Park of ChinaOverview
| Designation | National Park of China (fifth batch) |
| Province | Yunnan |
| Location | Luxi County, Yunnan |
| Latitude, longitude | 24.6, 103.8 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Caves |
| Top sights | The ancient Alu cave |
| Area | 186 km² |
| Nearby cities | Kunming, Xingyi (Guizhou) |
| Nearby sites | Stone Forest of Lunan 52km, Puzhehei 57km, Chengjiang Fossil Site 79km, Jiuxiang 82km, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces 191km Search nearby |
| Themes | Karst, Cave |
About
The Alu scenic area, 186 km², lies around the county town of Luxi in south-east Yunnan.
The ancient Alu cave was once the dwelling of the Alu tribe, one of the thirty-seven “barbarian” tribes of Yunnan in the Song and Yuan dynasties. It consists of three dry caves and one water cave, more than 3,000 m in all, with stalagmites, stalactites, stone flowers, stone curtains and stone walls of every shape.
It is in the fifth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2004.
Travel tips
Getting there: Luxi county is in Honghe Prefecture, about 200 km from Kunming; by high-speed train or coach from Kunming it takes about two hours. The cave is close to the county town, around ten minutes by bus or taxi.
Layout: the main sight is Alu Ancient Cave, made of three dry caves and one water cave, over three kilometres long in all; the scenic area also includes surrounding hills, waters and villages.
How to visit: paths run through the cave past stalagmites, stalactites and flowstone curtains, and the water section can be crossed by boat; the whole cave takes about an hour and a half.
Time: half a day is enough; combine it with the county town and nearby sights for a day.
Season: the cave is cool all year, so any season works; spring and autumn are the most comfortable, and roads are wet in the rainy season.
Where to stay: hotels in Luxi county town, which is also the base for the trip.
Nearby: Puzhehei and the Honghe Hani terraces are in the same region; Chengzi, an old village near Luxi, is a Yi settlement of earthen-roofed houses.
Caution: the cave is damp, so wear shoes with grip and bring a jacket.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Stone Forest of Lunan 52km, Chengjiang Fossil Site 79km, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces 191km |
| National parks | Puzhehei 57km, Jiuxiang 82km, Dianchi Lake, Kunming 113km, Maling River 139km |
| AAAAA attractions | Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden 115km, Wanfeng Forest Scenic Area 127km |
| AAAA attractions | Jinping Mountain 33km, Colorful Sand Forest 38km, Honghe Mile Huquan Eco Park 38km, Dongfengyun Scenic Area 46km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Stone Forest UNESCO Global Geopark 40km, Xingyi UNESCO Global Geopark 130km |
| Cities | Kunming 117km |
| Historical sites | Three Buddhas Hall of Wanshou Temple in Luxi 2km |
| National geoparks | Luxi Alu National Geopark 3km, Jiuxiang Canyon and Cave National Geopark 71km, Luoping Biota National Geopark 79km, Chengjiang Fauna Paleontological National Geopark 80km |
| Nature reserves | Jinzhongshan Hume's Pheasant National Nature Reserve 113km, Jiaozishan National Nature Reserve 136km, Wenshan National Nature Reserve 137km |