Yunshanping: A Pilgrimage from the Secret Realm of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the Love Holy Land of Naxi

The Name of Immortal Fate - The "Land of Love Death" of the Naxi People
Yunshanping, also known as "Youwu Pavilion" in Naxi language, means "the place where love dies". In the ancient Dongba Sutra legend of the Naxi people, this is the entrance to the "Jade Dragon Third Country". Legend has it that when lovers in love are hindered from being able to unite in the world, they will choose to come to this sacred meadow, end their lives, and hope that their souls can enter a utopia without suffering, only love and freedom - the "Jade Dragon Third Country". This poignant and tragic legend has draped a mysterious and sacred veil over Yunshanping, surpassing its simple scenery and becoming a cultural holy land carrying the Naxi people's views on life and death and love.

The Road to Rebirth - The Ecological Treasure House Left by Glacier Retreat
The geological story of Yunshanping is an epic intertwined with glaciers and the power of life. Tens of thousands of years ago, a huge glacier covered this area. As the climate warmed, the glacier gradually retreated, leaving behind U-shaped glacial troughs. Glaciers transport and accumulate rock blocks (glacial till) to form natural dams, which allow surface water to converge and nourish abundant grasslands. And the surrounding towering fir and spruce forests take root here with a stable climate, jointly guarding the pure land at the foot of this snow capped mountain. Nowadays, as the core attraction of the Yulong Snow Mountain National Scenic Area, it showcases the wonders of geological changes and the resilience of life to the world.

In depth understanding: Explore more secrets of Chinese snow capped mountains>>Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Natural Creation - Trio of Snow Mountains, Forests, and Meadows
The landscape here is a three-dimensional painting with clear layers from far to near. The greatest charm of Yunshanping lies in its unparalleled mountain viewing perspective. Passing through the dark forest, the main peak of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with its steep fan and thirteen continuous snow peaks, stands unobstructed in front of me, with a majestic momentum just within reach. To reach the meadow, one must cross a 800 meter long mountain primitive forest boardwalk, where towering spruce and fir trees block the sky and the trunks are covered in misty pine vines. The sunlight shines through the dense forest, forming paths of Jesus light, full of tranquility and mystery. Stepping out of the forest, you will arrive at the open and flat Yunshanping meadow, where various high mountain wildflowers dot the sky in spring and summer. The winding wooden boardwalk guides tourists to approach this fragile yet beautiful ecosystem with the lightest steps.

Humanistic Craftsmanship - Faith and Path Through Time and Space
The humanistic atmosphere of Yunshanping lies not in its magnificent architecture, but in its intangible legends and tangible reverence for nature. The meadow itself is a huge cultural field, serving as the entrance to the legendary "Jade Dragon Third Country" of the Naxi people. Walking through it, one can imagine the sacred attachment of Naxi lovers to this place. This cultural heritage endows the scenery in front of them with a deep emotional warmth. In order to protect the fragile high mountain ecology, the scenic area has built a wooden boardwalk that runs through the forest and meadow, which is a direct reflection of the modern ecological protection concept. The Mani piles or prayer flags that can sometimes be seen along the boardwalk add a diverse blessing color to this secret realm.

Photography tips:
The best panoramic camera position is located on the boardwalk in the north central part of the meadow, which can simultaneously capture the foreground meadow, the mid-range forest, and the complete snow capped mountains in the background. In the middle section of the forest boardwalk, trees are used as frames to capture the snow capped mountains with a layered effect. Capture the texture of snow capped mountains and glaciers with a telephoto lens, and wait for the miracle of a golden mountain under soft morning or evening light.

Unlock the five core experiences of Shengping Journey
To fully experience Yunshanping, you can: On a sunny morning or afternoon, in the center of the meadow or at the forest exit, dressed in bright clothing or Naxi ethnic costumes, take a set of secret realm photos with towering snow mountains as the background; Slow down your pace, walk deeply on the quiet boardwalk through the primitive spruce forest, breathe pure air, and complete the inner transition from the world to the secret realm; Sitting quietly on the observation deck of the meadow facing the snow capped mountains, gazing at the movement of light on the snow capped peaks, feeling the passage of time and the eternity of nature, this is the most essential spiritual experience; Before visiting, learn about the beautiful legend of the "Jade Dragon Third Country" and enjoy the scenery with the story, making every blade of grass and every tree full of profound meaning; Finally, take a moderate intensity lightweight plateau hike along the circular meadow boardwalk, completing a gentle challenge and baptism of body and mind surrounded by snow capped mountains.

Suggested tour routes
Half day "essence Series" Tour (standard itinerary of Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Spot):
In the morning, take the environmental protection car from Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area to Yunshanping Cableway Station, take the sightseeing cableway up, hike through the primitive forest boardwalk, and arrive at Yunshanping Meadow. You can freely explore and take photos for about 1-1.5 hours, then return to the original route and take a car to Blue Moon Valley to continue your tour.
IntoTravelChina tip: This itinerary is the most classic combination for visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, efficient and able to experience the beauty of different sides of the snow mountain.
One day 'deep hiking' tour (suitable for hiking and photography enthusiasts):
Depart early in the morning to avoid crowds and explore Yunshanping in depth, seeking exclusive parking spots in meadows and forests to enjoy tranquility; Return to the cableway station for a light meal in the scenic area at noon; In the afternoon, go hiking along the lakeside boardwalk in Blue Moon Valley and enjoy the clear water and white stones; If physical strength and time permit, consider visiting Maoniuping again to admire the snow capped mountains from another perspective and experience a more expansive alpine meadow scenery.
Advantages of IntoTravelChina: We can plan the most reasonable route for the scenic spots inside the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, assist in booking cableway tickets, avoid queuing troubles, and provide detailed high-altitude hiking and photography advice.

Professional guide: IntoTravelChina can provide you with a personalized itinerary, including exclusive tour guides, transportation, and activity arrangements, allowing you to have a worry free and in-depth experience. >>Consult now for customization

How to reach: Seamless Connection Guide
Yunshanping is part of the Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area and must be accessed from Lijiang city center to the Yulong Snow Mountain Tourist Center. The core hub is the urban area of Lijiang and various ancient cities. The main modes of transportation include: driving or chartering a car to the "Yulong Snow Mountain Snow Kitchen Tourist Center", which takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour, and requires purchasing scenic spot tickets at the entrance of the mountain; Or take the "Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Line" bus at the bus stops around the Old Town of Lijiang to the tourist center directly; The most worry free way is to join a regular one-day tour group, which usually includes round-trip transportation, mountain fees, and eco-friendly vehicles. After arriving at the tourist center, you need to transfer to the scenic area environmental protection car to the Yunshanping cableway station, and then take the enclosed sightseeing cableway up the mountain.

Best travel time
The scenery of Yunshanping varies throughout the four seasons and can be visited all year round, with autumn being the most abundant and splendid. The golden season of spring and autumn (May June, September October) is characterized by comfortable climate, high visibility, fresh green meadows in spring, and extreme color contrast in autumn. During the summer rainy season (July August), grasslands are most lush green, but snow capped mountains are often shrouded in clouds and mist. The winter dry season (November to April of the following year) has the most sunny days, and the probability of seeing Rizhao Jinshan is the highest, creating a vast and majestic northern scenery.

accommodation options
When visiting Yunshanping, it is strongly recommended to arrange accommodation in the downtown area or ancient city of Lijiang. There are extremely rich accommodation options, ranging from high-end hotels to characteristic homestays, with complete catering and entertainment facilities, making it convenient to visit Lijiang and multiple surrounding attractions. If you pursue a deep experience, you can choose the Directly Facing Snow Mountain Hotel at the foot of the snow capped mountains or in Baisha Ancient Town, where the environment is quieter and you can better experience the Naxi local customs. The facilities available for tourists to stay in Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area are very limited and are usually not recommended.
IntoTravelChina accommodation booking advice: Accommodation in Lijiang during peak season is very tight, so it is important to plan ahead. By booking with us, you can not only receive real-time room availability and discounts, but also recommend the most convenient accommodation location based on your overall itinerary. >>Click to contact IntoTravelChina travel consultant

Classic 4-day trip to Lijiang Snow Mountain: the Old Town of Lijiang → Yulong Snow Mountain (Glacier Park, Blue Moon Valley, Impression Lijiang) → Baisha Ancient Town and Shuhe Ancient Town → Lashihai. This is a classic introductory journey from holy snow capped mountains to soft times.

Classic 7-day panoramic tour of Yunnan: Kunming (Stone Forest, Old Street) → Dali (Xizhou Ancient Town, Erhai Lake, Three Towers, Cangshan Mountain) → Lijiang (Ancient City, Yulong Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley) → Shangri La (Songzanlin Temple, Pudacuo National Park). This is a complete cultural and natural painting that runs through the golden tourism route of Yunnan, from karst wonders to wind, flowers, snow, and moon, from snow capped mountains and holy lakes to Tibetan secret places. >>View the 7-day Yunnan panoramic tour route

The story of Yunshanping is about the creation of nature, the faith of the nation, and the protection of the soul. IntoTravelChina is dedicated to creating a deep, personalized, and worry free travel experience in China. Our travel experts can tailor a itinerary for you, providing one-stop solutions for complex scenic spot reservations, unique accommodations, and seamless transportation connections. We will also arrange the best photography guidance and cultural interpretation for you, making your trip to Yunshanping a profound dialogue with snow capped mountains, history, and your inner self.

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