The Protected Areas of Three Parallel Rivers

This scenic area is in northwestern Yunnan Province，covering the threeprefectures of Diqing，Nujiang，and Lijiang，including，specifically，Deqin County，Lisu Autonomous County of Weixi，Shangri La County，Derung-NuAutonomous County of Gongshan，Fugong County.Lushui County，Bai-Pumi Autonomous County of Lanping，and the northwestern part of Naxi Autono-mous County of Yulong.It borders with Burma in the west，whereas neigh-boring with Sichuan and Tibet in the north.With a total area of about 1.7 milion hectares，it ranks as a vastest national scenic site in the world.

The three rivers refers to Nujiang，Lancang.and Jinsha，which flow to the south side by side along the deep gulles between the three lofty mountains of Gaoligong，Nushan，and Yunling，covering an area as wide as 150km or so from 98%101930’eastern longitude to.2530′-29° northern latitude.Gushing southward with awing power in parallel like the Roman numeral“Ⅲ”，the three large rivers of Asia offer a singular geographical scene.

The charm lies in the unique spectacles of the alpine gulles.A bird’s view of it would show that the majestic Himalayas on the Qinghai-Tibet Plat-eau roling on from west to east is suddenly blocked by the north-south go-ing mountains and gulies，where Lancang River，Nujiang River，and Jinsha River from Tanggula Mountains in the northwest have to make an abrupt narrow-in and squeeze themselves into the sheer-cut gulles of Hengduan Mountains，with the shortest distance between them about a dozen kilome-ters only，a consequence from the mountain-making by the Himalayas that distorted this part of the land into various shapes beyond imagination.

In 1988，the area was listed among the key scenic sites of the nation，and in June of 2003 it was included in World Heritage List by UNESCO.

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