare plants and wildlife. Caves, peaks and a mystical river.
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
• Tropical rainforest, elephant reserves.
• Botanical gardens and ecovillages.
China Map
Mount Emei, Sichuan
• Buddhist pilgrimage route, hot springs, biodiversity.
• Sustainable accommodation and hiking.
Tibetan Plateau and Nyingchi, Tibet
• Snow mountains, alpine lakes, yaks, nomadic culture.
• Ecovillages and community-based tourism in remote valleys.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan
• Famous for its karst formations, dense forests, deep ravines, and deep canyons.
• Well-organized ecotourism with cable cars, eco-friendly transportation.
Sanjiangyuan National Park, Qinghai
• Source area of three major rivers (Yangtze, Yellow River, Mekong).
• Snow leopards, gazelles and Tibetan culture.
Suggestions for a 2 week Sustainable Itinerary in China
Week 1 — Yunnan and Tibetan influences.
Day 1-3: Kunming and Stone Forest
• Fly into Bejing and continue to Kunming (the “city of spring”). From Beijing it is a 3.5-hour flight. By train it takes between 10 and 15 hours.
• Visit the Stone Forest (UNESCO), and botanical gardens.
Day 4-6: Xishuangbanna
• Fly or take the train to Jinghong.
• Tropical rainforest, visit the elephant reserve and Dai villages.
Day 7: Lijiang
• Historic town, UNESCO site.
• Hike in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Week 2 – Sichuan and Zhangjiajie
Day 8-10: Jiuzhaigou National Park
• Fly to Chengdu. A high-speed rail line now connects Chengdu to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station, the closest station to Jiuzhaigou.
• Hiking, and lakes.
• Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (a panda sanctuary).
Day 11-13: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Travel via Chengdu or Chongqing.
• Explore the Avatar Mountains, Glass Bridge, and national parks.
Day 14: Return to Beijing/Shanghai for departure
Mount Everest- Jiuzhaigou Sichuan
- Pond Huanglong Sichuan
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Flora and Fauna in China
Flora – What Grows In China?
Important plant species are:
• Bamboo – vital for the giant panda, among others. Many species of bamboo are only found in China.
• Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) – national tree.
• Ginkgo biloba – a “living fossil” that originated in China.
• Rhododendrons – an unparalleled variety grows in the southwest.
• Medicinal plants – traditional Chinese Medicine relies heavily on a wide variety of medicinal plants. For example, ginseng, astragalus, and reishi mushrooms.
Panda
Rhododendron
Tiger
Ginkgo
Red Panda
Pine tree
Rhesus macaques in Zhangjiajie
Medicinal Mushroom
Golden snub-nosed monkey
Fauna – What Animals Can You See In China?
China is home to some endemic species, including:
• Giant panda – still in the wild in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu; protected in panda reserves such as Wolong.
• Golden snub-nosed monkey – lives in cold highland forests.
• Amoy tiger (South China tiger) – critically endangered, almost extinct in the wild.
• Chinese river dolphin in Baiji – possibly extinct; symbol of conservation in the Yangtze.
• Endangered birds such as the Red Crowned Crane.
Small-Scale Nature Conservation Projects
Zharu Valley Ecotourism Project
Location: Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan
What: community-based ecotourism set up with the help of NGOs and local Tibetans.
Goal: biodiversity conservation, cultural exchange and sustainable income for local families.
Shanshui Conservation Center
Location: Qinghai and Sichuan
What: NGO focused on the protection of the snow leopard and ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau.
Center’s Activities: camera trapping, local education, research and community conservation.
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden China Projects
Location: projects in Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan.
Focus: forest restoration, protection of endangered species, and collaboration with local farmers.
Yunnan Gplden Monkey/Snub-Nosed Monkey Project
What: conservation project for the critically endangered golden snub-nosed monkey in northwestern Yunnan.
Collaboration: involving local communities in monitoring, tourism and reforestation.
Environmental Challenges in China
- Loss of biodiversity
Large-scale agriculture, deforestation, urbanization and dams (such as the Three Gorges Dam). These are the reasons that the habitats of pandas, sturgeons, amphibians and birds are disappearing. - Air and water pollution
Rural areas still suffer from heavy pollution from industry, mining and agriculture. This has improved a bit in the big cities. - Climate change and desertification
In northern China, the Gobi Desert is advancing. The consequences of climate change are felt in vulnerable mountain and highland ecosystems. - Tourism pressure on vulnerable areas
Mass tourism around parks such as Zhangjiajie, the Great Wall and Guilin leads to erosion. Mass tourism also creates waste problems and disruption of ecosystems.
- Buddha temple
- Great wall of China
Chinese Policy on Ecotourism and Sustainability
China has made clear steps towards sustainable tourism:
• National Ecotourism Development Plan (2016–2025)
Aimed at developing ecotourism zones with emphasis on nature conservation, poverty alleviation and education.
• Ecological Red Line Policy
A system in which areas of high ecological value are given strict protection against urbanization and pollution. More specific info on conservation efforts of the Chinese government.
• Since 2015, China has started to set up a national park system. Among others, Sanjiangyuan, Giant Panda National Park and Hainan Tropical Rainforest are included.
• Investment in eco-infrastructure
Investments such as eco-friendly trains, solar energy and waste management in nature reserves.
However, implementation in practice remains variable. This is mainly due to tensions between economic growth and nature conservation.
China Eco Lodges and Travel Safety
Check in advance what the safety situation is in China and in the areas you plan to visit. You can consult your country’s official government website. The Canadian Government has a listing with Travel Advisories in China.
IMAGE CREDITS > Siguniang mountain, Yaomeifeng. Image by lin2015 from Pixabay. > Huanglong Park, Sichuan. Image by Kounosu (no link to author page). Wikimedia C. C. 3.0. > Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Image by xiquinhosilva. Wikimedia C. C. 2.0 > Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan. Image by h87010511 from Pixabay. > Panda, Bamboo. Image by Maryse Rebaudo from Pixabay. > Rhododendron. Image by Ralph from Pixabay. > Tiger. Image by Alexa from Pixabay. > Ginkgo in autumn. Image by Claudia from Pixabay,> Little red panda. Image by Andrea Bohl from Pixabay. >Pine Tree. (Pinus tabuliformis). Image by Shang Ning. Wikimedia C. C. 2.0 > Zhangjiajie National Park. Wild Monkeys. Image by xiquinhosilva. Wikimedia C. C. 2.0. > Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum). Image by Nina Filippova. Wikimedia C.C. 4.0. > Golden snub-nosed monkey. Image by Dinkun Chen. Wikimedia C.C. 4.0. > Temple of Dai (Theravada) Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Image by Evan Guerra. > Great wall of china, Beijing. Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay. > Great wall of China. Image by Andreas Schneemayer from Pixabay.
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