Baima Snow Mountain

Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve is located in the southeast of Deqin County, Diqing Prefecture, which is the watershed of Jinsha River and Lancang River. Its total area has been expanded to 270000 hectares, making it the largest and highest altitude Nature Reserve in Yunnan. The main protected objects are alpine coniferous forest, natural landscape of mountain vegetation vertical zone and Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. 

Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve is located on the main road between Yunnan and Tibet. The famous Dian-Zang (Yunnan-Tibet) highway will cross the Baima Snow Mountain pass at an altitude of 4292 meters. From the viewing platform of the pass, you can see the main peak (Zhalaqueni Peak) of the Baima Snow Mountain from afar. The altitude of Zhalaqueni peak is 5640m, which is the second highest peak in Yunnan. The lowest altitude of Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve is Xiaruo village, which is 2080 meters above sea level. There is a great vertical difference in climate, forming a strong three-dimensional climate characteristics and value quilt type. You can experience a three-dimensional vertical climate in just three or four hours on the way to Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. The highway pass through the Baima Snow Mountain pass with an altitude of 4290 meters, which is one of the highest highways in Yunnan Province. 

Baima Snow Mountain Facts

-Chinese name: 白马雪山 (白茫雪山)

-Location: Southeast of Deqin County, Diqing Prefecture

-Area: 190,144 hectares

-Time needed: Half day

-Entrance fee: Free 

Best Time to Visit Baima Snow Mountain

Summer and autumn (May to Oct) are the best time to visit Baima Snow Mountain. In summer, the snow and ice on Baima Snow Mountain melt away, streams are flowing, Azalea are blooming, birds are singing and monkeys are playing. When autumn comes, the forests of Baima Snow Mountain are colored, just like a beautiful fairy tale world. Of course, the snow scenery of Baima Snow Mountian is also beautiful in winter, but the road condition is not good and the road might be closed during snowy day. Therefore, it is not recommended to visit Baima Snow Mountain in winter. Safety is the first element of travel. If you Shangri-la tour just during summer or autumn, Baima Snow Mountain is worth to see during the trip. 

What to See at Baima Snow Mountain

In the vast Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, many rare birds and animals live harmoniously and freely, presenting a peaceful atmosphere in nature. There are countless national key animals, such as snow leopard, black deer, red panda, golden cat, brown bear, fox and various birds. It is worthy of animal paradise. In vast forest, the key trees that protected by the state include Pseudotsuga forrestii, Tsuga dumosa, Taxus Linn, Yellow azalea, etc. The Yellow azaleas are especially rich at the forest, which is also a key element of forming the wonderful flower sea in the forest.

Zhalaqueni Peak

Zhalaqueni Peak is located in the southwest of Baimaxueshan pass, with an altitude of 5482 meters. Generally speaking, the snow is still heavy during the period from January to May, it may cause avalanche. The wind is strong from January to March, which is a not good period for climbing. It rains a lot during June to September, and often filled with thick fog, it is hard to see the route condition. The best climbing season is from November to December. There are more sunny days and less snow at this time, which is regarded as the golden season for mountaineering. 

Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey

The body length of Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is 51-83 cm, and the weight is about 9-17 kg. Yunnan snub-nosed monkey inhabits in the dark coniferous forest belt above 3000 meters above sea level. It mainly feeds on the tender leaves and buds. Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is an endemic species in China, and it has same important status as the giant panda. It is only distributed in the juncture of Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet provinces in China, and in the Yunling mountains of Hengduan Mountains on the southern margin of Himalayas. 

Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is regarded as the ancestor by the local Lisu People. In Lisu language, Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is called “zhami”, which means parents. Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is the highest altitude primate in the world besides human beings, and it is also the most tenacious primate. Their reproductive rate is very low, most babies are born in March to April. Female monkey can have one baby every two years and the gestation period is about 7 months. White Horse Snow Mountain Nature Reserve has very strict management policies, it is not allowed to watch monkeys for more than two hours every morning. Because the monkeys live in different habitats every day, it is not easy to see Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys here. 

As the most important habitat of Yunnan snub nosed monkeys, Baima Snow Mountain has more than two-thirds of all Yunnan snub nosed monkeys. The Yunnan snub nosed monkey National Park in Weixi Shangri-la was established to protect Yunnan snub nosed monkeys, with the total area of 334.16 square kilometers. Yunnan snub-nosed monkey National Park is one of the three national parks in Diqing Prefecture.. In addition to see Yunnan snub nosed monkeys, you can also enjoy many national precious animals and plants. 

Baima (White horse) Snow Mountain Pass

The elevation of Baima Snow Mountain is 4292 meters, which is the highest highway section in Yunnan province at present, and also the regional boundary of Deqin County and Shangri-la County. There is a viewing platform which can overlook Zhalaqueni peak. At the pass of Baima Snow Mountain, you can see a huge prayer stone pile. According to the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, people should pick up a stone and put it on the prayer stone pile and recite scripture aloud to show their respect for God.

Benzilan 

Benzilan town is a small town located in the southeast of Yunnan Province, it is called “beautiful sandbank “in Tibetan. Benzilan town is located in the Jinsha River at the foot of Baima Snow Mountain, which is the only way through the ancient tea and horse road. Benzilan town has the famous first bend of Jinsha River in China, the scenery can be compared with the first bend of Yangtze River. When you stand on the viewing platform, you can have the panoramic view of the great bend of Jinsha River. 

How to Get to Baima Snow Mountain

1. By bus: There are four buses leave from Shangri-la Bus Station to Deqin County every morning, the departure time are: 7:20am, 8:20am, 9:20am and 12:00pm. The whole journey takes about 5-6 hours. The last bus returns to Shangri-la from Deqin County departs at 3:00pm. 

2. Private car: Easy Tour China can arrange private Shangri-la trip to Baima Snow Mountain which will be more comfortable and convenient.