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Exploring Yunnan’s 5A-Lever Scenic Spot - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Exploring Yunnan’s 5A-Lever Scenic Spot - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, located in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, is considered a sacred mountain by the Naxi people. It is one of the first AAAA-level tourist attractions in China, a national geological park, and a forest oxygen bar in China. With its unique natural scenery and rich tourism resources, it attracts countless tourists every year.

Within the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area, there are several top attractions such as Ganhaizi, Glacier Park, Spruce Meadow, Yak Meadow, Blue Moon Valley, and the performance "Impression Lijiang." It is praised as the "Holy Mountain of the Naxi People."

Suggested Tour Route:

Tour Sequence: Spruce Meadow - Blue Moon Valley - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - Spruce Meadow - Blue Moon Valley

(Since you need to buy a cable car ticket to ascend Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, tickets for the afternoon are generally easier to get than in the morning; in the morning, you can capture photos of Blue Moon Valley with the snow mountain in the background. In the afternoon, the sun in the valley is blocked, and the scenery isn't as beautiful.)

Spruce Meadow:

Known as a must-visit place when touring the snow mountain. Here, mountains, forests, and meadows are all within reach. The first scene you encounter is a winding boardwalk through the forest. Strolling here, you can smell the fragrance of the vegetation and hear birds chirping occasionally. Passing through the forest, the scenery opens up to large meadows and the snow mountain right in front of you.

Blue Moon Valley:

A sapphire embedded at the foot of the snow mountain, and a dreamlike paradise. The crystal-clear blue lake reflects the snow mountain, offering endless breathtaking views. Walking along the lake, the scenery captivates your thoughts, making you want to immerse yourself in this blue paradise.

The park shuttle bus takes you directly to the Blue Moon Valley stop. You can enjoy the scenery as you descend the valley, and there are electric cars available within the park. After touring Blue Moon Valley, you can navigate to the Blue Moon Valley parking lot and take the shuttle bus to Shuoyue Pavilion. After getting off, climb the stairs to return to the visitor center and then take the shuttle bus to the cable car station.

Note: Blue Moon Valley shuttle bus queues on the first floor, while the snow mountain shuttle bus queues on the second floor.

Glacier Park:

After Blue Moon Valley, head to Glacier Park. Take the large cable car and slowly ascend, observing the mountain forests and rugged rocks. Once off the cable car, you’ll be greeted by the majestic 4506-meter-high snow mountain, with snow-covered peaks and the wind whispering the mountain’s tales. Climb to the top at 4680 meters, where you can see the rolling sea of clouds.

Glacier Park is located on the northeast slope of the Fanzi Peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It has 19 temperate marine glaciers and rich modern and ancient glacial remains, representing the essence of glaciers in the mid and low latitudes globally. It has significant national geological scientific value and high aesthetic value, making it rare both domestically and internationally. Thus, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is one of the rare city snow mountains worldwide. Glacier Park is the only glacial national geological park in China, the largest glacial tourist destination, and is renowned alongside the Lucerne Glacier Park in Switzerland, known as the "Crystal Palace of Lucerne." It features the "Green Snow Peaks," one of the "Twelve Scenes of Jade Dragon."

Note: Climb the snow mountain slowly, as some steps are quite steep. If you feel out of breath, stop immediately, rest, and take some oxygen. When resting, lean on the railing or sit, but avoid squatting as it can cause oxygen deficiency. Some people feel fine climbing but get dizzy on the descent. Don’t sleep immediately after returning; instead, go to a well-ventilated area to rest. If dizzy, continue taking oxygen and avoid alcohol and showers that evening.

Transportation:

By Plane: 

Many cities have direct flights to Lijiang Sanyi Airport. From the airport, take the airport shuttle bus directly to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area.

By Train: 

From Lijiang Railway Station, take a bus or taxi to the scenic area.

By Bus: 

Long-distance buses from cities like Dali and Kunming can also directly reach Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area.

By Lijiang City Bus: 

Bus route 101 goes directly to the scenic area, starting from Zhongyi Market. The first bus departs at 7:00 AM and the last bus at 5:00 PM, with a fare of 15 yuan per person and a travel time of one and a half hours.