Situated in the North end of Yulong County, The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is an east branch of Yunling mountain ranges. It extends 35 kilometers all the way from the south to the north and 25 kilometers from the east to the west. The mountain has 13 peaks altogether, the highest being Shanzidou Peak, 5,596 meters above sea level. Standing on the north bank of the Jinsha River, tall and straight, the Jade Snow Mountain is just like a jade pillar supporting the sky. It is snow-capped all year round. The main peak is in the front looking like a head of a dragon while the other peaks are linked with each other as if a transparent jade dragon lying on the top. So the mountain got its name.

The most southerly of the glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere and the highest peak in the south of Changjiang River is to be found in Jade Snow Mountain. At different altitudes, grow trees of economic value, herbal plants, and flowers and trees for viewing. Many famous flowers like azalea, primrose, orchid, and herbal medicines are produced in this area. From the bottom to the top, there are more than 20 forest clusters and varieties of birds and animals in the mountain. Among them, the essentially protected animal species amount to 23.

The landscapes of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are unique and beautiful, taking on varieties of forms. They can be classified into four kinds: the snow landscape, the spring landscape, the forest landscape and the meadow landscape. Among the multitude of scenic spots are: Dried River Bed, the Leech Flatland, the Remains of the Ancient Glacier, Yunshan Ping the Spruce Level Ground), the Yak Level Ground, the Baishui River, the Jade Pillar Supporting the Sky and the Reflections in the Jade Lake. Many officials and men of letters had visited this mountain. For example, Meng Shi, the King of the Nanzhao of the Tang dynasty, Li Jing, governor of a prefecture from the Yuan Dynasty, and Xu Xiake, a famous traveler from the Ming Dynasty, all gasped in admiration on seeing the mountain. Since the early 20th century, domestic and foreign explorers and botanists had also left their footprints there.

Dr. Joseph Rock, an American-Austrian botanist, Peter Goullart, a Russian explorer, Li Lincan, the curator of Qing Renchang, a famous Chinese botanist, to mention a few.The Jade Snow Mountain has been a mountain in the heart of the Naxi people from old times. Pi Luoge, the king of Nanzhao proposed five important mountains in Yunnan following the example of kings in central China. As one of these five mountains, the Jade Snow Mountain is called the North Mountain. Kublai Khan offered the title of "the Emperor Jing of Holy ley Stone Bringing Peace and Stability to the Country" to the Jade Snow Mountain. Now the Jade Snow Mountain is the major part and the center of the Jade Snow Mountain scenic area.

Reference: Wikipedia

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