Three Parallel Rivers Scenic Area is located to the south of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and reaches all the way to the valley district of the Hengduan Mountains in northwest Yunnan, and includes Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Dêqên Xizang Autonomous Prefecture and Lijiang. The rivers in the name Three Parallel Rivers in fact refers to the Jinsha River (Yangtze), the Lancang River (Mekong), the Nujiang River and the Dulong River, and it is the largest scenic area with the richest resource in scenery and diverse ethnic customs in Yunnan.

The landscape is marked by the unique parallel rivers, imposing mountains and peaks, precipitous gorges and rapids, beautiful forests and fields of snow, secluded glacial lakes, rare tectonic plate collision, broad snow mountains and blooming flowers, abundant rare plant and animal life, magnificent white-water terraces, and unique folk customs.