Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a chain of 13 peaks with the highest reaching 5,596 meters, arranged across the landscape in a distinctive line. The slopes display sharp contrasts between snow-covered surfaces and dark limestone and basalt rock faces.

American mountaineers achieved the first successful summit climb in 1987, navigating challenging snow gullies and limestone walls. This early ascent opened new chapters in modern mountaineering history for the area.

The Naxi people regard this peak as their protector deity Sanduo, a spiritual presence woven into their ceremonies and daily traditions. Local communities maintain this sacred relationship with the landscape through generations of reverence and ritual practice.

Three cable car systems provide access to different elevation zones, reaching areas such as Glacier Park at 4,680 meters, meadows with spruce trees, and yak grazing areas. Shuttle buses connect these stations, making movement between zones straightforward.

This peak holds the distinction of being the southernmost permanently snow-covered mountain in the Northern Hemisphere, maintaining its white crown year-round. Directly below, the Tiger Leaping Gorge creates an extreme plunge in elevation that shapes the dramatic landscape.

Location: Lijiang

Elevation above the sea: 5,596 m

GPS coordinates: 27.09841,100.17670

Latest update: December 17, 2025 09:30