Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake 澄江化石地与抚仙湖Chéngjiāng Huàshídì yǔ Fǔxiān Hú

Why go to Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake

In the hills near Chengjiang, south-east of Kunming, mudstones laid down in a shallow sea some 518 million years ago hold some of the earliest complex animals ever found, with soft parts such as guts and even nerves preserved. The fossil beds became a World Heritage Site in 2012, and a large museum built beside them displays the finds with models and interactive galleries. Just to the south, Fuxian Lake, one of the deepest freshwater lakes in China, is good for a lakeside stroll or a night by the water.

The story

In July 1984 the palaeontologist Hou Xianguang, collecting on Maotianshan hill, found a soft-bodied arthropod called Naraoia, a genus first described from Canada's Burgess Shale. The beds have since yielded hundreds of species from the 'Cambrian explosion', when most major animal groups first appear in the fossil record, among them Haikouichthys, one of the earliest known fish-like animals.

What to see at Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake

• Chengjiang Fossil Site Museum 澄江化石地自然博物馆: The main place to see the finds, with specimens, reconstructions and models of Cambrian animals such as the early fish-like Haikouichthys and Myllokunmingia.
• Maotianshan 帽天山: The hill where the first soft-bodied fossils were recognised in 1984. The fossil beds are protected, so visitors learn about the site from the museum rather than from the rock.
• Fuxian Lake 抚仙湖: A clear, deep lake, 155 m at its deepest and 1,721 m above sea level, the third-deepest lake in China. The shore is good for walks, cycling and a rest after the museum.
• Gushan Island 孤山: The lake's only island, a small rocky isle in its southern waters.

How to visit Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake

Start at the museum, which holds the main exhibits; allow two to three hours, and reserve ahead. Then go south to Fuxian Lake for the afternoon, either walking along the shore or taking a short boat trip. A half-day covers the museum alone.

How to get to Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake

Chengjiang is about 1–1.5 hours by road south-east of Kunming, with frequent buses from Kunming's South Bus Station. The museum is a taxi ride east of town.

Where to stay

Chengjiang town makes a practical base, close to the museum and the lake shore. Lakeside villages on Fuxian Lake offer quieter stays, and you can also visit as a day trip from Kunming, about 60 km away.

What to eat

• Fuxian Lake fish 抚仙湖鱼: Fish from the lake, often simmered simply in a copper or stone pot and served in lakeside restaurants.
• Chengjiang lotus-root starch 澄江藕粉: A smooth, sweet drink-porridge made by stirring local lotus-root starch into hot water, often with rose sugar or nuts.

Tips for visiting Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake

• The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays. Entry needs an advance real-name reservation through its official WeChat channels; bring your passport.
• Daily numbers are capped, and slots for the May Day and National Day holidays go quickly, so book early.
• The fossil beds themselves are protected, so the museum is where you see the finds; allow 2–3 hours, then head down to the lake.

Nearby

• Stone Forest 石林 40 km
  A maze of limestone blades and towers you can lose yourself in
• Western Hills & Dragon Gate 西山龙门 50 km
  Taoist grottoes and a single-file ledge path cut into a cliff high above Dianchi Lake
• Green Lake Park 翠湖公园 50 km
  Kunming's favourite park, where wintering gulls wheel over willow-lined causeways
• Jianshui Ancient Town 建水古城 110 km
  A Ming gate tower, a great Confucian temple and grilled tofu on the way to Yuanyang

Also within 30 km: Shizhaishan Archaeological Site Park 石寨山考古遗址公园 (30 km), Laoyuhe Wetland Park 捞鱼河湿地公园 (30 km).

On the map

Open Chengjiang Fossil Site & Fuxian Lake on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia: Maotianshan Shales