Travel Tips for a Trip to Meili Snow Mountain

Meili Snow Mountain is also known as the Prince Snow Mountain, which is located northeastward about 10 km in Deqin County, between Nujiang River and Lancangjiang River. There are 13 peaks of the moutain with the average elevation over 6,000 meters. They are called Prince Thirteen Peaks. The main peak is Kawagebo Peak, which is the highest peak in Yunnan Province with an elevation of 6,740 meters. It is known as the god of snow mountains, which is one of the eight sacred mountains in Tibet. Meili Snow Mountain is as holy mountain in all the Tibetan's mind. The Tibetans worship Kawagebo Peak since ancient times as they think that is the residence of their patron. The locals believe that the god will leave them away once anyone reach the top Kawagebo Peak. Then the diaster will come without the god's protection. Therefore, Kawagebo Peak is the pilgrimage shrine of Tibetan Buddhism. Hundreds of Tibetans worship Meili Snow Mountain by revolving it from the end of autumn to the early winter every year. It is really stunning.

Good season to visit Meili Snow Mountaion is from Ocotober to next May, but the best time is after the end of October, where it is sunny with clean air. It is clear to see the main peak frequently. If you tavel in other season, it will depend on luck to see the peak clearly. It is easier to see the beautiful snow mountaion when the sun comes out in the morning.

However, the weather at Meili Snow Mountaion Area is constantly changing. Tourists seldom see Kawagebo Peak. Some tourists wait in Lijiang. If it is rainy, they cancel to visit Meili Snow Mountaion. If it is sunny, they continue a trip to Meili Snow Mountain. However, it often gets the opposite of what one wants. But, it is easier to see the Kawagebo Peak at about 8-9 o'clock in the morning at the end of autumn and the beginning of spring.

Ideal Places to see the Snow Mountain

1.On the State Highway No 214, from where tourists could see a panoramic view of Meili Snow Mountain. As the road is narrow, tourists should not stand there for a long time.

2.Wunongding Viewing Platform. It is along State Road No 214 from Shangri-la to Deqin, about 15 km from the county of Deqin. There are 13 white pagodas at Wunongding Village. It is open to see spectacular view of the snow mountaion.

3.Feilai Temple. Feilai Temple is located about 11km from the county of Deqin, on thw way from Deqin to Tibet along State Road No. 214/ The local Tibetans and pedestrains often burn incense and pray in this temple. It is the best place to view the sunrise and sunset of Meili Snow Mountain. The temple has already been developed to a fully-functional tourist destination, where tourist could find guesthouse or inn, restaurants, bars. Most tourists choose to stay at Feilai Temple for viewing the sunrise and sunset or going to Yubeng and Mingyong Glacier more conveniently.

There isn't admission for the temple. There are buses from Shangri-la to Deqin at 07:20, 08:20, 09:20 and 12:00 every day. It takes about 5 hours for driving. When you reach Deqin, you could rent a taxi or mini-van to Feilai Temple, from which you could see Meili Snow Mountain.

Notes

Even though there are guesthouses, hotels, restaurants or bars in the short street at Feilai Temple, It is lack of water in this area. Therefore, locals and tourists will meet water shortage, although every family has its own water storage subsystem. Therefore, please check with the hotel or guesthouse whether there is water for shower before checking in it. It is better to have a shower once you check in the hotel or guesthouse to avoid the embarrassment of water shortage at night.

Mingyong Glacier is a long glacier at the foot of Kawagebo Peak. This is a tropical monsoon marine glacier at low-altitude area. The snow and ice remain all the year round. Since it is at the low snow line, it melts fast due to the high temperature. Therefore, it survives bu rainfall. The glacier tongue may extend from an altitude of 5,500 meters to 2,800 above the sea level in winter. It looks like a white dragon, extending from the peak to the foot of the mountaion, toward the Lancang River. It is only 800 meters away from the surface of Lancang River.

It is about more than 40 km from Feilai Temple to Mingyong Glacier Parking lot. If you want to see the glacier, you have to trek or ride a horse for more than 2 hours.