[2025 Deqin Attraction] Travel Guide for Meili Snow Mountain National Park - Sunrise on the Golden Mountain (Updated May)

1. Introduction to Meili Snow Mountain Located at the border of Deqin County in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and Chayu County in Tibet, Meili Snow Mountain is one of the eight sacred mountains in Tibetan Buddhism. Its main peak, Kawagebo (6,740m), remains unclimbed and is known as the "God of Snow Mountains." The area combines snow-capped peaks, glaciers, canyons, forests, and Tibetan culture, making it a paradise for hikers, photographers, and spiritual pilgrims. 2. Best Time to Visit October to May: Autumn offers clear weather with high visibility of the snow mountains, making it the golden season for viewing the "Golden Snow Mountain." Winter presents magnificent snowy landscapes, but some paths may be closed due to snow. Avoid rainy season (June-September): Though misty with slippery roads, the post-rain sea of clouds and rainbows offer unique charm. 3. Transportation 1. By Air: Fly to Shangri-La Airport, then take a 4-hour drive to Deqin County. 2. By Land: Take a car/bus from Lijiang or Shangri-La along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway (G214), enjoying views of Baima Snow Mountain and the Jinsha River's Great Bend. 4. Key Viewing Points Feilai Temple: 30 minutes from Deqin County, the best spot for panoramic views of Meili Snow Mountain, with concentrated hotels and viewing platforms. Yubeng Village: Accessible by hiking or off-road vehicle, divided into Upper and Lower Yubeng, offering an intimate experience of the sacred mountain. 5. Must-Have Experiences 1. Golden Snow Mountain Viewing spots: Feilai Temple platform, Wunong Peak platform (less crowded) Timing: Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise, sunrise around 7:30-8:00 in autumn/winter Tips: Check weather forecast, might need multiple days for perfect viewing 2. Yubeng Hiking Route: Xidang Hot Springs → Yubeng Village (6-8 hours hiking, off-road vehicle available) Yubeng → Ice Lake (10 hours round trip): Through pristine forest to emerald glacial lake Yubeng → Sacred Waterfall (5 hours round trip): Essential pilgrimage site, waterfall said to purify souls Difficulty: Moderate, altitude adaptation needed, trekking poles and waterproof shoes recommended 3. Mingyong Glacier Visit Hike or horseback ride to viewing platform, experience the unique coexistence of glacier and forest 4. Kora Pilgrimage Outer kora takes 10-15 days, suitable for experienced hikers; inner kora (Yubeng route) takes 3-4 days, suitable for regular tourists 6. Accommodation Recommendations 1. Feilai Temple Area 2. Yubeng Village 3. Deqin County 7. Practical Tips 1. Altitude sickness: Adapt to elevation (Feilai Temple 3,400m, Yubeng 3,000m), carry oxygen bottles and glucose, avoid strenuous activity 2. Respect beliefs: Never point at sacred mountains, spin prayer wheels clockwise, don't disturb mani stones 3. Eco-friendly travel: Bring garbage bags, minimize disposable items in Yubeng 4. Packing list: Sunscreen, sunglasses, windproof jacket, warm clothes (large temperature variations), power banks (limited electricity) 5. Safety: Use tire chains in winter, stay with guides, stick to main paths 8. Nearby Attractions Cizhong Church: Visit century-old French church, taste homemade wine Ninong Valley: Alternative hiking route from Yubeng, along cliff-side trails Dukezong Ancient Town: Experience Tibetan culture in Shangri-La during return trip 9. Spiritual Message Meili Snow Mountain's beauty lies not just in its majesty but in its perfect harmony with local culture and natural faith. Here, slow down, listen to prayer flags flutter, and feel Tibetans' reverence for their sacred mountain. Perhaps you'll understand: some mountains are meant to be admired, not conquered.

I declare that the most beautiful snow mountain hotel is in Meili Yubeng! 💞Under Meili Snow Mountain, next to Yubeng Village, we came here just for a window, allowing our eyes to enjoy the ultimate beauty. 🏔️The snow-capped mountains, 🌿forests, and the cattle and sheep outside the window are like a fairy tale dream! When the weather is good, you can even catch the sunrise illuminating the golden mountain🌄, starting a year of good luck! 🏔️Must-stay for snow mountain viewing 🏠Yeyu Yubeng Scenic Hotel The 14㎡ panoramic floor-to-ceiling window is really awesome, the best spot for viewing the snow mountain. Outside the window are forests, snow mountains, and cattle and sheep🍃. The view is superb, and catching the sunrise illuminating the golden mountain is even more amazing! ✨Lie in bed and watch the snow mountain, and if you're lucky, you can also see the sunrise illuminating the golden mountain! ✨Provides floor heating, fireplace, hot water, and Tibetan cuisine. 🏠Jixiashan Meili Very photogenic wabi-sabi style. Facing Meili Snow Mountain🏔️, there are super large floor-to-ceiling windows. It's very nice to wake up in the morning and wait for the sunrise illuminating the golden mountain! ✨They offer all kinds of food, breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks, and goodnight desserts, which is very nice! 🌿Must-do in Shangri-La ✅Watch the sunrise illuminate the golden mountain Although it's a matter of luck, it's worth waiting for. Seeing it is healing for the whole year. ✅Yubeng Hike A world-class hiking route, all the way through snow mountains, grasslands, and waterfalls. ✅Songzanlin Monastery The largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan. If you can't go to the Potala Palace, come to Songzanlin. 🌿Itinerary sharing Gather in Shangri-La ✨After checking in to the hotel, we went to Dukezong Ancient Town by ourselves, saw the world's largest prayer wheel, checked in to Shangri-La's cuisine, and danced the Guozhuang dance. ✨Songzanlin Monastery - Napa Lake Morning: Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Buddhist temple in Yunnan, a mini Potala Palace, it's worth visiting to experience Tibetan culture. Afternoon: Go to Napa Lake, a place with lush water and grass, especially healing. ✨Yubeng Village - Sacred Waterfall Hike Morning: We stayed at the Yeyu Hotel, highly recommend waking up early and waiting by the viewing window for the sunrise illuminating the golden mountain, because it's really, really, really beautiful! Take a car to Yubeng Village, and then hike. It is indeed a world-class hiking route, all the way through snow mountains, forests, and waterfalls, a feast for the eyes. ✨First Bend of the Yangtze River - Shangri-La Back to Shangri-La, passing by the First Bend of the Yangtze River, which is also very impressive. ✨Pudacuo - Airport transfer and departure The last stop is Pudacuo, the filming location of "Rattan," the forest and grassland on the high mountains are really beautiful~

The several experiences I had with the sacred mountain were all unforgettable. People feel so small and fragile in front of the towering, snow-capped sacred mountains. Greatness and sublimity, awe and surrender, directly touch the soul. In August, it is the rainy season, and it is difficult to see the true appearance of the sacred mountain due to the shrouded clouds and mist. After the rainy season after September, there will be fewer and fewer rainy days, and there will be more opportunities to see Meili Snow Mountain. Meili Snow Mountain is famous for its "Rizhao Jinshan": the golden morning light shines on the top of the snow mountain, and the entire main peak and some other peaks are illuminated and enveloped by the golden sunshine, shining brightly. Meili Snow Mountain runs north to south, making it more suitable for photographing the landscape at sunrise. When the weather is good, a large-scale Sunrise Golden Mountain will appear. This scenic spot is described in the book "Lost Horizon". In terms of natural landscape, Meili Snow Mountain is world-famous for its steep peaks, magnificent glaciers and rich biodiversity. It is one of the "Nine Sacred Mountains You Must Visit in Your Lifetime" selected by China National Geographic, and is also a favorite among mountaineering enthusiasts. and a nature explorer's paradise. Wunongding Observation Deck, Feilai Temple and Pojun Camp are all good places to watch and take photos of Rizhao Jinshan Mountain. It is one of the highest low-latitude snow mountains in China, has one of the southernmost large glaciers in the world, and is also the largest low-latitude glacier in China. In the description of "Deqin County Place Names", the Meili Snow Mountain and the Taizi Thirteen Peaks are described as "This huge north-south mountain system is composed of the Meili Snow Mountain and the closely connected Taizi Snow Mountain." Kawagbo is among them. As the main peak of Prince Snow Mountain, the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain is Lazan Guimianbu Peak with an altitude of 5229 meters. Due to a miscommunication between surveyors and local residents, the adjacent Taizi Thirteen Peaks group and the Meili Snow Mountains were incorrectly labeled, which spread the word that the Taizi Thirteen Peaks became the Meili Snow Mountains today. The Thirteen Peaks of Meili Prince are surrounded by rolling clouds, and the glaciers on the snow-capped mountains have not melted for five thousand years. Whether you are climbing to conquer the peak, or looking up at the foot of the mountain, these sacred mountains will bring endless shock and enlightenment to people. Moreover, Meili Snow Mountain is not only a magnificent natural landscape, but also a symbol of Tibetan culture and spiritual sustenance. It is one of the four sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism (Tibet Kailash, Yunnan Meili Snow Mountain, Qinghai Amaniqing, Qinghai Gaduojuewo). Every year, a large number of pilgrims come here to pray on the mountain. It is said that those who can see the full view of the Thirteen Peaks of Taizi and the Golden Mountain of Kawagebo will be blessed by the sacred mountain. Our group is convinced of this. But we all know that Meili Snow Mountain is shrouded in snow and clouds all year round due to its special geographical location and climate. The main peak, Kawagebo (6740m above sea level), is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, making it rare to see. Although we were not able to see the full view of Prince Thirteen Peaks, luckily, on the morning of the next day, we really saw the Rizhao Jinshan of Kawagebo Peak. On that day, our hearts were filled with joy and gratitude. We were grateful for the blessings from the sacred mountain, our relatives and friends, our life, and everything we met. That morning, we also faced the sacred mountain, silently blessing from the bottom of our hearts, and gave this blessing to all the kind people in our lives. Meili Snow Mountain·Diqing