Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang

Why is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain So Special?

Located between 100.04′-100.16’east longitude and 27.03′-27.40′ north latitude, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest with an altitude of 5,600 meters (18,360 feet), the mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence the name.The Jade Dragon Snow Mountains (玉龙雪山) are a small group of peaks close to the city of Lijiang. The nearest slope is only about 30 kilometers north of the Dayan Ancient City District, and the mountain can be clearly seen from the Black Dragon Pool next to the ancient district.

How to get to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

1. Take a bus at Yuhe Parking Lot near the northern gate of Lijiang Old Down. You can buy the ticket in Tourist Service Center at the northern end of Lanhua Street, opposite Tianyu Hotel. The bus leaves for the Snow Mountain at 8:30 and returns at 16:30; the bus fare costs CNY40 per person.
2. Take a taxi / car/ mini-van or carpool together from the downtown area. The distance is around 15 kilometers (10 miles). It takes around 40 minutes. The round-trip charter rate is around CNY 200.

Entrance Fee CNY 100 for the entrance charge
CNY 280 for the Impression Lijiang Show
CNY 200 for a combo ticket (valid for two days). It includes the snow mountain, Yushui Village (also called Jade Water Village), Dongba Valley, Yufeng Temple, Yuzhu Qingtian Scenic Resort, Dongba Kingdom, Dongba Gods’ Garden and Baisha Mural).

 Note:
1. Tourists with the entrance tickets to the snow mountain can visit Ganhaizi Grassland and Blue Moon Valley for free.
2. Tourists are required to take the sight-seeing bus to reach the ropeway terminal. It costs CNY 20 per person.
3. The Glacier Park allows no more than 10,000 visitors a day.

Cable Car Glacier Park: CNY120 for the big ropeway (round-trip).
Yak Level Ground: CNY 45 for the middle ropeway (round-trip), CNY 22.5 for a single trip.
Spruce Level Ground: CNY 40 for the small ropeway (round-trip), CNY 20 for a single trip.

 Note:
1. For the sake of the tourists’ safety, they are suggested to buy the insurance (CNY 2) when they buy the ropeway tickets.
2. Children below 1 meter (3.3 feet) take the ropeway for free while those who are between 3.3 and 3.9 feet (1 and 1.2 meters) enjoy 50 percent discount.
3. Ropeway ticket office is open from 07:00 to 16:30.

Main Attractions in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?

Highlights

Since Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a hot tourist place, it has a series of highlights to make your tour here an unforgettable memory, such as the Blue- Moon Valley, the Glacier Park, the Spruce Plateau, Ganhaizi, Dongba culture, Impression Lijiang, and Baisha Mural, etc. Just go and explore it!

Blue-Moon Valley (White Water River)

There is an extremely blue river meandering through a lush valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Seen from a distance, it resembles a blue crescent moon inlaid at the foot of the mountain. That’s how this place got its beautiful name – Blue Moon Valley. However, blue is not the only looking of the river. If it rains, the white mud and limestone rubbles at the riverbed will be swirl up, making the water as white as milk. Therefore, local Naxi people name it White Water River (Baishui River)

The White Water River is converged by the melted snow and ice running down from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The water is freezing; even in summer, people still cannot bear the piercing cold when they can’t help dabbling in the river. But it is a favorite iced drink in summer. Legend has it that, when two Naxi youngsters fall in love, the boy will be tested by standing barefoot in the cold river in winter to show his committed love for the girl. Folks believe that this tested love will last forever in the presence of the holy snow mountain. So, the river is considered the Love River in local people’s mind.

The Glacier Park

The Glacier Park Cableway is the highest cableway in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the mountain of lowest latitude in Eurasia that has present glaciers, so you can see maybe for the first time the various kinds of present glaciers and the remnants of ancient glaciers that are the essence of the global glaciers. Moreover, you will be amazed at the very charming scenery of the various shapes of serac pillars at the end of the glaciers, which shows blue and green under the sunshine and called the “Green Snow Peaks”. And you can see this wonderful view by taking the tramway up to the park at 4680 m.

Spruce Meadow Cableway of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang

Spruce Meadow

The Spruce Meadow Cableway can reach to 3200 meters of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Spruce Meadow is also called the “Third Country for dying for love”, and according to the materials of Dongba, one person can live without worry in the “Jade Dragon Third Country” for the abundant beautiful clothes, delicious food, etc. And if a couple die for love at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, their souls will go to this “country” and live happily. So it is famous worldwide as the place for dying for love.

Yak Meadow

After one hour driving of the sightseeing bus from Ganhaizi Meadow, you can arrive in Yak Meadow Parking Lot and take the Yak Meadow Chairlift to Yak Meadow. Yak Meadow at the northern edge of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has different but various picturesque sightseeing in each season. Here you can both appreciate the splendid image of the snow mountain at the best position, and see the local people driving their domestic animals up to the mountain. You can feel the original and simple life in this great place

Impression Lijiang Show

The Impression Lijiang is a large-scale live-action performance directed by the world famous director Zhang Yimou who is the chief director of both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 29th Olympic Games held in Beijing in 2008. 500 local people from 10 minority nationalities perform this amazing show at the height of 3100 m. This show provides you a “BOOM” to your eyes and ears, with their wonderful dancing and singing and the unique fine background of the white Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as well as the blue sky.

Watching this great performance, you can know Lijiang from many aspects. The gallant men, respectable women, emotion to life and nature, historical scene on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, love to different people, hope for the sacred kingdom, and the sincere heart to the heaven, etc. all express the pure, hospitality and optimism of the local people in Lijiang.

Yulong Skiing Resort in Yunnan 玉龙雪山滑雪场
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xue Shan), located near Lijiang, is the southernmost glacier found in the northern hemisphere. Its tallest peak has an altitude of 5,596 meters, which is said to be the world’s most difficult climb and thus to this day remains a virgin peak. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Ski Resort is located at an altitude of 4500m to 4700m and covered in snow all-year-long.Featuring excellent snow quality and long snow season, it attracts countless ski lovers from all over the world. In order to provide the best conditions, the resort bought snowmaker from the United States and snow grooming machine from Canada.

The Best Time To Visit The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

The best time to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is during autumn and winter, especially in January, February and April, when the sky is clear and you can have a better view of the snow mountain the beautiful natural scenery.

Where to stay in Lijiang

Baisha Holiday Resort Lijiang, invested by Yunnan Exploration Travel, is located in Baisha Ancient Town in the Eastern Himalayas of Yunnan Province, in a plush valley at 2450m elevation, at the foothills of majestic, snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Tours Including The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with Impression Lijiang Show 

1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Small Group Tour

Attractions Near  Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Baisha Ancient Town

The Baisha Ancient Village is one of the oldest towns in Lijiang City. It got its name “Baisha” meaning “white sand” from the natural white sand in the area. It was the cradle-land of the Tusi Dynasty evolved from the Mu Clan. It was also the earliest settlement of the Naxi people. There are many ancient constructions built in the Ming Dynasty: the Dabaoji Palace, the Liuli Temple and the Wenchang Palace. The well-known Baisha Frescoes are situated in the Dabaoji Palace.

Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Course

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is one of the icons of China golf. This Kunming golf course is set in the bottom of a valley that faces the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that is 5596 meters (18,360 ft.) high. You can enjoy mountain views from almost every place on this Kunming golf course. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is situated at 3100 meters (10,800 ft.) above see level, the second highest in the world and the highest in Asia.

Jade Water Village or Yushuizhai in Lijiang

Yushuizhai is under the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain, facing the ancient city of Lijiang, which is o­nly 15 kilometers from the city. The sacred water out of the Yushui Village brings up a generation after generation, giving them courage, wisdom and happiness.

Black Dragon Pool

Black Dragon Pool (also Heilongtan), or Jade Spring(Yuquan) Park is the main headwater of the Yushui River which goes through the Old Town. People believe that the gods of the Naxi people are living in the chestnut woods, beside the mouth of springs, behind the carved doors and below the bridges. The springs come from the god-protected mountains and gather in this place and finally form the dragon pool. Then water goes down a waterfall and becomes the Yuhe River, pouring life to the Old Town.

Dongba Valley

A trekking route leads to the amazing Dongba Valley. It is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and 15 kilometers away from Lijiang Old Town. The Dongba Valley is home and livelihood of Naxi people. Traditional houses of Naxi and other peoples are open to visit.

Admission Fee:¥230

Opening Hours:6:00-18:00 (May 1st to Oct. 31st); 6:30-18:00 (Nov. 1st to Apr. 30)

Attraction Transportation:Because there is no public bus, tourists need to charter a taxi / car/ mini-van or carpool together from the downtown area. The distance is around 10 miles (15 kilometers). It takes around 40 minutes. The round-trip charter rate is around CNY 200.

Recommended Route to Visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Classic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area Route

Enjoy the charming natural landscape and the grand view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at Ganhaizi, and take the tramway to appreciate the wonder of the “Green Glacier Peaks” at the Glacier Park. Then go to the Blue-Moon Valley to see the crystal clear water. After that, enjoy yourself in the natural paradise in Spruce Meadow and the best scenery of the snow mountain. Then, watch the magnificent Impression Show at the outdoor theater in Ganhaizi or Blue-Moon Valley. (For about a half to 1 day)

In-depth Huge Jade Dragon Scenic Area Route

Appreciate the natural landscape at Ganhaizi, and take the tramway to see the wonder of the “Green Glacier Peaks” at the Glacier Park. Enjoy the crystal clear water at Blue-Moon Valley. Next, have a relaxing time at the natural paradise of Spruce Meadow. Then, take the tram to Yak Meadow to see the idyllic view and the picturesque view of the snow mountain. And come down to watch the magnificent Impression Show at the outdoor theater in Ganhaizi Valley. After that, appreciate the characters and carvings of immortals of Dongba. Then, admire the historic Baisha Murals in Baisha Village. (For about 1-2 days)

Fee in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area

Huge Yulong Scenic Area through Ticket: RMB 230/p

(Including Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, Dongba culture sites, Baisha Mural area, Jade Water Stockade Village, Yuzhuqingtian, Jade Peak Temple; excluding tramway, Lijiang Ancient City Protection fee, and the fee of Impression Lijiang Show, etc.; valid for 2 days)

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area: RMB 130/p

(Including Ganhaizi, Blue-Moon Valley; excluding tramway, Lijiang Ancient City Protection fee, and the fee of Impression Lijiang Show, etc.; valid for that one day)

The Glacier Park: RMB 172/p

Tramway to Glacier Park: RMB 182/p

Tramway to Spruce Meadow: RMB 57/p (round trip)

Tramway to Yak Meadow: RMB 62/p (round trip)

Fees of other sites are from RMB 25-65/p.

(The above time and fee are for reference only, for the detail and updated information, please contact our Travel Consultant)

Attraction Travel Tips:

Admission Fee: CNY 130 for the entrance charge
CNY 190 for the Impression Lijiang Show
CNY 230 for a combo ticket (valid for two days). It includes the snow mountain, Yushui Village (also called Jade Water Village), Dongba Valley, Yufeng Temple, Yuzhu Qingtian Scenic Resort, Dongba Kingdom, Dongba Gods’ Garden and Baisha Mural).

 Note:
1. Tourists with the entrance tickets to the snow mountain can visit Ganhaizi Grassland and Blue Moon Valley for free.
2. Tourists are required to take the sight-seeing bus to reach the ropeway terminal. It costs CNY 20 per person.

Ropeway Fare: Glacier Park: CNY180 for the big ropeway (round-trip).
Yak Level Ground: CNY 60 for the middle ropeway (round-trip), CNY 30 for a single trip.
Spruce Level Ground: CNY 55 for the small ropeway (round-trip), CNY 27.5 for a single trip.

 Note:
1. For the sake of the tourists’ safety, they are suggested to buy the insurance (CNY 2) when they buy the ropeway tickets.
2. Children below 3.3 feet (1 meter) take the ropeway for free while those who are between 3.3 and 3.9 feet (1 and 1.2 meters) enjoy 50 percent discount.
3. Ropeway ticket office is open from 07:00 to 16:30.