2025 Malipo Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Lao Mountain is located to the west of Chuantou Village, Tianbao Town, Malipo County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, and is a mountain bordering Vietnam. In 1996, the Lao Mountain Scenic Spot was established with the approval of the People's Government of Yunnan Province. The summit of the main peak of Lao Mountain is 1422.2 meters above sea level. In early April 1984, the Chinese military conducted the famous Lao Mountain Battle here. At the top of the main peak of Lao Mountain stands a white marble monument inscribed with 'Long Live the Spirit of Lao Mountain' by Comrade Zhang Aiping, the former State Councilor and Minister of National Defense, during his inspection of Lao Mountain. The monument is 1.984 meters high and 0.428 meters wide, symbolizing the recovery of Lao Mountain on April 28, 1984. There are also beacon towers and watchtowers built on the summit. From the watchtower, one can clearly see the mountains and villages within 20 kilometers inside Vietnam. On April 24, 2023, the People's Government of Malipo County issued a notice that the opening hours of the main peak of Lao Mountain for ordinary tourists are: weekends and national public holidays (09:00—17:00). Please bring your valid personal identification documents. For relatives of martyrs, veterans of the war, and their accompanying family members, the opening hours are: every day from 09:00 to 17:00. A phone reservation is required one day in advance. After a successful reservation, please bring your valid personal identification documents. 👍Most recommended: Please arrange to visit on weekends and national public holidays. ⏳Visiting time: Free admission, the visiting time is 2 to 3 hours.

From December 2023 to February 2024, starting from Xi'an to Fengjie in Chongqing, then westward to the Dazu Rock Carvings, heading south to visit the Chishui River, touring the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea, paying respects to the ancient town of Lizhuang, crossing the Dadu River Jinsha Gorge, and continuing south to the Longtou Mountain in the Daliang Mountains. Afterwards, heading west to Muli, taking the Luyu Line into the northwestern Yunnan Meili Snow Mountain. Passing the Deqen Highway from Bingzhongluo along the Nu River, following the border highway G219 winding southward through Cangyuan, Xishuangbanna, Jiangcheng, Malipo, until reaching the Guangxi territory of Jingxi, Pingxiang, Dongxing, and finally arriving at the end of G219. Then heading south across the sea to Hainan for a round-the-island self-driving tour, returning north to Zhanjiang. Continuing north into Guangxi Yangshuo Guilin, entering Guizhou from Sanjiang County. Libo, Ziyun, Qinglong, Anshun, celebrating the Dragon Year Spring Festival in Guiyang. Continuing on to Kaili, Zunyi, and heading north back to Wulong in Chongqing. This self-driving journey passed through Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, and Chongqing, traversing mountains and seas, covering a distance of 15,800 kilometers, and lasting 73 days. I call it the 'Southwestern Six Provinces Mountain and Sea Grand Circuit'. A journey full of rewards, successfully completed.

Hero Lao Mountain Scenic Area is an AAAA-level tourist attraction located in Malipo County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It was once a war-torn wasteland, but now it is a lush and charming landscape. The scenic area consists of three major sections: the Lao Mountain Artillery Military Theme Park, the Tianbao National Border Port, and the main peak of Lao Mountain. It offers a tourism route that integrates military experience, ethnic customs, canyon scenery, cave exploration, rest and entertainment, and shopping. On April 28, 1984, the Yunnan border defense forces recaptured Lao Mountain in one fell swoop and subsequently carried out long-term defensive operations. The People's Liberation Army soldiers, together with the hardworking and honest people of Malipo, forged the 'Lao Mountain Spirit' of 'not fearing hardship, not fearing death, and not fearing loss.' This once ordinary mountain name thus became famous throughout the world, turning into the most renowned hero mountain since the establishment of New China, and a spiritual, cultural, and emotional high ground that is revered by all. The Hero Lao Mountain Scenic Area is built according to the construction goals of boutique routes, boutique courses, and military travel experiences. Adhering to the principle of promoting construction and management through usage, the area is being developed, taught, and improved simultaneously, making it an important base for on-site teaching of ideal and belief education, and party spirit education in the province and even the whole country. The Southern Border Memory Exhibition Hall, located next to the Laozhai Village Group of Tianbao Village Committee in Tianbao Town, Malipo County, began preparations in October 2016 and was completed and put into use in October 2018. The exhibition hall's layout closely follows the theme of combat along the China-Vietnam border, divided into three parts: Past Relations, Southern Border Shining Sword, and Post-war Development. The Southern Border Shining Sword is further divided into ten subsections: the beginning of the war, self-defense counterattack operations, the battle for Luojiaping Dashan, the battle for Fakashan, the battle for Koulingshan, the battle for Lao Mountain, the battle for Zheyinshan, the battle for the eastern hill of Bali River, rotational warfare, and support for the front-line troops. On April 28, 2023, a symbolic sculpture measuring 7.12 meters in length, 3.16 meters in width, and 4.28 meters in height was unveiled in front of the Southern Border Memory Exhibition Hall at the Hero Lao Mountain Scenic Area. 📝Note tips: The Lao Mountain Artillery and Tianbao Port are open all year round, while the main peak area of Lao Mountain is only open to the general public on weekends and national holidays, from 09:00 to 17:00. Visitors need to carry valid personal identification documents. ⏳Playtime: The entire scenic area takes about 5 to 8 hours to explore.

The Laoshan Shenpao Ruins is the only relatively well-preserved artillery position site among the artillery positions in the Vietnam War. The artillery position was built in 1974. At that time, in response to Chairman Mao’s call to dig deep holes, store up grain and not seek hegemony, the artillery position was established by the 714th Unit of the former Kunming Military Region by digging holes in the mountains. It was expanded twice in 1978 and 1983 by the 14th Army Engineering Battalion. The Laoshan Shen Cannon Company was formerly the 8th Company of the 5th Regiment of the 4th Artillery Division. In the recapture of Laoshan and the defensive operations after the recapture, the company, with quick response, accurate shooting and fierce artillery fire, carried out 35 strikes on 32 Vietnamese targets, destroyed 7 of their fortifications and 4 artillery positions, and together with its brother companies, annihilated an 85mm cannon battalion of the Vietnamese Army, making a contribution to the victory of the battle. On September 4, 1984, the Central Military Commission awarded the company the honorable title of Laoshan Shen Cannon Company. In June 2014, the Malipo County Party Committee and the County Government upgraded and renovated the Laoshan Shenpao Ruins. The outside of the cave was divided into a large land warfare equipment display area and a grenade throwing experience field, displaying the Type 59 130 cannon, Type 59 100 anti-aircraft gun, Type 54 122 howitzer, Type 81 122mm 40-barrel rocket launcher, etc. ⏳Play time: The ticket price is 30 yuan, and people over 60 years old can enjoy half price. The tour lasts from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Tianbao Port of Entry is located in Tianbao Town at the foot of Laoshan Mountain in the southern part of Malipo County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, adjacent to the Qingshui River Port of Entry in Ha Giang City, Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. It is one of the most important land routes from Yunnan to the capital of Vietnam, offering the most direct route and the shortest distance. Tianbao National Port of Entry is a key construction port for Malipo County and the entire Wenshan Prefecture, as well as one of the important ports constructed by Yunnan Province. Tianbao is one of the earliest land transportation routes to Vietnam in China and one of the earliest foreign trade ports in Yunnan Province. The historical trade route, known as the Ancient Path of Exchange, passed through Tianbao to reach Ha Giang in Vietnam and the inland areas. During the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties in China, Chinese and Vietnamese merchants used bamboo rafts and wooden boats to carry goods back and forth through the waterway of Tianbao Port of Entry, establishing the history of early Sino-Vietnamese trade. The Tianbao Port of Entry was officially established on May 20, 1879, during the Guangxu period. In March 1954, the People's Republic of China established a customs supervision station and a border inspection station in Tianbao, designating it as a trade port for commerce with Vietnam. In February 1993, the State Council approved the restoration of Tianbao Port of Entry as a national first-class port, and in March of the same year, vehicle interchange between Wenshan in China and Ha Giang in Vietnam was realized, creating a better foundation and conditions for the development of trade and tourism between China and Vietnam. Subsequently, trade and tourism activities between the two countries continued to heat up, and the fields of bilateral economic exchange and technical cooperation continued to expand. The port economy has become an important economic highlight for Malipo and even Wenshan Prefecture. During the Spring Festival of the Dragon Year, visiting Tianbao Port of Entry, one can feel the peaceful scenery of the China-Vietnam border. ⏳Visiting Time: Free admission, the visiting time is 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Wenshan Sea of ​​Clouds | Watch the clouds roll in and out, the sunrise and sunset Location: Malipo Cizhuba, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, Transportation: 90 kilometers away from Wenshan, and it takes 1.5 hours by car. You can see the sea of ​​clouds here all year round, but October is the best time. The visibility is good on sunny days, foggy on cloudy days, and the sunset is beautiful. Mountain Sea of ​​Clouds Sea of ​​Clouds Wenshan Travel