Located about 15 kilometers north of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a range of snow-capped mountains renowned as the closest snow-capped mountain range to the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. It consists of 13 peaks, with the main peak, Shanzidou, having an elevation of 5,596 meters and remaining snow-covered year-round, of which the snow line ranges between 4,800 and 5,000 meters.
Against the backdrop of the blue sky, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain range looks like a silver jade dragon eternally dancing, hence its name. It is a multifunctional tourist destination for sightseeing, mountain climbing, adventure, and scientific research. During your trip to Lijiang in Yunnan, never miss the charming snow mountain views there.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Facts
- Location: about 15 kilometers north of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
- Elevation: Ranging from 3356 meters to 5596 meters
- Best time to visit: November to April
- Time needed:1 day
- Opening hours: 6:30 – 18:00
- Tickets: CNY 100 per person for the entrance fee (not including cableways: CNY140 for the Glacier Park Cableway, CNY 65 for the Yak Meadow Cableway, and CNY 60 for the Spruce Meadow Cableway)
- Suited to: Adventurous people, hikers
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Geology
Yulong Snow Mountain is a fault-block fold mountain formed by large uplift in Quaternary. The mountain is mainly composed of Devonian and Carboniferous carbonate rocks with a thickness of more than 3000 meters. The main peak fan steep is composed of carboniferous Yulong limestone. In the southern part of the mountain, there are Carboniferous, Permian basalt and limestone interlayer.
At the eastern foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, there are Baishui River (White Water River) and Heishui River (Black Water River). One river bed formed in basalt, while the other in limestone. While the latter is black and yellow, the former’s bottom is completely white gravel.
Things to See & Do in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
1. Cable Car Ride
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has one of China’s highest tourist cable cars, whose vertical height difference is 1,150 meters and length is 2,914 meters. Hence, it’s one of the top things to do on your Yunnan Lijiang tours to explore the beauty of the mountain by riding the cable car. It will take you to the upper station at Shanzidou with an elevation of 4,506 meters. From there, you can view the full panorama of the snow mountain range.
2. Glacier Exploration
The Glacier Park of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a vast snowy field of winter and spring, and it’s one of the best destinations in China for skiing and snow play. Consisting of stone caves and pits formed by glacial erosion, it serves as a Quaternary glacial landform relic. Take a visit there and enjoy a scenic area stretching 2.7 kilometers, where the Baishui No. 1 Glacier is located, which formed 40,000 years ago.
3. Spruce Meadow Touring
Spruce Meadow is a sacred place for the Naxi people, from which you can reach the mythical paradise “The Third Kingdom of Jade Dragon” described in Naxi legends. Standing there, you’ll see the meadow at your feet is gently undulating and stretches for kilometers. Lie in the south of it is the beautiful Blue Moon Valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is also a must-visit attraction on your Yunnan tours to Lijiang.
4. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Skiing
Located at an altitude between 4,500 and 4,700 meters, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain ski resort is the closest natural alpine ski resort to the Earth’s equator and the warmest in the world. For that reason, skiing is possible year-round here, and in winter, the snow mountain reaches its most beautiful season, with thicker snow cover. In addition to skiing, you can also enjoy other snow activities such as snowmobiles, snow off-road vehicles, and snow paragliding.
- Location: at the eastern foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, only 20 kilometers away from Lijiang Ancient City
- Opening hours: 7:00-18:00 (stop selling tickets at 16:00)
5. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Show Experience
Directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou and set against the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a large-scale outdoor performance called “Impression Lijiang Show” attracts countless tourists with its unique charm. It is a visual and auditory feast. Through it, you’ll learn more about the Tea Horse Road’s history and Naxi culture.
Ganhaizi
Ganhaizi, a lake formed by high mountain ice erosion, is situated near the eastern base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is known as “dry Haizi” since the water level has subsequently dropped and even dried up as a result of the snow line rising. Ganhaizi is a plateau meadow surrounded by mountains on three sides, offering a panoramic view of Yulong Snow Mountain. The whole large meadow is about 4 kilometers long and 1.5 kilometers wide, and is overgrown with thick grass and low shrubs.
Ganhaizi is the tourist center of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which can provide tourists with food, accommodation, travel, entertainment, shopping and other services. It features the sole golf course located at the base of a mountain covered with snow. At the highest height in Asia, the golf course boasts the longest fairways in the globe.
Yak Meadow
Yak Meadow is located at the northern end of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang. It covers an area of 16.6 square kilometers. This is a typical meadow pasture where the inhabitants survive off of animal husbandry, folk customs are ancient, and the local culture is distinctive.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking
One of the most beautiful mountains in China, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is also a paradise for hikers, and it offers many different routes for hikers at different levels. That is to say, anyone can have a wonderful hiking trip here. Hiking along the trails that wind through the picturesque landscapes of the snow mountain, you’ll see the vast and green meadows as well as the beautiful lakes.
1. Alpine Meadow Route
Yuhu Village – Alpine Meadow – Yuhu Village (round trip)
Suitable for beginners, this round-trip hiking route is about 9km and takes about 5-6 hours to finish. For this route, hikers will ascend about 900 meters, and the highest point is the Alpine Meadow, which is about 3,600 meters above sea level. Besides, this scenic route allows you to go through grassland and forest, see yaks, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
2. Ganheba Route
Yuhu Village – Longnv Lake – Pine Forest – Ganheba – Milk Lake – Ganhaizi Parking Lot
This is one of the most popular hiking routes preferred by most hikers, and the whole route stretches about 15km and takes about 6-7 hours. Starting a hiking tour of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from Yuhu Village, hikers will ascend about 600 meters and traverse forests, meadows, and the famous Milk Lake, which is a heaven for photographers.
3. Snow Mountain Canyon Route
Yuhu Village – Buckwheat Field – Leech Dam – Xunqing Valley – Sword Bamboo Forest – Quicksand Slope – Grand Canyon
This is a challenging route that extends 18km, with an ascending elevation of 1800 meters. Usually, it is suitable for experienced hikers and takes 9-10 hours to complete. When reaching the highest point, you’ll see the majestic Grand Canyon. If there is no mist, you can view the main peak of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Milk Lake in the distance.
Tips for Hiking Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Be sure to take sun protection seriously—wear long pants and long sleeves. A headscarf and sunglasses are also Besides, the weather in the mountains can change rapidly, so bringing a rain jacket is also highly advisable.
- Bring trekking poles. They not only better protect your knees but also help conserve energy.
- There are no supplies available along the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain hiking route, so make sure to bring plenty of water and food.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Weather & Best Time to Visit
Located in the southern temperate plateau monsoon climate zone, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China features distinct mountain monsoon characteristics and has a distinct wet and dry season. More specifically, November to April of the following year marks the dry season, with dry and minimal rainfall; and May to October is the wet season, during which over 90% of the annual rainfall is recorded.
Besides, temperature variations of the snow mountain range are moderate, with mild seasons and no extreme summer heat. The average annual temperature is 12.79°C. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 17.9°C, while the coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 5.9°C.
Therefore, the best time to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang is in the dry season from November to April when the surroundings are beautiful and there is enough snow for activities like skiing.
How to Get to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Take a flight or train to Lijiang City first since the snow mountain is located there. Then, head to Lijiang Old Town and take a direct tour bus to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area.
Besides, if you want to hike the snow mountain, you can take a taxi from Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’s Yuhu Village, which takes about 40 minutes.
Attractions Nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Lijiang Old Town: This is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town situated near Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Visiting there, you can walk in narrow cobbled streets, admire the ancient architecture, and indulge in the local delicacies as well as the vibrant
- Tiger Leaping Gorge: Located upstream of the Jinsha River, the gorge stretches 17 kilometers in length with a winding path of 25 kilometers. As one of the deepest gorges in the world, it is a popular destination favored by hikers.
- Baisha Village: Being the origin of the Lijiang chieftainship of the “Mu family,” this village is the most historically preserved Naxi ancient town and represents the most original Naxi village.
