Lijiang Yulong Snow Mountain, stay at Jinmao Purelax Mountain Hotel
Lijiang is located on the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in the northwest Yunnan Plateau. It borders Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Panzhihua City to the east, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture to the south, and Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture to the northwest. Late Homo sapiens were active in Lijiang as early as the Paleolithic Age. During the Warring States period, Lijiang belonged to Shu County of the Qin State. After Chu Zhuangqiao opened up the Yunnan area, it became part of the Dian Kingdom. Lijiang boasts three world heritage sites: World Cultural Heritage, World Natural Heritage, and Memory of the World Register. It also has Naxi Dongba culture and Lugu Lake matriarchal culture.
Yulong Snow Mountain is a mountain range within Lijiang, belonging to the Hengduan Mountains. It is bordered by the Tiger Leaping Gorge to the west and stands alongside Zhongdian Snow Mountain. Located 5 kilometers north of Lijiang, it unfolds like a fan facing the ancient city. The highest peak, Shanzidou, reaches an altitude of 5,596 meters. Thirteen snow-capped peaks stretch from south to north, resembling a giant dragon taking flight, hence the name "Yulong" (Jade Dragon). Because it is mainly composed of limestone and basalt, black and white, it is considered a sacred mountain by the Naxi people.
Jinmao Purelax Mountain Hotel is located opposite Yulong Snow Mountain in the Ganhaizi meadow area at an altitude of 3,200 meters. It blends modern and ethnic characteristics, integrating seamlessly with Yulong Snow Mountain. Guests can enjoy stunning views of Yulong Snow Mountain directly from their outdoor balconies. Dinner features excellent local yak hot pot, and in the morning, you can witness the sunrise illuminating the golden mountain.
Driving from Dali to Lijiang, we first checked in at the InterContinental Resort Dali. The hotel's location is superb, with the ancient city just a step outside the back door. This trip focused on exploring Lijiang Ancient Town, specifically Dayan Ancient Town. We picked up our mountain entry permits at the Grand Hyatt Lijiang and visited Baisha Ancient Town on our way to Yulong Snow Mountain. We stayed at the most beautiful snow mountain hotel, Jinmao Purelax Mountain Hotel, and took the cable car up Yulong Snow Mountain.
Wonderful time, Lijiang.