Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Lies to the north of Yulong County in Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a famous branch of the western Yunling Mountains, extending 35 kilometers from south to north and 25 kilometers from east to west. Regarded as the North Holy Mountain by Naxi people, it has been the focus well-known all over the world, which brings to people not only the known sightseeing but also a sense of unknown thrills.

Variety of plants

Reputed as the southernmost low-latitude modern glacier in the Northern Hemisphere and the highest peak south of the Yangtze River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is abundant in valuable plants, such as trees, rare herbs, and flowers grow at different altitudes on the mountain’s slopes. Many famous flowers like azalea, primrose, and orchid are blossoming during the late spring and early summer.

How it got its name

Standing on the east of the Jinsha River, the mountain is lofty and tall which looks like a jade pillar supporting to the sky. Being snowcapped all the year round, the main peak has a silhouette shaped like a dragon’s head while the other peaks linked with each other followed in a line, as if a transparent jade dragon lying on the top. Hence, the mountain is named Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

The holy mountain

The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has been a holy mountain in the heart of Naxi people since the ancient time. Pi Luoge, the king of the Nanzhao Kingdom, followed the example set by central China’s Emperors and designated five mountains as sacred peaks. As one of these five mountains, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is called the North Mountain. In Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Kublai Khan called it the “Emperor King of Holy Icy Stone Bringing Peace and Stability to the Country”. Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Naxi people have regarded the mountain as their patron god “Sanduo” and worshipped it.

It is also a place for young lovers to sacrifice their young lives in honor of true love and to escape from the arranged marriages and feudal ethics.

Who have explored here

The Ming geographer Xu Xiake travelled here and gasped in admiration upon seeing the mountain. Since the early twentieth century, explorers and botanists from home and abroad had also left their footprints here. Two of the most famous were Dr. Joseph Rock, an American botanist, and Peter Goullart, a Russian explorer.

What to see

The landscape of the Jade Snow Mountain is unique and beautiful which can be classified into four categories: snow, spring, forest and meadow landscapes. It owns the gorgeous "Twelve Scenes" such as the "Fog in March" and the "Cloud Belt in June."

Main peak---Shanzidou

Listed as the highest peak in the lowest northern latitude in the world, Shanzidou has been an important goal for hikers who explore the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Confronted to the Haba Snow Mountain, it resembles a sharp sword towering to the sky with an elevation of 5,596 meters. Pilots could see it clearly hundreds of miles away in the midair.

Yunshanping (Spruce Plateau)

Yunshanping is rated as “the third kingdom for double suicides” for Naxi people. It is recorded in the Dongba Scripture that there are endless silks, brocades, fruits and wine. In fact, Yunshanping is a piece of grassland between trees with the area of 0.5 square kilometers. Dead twigs, withered leaves and lush lichen make it a natural paradise with no distraction. Legend has it those young couples who suicide for their love here can gain immortal happiness since their souls had entered the “Third Heaven of Jade Dragon”.

Baishui River

Also named Blue Moon Valley, Baishui River is a natural scenic spot that mud on the lakebed is white which changes the river white during rainy days while in sunny days the water is clear and blue, in addition to the crescent shaped valley, it is more like a blue moon inlaying under the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain when seen from the distance. Around the river is lush forest backing to the beautiful snow mountains. Looking around, transparent blue, fresh green and white cloud endow the scene a fairy land.

Legend

There goes a magical story among the Naxi people that Jade Dragon Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain was a pair of twin brothers who shared their life together by panning for gold in Jinsha River. One day, a ferocious devil occurred and occupied the river. Panning in the river was not allowed since then which angered the two brothers. They took their swords to fight with the devil. Unfortunately, the little brother Haba’s head was cut off by the devil; while the elder brother Jade Dragon insisted fighting against the devil. Finally the devil was driven away after Jade Dragon’s 13 swords had been broken. Thence, Haba was turned into the Haba Snow Mountain without head. In order to prevent the demon’s intrusion again, Jade Dragon held his 13 swords day and night, and then also turned into 13 snow peaks at last. Jade Dragon in the story has been the spiritual prop of the Naxi and Sanduo, the God of Jade Dragon, is the greatest protector of the Naxi people.

The best time to visit

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is heavily forested in spring, the mountain bursts into bloom every spring with camellias, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Herders take their cattle, goats, sheep, and yaks to graze on its slopes. In autumn, some of the pine trees turn amber yellow, while the deciduous trees transmute their green leaves into patches of bright yellow, orange, and scarlet.

Snow Tea

Sourcing from the Jade Dragon Mountain, snow tea is as white as snow which tastes nice. Grow in the moss land between 4,000 and 4,200 meters snow line, it is a traditional wild medicine material to cure sore throat and dental ulcer. It is also a kind of natural health drink that can reduce blood pressure.