Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stands north of Lijiang, part of the Hengduan range, its main peak Shanzidou at about 5,596 metres. It is one of the lower-latitude areas with modern maritime glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere; on clear days the snow peaks look like a jade dragon soaring into the sky, hence the name.
A large cable car runs up to Glacier Park for a close view of the ice and snow peaks, while the Blue Moon Valley at the foot, with its vivid blue water, is a favourite photo spot. The altitude is high, so slow down and dress warmly when visiting.
