China Eco Lodges – In The Red Dragon

Embark on a sustainable adventure with China Eco Lodges, where ancient culture meets breathtaking natural beauty! China offers ecotourists a diverse and unforgettable experience. Visit the misty mountains of Yunnan and the bamboo forests of Sichuan. Or the remote grasslands of Inner Mongolia! Stay in eco-friendly lodges that embrace local traditions while protecting fragile ecosystems. China eco lodges provide the perfect base for conscious, nature-loving travelers. You can spot pandas, hike sacred peaks, or explore rural villages.

China Eco Lodges and Resorts

Find your China Eco Lodge here:

To visit all China lodging and tours

Ecotourism in China

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.

Flora and Fauna in China

Flora
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.

Fauna
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.

Top Ecotourism Destinations in China

Here are some of the best places for ecotourism:

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.

Tibetan Plateau & 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.

Mount Emei, Sichuan
• Buddhist pilgrimage route, hot springs, biodiversity.
• Sustainable accommodation and hiking.

Suggestion for a 2-week Sustainable Itinerary in China

Below is an itinerary that combines nature, culture and sustainability. Start in the south (milder climate, tropical forests), end in the middle of China:

Week 1 – Yunnan and Tibetan influences. Fly into Bejing
Day 1-3: Kunming and Stone Forest
• Arrive in 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

Tips for sustainable travel in China

Choose the high-speed train over flying where possible – super fast, reliable, and low carbon.
Use WeChat or Alipay for paperless payments and access to public transport.
Visit our China lodging and tours.
Check out our 40+ Sustainable travel tips.

Ecological threats 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.

Chinese Government 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.
•  National Park system in development
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.

Examples of Small-scale Nature Conservation Projects

Zharu Valley Ecotourism Project, 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, 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
Where: projects in Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan.
Focus: forest restoration, protection of endangered species, and collaboration with local farmers.

Yunnan 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.

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. For American citizens, this is the China page