Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
玉龙雪山
A sacred mountain of the Naxi people. Its main peak, Shanzidou, rises to 5,596 meters. Take the main cable car up to the 4,506-meter Glacier Park to see modern glaciers up close. It is Lijiang's most classic one-day trip.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lies about 30 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town. Its 13 peaks run north to south. In Naxi it is called Oulu, and it is regarded as the incarnation of Sanduo, the Naxi guardian deity. The scenic area has three cable car lines: the main cable car (to the Glacier Park, up to a 4,506-meter viewing platform for close views of the glacier and the main peak, round trip about 140 yuan), the Yunshanping cable car (about 3,240 meters, for alpine meadows and snow mountain reflections, about 60 yuan), and the Maoniuping cable car (about 3,700 meters, pastures and snow mountain views, about 60 yuan). You can only choose one of the three.
Blue Moon Valley (White Water River) and Ganhaizi Meadow at the foot of the mountain are included in the visit. The eco-shuttle for the scenic area costs about 20 yuan round trip.
Admission: the entrance fee is about 100 yuan (adjusted to roughly 80 to 100 yuan after 2023, subject to official pricing). Real-name reservations must be made on the official Jade Dragon Snow Mountain platform. The main cable car is very hard to get during peak season, so book 3 to 7 days ahead. If it is sold out, you can choose the Impression Lijiang plus cable car combo ticket.
Classic one-day route: leave before 8 a.m., take the main cable car up to the Glacier Park (stay about an hour), come down to watch Impression Lijiang (a large outdoor live show directed by Zhang Yimou, about 280 yuan, two shows daily, performed even in rain), then Blue Moon Valley, then Ganhaizi and back. The whole trip takes about 6 to 7 hours.
Getting there: the old town has a tourist shuttle bus (about 40 yuan round trip) or you can hire a car (about 200 to 300 yuan per day). Many guesthouses can book a one-day package for you that includes admission, cable car, oxygen, and down jacket rental.
Notes: the altitude sickness risk above 4,506 meters is real. Buy an oxygen canister (about 40 to 60 yuan), walk slowly, and do not run or jump. Temperatures on the mountain are more than 10°C lower than in the city, so rent a down jacket or bring your own. Cable cars are often suspended because of strong winds, so check the notices before setting out. Clouds gather in the afternoon, so try to go up in the morning.
Opening hours
07:00–18:00 (main cable car 07:30–16:00)
Nearby sights
- Glacier Park, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Blue Moon Valley
- Spruce Meadow (Yunshanping)
- Impression Lijiang
- Ganhaizi Meadow
- Yuhu Village
- Yak Meadow (Maoniuping)
- Jade Water Village
Places to eat nearby
- Lijiang Jinmao Hotel - Snow Mountain, Unbound Collection - Xuejingge Restaurant
- Fuxian Xiaoguofan Yunnan Folk Flavor Restaurant (Shuhe Ancient Town Store)
- Apoqing Cured Rib Hotpot (Old Town Flagship Store)
- No. 88 Snack Shop
- Xiaoxike Yunnan Specialty Restaurant (Naxi Courtyard Store)
- Erge Rice Noodles (Lijiang Store)