Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Walking Tour | China’s Most Famous Snow Mountain | Lijiang, Yunnan | 玉龙雪山

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Park is located in the southern part of China directly east from the top of Myanmar. Sitting near Lijiang in the Yulong province, the national park is also known as Yulong National Park or Lijiang Yulong National Park. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is an enormous mountain with an elevation of 18,360 feet (5,596 m). There are several peaks on the massive mountain with the highest summit accounted for by Shanzidou peak. The mountain is also known as Mount Yulong as well as Yulong Snow Mountain. The mountain is the anchor of the Yulong Mountain range which continues further north. Black Dragon Pool is a pond located in the Jade Spring Park near Elephant Hill. This is considered one of the more scenic views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Views of the mountain during an ascent are also breathtaking. There is a cable car that takes visitors to an observation platform sitting at 14,783 feet (4,506 m) with stunning views of the mountain. The more adventurous can continue hiking up to a second observation area at 15,350 (4,680 m) which provides better glimpses of the snowy summit. Blue Moon Valley is a white river that runs through the valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain creating cascading waterfalls, four lakes separated by falls, and large boulders complementing the incredible landscape. Located between 10004’-10016’east longitude and 2703’-2740’ 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. According to the research of geologists, for about 400 million years the area around Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was the ocean and it was during the last 600 thousand years that the different landscapes had come into being because of the uprising of the lithosphere. Archaic legend about this mysterious and beautiful place goes like this: Once upon a time, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain were twins. They had lived on panning in Golden Sand River until one day an evil fiend usurped the river. The brothers were very brave and had a fierce fight with the fiend, Haba died in the fight and Jade Dragon drove off the fiend after wearing out 13 swords. For guarding the people and preventing the return of the fiend, Jade Dragon held the 13 swords in hands day and night. As time passed, the brothers had turned into the two snow mountains, and the 13 swords had become the 13 peaks. The mountain is a holy place for the local Naxi people not only because of the legend, but also because long time ago, it was a place for young lovers to sacrifice their young lives in honor of true love and to escape from the arranged marriages and feudal ethics. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a sanctuary for rare animals and wild plants. In fact, one fourth of all plant species in China can be found here and 20 primeval forest communities shelter a big family of 400 types of trees and 30 kinds of animals which are protected by the state. These species live in different temperature levels and create different kinds of views. The 13 peaks, which have the altitudes of at least 4,000 meters, are covered by snow all year round; the mountain is also called the “Natural Glacier Museum“ for it has all types of glacier. Move down from the mountaintop and you can see rivers and pools, which are formed by the thawed snow water running along the valley and through the forests. The plants and the animals are different according to the altitude, so are the views. Every sight brings you a surprise and every step takes you to a new scene. Each of the meadows on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has its own special character due to their different landscape and height. For instance, Spruce Plateau (Yunshan Plateau) is grassland with gigantic spruces whilst Ganhaizi (Dry Sea Meadow) used to be a highland lake as its name tells, the meadow was formed after the water had dried up. Besides, the Glacier Park in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain consists of the Stone Caves formed by glacial erosion. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain now is more than a ski resort but a famous scenic spot for sightseeing, hiking, mountaineering, skiing, exploration, scientific research and taking holiday. Besides, widespread legends and myths of the Naxi ethnic minority and the unclimbed Shanzidou are all important attractive spots for those who come here. 0:00 Intro 0:58 Walking Towards Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 7:30 Blue Moon Valley 30:30 Glacier Park On the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 39:58 Walking Towards Jade Dragon Snow Mountain In Downtown Lijiang #Yulong #Lijiang