Yak Meadow

» Lijiang, Yun Nan

Yak Meadow Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Yak Meadow, an important component of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, lies at the northern tip of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It begins from Liming Road in the east, and ends at the Black Water River in the south. Its west is the east side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and its north is the upper part of Xuehua Village. It covers an area of 16.6 square kilometers.

How it got its name

Main residents in this scenic area are the Yi minority nationality and Tibetans. Yak Meadow got its name because the local people like to pasture their Yak here.

Four seasons on the Yak Meadow

On the Yak Meadow, full bloom flowers are as brilliant as brocade in spring. In summer, the grass looks like a green carpet. Yaks with black and white skin wander in grass and all kinds of flowers. In autumn, all plants are growing luxuriantly. In winter, the meadow is dressed in white snow. The mild edge of th meadow becoms a sharp contrast with the peaks of the snow mountain. The picturesque Yak Meadow is an incomparable holy place for sightseeing and vacationing.

What to see

Yak Meadow is a representative pastureland. The scenery of snowfield in the high mountain accompanies the brook of the Black Water River. Taking the natural and quiet primitive forests as the center, scenery in Yak Meadow is colorful and breathtaking.

High latitude and wide meadow give you a board view. Looking down at Ganhaizi, Yunshanping and continuous mountains, you will find that the snow mountain is so close to you. Clouds circle around the waist of mountain. Cool wind gently blows on your face. All the things here are so peaceful and beautiful.

The gorge is divided into three sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Hutiao. At the narrowest spot the river is only 30 meters wide. The mouth of the gorge is 1,800 meters above sea level. The river is flanked by Yulong and Haba snow mountains, with a height difference of 3,900 meters. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge

Flowing through Shigu Town, the Jinsha River is flanked by the Yulong Snow Mountain to the east and the Haba Snow Mountain to the west.

From the top of the Yulong Snow Mountain to the bottom of the gully is a drop of 3,700 meters, making it 1,800 meters deeper than the Colorado Grand Canyon, while the Haba Snow Mountain slopes gradually in its upper regions and is steeper further down. The mountain is 5,396 meters above sea level and the lowest point on the bank of the Jinsha River is 1,550 meters above sea level. The two mountains flanking the Jinsha River form a 15-km Gorge -- Tiger Leaping Gorge, further classified into the upper, middle and lower Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge is the narrowest section, and in the center of the river is a huge rock called Tiger Leaping Rock. It is said that a tiger once leapt from the east bank, clearing the rock, to land on the west bank, hence its name.

Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge

The most perilous section is the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, which features a huge drop in water level. Six km away from the upper gorge is a waterfall where the river crashes down over 100 meters hitting the rocks in the river bed and creating violent currents.

In one 100-meter section are numerous reefs, and the current is torrential. The gorge is rarely traversed by humans, but on the slope between the Middle and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge there is a small village -- Hetaoyuan Village, which has little contact with the outside, and where villagers lead a simple and natural life, dwelling in stone-plate houses.

Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge

The most important sight in the lower gorge is the Feixing Rapids, from which people can look down on the unconstrained Jinshajiang River. A 32 km long road from the Haba Mountain to Jiangbian Village has been opened to traffic, but traveling on foot is much more interesting.

From Wlanut Grove to Haba, via Jiangbian, it is seven to eight hours. From here to the Yi village of Sanba is about the same, following trails. You could just follow the road and hitch with the occasional truck or tracker but this way is longer and less scenic. Some hardy mountain bikers have followed the trails but this is really only fun from north to south, elevations being what they are. The best way would be to hire a guide.

In Haba most people stay at Haba Snow Mountain Inn; In Sanba the Shanzhuangluguan. From Sanba there is an 8 am bus to Zhongdian (five hours), or you could get off at the turn-off to Emerald Pagoda Lake (Bita Lake, 25 km east of Zhongdia) and hike there.

Villagers here

With customs of primitive simplicity, and strong minority nationality's culture, the villagers mainly live on husbandry.

What to eat

When you arrive the summit, have a simple Tibetan style breakfast at the moutain top! Hot Yak milk is something that can not be missed, at this moment, this place.

Getting the summit

Service of a Cable car transfer to the summit is available. Highly recommend you to leave the town of Dayan earlier in the morning, to take the cable car. Usually it is very crowded from 9:00 in the morning. So you'd better leave the town at 7:00a.m., and drive one hour to the Yak Meadow.

Tour sites near here

Follow the trekking trail and walk around the forest. Yulong Snow Mountain is the spititual prop of the Naxi. The God of Jade Dragon, Sanduo, is the greatest protector of the Naxi people.

When to go

The best time to visit Yak Meadow is from April to July to enjoy the temperate spring and summer temperatures. The flowers for which Yunnan is famous are at their peak in late spring, from the middle to late May.

Trekking Routes in Tiger Leaping Gorge

There are three routes. One can start from Hutiaoxia Town along the river to Daju in Lijiang County, or go upstream from Daju. The third route sets out from Hutiaoxia Town to Hetao-yuan and is 28 km in length.

An adventurous add-on to the gorge trek is to continue north all the way to Haba village and the limestone terraces of Baishuitai, making it a four-day trek from Qiaotou. From here you will travel on to Zhongdian.

Attractions around » Lijiang, Yun Nan

Natural Scene

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Lake Luguhu
• Yak Meadow
• The First Bend of the Yangtze
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Dongba Valley
• Yuquan Park

Historical Site

• Lijiang Old Town
• Shuhe Naxi Village
• Mural in Baisha Village
• Former Residence of Rock
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Stone Drum Town
• Mu Family Mansion

Cultural Site

• Former Residence of Rock
• Dongba Museum
• Yuquan Park

Nightlife

• Impression Lijiang

Shopping & Leisure

• Square Street

Yak Meadow Highlights

Ancient Tea Horse Road attraction highlights

• Lijiang Old Town
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Shangri-la
• Lake Luguhu
• Yak Meadow
• Butterfly Spring
• Dali Ancient City
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Dongba Valley

city highlights

• Lhasa
• Shangri-la
• Lijiang
• Dali
• Gyangtze
• Tsetang

Grassland in Great China

• Yak Meadow
• Sangke Grassland
• Xilamuren Prairie
• Huitengxile Grassland
• Nanshan Pasture

Yak Meadow FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?
2. When is the best time to go there?

  Shopping

1. Do bargain

  Travel

1. Cable car cautions

  Other Hints

1. Beware of the religious hooligans
2. Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?
3. Toilet Facilities
4. Altitude sickness
5. Avoid busy holidays
6. OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?
7. Useful Phone Numbers
8. Emergency Numbers

• Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?

  It rains a lot in July and August. That's important to know because heavy rains can trigger rock and mud slides, which can block roads. This can cause long travel delays or even cancelled plans (such as your trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge).

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• When is the best time to go there?

  April and October is two ideal months suitable to visit Lijiang. The temperature is pleasant and it doesn't rain as often.

  January and February are not superlative months either because of wintry temperatures.

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• Toilet Facilities

  A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

• Do bargain

  Souvenir prices tend to rise the closer you get to Sifang Square. And remember, always negotiate. You should be able to lower the initial price by 30%, sometimes more.

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• Cable car cautions

  Wear warm clothes. It's freezing where you'll be going (a lookout near the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). Winter parkas can be rented before you board the cable car gondolas. The same is true for oxygen bottles, for those who may need one.

  To avoid long, time-consuming lines waiting to board the gondolas, go early or late in the day. But before leaving Lijiang for the ride, find out if the high-elevation viewing platforms are expected to be shrouded in clouds when you'll be there. If so, you won't see much, including the stunning panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.

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• Beware of the religious hooligans

  Watch out the religious hooligans when you visit the Black Dragon Pool Park in Lijiang. It will be nighmare if you do. Specifically there was a so-called Dongba Culture Institution, you are right, the lexicon should think about giving a amendment to this word if they insist calling themselves an 'institution'.

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• Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?

  A number of public IC card telephones have been installed in the Old Town, and some stores in the Old Town provide public telephones with which visitors can make direct domestic and international calls. Mobile phones can also be used freely within the area of the Old Town.

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• Toilet Facilities

  A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

• Altitude sickness

  Before your respiratory and circulatory systems adjust to a high elevation, your body suffers to some degree from oxygen deprivation. That's altitude sickness. Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness and headaches - and difficulty in catching your breath when, for example, walking up steps.

  The best defense is not to go suddenly from one altitude to a much higher one. Do your upward journeys in stages so your lungs can more readily adapt to thinner air.

  We recommend that you do not travel from a low-altitude city (such as Beijing or Xian) to Lijiang on the same day. Instead, spend at least one full day in Kunming to acclimate your body to its relatively thin air (spend the time visiting the nearby Stone Forest, a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner). This will help prepare your body for the even thinner air in Lijiang. Stay there for at least a day or two before heading to Zhongdian or Deqin, where the air is even more rarified

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• Avoid busy holidays

  During some holidays, hot destinations are packed with tourists, bringing you inconvenience or even unpleasantness, and also unless you have firm hotel reservations, skip these ultra-popular Chinese holiday periods (or you may end up without a room):

  • Spring Festival (Lunar New Year celebration). Its start date varies from year to year, anywhere from mid-January to mid-February.
  • May Day - Occurs during the first two weeks in May.
  • National Day - Takes place in the first two weeks in October.

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• OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?

  Well, calm down first. It's easy to get lost in Lijiang Ancient Town because of its labyrinth of meandering passageways. But that's part of the enjoyment because you will discover picturesque alleys that you would not have seen otherwise.

  Before you leave your hotel, do write down the name of the hotel in both English and Chinese. Taxis can be easily found in the city so you can just grab a taxi and show your address. If you are at a far place where you cannot find a taxi, please call 110 and ask the police for help.

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• Useful Phone Numbers

  • Tourist Complaint: 5123432
    
  • Lijiang Airport Inquiry Telephone: 5173081
    
  • Scheduled Flights and Ticket Inquiries: 5161289 5161291 5173079
    
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• Emergency Numbers

  • Fire: 119
    
  • Ambulance: 120
    
  • Police: 110
    
  • Traffic: 122
    
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