Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, VIP Impression Lijiang & Dongba Valley

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''.

Baisha Old Town is one of the oldest towns in Lijiang City. It got its name “Baisha” meaning “white sand” from the natural white sand in the area. It was the cradle-land of the Tusi Dynasty evolved from the Mu Clan. It was also the earliest settlement of the Naxi people. In ancient times, Baisha was a center of silk embroidery in southwest China and an important place on the Ancient Tea and Horse Road.

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.

Shuhe Ancient Town, also named Longquan Village (which literally means dragon spring village), is located in the north of Lijiang Ancient City. In Naxi language, Shuhe means "a village at the foot of a peak". As the earliest habitation for Naxi ancestors, Shuhe Ancient Town is regarded as a living specimen of the Naxi ancestors' transition from an agriculture civilization to a commercial culture. Similar to Lijiang Ancient City, Shuhe Ancient Town is surrounded by a murmuring river and interlaced with smooth flagging. It is a compact village hidden in the forest, and it lies near mountains and rivers. It is a more peaceful, smaller version of Lijiang Ancient City.

Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭) is located 1km north of Lijiang Old Town at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain. If you plan a trip to Lijiang Old Town, the Black Dragon Pool Park is the place you can’t miss for it is the best place to overlook and take photos of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Black Dragon Pool is also the water source of Lijiang Old Town, the spring water is clear like a jade. When the weather is fine, you may appreciate the beautiful sight integrating pure water, snow mountain and azure sky.

Beside the amazing natural scenery, Black Dragon Pool also has the most concentrated national-level culture relics in Lijiang. Wandering around the park, you may see numerous ancient architectures built in Ming or Qing Dynasty. There are two wonders to appreciate in the park, one is the two-never-blend-pool, the other is the 3 Unique Trees from different dynasties.

Lashi Lake, on the southern slope of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and 10 km (6.2 miles) from Lijiang Old Town, is part of the Lijiang – Lashihai Plateau Wetland Nature Reserve. It is a paradise for migrant birds and thousands of them stay here over winter every year. It is also the origin of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

Located about 15 kilometers North of Lijiang Old Town, the Yuhu village, belonging to the Naxi minority, is the last village of the valley; and is situated at the foot of the Jade Dragon Mountain in Lijiang. The houses, built with unique rocks called “monkey head”, sort of mix of the rocks and dried earth, makes the village looks the same as it was in the beginning of the 20th century when Joseph Rock chose this place as his residence place.

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 Golden Sunrise or Sunshine on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at Dongba Valley