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Monday, December 28, 2015

Lijiang "Oriental Venice" Journal Day 3 of 8 - Jade Dragon Mountain

Web Link : Back to Day 2 Journal...

Day 3

Today we woke up at 07:00 and still very dark outside in this end of December in Lijiang, and we left hotel early when the sun has risen at 8:00 in the morning, and we hired taxi from the gate of old town to Jade Dragon Mountain ticket office (taxi waited us to buy ticket) and continue to main entrance & bus station of Jade Dragon Mountain for RMB100 one way, this seems the only way to safe time (especially during low season which public bus is not easy to get), and just found out that ticket office location is very far (which few km and definitely is not walking distance) to the main entrance & bus station of Jade Dragon Mountain.

Jade Dragon Mountain tickets (December 28, 2015) :
Bus : RMB 20/person
Cable Car : RMB180/person
Both paid at the ticket office

Entrance Fee (paid at the main gate which is not the same location as ticket office) : RMB130/person

The Legend of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
In ancient times, two twins Haba Snow mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lived in the area and panned for gold in the Golden Sand (Yangtze) River. One day an evil demon started to terrorize the river. The twins fought the demon and Haba died in the ensuing fight and Jade Dragon wore out 13 swords to defeat the demon.

After the fight Jade Dragon stood guard over the local people with his 13 swords. Over time the two brothers turned into snow covered mountains and the 13 swords became the 13 peaks.


At the visitors center there was a small queue as we came during low season in end of December, and later we were in the bus to the cable car station. In Lijiang town which is at about 2600 meters altitude, you are then at 3800 meters. The cable car takes you up to approximate 430 meters for 15 minutes and the last, and the most life challenging climb, is this 300 meters which you have to climb on stairs. 
Climbing up by stairs at that altitude is not easy, with very thin air to breath, we have to walk slowly, and we have to use oxygen can few times a long the way. But by the time when you reached at the top, the views are amazing! 





Resting at the highest area of 4680 m altitude Jade mountain while waiting the fog gone from covering the mountain. Need to be very quick when the sky is clear, because anytime the fog will cover the view again.




After we finished, we returned by cable car down, and continue to Blue Moon Valley, 白水台 Baishuitai by bus which we can find very easy at the exit.

There are 5 lakes in this area, the most famous one, and the first which visitor will see is White water River terrace which formed by runoff from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yuye Lake, Jintai Lake, Langyue and the last one is Tingtao Lake.

There are options to take the battery car which need to pay ticket for RMB50/person after get down from the bus at the Blue Moon Valley, it takes you to 2 stops, one is the main area White Water River terrace and the second stop is at Tingtao Lake.
The water here is extremely clean as it is filtrated and purified by gravel and stones when running, and hasn't been polluted at all.




We returned to Lijiang town, by taking the minivan car, you can find this car from people carry small banner written "7....(with all in Chinese)", for RMB20/person, this car will departed after it full, and this will takes you back to anywhere around old town area in Lijiang.




To be continue : Day 4...

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