Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山Yùlóng Xuěshān

Why go to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain's jagged, snow-streaked ridge rises straight above the Lijiang plain, close enough for a day trip. A cable car carries visitors up to a glacier viewing platform at over 4,500 metres, while lower down, the turquoise terraced pools of Blue Moon Valley and the meadows of Spruce Meadow offer gentler walks.

The story

To the Naxi people the mountain is the home of Sanduo, their protector deity, and a temple in his honour stands at its foot in Baisha. Its thirteen peaks are said to look like a silver dragon lying across the sky, which is how it got its name.

What to see at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

• Blue Moon Valley 蓝月谷: A valley below the peaks, formerly known as the White Water River, whose pale limestone riverbed and pools turn a vivid blue on clear days. It is named for the crescent shape of the valley.
• Glacier Park 冰川公园: The big cable car ends at an observation platform at about 4,506 m, with a hanging glacier on the main peak, Shanzidou (5,596 m), in view. A second, higher platform at about 4,680 m also exists; take the altitude seriously.
• Spruce Meadow 云杉坪: A forest clearing at about 3,240 m that the Naxi regard as a sacred place. Paths run through spruce woods to a meadow facing the ridge, making it the gentlest high-altitude option.
• Yak Meadow 牦牛坪: A wide alpine meadow on the east side of the massif, reached by cable car or on horseback from Ganhaizi, with open views along the line of the peaks.
• Ganhaizi Meadow 甘海子: A broad grassy meadow about 4 km long at roughly 2,900 m, giving an open view of the whole range, and still used as pasture by herders in spring. It makes an easy stop with no lift ride.

How to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Book the glacier cable car in advance and ride it first, in the morning, before cloud and afternoon showers build. Add Blue Moon Valley and one of the two meadows (Spruce or Yak) for a full day; on a half-day, pick the glacier or the valley and the meadow nearest your way back.

How to get to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

The scenic area is about 30–45 minutes' drive north of Lijiang Old Town. Buses and taxis go to the visitor centre, where park buses link the cable car stations.

Where to stay

Most visitors base themselves in Lijiang Old Town, a short drive away, which has the widest choice of places to stay and eat. For a quieter start, look at Baisha village at the southern foot of the mountain.

What to eat

• Lijiang baba 丽江粑粑: A round Naxi flatbread, baked on a griddle with sweet or savoury fillings and sold across Lijiang.
• Cured-rib hotpot 腊排骨火锅: A Naxi hotpot of salt-cured, air-dried pork ribs simmered with potatoes and local vegetables; it is traditionally the third course of the Naxi 'three layers of water' feast. Soak the ribs first if you find it salty.
• Lentil jelly 鸡豆凉粉: A silky jelly from Lijiang made from lentils (called 'chicken peas' locally), eaten cold with chilli oil and vinegar or pan-fried until crisp outside.

Tips for visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

• Glacier cable car tickets are limited and sell out early, so book ahead with your passport.
• The top station is above 4,500 m: move slowly, and carry a small oxygen canister (sold locally) if you feel unwell.
• Bring warm clothes; it can be freezing at the top even when Lijiang is mild.

Nearby

• Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡 10 km
  A classic two-day trail high above one of the world's deepest gorges
• Lijiang Old Town 丽江古城 30 km
  Cobbled lanes, rushing canals and Naxi courtyards beneath a snow-capped peak
• Baishuitai 白水台 50 km
  Milk-white travertine terraces below Haba Snow Mountain, sacred to the Naxi Dongba faith
• Lugu Lake 泸沽湖 90 km
  A clear alpine lake on the Yunnan–Sichuan border, home to the matrilineal Mosuo
• Shaxi Ancient Town 沙溪古镇 90 km
  A caravan town on the old Tea Horse Road, with a village market every Friday
• Shangri-La & Songzanlin Monastery 香格里拉松赞林寺 100 km
  A golden-roofed Tibetan monastery stacked up a hillside, nicknamed 'Little Potala'

Also within 30 km: Yushuizhai 玉水寨 (10 km), Baisha Murals and Dabaoji Palace 白沙壁画 (20 km), Shuhe Old Town 束河古镇 (20 km), Puji Temple, Lijiang 普济寺 (20 km), Black Dragon Pool 黑龙潭 (20 km), Lashi Lake 拉市海 (30 km).

Trips with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

• Yunnan by train: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La 9 days · Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La

On the map

Open Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)