China: Yunnan Province

Lying in the south-western corner of China, Yunnan Province has received little attention from birders and yet it holds some of the most exciting habitats and alluring species in the whole of Asia. Its close proximity to Myanmar (formerly Burma), good roads, often excellent hotels, and superb food combine to underpin a surprisingly comfortable tour with some really special birds.

We’ll visit several areas in western Yunnan including some close to the Myanmar border. The entire area, much of it on the Ancient Southern Silk Road, is an historical treasure trove which will surround us as we move through the region. We’ll begin in the border town of Ruili, where good quality forest supports species including Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, the sometimes split Cook’s Swift, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Red- and Coral-billed Scimitar-babblers, Scarlet-faced Liocichla and Pale-billed Parrotbill. We’ll then move to Yingjiang, a smaller town also close to the Myanmar border. Sought-after species here include Grey Peacock-pheasant, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Blue-naped Pitta and Collared Myna. We’ll continue to Tengchong, another historic and scenically stunning site, where we’ll focus on finding Brown-winged Parrotbill and Slender-billed Oriole.

Gaoligongshan, our next port of call, was featured in the BBC’s Wild China TV series, and it’s easy to see why. Early 20th century naturalist-adventurers such as Frank Kingdon Ward explored much of this area and among the rich plant flora – the Nature Reserve boasts over 1,400 species of higher plants – we’ll search for Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Gould’s Shortwing and Black-breasted Thrush. Our final stop will be historic Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its distinctive architecture. The skyline of this quaint town is dominated by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a year-round snow-capped peak that reaches almost 18,500 feet. Woodlands near there support another specialty, Yunnan Nuthatch. Nearby we’ll also hunt for Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, the severely threatened White-speckled Laughingthrush, Rufous-tailed Babbler and Black-bibbed Tit before heading back to Beijing.