Lijiang Yuhu Village – Exploring the First Village Under Snow Mountain

Written by Ivy Dong | Updated December 15,2025

About 18 kilometers north of the Old Town of Lijiang, there is a village called “Wuluken (in Naxi language)” at the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which means the village at the foot of the snow mountain. It is the Yuhu Village.

In 1922, Joseph Rock entered Yunnan, China from the Thai-Burmese border as an explorer, writer, and photographer for American National Geographic and Harvard University’s Yenching Institute. From then on, he lived under the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for 27 years, most of which time he lived in Yuhu Village, Lijiang.

Yuhu Lake was an artificial lake excavated by the Mu family before the Ming Dynasty. There are summer palace, Jade Dragon Academy, and deer farm built by the lake. The earliest residents of Yuhu Village were those who guarded the palace and raised deer for the Naxi Kings.

In 2019, Yuhu Village was included in the public list of China’s beautiful leisure villages. Embark your Yunnan tour to explore this last piece of pure land in Lijiang!

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• Facts About Yuhu Village
• Why visit Yuhu Village
• What to See and Do in Yuhu Village
• Festivals in Yuhu Village
• Getting to Yuhu Village
• Attractions Nearby Yuhu Village in Lijiang 
• Accommodation around Yuhu Village
• When is the best time to visit Yuhu Village?
• How to Plan a Lijiang tour with Yuhu Village
• Explore Lijiang and Yuhu Village with China Xian Tour

Facts About Yuhu Village

• ChineseName: 玉湖村
• Location: Baisha Town, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
• Climate: Annual average temperature of 8.9 ℃, annual precipitation of 935.8 millimeters
• Altitude: 2,700 ~ 3,200 meters
• Distance from Lijiang Ancient Town: about 20 kilometers north to the ancient town
• Time needed: 2 – 4 hours
• Opening hours: The village can be visited all day. Joseph Rock’s Former Residence: 09:00 – 17:30; Sky–reach Pillar: 7:30 – 18:00
• Ticket: free, but an additional environmental protection fee of CNY 30 per person is needed. Joseph Rock’s Former Residence: CNY 10 – 25; Sky–reach Pillar: CNY 25

Why visit Yuhu Village

• Unique natural scenery: Yuhu Village is renowned as the first village under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The alpine lake Dragon Lady Lake reflects the snow mountain, forming a breathtaking landscape.
• Primitive Naxi Culture: Yuhu Village is one of the birthplaces of the Naxi Nationality. Here stands the complete architectural complex built with glacier stones.
• Quieter travel experience: Compared with Lijiang Ancient Town and Baisha Ancient Town, Yuhu Village is more niche and primitive and is suitable for a slow-paced, in-depth tour.

What to See and Do in Yuhu Village

Naxi Ethnic Culture

Yuhu Village is one of the earliest settlements of Naxi ancestors in Lijiang Bazi, and is also an ancient village with well-preserved traditional architectural styles. Almost all the residents in the village are Naxi ethnic people, and unique Naxi symbols and patterns can be seen everywhere. Yuhu villagers integrate Naxi specialty snacks, traditional music, handicrafts, Dongba culture and other elements into their daily lives, sincerely guarding this land and legend.

Unique Stone Architecture

In Yuhu Village, you will find that houses are built with stones, roads and bridges are paved with stones, and some houses have stones of different shapes standing on their walls. Walking in the village during your Yunnan travel is like visiting a stone museum, filled with the combination art and arrangement aesthetics of stones. Rows of stone houses, uniquely-styled residential buildings, typical Naxi traditional architecture, with walls made of locally unique folded glacier stones, unparalleled in China.

Joseph Rock’s Former Residence

Rock’s Former Residence, located in the central part of Yuhu Village, is the residence of Mr. Joseph Rock, an Austrian American botanist, explorer, and geographer, in Lijiang. Rock lived in Lijiang for 27 years, and was the first foreign scholar to comprehensively introduce Lijiang’s ethnic culture to the Western world.

His residence has been restored into a traditional Naxi courtyard house, which displays many historical material pictures taken by Rock and some utensils used by Rock. The second floor of the main house is Rock’s living room and bedroom, with the bed, chair, and other parts preserved. (Admission ticket: RMB 25)

Sky–reach Pillar (玉柱擎天)

At the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the southwest of Yuhu Village, on a 30-meter-high steep cliff, there are four large characters in regular script that read “玉柱擎天”. It was inscribed by Yang Bi, the first magistrate of Lijiang during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. This stone inscription not only depicts the magnificence of Lijiang Snow Mountain, but also becomes a cultural relic directly related to the important historical event of “Administration Reform”.

Dragon Lady Lake (龙女湖)

Yuhu Village has a beautiful legend that it was once the place where a Naxi princess was imprisoned, hence the name Dragon Lady Lake. Dragon Lady Lake (aka Yuhu Lake) is a blue lake with a wide view, located next to the large grassland at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

In Yuhu Lake, the snow-melting water is clear, and the blue sky and white clouds set off the lofty Jade Dragon Snow Peak, reflecting in the lake. This “Reflection of Yuhu Lake” is one of the famous “Twelve Scenes of Jade Dragon”.

It is worth mentioning that horses in Yuhu Village are a major highlight, and horses have an irreplaceable place in the hearts of the villagers. You can ride a horse around the Yuhu Lake and take photos, which is definitely an unforgettable experience.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

From Yuhu Village, you can hike up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Climbing can pass through some places with spectacular scenery. However, it is necessary to have a strong physique and rich outdoor experience, and best to hike under the guidance of local guides.

In short, Yuhu Village is an ancient village that has not been overdeveloped, preserving the most primitive natural scenery and cultural charm. Start a Lijiang travel to experience this simplicity and tranquility!

Travel Tips:

• Because Yuhu Villageis located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the temperature here is low and the wind by the lake is strong. It is recommended to wear an outdoor windproof jacket.
• On sunny days, ultraviolet rays are very strong, so it is recommended to take sun protection measures, such as wearing sunglasses, hats, and applying sunscreen.

Festivals in Yuhu Village

• Sanduo Festival: lunar Feb. 8^th, the grandest traditional festival of the Naxi Nationality. It is held to commemorate and sacrifice to their protection god “Sanduo”.
• Dangmeikongpu Festival: lunar Jan. 20^th. It is not only a temple fair, but also a large commodity fair in spring, which mainly sells farm tools.
• Torch Festival: lunar Jun. 25^th – 27^th. The villagers will light the pine torch and put it in front of the door, or gather together to celebrate. The purpose is to drive away the evils and pray for a harvest and health.

Getting to Yuhu Village

Lijiang City has opened bus route No. 17 to Yuhu Village. You can go to Xiangshan Market (starting station) to take the bus and get off at Yuhu Tourist Center, which takes about half an hour. This bus runs once an hour (with possible delays), and the latest return time from Yuhu Village is 19:00.

You can also charter/rent a car or take a taxi from the Lijiang Old Town, which takes about 35 minutes.

Attractions Nearby Yuhu Village in Lijiang

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: a sacred mountain of the Naxi ethnic people and the southernmost snow-capped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Lijiang Old Town: one of the four ancient cities in China and also a world cultural heritagesite. It has unique architectural style and Naxi ethnic culture.

Accommodation around Yuhu Village

Though only a small village, Yuhu Village also offers various kinds of hotels. The high-end luxury resort hotels are usually exquisitely designed and face the snow mountain directly. You will enjoy thoughtful service and luxury facilities. Mid-range special homestays are usually transformed from the traditional residences, stone house. Most are equipped with a viewing terrace and a characteristic cafe. It is suitable for tourists who hope to experience the local customs, meanwhile seeking comfort. Economical inns are basically farmyards operated by the locals, which offer a clean and cozy atmosphere.

Living in Yuhu Village, you will have more chances to enjoy the stunning beauty of “Golden Sunlight on the Snow Mountain” all by yourself. Besides, you can enjoy a more immersive experience of Naxi culture. For hikers, Yuhu Village is also the classic starting point of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The owners of some homestays are also outdoor enthusiasts, who can give you authentic hiking suggestions.

When is the best time to visit Yuhu Village?

Spring and autumn are the most popular seasons because of the mild weather and blooming flowers and golden meadows. With a clear sky, winter offers a greater possibility to see the main peak of the snow mountain. Both the scene of “Golden Sunlight on the Snow Mountain” and the starry sky may be appreciated. But it is cold, so warm clothes are necessary. Summer is the rainy season. The heavy cloud and mist usually cover the snow mountain. But the lakeside and meadows are full of greenery.

How to Plan a Lijiang tour with Yuhu Village

In general, it is usually advised to travel along with Baisha Ancient Town, Yulong Snow Mountain and Shuhe Ancient Town which are in the same direction to avoid detours. And the recommended time is 2 – 4 days. Here is a itinerary for your reference.

• Day 1: Lijiang Ancient Town – Shuhe Ancient Town
• Day 2: Yuhu Village – Baisha Ancient Town
• Day 3: Yulong Snow Mountain
• Day 4: Lugu Lake or Shaixi Ancient Town

Explore Lijiang and Yuhu Village with China Xian Tour

If you want to have an in-depth tour in Lijiang, China Xian Tour can plan a itinerary for you according to your demands and arrange a car to avoid the frequent transfer. Also, our experienced local guide can introduce the scenic areas to you in details and ensure your safety during the tour. So contact with us now to start your Lijiang tour.

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