Written by Veronica |
China’s Meili Snow Mountain is located on the border of Tibet’s Chashu and Yunnan‘s Deqin, and its main peak, Kawagebo, is the highest peak in Yunnan.Ā Part of the larger Hengduan Mountain Range, Meili Snow Mountain ranks among China’s ten most beautiful mountainsĀ and is the first of the eight sacred mountainsĀ in Tibetan Buddhism. The best place toĀ have a full view ofĀ Meili Snow Mountain is from Feilai Temple.
Meili Snow Mountain is also one of the most dangerous and mysterious snow mountains in the world. No one has ever made it to its summit. In 1990, all 17 members of a joint Chinese and Japanese mountaineering team were killed when theyĀ tried toĀ conquer Meili Snow Mountain. Later in 2011,Ā Gao Jiahu, a Chinese adventurerĀ disappeared while climbing Meili Snow Mountain. Currently, the Meili Snow Mountain is prohibited from climbing due to religious and cultural protection.
Every year, numerous Tibetans and bonpo believers perform the Kora around Meili Snow Mountain as part of their pilgrimage. With itsĀ breathtakingĀ snow-capped peaks, awe-inspiringĀ glaciers,Ā diverse ecosystem,Ā and unqique religious importance, Meili Snow Mountain National Park offers a life-time experienceĀ for Yunnan adventure tours.
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- Meili Snow Mountain Facts
- What to Do and See on Meili Snow Mountain
- Entrance Fees for Key Sites of Meili Snow Mountain
- Meili Snow Mountain Hiking and Trekking
- Essential Packing List
- Meili Snow Mountain Weather and When to Go
- How to Get to Meili Snow Mountain
- Accommodation Tips: Where to stay when visiting Meili Snow Mountain
- Attractions Nearby Meili Snow Mountain
- FAQs about Meili Snow Mountain
- Adventure to Meili Snow Mountain with China Xian Tour
Meili Snow Mountain Facts
- In Chinese: ę¢ ééŖå±±
- Other names: Prince Snow Mountain, Medicine Mountain
- Location: Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Shangri-la), Yunnan Province, China
- Elevation: The highest peak, Kawagebo is 6,740 meters (22,112 feet)
- Size: The mountain range covers an area of over 960 square kilometers.
- Latitude and longitude:28Ā°26ā²14ā³N 98Ā°41ā²04ā³E
- Highlights: Stunning sunrise/sunset over the snow-capped peaks, Mingyong Glaciers
- Opening hours: 08:00-16:00
- Suited to: Nature lovers, adventure seekers, hikers and trekkers
What to Do and See on Meili Snow Mountain
Thirteen Peaks of Meili
“Prince Thirteen Peaks” are the name given to the thirteen peaks of Meili Snow Mountain, which are situated with an average altitude above 6,000 Meters (19685 feet).
Kawagebo is the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain, with an altitude of 6,740 meters, the highest peak in Yunnan. It is a virgin peak that is still unconquered by the world.Ā KawageboĀ is the Tibetan name for the Meili Snow Mountains, which comes from the original Tibetan religion, with a history of thousands of years.
Mianzimu (6,054m/), meaning “Goddess of the Sea” in Tibetan, is also known as “Goddess Peak” and is the most beautiful of the thirteen peaks in Meili. Mangjang Lakpa Peak (6040 metres above sea level) consists of two juxtaposed majestic snow peaks. Jiva Rengan, also known as Five Crowns Peak, is a unique mountain shape with five parallel peaks.
ā Recommended Shangri-La tours with Meili Snow Mountain
- 5 Days Classic Shangri-La Tour with Meili Snow Mountain
- 5 Days Shangri-La Adventure for Nature and Culture
- 7 Days Shangri-La Exploration & Meili Snow Mountain Adventure
- 9 Days Yunnan Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Hiking Tour
Capture the Sunrise over Meili Snow Mountain
Meili Snow Mountain sunriseĀ is a very beautiful natural wonder, when the golden light falls from the sky to shine on the top of the snow mountain, making it a spectacular golden “Potala Palace”. It usually occurs only in the early hours of the morning on a clear day. Foggy Peak (Wunongding) Viewing Deck and Feilai Temple Viewing Deck are the best places to view and photograph the sunrise over Meili Snow Mountains.
Remarks:
- Feilai Temple(Feilaisi), also known as Jixiang Feilai Temple, was built in the 42nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty.
- Wunongding is named for its location in the village of WunongdingVillage, opposite the magnificent Meili Snow Mountain. The village still practices the “polygamy” marriage system.
Marvel at the Mingyong Glacier
The Mingyong Glacier, located under the Kawagabo Peak, has a history of tens of thousands of years, and stretches for thousands of meters. It is named for its location in the village of Mingyong. It is the largest, longest and lowest altitude valley glacier in Yunnan Province.
Due to the low snow line where Mingyong GlacierĀ is located, the temperature is high and it melts fast, thus it moves fast. In winter, its ice tongue can extend from an altitude of 5,500 metres down to an altitude of 2,800 metres, like a silver dragon, crawling from the high snowy peaks all the way down to the bottom of the mountain, which is only more than 800 metres away from the Lancang River.
Glacier is one of the few in the world that can be accessed on foot, and visitors can explore the ice formations, crevasses, and crystal-clear streams.
See Buddhists Offer Sacrifices toĀ theĀ Sacred Mountains
Meili Snow Mountain, together with Kailash in Tibet, Mt. Anyimachen in QinghaiĀ and Mt. Gardojue in Qinghai, is known as the four sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism.Ā Every year in late autumn and early winter, hundreds of Tibetans lead sheep and hold crutches to chant Buddhist sutras and burn incense around the Kawagebo.
Tibetans in different zodiac yearsĀ have to worship a specific sacred mountain. In the Year of the Goat, Tibetan Buddhists pay a pilgrimage to the Meili Snow Mountain.
Entrance Fees for Key Sites of Meili Snow Mountain
CNY 150 Ticket Package: Jinsha River Bay (CNY 60) + Feilai Temple Viewing Platform (CNY 60) + Wunongding Viewing Platform (CNY 60)
CNY 228 Ticket Package: Jinsha River Bay (CNY 60) + Feilai Temple Viewing Platform (CNY 60) + Wunongding Viewing Platform (CNY 60) + Mingyong Glacier (CNY 78)
CNY 230 Ticket Package: Jinsha River Bay (CNY 60) + Feilai Temple Viewing Platform (CNY 60) + Wunongding Viewing Platform (CNY 60) + Yubeng Village (CNY 80)
All the above tickets can be bought separately, so you can book according to your needs.
Meili Snow Mountain Hiking and Trekking
Meili Snow Mountain offers some of the best hiking and trekking trailsĀ in China. Whether it isĀ an easyĀ hike or aĀ challenging trek, you will indulge in the splendor andĀ beauty ofĀ nature, from snow mountains, valleys, lakes and glaciers.
Here are severalĀ popularĀ routes:
North Peaks of Meili Trek
Time needed:Ā 5 to 7 days
Difficulty: challenging
It refers to the four peaks on the north side of the Meili Snow Mountain that are above 6,000 meters. This trekking route starts from Yagong village, and hikes along the foothills of the northern slope of the Meili Snow Mountain, providing a close-up view of the snow-capped mountains and glaciers.
Meili – Yubeng Village Hiking
Time needed:Ā 5 days
Difficulty: moderate
This is the small Kora of Meili, which Tibetan Buddhists have been travelling for over 800 years.
Day 1: Fei Fei Temple ā Ā Lancang River ā Ninong Gorge ā Rain collapse Village (about 16km)
Day 2: Yubeng Village ā Sea buckthorn forest ā Pass ā Xiaonong Base Camp ā Glacial lake ā Return (about 14km)
Day 3: Yubeng Village ā Primary forest ā Rest camp ā Sacred Waterfall ā Return (about 14km)
Day 4: Ā Yubeng Village ā Ninong Canyon (about 16km)
ā Recommended Meili Snow MountainĀ and Yubeng Hiking tours:
4 Days Yubeng Trekking Tour from Shangri-La
7 Days Yunnan Yubeng Village Hiking Tour & Meili Views
7 Days Shangri-La Hiking Tour: Abuji, Thousand Lakes Mountain
7 Days Shangri-La Tour with Hiking in Meili Snow Mountain & Yubeng Village
8 Days Yunnan Tour to Lijiang, Shangri-La, Meili Snow Mountain Sunrise
The Holy Mountain Pilgrimage Trek:
Time needed:Ā 8 to 13 days
Difficulty: challenging
This is the pilgrimage of a lifetime for devout Buddhists. It is usually a clockwise Kora around Kawargbo, which takes from 8-13 days. Tibetans prefer to complete the trek in 13 days because it is an auspicious number. The trekking distance is 250 kilometers and passes through seven large mountains with a height difference of more than 1,500 meters.
However, few trekkers venture into the area because of various constraints such as weather and traffic.
Tips: when hiking the Meili Snow Mountain areas, visitorsĀ should be prepared for the effects of high altitude, as well as the potential for rapidly changing weather conditions.
Essential Packing List
- The temperature difference in the plateau is large, even in summer, it is cold in the morning and evening, so you should wear a long-sleeved coat. Let alone December – February, every traveler is supposed to wear a down coat, a thick cotton coat or a winter jacket. The hiking route is relatively long and the mountain area is slippery and steep, so prepare a raincoat, anti-slippery hiking shoes, a keenlet and an alpenstock. To facilitate changing and washing, it is advisable to prepare more disposable underwear
- About food, take some convenience foods that are high-energy and portable, such as chocolate, beef jerky, and energy drinks. But take an appropriate amount to avoid overloading and affecting your hiking pace.
- Anyone should take measures to protect yourself from the strong ultraviolet rays no matter you are male or female during a Yunnan tour. Due to its high altitude, tourists also should prevent it even on cloudy days. So remember to bring the sunscreen with high spf. Physical sun protection measures are more useful, so prepare a sun hat or a sunshade umbrella.
- In case of emergencies, it is also suggested to take some medicines that are commonly used in outdoor activities. Considering the limited sanitary conditions, you may want to take some dry and wet wipes. The power resources are also sufficient, so take a flashlight and a power bank with you.
Meili Snow Mountain Weather and When to Go
Meili Snow Mountain belongs to the plateau cold temperate mountain climate, with low temperature throughout the year. It is characterizedĀ by distinct dry and wet seasons, strong solar radiation, distinct dry and wet seasons, and vertical changes in climate.
The best time to visit Meili Snow MountainĀ areaĀ is during the dry season, that is,Ā from November to the next April. During this time, the weather is cold but clear, and the mountain peaks are visible. It isĀ also a great time for hiking, trekking, and climbing.
How to Get to Meili Snow Mountain
By air: The nearest airport to Meili Snow Mountain is Diqing Shangri-La Airport in the city of Shangri-La, about 150 kilometers away.Ā After you arrive the airport,Ā take a taxi or bus to Deqin County, which is the main hub for visitors to Meili Snow Mountain.
By Bus: Take bus from Kunming, Lijiang, orĀ DaliĀ to Deqin County. The bus ride can take anywhere from 8 to 15 hours.
By private car:Ā You are suggested to book a Shangri-La tourĀ with us and take a private car, accompanied by a local guideĀ to Meili Snow Mountain.
Accommodation Tips: Where to stay when visiting Meili Snow Mountain
There are three main places chosen by most tourists. The first is Feilai Temple Village. The reason tourists live here is that most hotels face the snow mountain directly. It can be said the best place to watch the famous āGolden Morning Sunlight Cast on the Snow Mountainā. The hotels here vary from scenic hotels, comfortable hotels and economical inns.
The second one is Depin County. Though it is far from the scenic spot, there are more amenities and the accommodation is more cost-effective. The main type is the economy hotel. You can also supplement the necessities in the county.
For trekkers, Yubeng VillageĀ is the best choice. Luxury hotels, boutique homestays and hostels can all be found here.
Attractions Nearby Meili Snow Mountain
- Yubeng Village: This remote Tibetan village is located at the foot ofMeili Snow Mountain and is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers.
- Tiger Leaping Gorge: One of the worldās deepest canyons, its high trail is also one of the top hikes in Yunnanand China. Marvel at the sheer cliffs, roaring rapids, and the legendary Tiger Leaping Stone.
Related reading: 10 Most Beautiful Mountains in Yunnan
FAQs about Meili Snow Mountain
When is the absolute best time to visit Meili Snow Mountain to guarantee clear views?
The dry season from November to April is the best time.
How often can visitors actually see the “Golden Potala” sunrise on Kawagebo Peak?
There is no exact date. The weather affects the probability a lot, so usually, there are more chances to see it during November – April.
Should I choose an independent trip or a guided tour when visiting Meili Snow Mountain?
For tourists without experience, choose the guided tour. The snow mountain is at a high altitude, an experienced leader can ensure your safety and travel experience. If you have experience in travelling in snow mountains, an independent trip offers you much free time to explore the scenic spots you like.
Will I experience altitude sickness when traveling in Meili Snow Mountain?
For most travelers, there is a risk of altitude sickness because of its height of over 3,000 meters.
Which viewpoint is better ā Feilai Temple or Wunongding Viewing Platform?
It depends on your preference. Feilai Temple is the most classic spot to view the sunrise. It is closer to the snow mountain, thus offering a stronger visual impact. Wunongding is at a higher altitude and is a little bit far away. So you can enjoy a broader view. It is a favorite place of photographers.
Adventure to Meili Snow Mountain with China Xian Tour
The spectacular sunrise in Meili Snow Mountain must has caught your heart. Do you want to enjoy a trip there but worry about your health? Ask China Xian TourĀ for help. We can tailor a reasonable itinerary for you to allow you to adapt to the thin air and high altitude gradually and arrange an experienced local guide to deal with all the problems during the tour and ensure your safety. So contact us to enjoy a carefree tour.
