[Chlidonias]

just a quick question. Does a visitor need permits to visit the national parks and wildlife reserves in China, and how does one go about obtaining them if so? Can you get them at the entry point as in other countries or do you apply in advance, or something else? Or does it vary depending on where you are visiting?

[MKinHK]

It depends on the Park.

Some require nothing, some are completely closed and some charge US dollars by the day.

Where are you planning to go?

Cheers

[Chlidonias]

I haven't set my plans yet, but the following are in the running:

*Foping (I know this one can only be visited via tour)
*Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve
*Fanjing Mountains Natural Reserve
*Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve

[johnjemi]

Don't know about Foping, and I haven't been to Fanjingshan since 1993, but here's a more recent, well October...2006, report on Tangjiahe.

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/sc06_11/tangjiahe.html

The oldest accommodation block was destroyed in the 2008 earthquake but when I was last there in 2009 the other blocks were okay.

[johnjemi]

For Gaoligongshan, the most-visited site is Baihualin, above the west bank of the Salween, perhaps 60km south of Liuku. Here are a couple of posts about Baihualin..

A 2012 blog post

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/yn0...aihualing.html

And a 2008 trip report. Note that the S230 road has been superseded by a new road higher up the hill side, and the turnoff is harder to find - the Km markers are different

http://johnjemi.blogspot.hk/2012/02/...-part-two.html

The main thing is that pre "permission" is not required.

Hope these help.

[Chlidonias]

thanks for that John (although I can't get the last [2008] link to load unfortunately). I like the photo of the takin.