Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
At 35 km from Lijiang, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain which stretches 20 km wide and 35 km long, is located in the northernmost part of the Himalayas. It is one of the last glaciers still present in the southern part of the Northern Hemisphere.
Its 13 peaks covered in snow throughout the year all rise above 4,000 meters. The Shanzidou summit dominates the landscape from its height of 5,996 meters.
The mountain is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. In spring, this mountain is carpeted with thousands of small flowers, and yaks and Tibetan horses roam among them, grazing leisurely. Jade Dragon Mountain is a sacred mountain for the Naxi minority, and where lovers devoted their true love to escape arranged marriages and feudal practices.
From the starting point, several cable cars and chairlifts serve the site at several altitude levels. A path laid out in the heart of a preserved forest at an altitude of 3500m presents no difficulties and allows you to observe the biodiversity of this part of Yunnan.
There is also the possibility of climbing beyond 4000m of altitude, but it is advisable to equip oneself with adequate clothing and oxygen bottles (available for rent in the lower part of the site).
What to Do in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?
Impressing Lijiang
Put together by the great director Zhang Yi Mou, most renowned for his work on the Beijing Olympics’ Opening Ceremony, this outdoor theater happens to be set over sea level by about 3300 meters. The Jade Dragon Mountain is used as a backdrop for it. This cultural show utilizes more than 500 actors and performers of different ethnic minorities, each of which articulates a narrative that celebrates the unique traditions of all 11 ethnic minorities residing in Lijiang.
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