Fengxue Mountain Pass of Gaoli Gongshan Mountain in Gongshan County, Nujiang

❄️ Fengxue Yakou (风雪丫口) – The Snowy V-Pass on the Gaoligong Mountains

Perched at 3,150 meters on the main ridge of the Gaoligong Mountains (高黎贡山), Fengxue Yakou is a natural “V-shaped” pass linking Lushui City (泸水市) and Pianma Town (片马镇) in Nujiang Prefecture (怒江州).
Its name—literally “Snowy Pass”—comes from the fierce winter winds and heavy snow that block the road for months. Once a wartime stronghold, it’s now both a Patriotic Education Base and a dream destination for off-the-beaten-path self-drivers, hikers, and photographers.

? Location

• Coordinates: On the border of Luzhang Town (鲁掌镇) and Pianma Town (片马镇), Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan

• Altitude: 3,150 m (the Nujiang River [怒江] below is only 700 m, a vertical drop of 2,400 m)

• Distances: 87 km from Liuku Town (六库镇, ~2.5 hrs), 230 km from Baoshan (保山, ~4.5 hrs), 320 km from Dali (大理, ~5.5 hrs)

? Weather & Best Time to Visit

Official Data:

• Average annual temperature: 6.7 °C

• Extreme low: −20 °C

• Annual rainfall: 2,500 mm

• Max wind speed: 25 m/s

• Sunshine hours: Less than 1,000 h/year

Season Highlights:

• Dec–Apr: ❄️ Heavy snow & icy roads; best for snow-ridge + sea-of-clouds views

• May–Jun: ? Melting snow & alpine rhododendrons – photography heaven

• Jul–Nov: ☁️ Rainy & misty; mysterious atmosphere, but occasional landslides

? Getting There

By Public Transport

Liuku Bus Station (六库客运站) → Pianma Town (片马镇) by shuttle (2 departures/day, ¥60).
Ask to get off at “Fengxue Yakou” stop. Service suspended in winter when road is closed.

By Self-Drive or Chartered Car

Set navigation to “Pianma Fengxue Yakou (片马风雪丫口)”. Follow G219 → S237 (paved road).
In winter, 4WD + snow chains are a must.

By Tour Group

Nujiang 1–2 day trips often include Liuku/Pianma + Fengxue Yakou + Hump Memorial Museum (驼峰纪念馆).
Cost: ¥600–800 per person.

? Must-See Highlights

1. The Iron Outpost & Flag-Raising Ceremony (钢铁哨所 & 升旗仪式)

At 08:30 daily, border police raise the national flag.
Snap a photo under the flag with the “Cloud-Edge Boundary Marker”. ??

2. WWII Relics (抗战遗址群)

• Japanese Bunkers & Trenches (日军碉堡、战壕): A 15-minute hike to the ridge gives you a bird’s-eye view of the 2,000 m deep Nujiang gorge.

• Relief Wall (浮雕墙): Tells the story of the 1944 recapture of Pianma by multi-ethnic forces.

3. Sea of Clouds (云海奇观)

Between 07:00–09:00, clouds rise from the Nujiang valley, spilling into the pass like a giant “reverse waterfall” (云瀑).

4. Light Hiking Route (轻徒步线路)

From Fengxue Yakou → Dishui River Waterfall (滴水河瀑布) → Tingming Lake (听命湖),
round-trip 25 km, guide fee ~¥300/day.

? Travel Tips

• Clothing: Even in summer, bring a down jacket + raincoat; in winter, full winter gear (down jacket, snow pants, crampons) is essential.

• Accommodation: No lodging at the pass. Closest stay: Pianma Town (片马镇) guesthouses (¥100–180/standard room) or return to Liuku.

• Supplies: The outpost provides hot water & basic medicine; bring high-energy snacks & a thermos.

• Safety: Strong winds & damp cold can cause hypothermia; avoid solo ridge hikes. Carry your ID – this is a border zone.

• Eco-friendly: Take all trash back; do not damage bunkers or prayer flags.

? In One Sentence

Fengxue Yakou (风雪丫口) is a 3,150 m “Iron-Blood Gateway in the Clouds”: in winter & spring, snow seals the road; in summer & autumn, clouds swirl over the ridge. Stand here, with the Nujiang gorge on one side and 80-year-old wartime bunkers on the other, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a rift where history meets the edge of the world. ?