With an area of 396 k㎡, the Jade Dragon Snow mountain scape area includes the Snow mountain and part of its east area. Famous for its ice and snow sights, altiplano and meadow attractions, virgin forest and landscape, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the core area of Lijiang Old Town's natural sight. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the highest mountainous region among the Yunlin mountain chain; it is also the mountain of the lowest latitude in the Northern Hemisphere with glacier. The mountain is formed by 13 mountains with the average height of over 5000 meters (3.105 miles); its peak mountain named Shanzidou which is as steep as a fan, with a height of 5596 meters (3.48 miles), is the second highest mountain in Yunnan. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is honored as the holy mountain in Naxi ethnic group; they think the mountain is the incarnation of their guardian. The mountain is also named as"Boshioulu"by the Naxi ethnic group which means silver mountain rock. The 13 mountains stretch 50 km (31.05 miles) from north to south like a jade dragon jumping over, hence its name Jade Dragon. It has another name"Black&White Snow Mountain"because the mountain is mainly formed by lime stone and basalt which are black and white.
According to the research of geologists, for about 400 million years the area around Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was the ocean and it was during the last 600 thousand years that the different landscapes had come into being because of the uprising of the lithosphere. Archaic legend about this mysterious and beautiful place goes like this: Once upon a time, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain were twins. They had lived on panning in Golden Sand River until one day an evil fiend usurped the river. The brothers were very brave and had a fierce fight with the fiend, Haba died in the fight and Jade Dragon drove off the fiend after wearing out 13 swords. For guarding the people and preventing the return of the fiend, Jade Dragon held the 13 swords in hands day and night. As time passed, the brothers had turned into the two snow mountains, and the 13 swords had become the 13 peaks. The mountain is a holy place for the local Naxi people not only because of the legend, but also because long time ago, it was 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.
| Ropeway Fare | Admission Fee |
|---|---|
| Glacier Park: CNY180 for the big ropeway (round-trip). | CNY 130 for the entrance charge |
| Yak Level Ground: CNY 60 for the middle ropeway (round-trip), CNY 30 for a single trip. | CNY 190 for the Impression Lijiang Show. |
| Spruce Level Ground: CNY 55 for the small ropeway (round-trip), CNY 27.5 for a single trip. | CNY 230 for a combo ticket (valid for two days). It includes the snow mountain, Yushui Village (also called Jade Water Village), Dongba Valley, Yufeng Temple, Yuzhu Qingtian Scenic Resort, Dongba Kingdom, Dongba Gods' Garden and Baisha Mural). |