Tengchong

Tengchong, a county-level city located in western Yunnan province of the People’s Republic of China, has a population of around 650,000 inhabitants distributed over an area of 5,693 square kilometers (2,198 square miles) characterized by varied terrain. This city, administered by Baoshan City, is noted for its distinctive geological characteristics and cultural heritage.

Particularly interesting is the city’s geographical location, which marks the imaginary division separating China into two nearly equal sections—the southern extremity of the Heihe-Tengchong Line. Strategically important, Tengchong’s position borders Myanmar for 151 kilometers in the northwest while yet keeping links to other big cities. It sits 650 kilometers west of Baoshan’s metropolitan center and the province capital, Kunming.

Tengchong’s geography is varied and equally intriguing. The city’s skyline looks like a horseshoe, with its southerly opening. Its position at the southwest end of the transversely faulted Hengduan Mountains produces this unusual arrangement. From the highest point of Mount Danaozi in the Gaoligong Mountain range, rising at 3,780.2 meters above sea level, to the lowest point in the Suqingjiang valley at 930 meters, the region’s height fluctuates greatly. Comfortable at 1,640 meters, the administrative core of the city offers both locals and guests a mild temperature.

The great geothermal activity of Tengchong is one of its most well-known characteristics. Ten of the roughly eighty hot springs and boiling fountains in the vicinity create water at temperatures of 90°C or above. Apart from increasing the appeal of the city, this geothermal abundance offers chances for the development of sustainable energy and distinctive spa treatments for visitors.

Tengchong’s natural resources also are really remarkable. With more than 2,000 kinds of higher plants flourishing in its different environments, the city has a great richness. Comprising commercially useful and ecologically significant species such as oil tea, catalpa, common China-fir, Armandi pine, and walnut, the region’s woods offer evidence of this variety. Covering an amazing 34.6% of the city’s total size, these lush surroundings help to support local businesses as well as environmental preservation initiatives.

Of especially importance is the Gaoligong Nature Reserve, also known as a natural botanical paradise. More than 1,400 kinds of higher plants call this protected region home, including rare and medically valuable varieties. The Yunnan camellia and the R. giganteum woodland at Tagg, a unique rhododendron species, originated in the reserve as well. Renowned for their extraordinary size, rhododendron flowers on Gaoligongshan Mountain draw botanists and environment lovers from all across the world.

Tengchong’s mineral abundance adds much more to its economic promise. Rich in several minerals, including iron, tin, lead, zinc, wolfram, uranium, diatomite, and rock crystal. Furthermore, adding to the city’s varied resource base are reserves of lignite and wollastonite, which provide chances for industrial expansion and economic development.

Hydroelectric systems of the city clearly show its dedication to sustainable development. The Sujiahekou Hydropower Station is evidence of Tengchong’s attempts to use its natural resources for the generation of clean electricity, therefore balancing environmental preservation with economic development.

Tengchong’s economy heavily relies on tourism; the city welcomed 3.3 million guests in 2005 alone. Since most of these visitors were domestic travelers, the city’s attractiveness inside China is clear. Tengchong’s varied tourist products satisfy a broad spectrum of tastes and interests.

Thoughtfully created as tourist attractions, traditional villages around Tengchong have helped to preserve local culture while generating business possibilities. Especially remarkable is the village of Heshun, with its magnificent architecture reflecting the riches amassed by multi-generational trade dynasties connected to Burma. Heshun also boasts a little museum honoring early communist intellectual Ai Siqi, built in his former house where he spent two years.

Tengchong has enough of natural beauty for aficionados. While a commercially developed volcano park to the south provides insights on the geological past of the area, a big, seasonal freshwater wetland to the north of the city draws birdwatchers and environment enthusiasts. With popular flights linking Tengchong to Sichuan and Beijing via Kunming, the city’s recently built airport has greatly increased domestic tourism.

Tengchong has a 54-hole course about five kilometers outside of town for golfers, together with numerous other courses at different phases of development and planning. Reflecting the increasing popularity of Tengchong as a destination for both leisure and investment, the city is now experiencing a surge in real estate developments aiming at offering second homes for domestic tourists.

Spiritual visitors and adventure seekers can visit “The Temple in the Sky,” a stunning site high in the mountains. Clear days allow guests to enjoy the amazing sight of clouds covering the ground underneath the temple, generating an otherworldly environment that seems to divide the hallowed area from the earth below.

Located on the eastern edge of the city, the southern section of the Gaoligong Mountain range is maybe one of Tengchong’s most famous natural attractions. Originally named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 as part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, this region has been identified for exceptional universal importance. This classification guarantees the preservation of the area for next generations as well as emphasizes its biological value.