Three Parallel River Adventure

The Three Parallel Rivers Region of southwest China's Yunnan Province was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural property at the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held on July 2, 2003.

Originating in the Tanggula Mountain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Jinsha-Yangtze River, Lancang-Mekong River and Nu-Salween River flow parallel along the Hengduan Mountains for several hundred kilometers. It is a very rare phenomenon that the shortest distance between the Lancang River and Jinsha River is only 66 kilometers and between the Lancang River and Nu River the distance is less than 19 kilometers. Interestingly, their entrances to different seas are thousands of kilometers away.

This protected area covers Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Lijiang District. The Three Parallel Rivers have spectacular scenery that is composed of the rivers, mountains, rare plants, animals and 16 ethnic groups inhabitation.