Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is located within Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province,151555965,5965Anational 5A35351313960Km?960 km²40003,500–4,500“"Snowy Peaks in Springtime"”core landscape. After rain or fresh snow, the snow appears particularly white and the pine trees especially green, creating a shifting, playful contrast between the two that is truly a spectacular sight.
Geographical Location
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is situated in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is the southernmost snow mountain in China and a famous peak in the southern section of the Shaluli Mountains within the Hengduan Mountain Range, as well as the southernmost major snow mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. Stretching 35 kilometers from north to south and 13 kilometers from east to west, it covers an area of 960 square kilometers. The high-altitude snowy landscape lies above 3,500–4,500 meters in elevation and is renowned for its precipitousness, uniqueness, beauty, and elegance. Below the clouds, the hillsides are lush and green; sometimes bathed in radiant sunlight, the snow-capped peaks appear as if draped in crimson veils, stunningly beautiful. The temperature difference between the mountain top and base is significant, resulting in starkly contrasting vegetation—from barren land to vibrant life, as if two different worlds exist side by side.3535131352596040003,500–4,500
2Historical Legends
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people and other ethnic groups in Lijiang. The Naxi’s patron deity,“Sanduo”, is considered the incarnation of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. To this day, Lijiang holds an annual grand“Sanduo Festival”. During the Tang Dynasty, under the rule of Piluoge of the Nanzhao Kingdom, the king once honored Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the Northern Sacred Mountain. In the early Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan, the founding emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, visited Lijiang and conferred upon the mountain the title of“"Great Sage Snowstone Northern Sacred Mountain, Emperor of Peace and Prosperity"”.
A legendary tale is passed down among the Naxi people: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain were twin brothers who lived together and made a living panning for gold along the Jinsha River. One day, a vicious demon king suddenly arrived from the north and seized control of the Jinsha River, forbidding people from mining gold. Enraged, the Dragon and Haba brothers fought the demon with their swords. Haba, the younger brother, was eventually beheaded by the demon when his strength gave out. The elder brother, Jade Dragon, battled the demon for two days and three nights, breaking thirteen swords in the process, before finally driving the demon away. From then on, Haba became the headless Haba Snow Mountain, while Jade Dragon, to prevent the demon’s return, held aloft the thirteen swords day and night—eventually transforming into thirteen snow peaks. His battle sweat turned into the Black Water and White Water rivers. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is often regarded as the outward symbol of the Naxi people, while the heroic figure of Jade Dragon in this legend represents their inner spirit. The Naxi’s patron deity,“Sanduo”, is also said to be the incarnation of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Another legend goes that the Jinsha River, Nujiang River, Lancang River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Haba Snow Mountain were originally five siblings. When the three sisters grew up, they made plans to leave home in search of husbands. Their parents, both anxious and angry, ordered Jade Dragon and Haba to go after them. Jade Dragon carried thirteen swords, while Haba brought twelve bows. They took a shortcut to Lijiang, sat facing each other, and took turns keeping watch, agreeing on a rule: whoever let the three sisters pass would be beheaded. When it was Haba’s turn to guard, Jade Dragon had just fallen asleep when the Jinsha maiden arrived. Seeing her two brothers blocking the way, she pondered quietly and walked with extremely light steps. Suddenly, an idea struck her—she began to sing a melodious and enchanting song that captivated Haba, lulling him into a deep sleep. As she sang, she walked forward, singing a total of eighteen songs, and finally slipped past the two brothers. Once out of the pass, she ran away joyfully, laughing with delight. When Jade Dragon woke up and saw what had happened, he was both furious and heartbroken—furious that the Jinsha maiden had escaped, and heartbroken that his brother Haba would face execution. Unable to break their pact, he slowly drew his long sword and beheaded the sleeping Haba. Then, turning his back, he wept bitterly. His two streams of tears became the White Water and Black Water rivers. Haba’s twelve bows turned into the twenty-four bends along the cliffs on both sides of Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Haba’s head fell into the river, becoming the Tiger Leaping Stone.
3Landform Structure
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain and one of the settlements of the Naxi ethnic group; the Naxi people call the snow mountain“Bosho’erlu”, which means“the silver rocky mountain of White Sand. The mountain stretches35kilometers from north to south and13kilometers from east to west, comprising thirteen peaks, with the main peak, Shanzidou, rising5596meters above sea level. Against the backdrop of the blue sky, it resembles a silver jade dragon perpetually dancing through the air, hence the name Jade Dragon Mountain. Additionally, because the rock composition of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is primarily limestone and basalt—creating a striking contrast of black and white—it is also known as“Black-and-White Snow Mountain”.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a national key scenic area, the highest peak south of the Yangtze River, and the modern maritime glacier closest to the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. It embodies the grandeur, wonder, beauty, and elegance found in the world’s most famous mountains. Yuan Dynasty imperial envoy Li Jing praised it as““the unparalleled wonder of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.””Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is also a kingdom of flora and fauna, featuring a complete range of ecological types. It is the most concentrated area for alpine plants and animals in the Hengduan Mountains and is hailed as a“natural alpine botanical and zoological garden”and a“modern glacier museum”. Its unique geological formations and abundant ancient fossils, along with its diverse animal and plant communities, make it an inexhaustible treasure trove for scientific research.
4Topographic Features
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is renowned for its majesty, wonder, beauty, and elegance. It boasts a grand and imposing presence with exquisitely delicate landscapes. With the changing seasons and weather, it sometimes shrouds itself in misty clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittently, while at other times it stands crystal clear under a cloudless blue sky. During the Qing Dynasty, Naxi scholar Mu Zhengyuan vividly summarized the Twelve Scenic Views of Jade Dragon: “Spring Mist,” “June Cloud Belt,” “Dawn’s First Light,” “Sunset After Dusk,” “Five-Colored Morning Glow,” “Moonlit Night Radiance,” “Emerald Snow Peaks,” “Silver Lamp Flames,” “Reflections in Jade Lake,” “Dragon-Rising Clouds,” “Golden Waterfalls,” and “White Spring Nectar.” The landscapes of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can generally be divided into alpine snowy vistas, spring-fed water scenes, forested areas, and grassland meadows. Major attractions include Jade Pillar Holding Up the Sky, Spruce Meadow, the Snow Mountain Cableway, Heishui River, Baishui River, Blue Moon Valley, and Baoshan Stone City.
Not only is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain majestic and magnificent, but it also displays ever-changing beauty throughout the seasons and with shifts in weather. Sometimes it is veiled in clouds and mist, emerging and hiding like a beautiful woman half-concealed behind a pipa; other times its summit is enshrouded in cloud, giving it an air of profound mystery. Occasionally, both its top and base are clear, with a ring of white clouds around its middle, offering a completely different charm. On clear days, the peaks stand washed by sunlight, glittering with crystalline silver. Even within a single day, the mountain presents endless transformations. At dawn, while the mountain villages are still asleep, the snow mountain greets the first light, the summit tinged with morning hues as the sunrise glows on the snowy peaks, creating a radiant interplay of light. In the evening, as the sun sets, its afterglow crowns the summit, making the snow mountain look like a maiden draped in crimson silk, standing gracefully. When the moon rises and starlight twinkles under the soft glow of moonlight, the mountain seems to nestle within a veil of white gauze, gradually drifting into a sweet slumber. In late spring and early summer, flowers of all kinds bloom competitively, featuring all eight of Yunnan’s famous blooms, with over40varieties of rhododendrons alone. The forests are lush: among the pines, from the lower to upper elevations, are found Yunnan pines, Huashan pines, spruces, red pines, and firs. It is also a homeland of medicinal herbs, yielding cordyceps, snow tea, snow lotus, ephedra, sanfen san, fritillaria, poria, and costus root, among
5other major attractions
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is famed for its danger, beauty, and wonder. Major sites within include Spruce Meadow, Baishui River, Ganhaizi,,Blue Moon Valley, and Ice Tower Forest. It is a multifunctional tourist destination integrating sightseeing, mountaineering, exploration, scientific research, vacationing, and leisure activities, with the highest point of its boardwalk reaching4680meters.
The main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shanzidou, is located on the southern slopes of Longshan. The Naxi people call it“Tuosibanman Dongyan”, meaning “the Peak of Buzongmaogua,” also known as the White Snow Mountain. Viewed from the Lijiang Plain, it resembles an upright silver plowshare. When climbing the White Snow Mountain, it looks like a white silk folding fan unfurled, hence the names Shanzidou (Fan Peak) and Xuédòu Fēng (Snow Fight Peak). Looking up at it from the grassy field of Jinxiang Valley, it appears like a piece of white jade shell, radiating outward in three directions toward the sky, shimmering brilliantly against the blue sky and white clouds.
The entire snow mountain encompasses a variety of natural landscapes from subtropical, temperate, and frigid zones, forming a unique“High Art in Snow”Main Scenic Feature. After fresh rain or snow, the snow appears exceptionally white and the pines strikingly green, blending with the ecosystem to create ever-shifting vistas. It’s as if the white snow and green pines are playing hide-and-seek. Hence there is“Green Snow Among Odd Peaks”— where the snow is not white but green, an extraordinary spectacle.
Ganhaizi
Ganhaizi is an expansive meadow on the eastern side of Yulong Snow Mountain. Stretching approximately4kilometers in length and about1.5kilometers in width, it sits at an altitude of around2900meters. Ganhaizi gives visitors a sense of openness and vastness. In front of the towering Yulong Snow Mountain's eastern slope, this large meadow provides an ideal vantage point to admire the snow-capped peak. From here, landmarks such as Yulong Snow Mountain and Fanshapo are clearly visible. From the Ganhaizi meadow up to the4500-meter snow line, one can see a variety of plants and trees — including numerous species of orchids, wild peonies, and snow lotuses. Tall trees such as Yunnan pines, cedars, firs, chestnut oaks, and hemp oaks are also found here. Ganhaizi is a vast natural pasture. When spring arrives and the grass begins to grow, Tibetan, Yi, and Naxi herders from the mountain valleys near Ganhaizi bring their felt tents, ride their horses, and drive herds of yaks, sheep, and cattle up to graze on the meadow.
Baishui River
Between Ganhaizi and Yunshanping lies a deep valley covered in dense woods and home to a long-flowing clear stream. The river with its constant flow of clean water at the bottom of the valley is called Baishui River. Its name comes from the grayish-white color created by the white marble and carbonaceous rock fragments that make up the riverbed and terraces, along with the white stream flowing over them — hence the name“Baishui River”. The water of Baishui River originates from the meltwater of glaciers and snowfields located at elevations of four to five thousand meters. It is cool, crystal-clear, and completely unpolluted, making it a natural iced drink.
Yunshanping
Also known as the "Third Realm of Love," it sits at an altitude of3240meters and is considered a sacred place among the Naxi people. Legend says it serves as a gateway to the“Third Realm of Yulong”. According to Dongba scriptures, the“Third Realm of Yulong”offers“endless silks and satins, inexhaustible fresh fruits and delicacies, boundless fine wines and sweet milk, limitless gold nuggets and silver ingots, flame-spotted tigers as steeds, silver-horned deer for plowing, broad-eared foxes as hunting dogs, and multi-colored pheasants heralding the dawn”. By taking the cable car from the Baishui River Mountain Lodge — just a ten-minute ride up to the upper station — and then following the wooden boardwalks laid out through the forest or riding a small Lijiang horse rented from local Yi girls, you can reach another breathtaking spot of Yulong Snow Mountain:——Yunshanping. This is a forested grassland on the eastern side of Yulong Snow Mountain, covering about0.5square kilometers and sitting at an elevation of around3000meters. The snow-capped mountain stands like a jade screen, soaring into the clouds, while Yunshanping encircles it like an emerald city, lush and verdant. The dense woods around Yunshanping feature towering trees, hanging dead branches, tree beards on the branches, and fallen logs and leaves covered in moss throughout the forest — as if no one has disturbed the area for thousands of years, resembling a natural paradise. Legend says that young couples who commit suicide for love in Yunshanping at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain will have their souls enter the Third Realm of Yulong, gaining eternal happiness.
Ice Tower Forest
Yulong Snow Mountain is home to some of the northernmost modern maritime temperate glaciers and snowfields on the Eurasian continent,
vast and expansive. The range includes a full variety of glacier types, with19modern glaciers covering a total area of11.61square kilometers, of which“Baishui No. 1”The modern glacier is currently the most accessible glacier for tourism.
“Baishui No. 1”The modern glacier stretches2.7kilometers and is located directly beneath the main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shanzidou. Viewed from the mountain’s base, it resembles a waterfall suspended in the sky, an awe-inspiring sight. The ice towers in the ice tongue area stand like spears piercing the heavens, appearing not white but green under the sunlight—verdant snow towering thousands of feet, as if massive emeralds and jades are embedded among the rugged rocks. This scene is what the late former Deputy Director of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, Mr. Li Lincan, described as“the "Green Snow Peaks."”Close to the glacier, you can hear the“gurgling”sound of flowing water, which comes from the glacial streams formed by melting ice. Ahead, Shanzidou emits rumbling noises—the sounds of avalanches, akin to“rolling snow oxen.”For millennia, Shanzidou has consistently supplied fresh snow to the glacier. The ever-changing snow mountain is at times blanketed in snowfall, making progress difficult; at times winds whip up clouds, bringing a slight chill; at times radiant light beams down, as if from another world, evoking deep emotion.
Jade Pillar Holding Up the Sky
The Jade Pillar Holding Up the Sky Scenic Area is located on the southern foothills of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, also known as the "First Village at the Foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain"—--Wuluken (Baisha Yuhu Village), about ten li from the ancient town. Jade Pillar Holding Up the Sky stands at an elevation of2800meters and features major attractions such as cliff inscriptions on giant rocks, Prince Cave, Guanyin Rock, Xuesong Nunnery, thousand-year-old trees, upper and lower deep pool waterfalls, the former residence of American-Austrian scholar Joseph Rock (where he lived for27years), as well as high-altitude leech fields, Immortal Trace Cliff, Azalea Mountain, Mu Tianwang Pasture, Ten Thousand Flowers Garden, Rock-Colliding Rock, Three Thoughts Water, and breathtaking scenery that is the finest of its kind.
Cliff Inscriptions on Giant Rocks
Climbing approximately30meters up, on the steep cliff face stands the vertically carved inscription“"Jade Pillar Holding Up the Sky,"”written by Yang, the first appointed magistrate of Lijiang during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1724year). To its lower left, the horizontally carved characters“"Jade Wall Golden River"”were inscribed by Nie Rui, the Lijiang sub-prefect, in the year1725. These eight powerful characters, though eroded by centuries of wind and rain, remain faintly visible. The ancient rock and inscriptions complement each other, blending nature’s artistry with human culture. The exceptional stone carving skills and wisdom of the ancients leave modern visitors in awe. These two cliff inscriptions not only capture the magnificence of Lijiang’s snow mountain but also serve as cultural relics directly linked to the important historical event of“"Gaitu Guiliu" (the replacement of native chieftainships with state-appointed officials).”From a high vantage point, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stands like a pillar of jade holding up the sky, supporting the blue expanse above. Turning around, one is greeted by the vast, open landscape of plains and pastoral scenery.
From a high vantage point, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stands tall like a pillar of jade supporting the vast blue sky above. Turning around, you’ll be greeted by the sweeping, expansive beauty of the flat, open farmland.
Blue Moon Valley
Blue Moon Valley,Its former name, well known to many, was“Bai Shui River”Also called Bai Shui River, Blue Moon Valley gets its name from the way the water turns a vivid blue on sunny days, and the valley’s crescent shape makes it look like a blue moon nestled at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Hence the name Blue Moon Valley. The alternative name, Bai Shui River, comes from the white mud at the bottom of the lake—when it rains, the water turns white, thus earning the river its other title. The melted snow from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain flows down through a valley on the eastern slope, and when the reflection of the moon contrasts with the blue waters under the blue sky, the scene resembles the "Blue Moon Valley" depicted in British author James Hilton’s novel *Lost Horizon*. That’s how it got its name.“Blue Moon Valley”. In Blue Moon Valley, the river flow is interrupted by surrounding mountains, forming four larger bodies of water known as“Jade Fluid Lake,”Mirror Pool Lake,“Blue Moon Lake, and”Listening to Waves Lake.“Blue Moon”Lake and“Listening to Waves”Lake. The lakes are surrounded by lush vegetation and set against the backdrop of distant snow-capped peaks. The lake water is a transparent blue, almost frozen in its rich hue, accented with hints of green. Gazing from the lake's center, one sees layers of clouds stretching over the mountains, their reflections shimmering on the water’s surface like dreamlike illusions—transporting visitors to what feels like a fairyland.
Flora and Fauna
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a treasure trove of flora and fauna. There are60multiple species of major economic animals, among which key national protected rare and precious animals include Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards, golden cats, snow leopards, Tibetan eared pheasants, Lady Amherst’s pheasants, pangolins, red pandas, small and large Indian civets, Lady Amherst’s pheasants, blood pheasants, and silver pheasants. There are31families and196species of algae,17families and20various species of lichen,45species of mosses,130species of liverworts,220species of ferns, and145families and over3200species of seed plants. It is a famous production area for ornamental garden plants in Yunnan Province, home to60various types of primroses,50numerous rhododendrons, and70many varieties of orchids. It is also a concentrated source of plant specimens in China, earning reputations as a natural alpine botanical and zoological garden and a modern glacier museum.
6Travel Guide
Admission Ticket
Combo Ticket: Dalu Long Pass:225Yuan (includes mountain entry fee, Dongba Valley, Jade Pillar Reaching the Sky, Dongba Pantheon, Jade Water Village, Jade Peak Temple, Dongba Kingdom — a total of6attractions; only Dongba Valley, Jade Water Village, and Jade Peak Temple are recommended)
Individual visitors: Mountain entry fee:125Yuan (includes105Yuan for the ticket and20Yuan for the shuttle bus fee). Ancient City Maintenance Fee:80Yuan. Students and military personnel with valid IDs receive a 50% discount. Other IDs are not accepted.
Glacier Park Gondola:180Yuan, insurance 2 Yuan (optional). Spruce Meadow Small Gondola:55Yuan; Yak Meadow Medium Gondola:60Yuan.
Taking the shuttle bus from the parking lot to various scenic spots incurs no additional charge — the20Yuan shuttle bus fee has already been included in the mountain entry ticket. Also note: do not take the shuttle bus inside Blue Moon Valley, as it is very close and only a two-minute walk to the attraction.
Ticket: Adult ticket:190Yuan; Child ticket:80Yuan
Best travel time:4month,5month
Natural scenery:[Mountains] [Glaciers] {Snow}
Cultural attractions:[Parks/Amusement parks]
Travel preference:[Landscape tours] [Independent travel] [Self-drive tour] [Skiing]
Discount: Mountain entry fee105CNY/CNY per person for ancient city maintenance fee80CNY Student tickets are half-price during these times
Best seasons are autumn and winter. Clear skies and wide visibility.
Every year in2--6month. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has an average annual temperature of11.3°C, with the coldest month averaging3.0°C and the hottest month averaging17°C. The annual rainfall on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang is about1000-1200mm, with most precipitation concentrated in6-10month(s),6-10month’s rainfall accounting for80%of the total;11month to-next year’s4month sees very little rain.
Transportation
Chartered van to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain costs100-200CNY/per day; alternatively, you can take bus7from Hongtaiyang Square near the Big Waterwheel to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for15CNY/per person. Of course, visitors can also take the shuttle bus provided by the cable car company, which departs daily from Guluwan Hotel in the morning.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Transportation: There are three cable cars on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain:
Glacier Park: (Cableway length is3km,180Ticket price is in yuan, with an altitude of4506meters, reaching above the snow line)
Yunshanping Cableway: Take the small cableway,55yuan, Niuyangping Cableway:65yuan.
Taking the large cableway can take you directly to the mountaintop, but you will need to queue (it can take up to4,5hours during peak season), so be patient and mentally prepared. The temperature on the snow mountain is low, and you can rent down jackets at the foot of the mountain (about50yuan each). The high altitude may not be suitable for those with high blood pressure, heart disease, etc., and to prevent altitude sickness, you can rent oxygen tanks in advance (available at Ganhaizi for about50yuan per tank).
From the ancient town to Yunshanping, you can take bus7for10yuan to reach the lower station of the large cableway, or rent a taxi (Xiali car) for about150-300yuan. The entrance fee to the mountain is80yuan (half-price for students at40yuan), and the cableway ticket is77yuan (includes cableway and environmental vehicle fees) (can be booked in the ancient town).
Independent travelers can also take a minibus to Daju at 8:00 a.m. next to Lijiang Red Sun Hotel and get off at Yunshanping for(the fare is10yuan), or take the daily buses to Daju or Longpan operated by Lijiang Automobile Transport Company and get off at Yunshanping. The ride takes about30to40minutes. Travelers in a hurry can also depart from the front of Yuquan Hotel, but make sure to agree on the return time, location, and price with the driver in advance.
Accommodation
Most visitors to Yulong Snow Mountain choose to stay in Lijiang Ancient Town. There are many distinctive hotels, guesthouses, and themed inns to choose from in the ancient town. Lijiang Ancient Town is the kind of place where you could easily stay for half a month. Most tourists opt to stay in inns. There are many traditional Naxi and Bai-style guesthouses, with basic beds costing20to60yuan per person. You can relax in the sun, chat with the innkeeper all day, or even spend the whole day watching DVDs in their rooms. For a quieter stay, you might also consider staying in Shuhe Ancient Town./people; you can lazily bask in the sun at the inn, chat with the owner all day, or even stay in the owner’s room and binge-watch DVDs all day long. For a quieter accommodation experience, you can also choose to stay in Shuhe Ancient Town.
Shopping
In the alleys of Lijiang Ancient Town, there are many shops selling handicrafts. Stores like Zizai Fashion, Dongba Pottery Workshop, Juyi Yuan Gallery, and Shi Qingmao Woodcarving are unique shops offering ethnic handmade crafts. Most items here are handmade, so prices tend to be higher, but bargaining is possible. Visitors can not only shop for desired goods but sometimes also watch the entire crafting process.
Snow Mountain Cable Car
There are three cable cars on Snow Mountain: the Big Cable Car, the Spruce Meadow Cable Car (Small Cable Car), and the Yak Meadow Cable Car (Medium Cable Car), each offering different views. In general, taking the Big Cable Car allows you to touch the snow, while the Small Cable Car (Spruce Meadow) is located halfway up the mountain, providing panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks. The Yak Meadow is also halfway up the mountain, like the Spruce Meadow. It’s more open and popular with international tourists, but the altitude here is higher, bringing you closer to the snowline. The most crowded cable car is the Spruce Meadow and the Big Cable Car.
To avoid long queues due to crowds, you can purchase your tickets in advance while exploring the ancient town.
Buy the tickets2for the next day (usually same-day tickets are not available; they start selling the next day's tickets after12o'clock, so it’s best to go around2o'clock. At that time, there’s usually no need to queue. On the street leading from Xinjie to the ancient town’s Sifang Street, you’ll find ticket offices for all three cable cars. However, note that the Big and Small Cable Cars and the Yak Meadow Cable Car belong to different companies, so their ticket offices are also separate.12Go buy them then. There won’t be much of a line at that time. On the street leading from Xinjie to the Old Town’s Sifang Street, there are ticket offices for three cable cars. However, be aware that the Big and Small Cable Cars and the Yak Meadow Cable Car belong to different companies, so their ticket offices are also different.
Spruce Meadow: You can get to the Spruce Meadow from the ancient town by taking the7bus directly. The cable car is an8-person fully enclosed cabin, and upon reaching the upper station, you can take an electric cart for a tour (20yuan).
Operating Hours: The operating hours of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tourism Cable Car are7:30to16:00.
Down jackets can be rented on the mountain, as well as oxygen tanks,50yuan per tank. A deposit of/can, you need to pay in advance100yuan is required (however, many tourists may not actually need oxygen, so assess your own needs). At the medical station at the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, there is a medication called"Rhodiola Rosea", specifically for treating altitude sickness. It costs50yuan per bottle or40yuan per box, but it only serves a preventive function and should be taken in advance.
Tourist Routes
A typical tourist route is from Lijiang to the——Glacier Park, then to the——Blue Moon Valley, and finally to——Ganhaizi. You can also choose the Spruce Meadow Cable Car or the Yak Meadow Cable Car.
Starting from Baishui River, you can take the Yunsongping Cable Car up the mountain. It is not recommended that tourists ride horses up the mountain, as all horse rides to the snow mountain cannot reach the snow line, nor can they reach areas such as Ganhaizi or Blue Moon Valley.
Skiing: Yulong Snow Mountain offers year-round skiing. Take the enclosed cable car of Yulong Snow Mountain directly to the4506four-season ski resort at an altitude of180meters (round-trip cable car fare:
Notes
(1)The high altitude on the snow mountain means that if it’s very windy, you should definitely rent a down jacket. The snow mountain offers different scenery in different seasons, but it's best not to go around October, as the snow mountain is often obscured by fog with low visibility. In winter, the snow mountain is at its most spectacular, as cold air is blocked by the mountain, creating large-scale snow accumulation. You can see thousand-year-old glaciers and experience the sense of sacredness and devotion held by the local Naxi people.
(2)With a ticket to the snow mountain, you can visit places such as Ganhaizi (a relatively flat area with many commercial facilities, at an altitude of about3000meters), and Baishui River (a small stream formed by melted snow water, now quite man-made with dams built, at an altitude of approximately2700meters), both located along the scenic area road.
There are three cable cars (ropeways) in the Yulong Snow Mountain scenic area: the Big Cable Car (also called the“Glacier Cable Car”), whose fare has risen to180yuan/per person (round trip), taking you to an altitude of4500meters; the Small Cable Car (also called the“Yunsongping Cable Car”), with a fare of59yuan/per person (round trip), reaching an altitude of3200meters at Yunsongping; and the Yak Meadow Cable Car,62yuan/per person (round trip), taking you to an altitude of over3700meters at Yak Meadow.
No matter how much the prices rise,“the Big Cable Car”remains the top choice for most tourists who don’t mind spending the money, have never been to this altitude in their lives, and want to touch snow with their own hands. Despite being scared, they buy oxygen bags and rent down jackets, then bravely board the cable car as if heading for the heavens. Actually, under normal weather conditions, for the vast majority of healthy tourists, oxygen bags and down jackets are really not necessary. On sunny days, even at this4500At an altitude of 300 meters, the clothes you wear when entering the scenic area will be sufficient, as your stay won’t be very long. If it suddenly rains or snows, you can rent appropriate clothing then.
Yunsongping and Niuyuping are two mid-mountain areas in the snow mountain scenic zone that have been moderately developed, making them easily accessible to visitors.“Ping”refers to a flat, open area among the mountains. Yunsongping is a large, flat meadow surrounded by towering spruce trees. Niuyuping is a large, sloped meadow. Both“pings”have wooden boardwalks laid out for visitors to walk on, to prevent trampling of the grass. In addition to taking the cable cars to these two“pings,”you can also hike or rent a mule or horse to get there. The rental fees for mules or horses to both“pings”are63yuan/per person and70yuan/per person (fixed price, no room for bargaining), for a round-trip journey.
(3)If you want to take the cable car one way and rent a mule the other way, that’s not allowed, so you need to plan in advance whether to take the cable car or ride a mule. The starting and ending points for the mule rides are fixed, which are the upper and lower ends of the cable cars (the lower end is by the roadside).
Niuyuping is quite large, and if you spend more time there, you can explore around.
You can also rent a mule to ride, but if you rent a horse from the lower end of the cable car to go up, you cannot rent the same horse again within“the ping”— not even if you pay extra — because the two areas are managed by different ethnic groups and different horse teams. You’ll need to rent a different horse. So, if you really want to ride a horse at Niuyuping, you could also take the cable car up first, then rent a horse to ride, and then take the cable car down.
None of the three cable car destinations are the best spots for viewing the Yulong Snow Mountain peaks. Among the three, I think Niuyuping offers a relatively better view of the snow-capped peaks. The best place to see the full view of Yulong Snow Mountain is in Mingyin Township on the way to Baoshan Stone City (about fifty or sixty kilometers past Niuyuping).——Of course, very few people go to that place. No drivers or tour guides will recommend it to you.
Lijiang—The Yulong Snow Mountain scenic area is just a few dozen kilometers away. With travel time and sightseeing, half a day is enough. Larger groups can hire a private car, while smaller groups can take the shuttle bus back and forth.
Local Specialties
Snow Tea
Snow tea, a delicacy from Yulong Snow Mountain, is a type of lichen belonging to the thamnoliaceae plant family. Snow tea is as white as snow, and after processing, resembles tea leaves. It only grows at high altitudes on snow mountains, hence the name. Snow tea has a delicate fragrance and can be brewed alone or mixed with various types of tea, chrysanthemums, licorice, and other ingredients. It grows near the snow line of Yulong Snow Mountain at an altitude of4000-4200meters, on damp rocks and moss, and is a traditional wild medicinal herb of Lijiang. It is known to be particularly effective for sore throats and oral ulcers, and also aids in weight loss, lowering blood lipids, and reducing blood pressure, making it a natural health drink.
Directions for use: Brew an appropriate amount with boiling water, either alone or together with other tea leaves.
Chicken Bean Jelly
Chicken Bean Jelly is made from a type of chicken bean (also known as“Chicken Fava Bean”) grown locally in Lijiang. The beans are ground into flour, strained into a paste, and then made into this jelly-like snack. Because chicken beans are rich in melanin, the jelly has a black appearance, which is why people also call it“Black Jelly”. In the past, officials unfamiliar with its true nature mistakenly referred to this delicacy in the Qianlong-era *Lijiang Prefecture Records* as“Black Tofu”. In reality,“Black Tofu”is what we now know as“Black Jelly”. For hundreds of years in both the old and new districts of Lijiang, chicken bean jelly has remained a beloved and enduring street snack. It can be eaten cold in summer or hot in winter. When served cold, it's typically mixed with seasonings such as vinegar, soy sauce, scallions, minced garlic, and sesame oil—helping to cool the body, stimulate the appetite, and even relieve motion sickness. When served hot, the jelly is pan-fried in sesame oil until golden on both sides, then topped with various seasonings and eaten hot. It can also be dried and pan-fried.
Although jelly is generally considered a summer dish, Lijiang’s chicken bean jelly is unique in that it can be enjoyed both hot and cold. Vendors across the city are always prepared to serve it either way, according to customer preference. In summer, the cool translucent jelly slices are often served chilled and tossed with red chili, green leeks, Sichuan peppercorns, scallions, mustard paste, and vinegar. The combination of colors, aromas, and flavors makes it a refreshing and appetizing treat. In colder months, square blocks of the jelly are pan-fried on both sides until golden brown, then seasoned to taste with spicy, numbing, or sour ingredients. A bowl of hot chicken bean jelly warms you up from head to toe.
Chicken Bean Jelly is not only delicious but also very affordable, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Its most prized part—the delicate skin of the jelly—is even served as an elegant accompaniment to meals in some hotels and restaurants.
Snack Streets
The Square Street at the heart of the Old Town in Dayan is a renowned snack street. The narrow, bustling lane is lined with dozens of small eateries, nearly all of which serve Yunnan’s signature rice noodles—including clay pot noodles and boiled noodles—earning this area the nickname“Lijiang Rice Noodle Street”. Additionally, for more affordable or traditional snacks, you can visit the local farmers' markets. Inside Huadu Commercial City near Baixin Mall and Qixing Street on Xin Dajie, there’s also a wide variety of regional snacks available, with some stalls staying open until after 2 a.m.
Dongba Script
The Naxi Dongba script, characterized by its pictographic nature, naturally lends itself to artistic expression. Throughout the ancient town, Dongba calligraphy works can be seen everywhere. Some are written using traditional bamboo or wooden pens, while others are done with brush pens. Their content mostly revolves around themes of promoting virtue, punishing evil, praying for happiness, and offering blessings. Some works are faithful reproductions of ancient Dongba scriptures, partially restoring the content of those sacred texts. If you can acquire a piece handwritten by a living elder Dongba priest, it holds significant collectible value.
8Major Events
Glacier Recession
Glacier Recession refers to the phenomenon observed in the glaciers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, located approximately25kilometers north of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. Over the past20years, these glaciers have exhibited increased melting, glacial tongue retreat, reduced glacier area, and a rising snow line. According to data from the Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier and Environment Observation Station under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, between1982and2002, the largest glacier—Baishui1Glacier—saw its glacial tongue recede by approximately250meters. The glacier’s thickness and snow-covered area have also decreased. The terminus elevation of the glacier rose from2004, during the year4255meters rise to2009years4320meters; at an altitude of4680meters, the glacier width shrank from2004years336meters to2009years318meters. He Yuanqing, a researcher at the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Yulong Snow Mountain Glacier Research Station, believes that global warming is the main reason for the glacier retreat on Yulong Snow Mountain.
Virgin Peak Controversy
The main peak of Yulong Snow Mountain,——Shanzidou, whether it has been conquered, is commonly regarded in the mountaineering community as unconquered and still a virgin peak. Magazines such as Global Humanities & Geography, websites like Zhong’an Online and China Education Online have also reported on this. However, surprisingly,2012year saw netizens revealing that an American,“Eric-Perlman,“had summited the main peak of Yulong Snow Mountain,1987year.——Shanzidou, as early as
The information comes from a Japanese climber, Nakamura Takara’s mountaineering book titled——<
However, since the”Eric-Perlman“mentioned in the book has not made any statement himself, and domestic mountaineering records on this are temporarily lacking, whether Yulong Snow Mountain has truly been conquered remains undetermined for now.
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