A paradise undisturbed by the outside world - Shangri-La Bottomless Lake

Number of days: 1 day
Time: October
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2024.02.10

I'm constantly bothered by trivial matters every day, and suddenly for a moment I want to empty my mind and go on a spontaneous trip. If you have this idea, come, come to the Bottomless Lake in Langdu Village, Geza Township, Shangri-La, where you can imagine freely, walk freely, and fly freely like a bird.

In late October 2023, I suddenly wanted to go hiking and get closer to nature. Coincidentally, my best friend had the same idea, so we decided to go to the Bottomless Lake.

The weather in Shangri-La in October began to get cooler, and we all put on fleece-lined warm clothes. Around 8:30 in the morning, we gathered and went to the supermarket and the vegetable market to buy some food and drinks, then stepped on the accelerator and set off for the Bottomless Lake.

The road to the Bottomless Lake is a bit difficult to navigate, and a car with a higher chassis would probably be easier to drive. There are some landslides along the way, two of which are quite serious. There are no guardrails on the side, and the steepness is very obvious at a glance. I'm afraid of heights, so the sight of it made my hair stand on end. Fortunately, our driver was familiar with the road conditions, so the journey was relatively smooth. I recommend that those who want to go either take a high-rise car or find a driver who is familiar with the road conditions, which is safer.

The journey is about 96 kilometers, and there is no highway. It took about two hours to get there. I didn't eat a good breakfast and felt a little carsick, so I was delayed a little.

There is still some distance from the gate of the Bottomless Lake to the inner part of the scenic area, but you can drive in. Because my brother was from the same village, we got a great deal and were able to leave our belongings at his ranch house. When it was time, we put our food down, rested briefly, and refueled, then grabbed a few bottles of water and started wandering around. Bottomless Lake is divided into six areas: Bottomless Lake, Worry-Free Tree, Ranch, Groundhog Paradise, Worry-Free Coffee, and Tent Camp. We didn't go to Worry-Free Coffee, and I'm not sure if we even made it to Groundhog Paradise, as we were just wandering around, so I'm not sure. We basically hit all the other areas, and it felt pretty good.

Bottomless Lake, like a turquoise bead, is nestled in the heart of a mountainous landscape. Other attractions are scattered around it. In front is a large meadow where you can bring your own tent for camping. To the left is a primeval forest; to the right is a pasture area; and behind is a region of worry-free trees. When we first entered Bottomless Lake, it felt as if it burst into our eyes. It was so beautiful and breathtaking. My brother said that now isn't the most beautiful season yet; it's even more beautiful in summer. However, every season has its own unique attractions, and we're incredibly satisfied with what we've seen so far. The tent camp is in front of the lake, on a large lawn. You can bring your own tent and stay for a night for a small fee. There's also a tent hotel nearby, but I heard it's a bit pricey, with different tents offering different prices. We just glanced at it from a distance and passed by. The Worry-Free Tree is a large, round tree. I imagine it's at its most beautiful in summer or early autumn, when it's covered in green or red leaves. Wearing ethereal Hanfu (Chinese traditional clothing) and taking a photo next to the Worry-Free Tree would be quite stunning.

There were many yaks and Tibetan pigs grazing on the pasture, all untethered. They wouldn't attack unless you were particularly adventurous. What was quite amusing was that when we were taking pictures, a few of the yaks were particularly polite, giving us a full face and looking intently at the camera.

We circled along the lake and reached the primeval forest on the opposite side. The vegetation here is lush, and the trees must be very old and thick, some covered in moss. The shapes of the trees vary, some straight, others twisting and turning. It's recommended to walk slowly here, as you might feel unwell, as this is a plateau. After a long walk, we returned to where we'd left our belongings, only to find that the pigs and cows had completely eaten them, leaving nothing behind. We were both amused and angry, so we packed up and headed home. There's also accommodation below the Bottomless Lake Scenic Area. Surrounded by a stream, the wooden houses are very comfortable and worth a visit if you have more time. There's a restaurant next to the accommodation, and the proprietress is a local, very talkative and friendly. Because we were in a hurry to get back to the city for dinner, we didn't eat there. We just poured a few glasses of water and left.

This trip to Bottomless Lake was absolutely worth it. I saw the pristine natural scenery, relaxed myself, and cleared my mind. It's worth staying here for a few days to slowly appreciate the scenery and savor life. If you can, you can bring a tent and hiking equipment, stay by the lake at night, and hike in the nearby mountains during the day. There are many other beautiful lakes like this one. However, be careful when entering the mountains; I've heard that bears are a problem.