Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a complex of 13 peaks, the highest at 5596m or 18,360 ft. Amongst its peaks lie the southern-most glaciers of the northern hemisphere. The mountain complex was not climbed until 1963 and its tallest peak, Shanzidou, not until 1987. The Chinese call the mountain Yulong Xueshan and the local, indigenous Naxi, who consider the mountain holy and an incarnation of their guardian, call it Mt Satseto.
The habitat of this mountain massif is rich in plant and animal life. Half of the plant species of Yunnan Province, already known for its rich biodiversity, grow here. Twenty different virgin forests contain over 400 species of trees and these forests are loaded with flowers - azaleas (more than 50 different species!), rhododendrons, peonies, camellia, gentian, primrose, poppies and lilies. The mountain complex is said to be covered in flowers 10 months of the year (see photo at the beginning of the comments).
Near Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a complex of 13 peaks, the highest at 5596m or 18,360 ft. Amongst its peaks lie the southern-most glaciers of the northern hemisphere. The mountain complex was not climbed until 1963 and its tallest peak, Shanzidou, not until 1987. The Chinese call the mountain Yulong Xueshan and the local, indigenous Naxi, who consider the mountain holy and an incarnation of their guardian, call it Mt Satseto.
The habitat of this mountain massif is rich in plant and animal life. Half of the plant species of Yunnan Province, already known for its rich biodiversity, grow here. Twenty different virgin forests contain over 400 species of trees and these forests are loaded with flowers - azaleas (more than 50 different species!), rhododendrons, peonies, camellia, gentian, primrose, poppies and lilies. The mountain complex is said to be covered in flowers 10 months of the year (see photo at the beginning of the comments).
Near Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China