Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Cableway with Scenic Train Tour

The Jade Dragon (Yulong) Snow Mountain is noted as the southernmost snow mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. As a must-see attraction in Lijiang City, Yulong Snow Mountain is made up of 13 peaks with the highest one, Shanzidou, rising 5596 meters above sea level. The mountain range stretches 35 kilometers from north to south and 15 kilometers from west to east. The snowy and fog-shrouded mountain looks like a giant jade dragon seen from Lijiang Old Town, hence the name ''Jade Dragon Snow Mountain''.

Baishui River runs through a deep valley named Blue Moon Valley, which has the shape of crescent moon and when it is sunny the water looks blue. Seen from a distance, the valley is like a blue moon at the bottom of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Watch the Impression Lijiang Performance at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Impression Lijiang is an 1 hour magnificent singing and dancing performance demonstrating the traditions and lifestyle of the local ethnic people by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. The show is staged outdoors at 3,100 meters above sea level with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the breathtaking backdrop.

Take the Glacier Park cableway to the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Glacier Park is located on the Shanzidou Peak. There are totally 19 oceanic glaciers on the peak, including hanging glaciers and cirque glaciers. The cableway to the glacier park is the one of the highest elevation in Asia with a length of 2914 meters and a vertical drop of 1150 meters. After walking out of the cableway, tourists can walk to the highest viewing platform of the mountain at 4580 meter above sea level.

Take a shuttle to the Yunshanping Cableway to visit the Spruce Meadows. Spruce Meadow is a huge lawn hidden in the original spruce forest, with an elevation of 3,240 meters. Watch the beautiful scenery. The colors of the lawn change in four seasons and the forest on the edge of the meadow form a natural barrier with the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Enjoy folk dances around the Spruce Meadow, you will see some girls dressed in bright ethnic clothing, they dance on the meadows and in the forests. Those wear sheepskin capes are Naxi girls, while the ones wear hats made of colored threads are Dai girls. Near the Spruce Meadow, you will find the Baishui River which is the upper reach of the famous Yangtze River in China. The bed of Baishui River presents a color of grey white as it is composed of sedimentary crushed limestone, when the thawing water flows through it. The river seems white and thus the name Baishui River (literally White Water River).

The Yak Plateau is a part of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, where the Yi and the Tibetan ethnic minorities live. The local people live on stock raising, inheriting their own pristine custom and culture. As a typical pasture, the Yak Plateau is accompanied with snow mountain scenery, crystal Heishui River and dense primeval forest, framing a tranquil painting of nature. With carpet of colorful flowers in spring, cushion of green grasses in summer, golden lawn in autumn and snow-capped sights in winter, the plateau is an ideal place to feel the different looks and beauties of nature.

Watch the Golden Sunshine on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Yushui Village is located about 15 kilometers north of Lijiang City, at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain in Baisha Town. The scenery of the village is natural and simple, especially the ethereal and clear water scenery is amazing. It is also the sacred place of Dongba religion for the Naxi people, and you can learn about the unique and splendid Naxi culture about sacrificial offerings and paper making.