About us, about Eco-tourism

The Lijiang Xintuo Ecotourism Company was started on Oct. 28, 2002 by members of the local community from Lashi hai watershed. During our training at the Nature Conservancy and Lijiang Tourism Bureau, we visited different villages in the Lashi Lake area, talked with many local people, and told them about us, about what we would like to do, and how important it was to get support from them. Finally we were lucky to get support from about 30 families to start Xintuo. Nearly all of our tourists are foreigners visiting China. At first, our company's growth was slow. Since then, we have never given up and have expanded and improved our services. We believe Xintuo will have good future, and we look forward to sharing our community and culture with you!

• Lashihai Wenhai Watershed Nature Reserve, 
• Lijiang, 
• Shangri-La, 
• Deqin, 
• Three Parallel Rivers (Yangtze River, Nu River and Lancang River),
• the Tibet area. 

Your travel experience will allow for a unique opportunity to support the local ethnic cultures while enjoying the diversity and beauty of the land, with a true respect for all. Travel with Lijiang Xintuo Ecotourism Tours to a place where mountains, lakes, canyons, forests, animals, plants, villages, religion, and culture merge into a peaceful setting for exploring Northwest Yunnan’s incredible natural and cultural diversity. In enjoying a wonderful tour, you can contribute to conservation efforts to protect the region’s biodiversity and provide a sustainable alternative income source for these isolated and fascinating local communities. 

Some of your many choices are:

→ Several hours, half day, full day, or week long tours that may include 

→ Hiking, trekking, horsing, bird watching, canoeing or mountain biking. 

On your trip, you will have a chance to stay in the Ecolodge, local homestay and different kinds of hotels. 

You can: 

According to the “World Commission on Environment and Development a sustainable development implies “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"

Eco tourism can have has many definitions but we can apply this one:
Ideally, ecotourism satisfies several general criteria, including the conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity through ecosystem protection, promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, share of socio-economic benefits with local communities through informed consent and participation, increase in environmental and cultural knowledge, affordability and reduced waste, and minimization of its own environmental impact. In such ways, it contributes to the long term benefits to both the environment and local communities.”

Ideally, ecotourism should satisfy several criteria:

Ecotourism’s criteria	Xintuo’s action
“Conservation of  biological  diversity and cultural diversity, through ecosystem protection”	Any groupes are more than 6 people in order to do not disturb fauna and Flora. Hikking, biking ,horse-riding and walking are the only way to visit the area (No car)  visiting local minorities’ family, meeting local people, having party with local people to encourage their culture.
“Promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local people”	Xintuo employs local guides.All restaurants and accommodations are owned by local people,most often Naxi or other ethnic minorities.
“Sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous people by having their informed consent and participation in the management of ecotourism enterprises.”	10% of our own profits are given to a conservation and community development fund which provide service for community and schools.
“Tourism to unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern.”	All of our guides are aware of current environmental issues.
“Minimization of tourism's own environmental impact”	Local food is provided to the tourists. Our guides and tourists leave no trace-packing out garbage and picking up litter as they hike.
Local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions	Lashihai Lake is a nature reserve. We work in partnership with The Nature Conservancy in order to promote effectively the area’s biodiversity.

Ecotourist Codes of Conduct
The Lashihai Watershed has been designated as a provincial-level nature reserve to protect the fragile ecosystems and wildlife of the area.  Because of the fragility and importance of this Nature Reserve, all visitors are asked to follow this Code of Conduct so to ensure that the area’s biodiversity and cultural heritage is protected effectively.

Environmental Conservation

• Tour groups visiting the nature reserve should not be over 10 people per group and should always be accompanied by a local guide.

• When you are in the Nature Reserve, please follow the regulations and laws of the Reserve:

- Do not throw trash on the ground;
- Do not take any “souvenirs” or specimens from the wild;
- Put all trash in the designated places;
- Do not cut or dig up trees or bushes;
- Do not start any fires within the Nature Reserve.

• If you are a visitor coming to do research, training, or filming, please get permission from the Nature Reserve staff.

• Please respect our wildlife friends and do not disturb them and their habitat. Please turn off the engine of your vehicle when you are in the Nature Reserve.
• You can buy local products to help improve the lives of local people, but please do not buy endangered wildlife products such as fur, feathers, and leather.
• When you are watching the birds, please do not wear bright clothing, make loud noises or frighten or feed the birds. Please do not come within 100 meters of the birds. 

Cultural Conservation

• Respect the local people and their customs and religion. Do not touch things before you get permission, and do not be loud and disrespectful in the village.
• Ask permission before you take pictures in the villages, especially when you take pictures of people.
• Respect holy and sacred places and do not touch or move religious objects.
• Giving to children only encourages begging. A donation to our Conservation and Community Development Fund is a more constructive way to help.
• Visitors who value local traditions encourage the local pride and maintain local cultures, so please show an interest in local culture and an interest in understanding local traditions.

 

Business License Number: 5332212001456 XinTuo Ecotourism Co. LTD