Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, or Yulong Snow Mountain, about 15 km north from the downtown Lijiang, is the one closest to the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. The 13 peaks in this area form together like a jade dragon lying there, so it gets the name. As a “National AAAAA Tourist Attraction” of multi-function and covered by the white snow all months, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain of 455 square meters wide offers visitors a great chance for sightseeing, mountaineering, exploring, resort, hiking, and so forth.
Besides the especially grand view of the 13 snow peaks, visitors can not only appreciate the changing rare natural sceneries, but also feel the precious and brilliant culture of Dongba people. Moreover, since Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has an altitude of 5596 meters, it is reputed as the “Natural Alpine Zoo & Botanical Garden” as well as the “Present Glaciers Museum” rich in both animal and plants resources, therefore, it is a good place to see many new species never appeared in your life so far.
▶ 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
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!
The Blue-Moon Valley is a talented magician in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, because it appears blue when cloudy and rainy but changes into milky in sunny days, which is due to its river bed of white marbles, so it has another name of White Water River. Strolling along here, you will sink into the beauty of the crystal clear water.
▶ Learn more about: Blue Moon ValleyJade 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.
Covering 0.5 square meters at 3000 meters high, the Spruce Meadow, or Spruce Plateau, is like a natural paradise never been disturbed for hundreds of years. With the high pure snow mountain being the background, lush spruces towering to the sky, this green fairyland is a great place for hiking.
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 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.
Ganhaizi is a wide meadow at the east of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, about 4 km long and 1.5 km wide. Enjoy yourself in this open land, watching the rich sorts of flowers and giant trees chatting in the wind, vigorous animals playing and eating grass lead by the herdsmen, and appreciating the magnificent look of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
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.
Place: Outdoor Theater at Ganhaizi.
Showtime: 13:30 every day (Off Seasons); 12:50 and 14:20 every day (Peak Seasons) (except in bad weather days)
Fee: CNY 190-248/person.
(The above time and fee are for reference only, for the detail and updated information, please contact our Travel Consultant)
>>Check more about Top 7 Impression Shows in China
Crystal Clear Water in Blue-Moon Valley
Serac Pillars at the End of The Glacier Park
Appreciate the Snow Mountain at Spruce Meadow
Idyllic Scene in Yak Meadow
Wide Landscape of Ganhaizi
Impression Lijiang Show
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)
▶ 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
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)
Huge Yulong Scenic Area through Ticket: CNY 230/pp
(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: CNY 130/pp
(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: CNY 172/pp
Tramway to Glacier Park: CNY 120/pp
Tramway to Spruce Meadow: CNY 67/pp (round trip)
Tramway to Yak Meadow: CNY 62/pp (round trip)
Fees of other sites are from CNY 25-65/pp.
(The above time and fee are for reference only, for the detail and updated information, please contact our Travel Consultant)
Click to Enlarge the Scenic Area Map of 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.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area is located about 15 km north from the downtown of Lijiang Ancient City, which takes about 30 min’s driving to get there.
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
You can take a chartered car from Lijiang to Ganhaizi for about 40 min. Bus often runs at Hongtaiyang Square in Lijiang from before 17:30. Also, there are many direct buses running from Lijiang to Ganhaizi, usually from 9:00 and return before 17:00.
Click to Enlarge the Location Map of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Snow-kitchen 5596 Restaurant in Ganhaizi at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain provides buffet for you. Also Sifang Street in downtown Dayan Ancient City is a famous snack street with many restaurants providing the local Yunnan special food, like the rice noodles, etc.
Luxury:
Grand Hyatt Lijiang Mountain Lodge at Ganhaizi is an excellent hotel that you can both enjoy the hospitable service of the professional stuff and appreciate the eye-pleasing view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The luxury facilities, cozy bed settings and featured design close to nature will make your stay here very comfortable.
Villafound Jade near the ticket office of Yuzhuqingtian site is a villa resort with clean environment and delicious food, and gets the good reputation from most visitors to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Besides, you can also choose to accommodate in the downtown of Lijiang Ancient City to get closer to the antique flavor.
Accommodation at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Recommended Golf Club: Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club (丽江玉龙雪山国际高尔夫俱乐部)
Location: Ganhaizi, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang City (丽江玉龙纳西族自治县玉龙雪山甘海子)
If you want to add golf experience in your Lijiang trip, you can get to Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, which is situated at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, very close to Blue Moon Valley and Ganhaizi. With an altitude of 3100 meters, Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is the only snow mountain golf club in Asia and the second highest golf club in the world. Marketed as the world’s longest layout, this golf course was designed by Neil Haworth and listed into the Guinness World Records. The first 9 holes and the second 9 holes are very different, giving you awesome experience. It is a good idea to spend one more day here playing golf in very relaxing pace.
Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club
1. There are usually many people visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, so it may cost you much time to wait for the queue of the tramway, especially during the peak seasons.
2. Since the snow mountain has a high altitude of 5596 m, it is recommended to take some medicines to prevent the altitude stress and prepare enough oxygen tanks in case of the oxygen deficit.
3. Take enough clothes and comfortable shoes, because the temperature at the top is very low.
4. You can appreciate the very beautiful Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take nice pictures in sunny days in many places, like Lijiang Ancient City, Black Dragon Pool Park, and Lion Mountain Garden, etc.
5. As the Global Warming, the snow coverage of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is decreasing gradually, so you might fail to see the snow-covered mountains sometimes if you visit here.
Since the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a main part of the Huge Jade Dragon Scenic Area, you can have more fun after enjoy in the snow mountain. And among all the spots in this big area, Dongba culture and Baisha Murals are both very worth experience in your Lijiang tour.
Apart from the natural scenery, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is also a good place to admire the treasurable Dongba culture that is the religious culture of the local Naxi ethnic people. You can see the Dongba pictographs that is called the “Only Alive Pictograph” and the World Memory Heritage, “Road Map of God” that is the "Longest Ancient Religious Painting". Furthermore, you can also appreciate the special buildings rich in Dongba culture with the shadow of the emerald mountains, groups of statues of immortals, etc.
Most painted in Ming dynasty, more than 500 years ago, the Baisha Mural is the great production of Naxi minority nationality. The present remaining murals are full of Dongba culture in rich colors, and all the animals, flowers, grass, figures and so on in vivid looks tell the interesting stories of ancient Naxi people. The murals are really worth to appreciate during your visit to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Dongba Culture - Road Map of God
Precious Baisha Murals of over 500 Years
Travelers usually enjoy 2-3 days in Lijiang to discover Lijiang Old Town (Mufu Palace), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Old Town, Dongba mural paintings, Black Dragon Pool, etc. for a classic savory of this romantic ancient city. Besides, if you are fond of the emerald alpine lake and mysterious matriarchal society culture of Mosuo ethnic culture, you can plan another 2-3 days at Lugu Lake to enjoy more peaceful holiday time!
▶ 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
▶ 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom
Besides, quite a lot of visitors prefer travel Lijiang with Shangri-La where to seek the pure holy sceneries and Tibetan belief to catch the best essence of Yunnan province, which usually needs 5-6 days with best visits to Tiger Leaping Gorge with a memorable trekking experience, Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo National Forest Park, and more.
Recommended Lijiang Shangri-La Tour Package:
▶ 5 Days Lijiang & Shangri-La Highlights Tour
Furthermore, actually most travelers arrange Lijiang city as a part of their Yunnan travel to visit more top destinations in one go, such as Kunming famous as Spring City and convenient province capital, Dali with profound Dali Old Town and splendid Erhai Lake, Yuanyang with terrific rice terraces, Xishuangbanna with exciting tropical flavor and Dai ethnic dances, etc., which usually needs 6-15 days based on your exploration depth!
Recommended Lijiang Yunnan Tour Packages:
▶ 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)
▶ 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)
▶ 11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)
Know more about How to Plan a Lijiang Tour
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge
Yangtze River First Bend
Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La
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