Dragon Girl Lake: The Blue Tear Beneath the Snow Mountain
🌟 Highlights at a Glance
Snow Mountain Mirror Lake: Dragon Girl Lake is a natural lake at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The water is clear and blue, and on sunny days, it perfectly reflects the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, resembling a "blue tear" embedded in the meadow.
Pristine Pasture: The lakeside is surrounded by alpine meadows and primeval forests, where herds of cattle and horses graze leisurely. The Tibetan cultural atmosphere blends perfectly with the natural tranquility, earning it the nickname "Little New Zealand of Lijiang."
Free and Less Crowded: Compared to popular scenic spots, this place has fewer visitors and no entrance fee (only a 30 RMB sightseeing bus fee during peak season), making it ideal for escaping crowds and enjoying the healing vibe of the snow mountain and lake.
📅 Travel Guide
▪️ Morning 6:00-9:00: Golden Sunlight Reflection
Stay overnight in Yuhu Village (Stone Homestay, about 150 RMB per person), then hike to the eastern lakeside meadow before dawn (about 20 minutes) to wait for the sunrise that dyes the snow mountain golden. The lake surface acts like a mirror reflecting the "double golden mountain" spectacle (requires calm and clear weather).
▪️ Late Morning 10:00-12:00: Lakeside Pastoral Experience
Horse Riding Around the Lake: Rent a local Naxi herder’s Yunnan horse (50 RMB/hour) and ride along the lakeside grass, capturing stunning prairie photos with the jingling of horse bells (wearing white or red long dresses makes for better photos).
Picnic Time: Bring your own tsampa, butter tea, and Lijiang baba (local bread), and enjoy them sitting on the meadow facing the snow mountain and lake view. All trash must be taken away.
▪️ Afternoon 14:00-16:00: Explore Yuhu Village
Stone Ancient Village Walk: Walk 10 minutes to Yuhu Village to see the unique sight of houses built with glacial stones. Visit the former residence of American explorer Joseph Rock (25 RMB entrance fee) to learn about the background of "Lost Horizon."
Coffee Break: Rest at the "Wuluken" café in the village, order a cup of Yunnan small bean coffee (38 RMB), and gaze at the snow mountain in a daze.
▪️ Dusk 17:00-19:00: Sunset Silhouette Photography
Return to Dragon Girl Lake before sunset to shoot silhouettes of "people, horses, and snow mountain" using the soft light (best spot: western lakeside slope). You might catch dynamic scenes of herds of sheep returning.
📸 Must-Visit Photo Spots
Lake Center Reflection: When there is no wind, crouch low to shoot symmetrical compositions of the snow mountain reflected on the water. A polarizing filter is recommended to reduce glare.
Meadow Lone Tree: On the north side of the lake, there is a solitary dead tree. Lean against it and look out at the snow mountain to create a lonely cinematic scene.
Herding Horses Welcoming Snow: Ask herders to lead horses to stand in the shallow water and capture natural moments of horses drinking with the snow mountain as the backdrop.
🌿 Exclusive Experiences
Starry Sky Camping: In summer nights, you can camp by the lake (bring your own tent). The Milky Way rises from the snow mountain peak, and at 3 a.m., star trails are visible to the naked eye (remember to keep warm).
Naxi Home Visit: Book a visit to a Yuhu Village family (30 RMB/person), learn to make butter tea, milk a yak, and listen to elders tell the legend of the "Dragon Girl turning into the lake."
💡 Travel Tips
Transportation:
Rent an electric bike in Lijiang Old Town (models with over 80 km range, about 80 RMB/day), and ride for 1 hour to "Dragon Girl Lake" using navigation;
Or take bus route 17 to the entrance of Yuhu Village, then walk 2 km (free but infrequent service, check real-time schedules).
Avoid Pitfalls:
During peak season (October to February), there may be checkpoints at the village entrance requiring a 30 RMB round-trip sightseeing bus fee. Enter before 7 a.m. to drive directly;
Refuse roadside "high-priced horse riding packages" and negotiate prices directly with lakeside herders.
Gear: Windproof jacket, sunglasses, high-top waterproof shoes (due to heavy dew on the meadow), cash (weak signal).
Best Seasons:
November to March: The lake water is bluest during the dry season, and the snow mountain has abundant snow;
May to June: Wildflowers bloom on the meadow, but the rainy season often brings clouds and fog covering the mountain.
The attraction is worth visiting, and the price is good value for money. However, it says that it includes three treasures, but the three treasures are 9 kilometers away from the ancient city. It seems like they are just adding a service to make it look better, but they are not sincere. It would be better not to include the three treasures. If they do include them, they should consider partners who are closer to the ancient city. Otherwise, there is really no need to include this service.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain for the Naxi people. Its 13 snow-capped peaks stretch like a jade dragon, while Blue Moon Valley boasts azure waters like a jewel. The cable car takes you to 4680 meters for close-up views of the glaciers. With its breathtaking scenery and rich cultural heritage, it's a must-visit destination in Yunnan.
Recommended, stunning view. Unforgettable memories ever. U guys must add in the wishlist. Thr place must go when visiting lijiang
❤️Yulong Snow Mountain is so beautiful! Its beauty makes me linger. ✨First of all, the peaks of Yulong Snow Mountain are towering into the clouds, and the top of the mountain is covered with snow all year round. It shines silver under the sunshine, which is very spectacular. ✨ Secondly, the ecological environment of Yulong Snow Mountain is also very good. There are large tracts of virgin forests and alpine meadows on the mountain, as well as many rare animals and plants. ✨ In addition, the service of Yulong Snow Mountain is also very thoughtful. There are many rest stops and restaurants in the scenic area, providing a variety of food and drinks, so that tourists can enjoy food while enjoying the beautiful scenery. The staff in the scenic area are also very enthusiastic and provide a lot of help and guidance to tourists. ❤️❤️❤️ In general, Yulong Snow Mountain is a place worth visiting. Its beautiful scenery makes people linger, its ecological environment makes people feel the charm of nature, and its service makes people feel very considerate.
There is a bus No. 101 that goes directly to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the south gate of Lijiang Old Town, which takes one hour to arrive. There are four main scenic spots in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley (you can go there alone or go there after other cableways), Glacier Park (large cableway, go to the top of the mountain), Yunshanping (Yunshanping cableway, a good location to see the snow-capped mountains), and Yakping (Yakping cableway). You need thick clothes and oxygen cylinders to go to the large cableway, but not to go to other places. Yunshanping is a spruce forest and lawn on the mountainside, with the snow-capped mountains behind it, and the scenery is nice. Blue Moon Valley is a few lakes in the mountains. The lake is not big, but the blue-green lake water is very clear and beautiful.
It is worth going. After living in a fast-paced city for a long time, I feel relaxed when I come here. I chose Yunshanping, which is relatively low in altitude, because it is not recommended to go so high with children. The Blue Moon Valley at the foot of the mountain is so beautiful. Fortunately, the weather and sunshine were great that day, so the photos were very beautiful! The beauty of nature can really heal sometimes❤️🩹 Life is bumpy, and it depends on travel to mend it. I hope you can be just as happy!
✨Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Sunlight on Golden Mountain The first ray of sunshine in the morning sprinkled on the top of the snow mountain, and the golden light seemed to have coated our love with a layer of sacred brilliance🌄 Standing at the foot of the mountain, looking up at this golden miracle, the heartbeat is in sync with the morning light, and the romance is frozen at this moment💖 You said that the sun shining on the Golden Mountain is God’s blessing to us, I said that every moment with you is the most beautiful scenery🏔️✨ .📸Photography tips: 1️⃣ At the foot of the mountain in the morning, the reflection of the Golden Mountain is reflected by the lake, a beautiful moment 2️⃣ The lawn in front of the snow mountain, holding hands with the back of the golden snow mountain in the same frame, full of romance 3️⃣ At sunrise, capture the tenderness of the first ray of sunshine on your face💫
Yunnan Jade Dragon Snow Mountain attracts many tourists with its unique natural scenery and rich tourism resources. Tourists have said that the beauty of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is unforgettable and it is a tourist destination worth visiting. At the same time, the attractions and activities in the scenic area have also been highly praised by tourists. In short, Yunnan Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a tourist destination that integrates natural scenery, cultural landscapes and tourist activities. Whether it is enjoying the snow scenery, visiting the grassland or experiencing the wonders of the glacier, it can make tourists feel the charm and beauty of nature. If you plan to travel in winter, you may consider going to Yunnan Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to explore this beautiful scenic spot.