Butterflies will flutter by soon in Yunnan

A local resident watches the winged wonders of Butterfly Valley in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture of Yunnan province. [Photo by Gao Fei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Millions of butterflies are about to emerge from their cocoons in Yunnan province's Butterfly Valley and flutter into the warm summer air.

"The temperature in the valley is lower than in previous years, with more frequent windy and rainy weather," said Yang Zhenwen, head of the valley's butterfly museum in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture. "We estimate that more than 100 million butterflies will come out in early June."

With abundant forest resources and plenty of water and food, Butterfly Valley is a favorite place for butterflies to live and breed.

As of 2020, some 400 species of the winged wonders had been identified there, including the jungle queen, Neorina patria, Kallima inachus and Meandrusa sciron.

A butterfly in Butterfly Valley. [Photo by Zhao Yi/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A local resident watches the winged wonders of Butterfly Valley. [Photo by Gao Fei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A butterfly in Butterfly Valley. [Photo by Zhao Yi/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Butterflies in Butterfly Valley. [Photo by Zhao Yi/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A butterfly in Butterfly Valley. [Photo by Gao Fei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Butterflies in Butterfly Valley. [Photo by Gao Fei/For chinadaily.com.cn]