discovering the paradise of butterflies

In the green mountains of Yunnan, southwest China, every year there is an amazing spectacle of nature when butterflies are born. They are born here by the millions. Only two places in the world know this unique phenomenon: one in Mexico, the other in China.

“This year, the butterfly explosion is about 20 days late compared to last year”notes Yang Zhenwen, head of the “Honghe Butterfly Valley” museum, who explains that according to the first observations, there are “as many butterflies as last year: more than 100 million”. The phenomenon is linked to the flora, the altitude, the hot and humid climate all year round. 320 species live there, including the most colorful, but also the rarest. This valley of butterflies is aptly named. Note that this cloud phenomenon occurs once a year and lasts less than a month.