Enjoy the butterflies' dance in Honghe

The China Honghe Butterfly Valley has seen a massive surge of Stichophthalma howqua since late May. Every day, millions of butterflies emerge from their chrysalis and dance gracefully through forests and fields.

The valley is located in Ma’andi Township of Jinping Miao, Yao and Dai Autonomous County, southeast Yunnan’s Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture.

"This year's surge is expected to end in mid-June. By then the total population of the butterflies will reach 110 million," said Yang Zhenwen, a butterfly watcher at the Honghe Butterfly Valley Administration Bureau. According to him, this year’s surge came 28 days earlier than last year’s due to the high temperature in winter and spring.

Walking into the Pujiazhai observation point of Ma’andi, butterflies can be seen everywhere, around the mountain, beside the stream and in the woods. The views have enchanted lots of tourists.

With more than 320 species of butterflies, the Honghe Butterfly Valley is known as one of the areas with the largest number of butterflies in the world. The varied climate, well-maintained ecology and biodiversity have created favorable conditions for the survival and reproduction of butterflies.

In recent years, Jinping County has continuously strengthened the protection of butterfly valley by setting up a management organization, implementing protection and management regulations, and strengthening inspection and publicity. 

Text by Zhu Hai