Meili Snow Mountain

Meili Snow Mountain is located in the east of Chayu County in Tibet and the west of Yunling County in Deqin County in Yunnan Province. It is a huge snow mountain group with a total length of 150 km. Meili Snow Mountain also known as Prince Snow Mountain, it is one of the eight holy mountains in Tibetan area. The highest peak is Kawagebo peak, with an altitude of 6740 meters, which is the highest peak in Yunnan Province. It is located 10 kilometers southwest of Deqin County and 184 kilometers away from Zhongdian County. The lowest altitude is located at the junction of chalitong and Yanmen County by the Lancang River, with an altitude of 1900 meters and a relative elevation difference of 4840 meters.  

Meili Snow Mountain is not only a complex terrain, but also a complex climate change. In summer, the temperature in the valley can reach to 11-29 ℃, while the temperature in the mountains is around - 10 ℃ to - 20 ℃. The average annual precipitation is 600 mm, mostly concentrated in June to August. During this period, the climate is extremely unstable, which is a forbidden area for mountaineering. Meili Snow Mountain is located in the hinterland of Hengduan Mountain range, which is a world natural heritage site of Three Parallel Rivers and national scenic spot. It is one of the most abundant areas of biodiversity in Yunnan. The unique low latitude glacier and snow mountain, complex plateau terrain and typical plateau monsoon climate make Meili Snow Mountain a paradise for wildlife. 

What to See at Meili Snow Mountain

Meili Snow Mountain National Park was established in July 2009 and officially opened in October of the same year. The park is located at the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, with a total area of 960 square kilometers. Meili Snow Mountain National Park is the hinterland of Shangri La tourist area and three parallel rivers world natural heritage. The scenic spots open to the public include Yunnan & Tibet ecological and cultural corridor, Jinshajiang Dawan, Feilai Temple pearl Laka, wunongding yingbingtai, Mingyong glacier, Yubeng, etc. There are lots to see on Shangri-la tour.

Kawagebo Peak

Kawagebo Peak is the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain, which means "white snow mountain" in Tibetan and is commonly known as "God of snow mountain". With an altitude of 6740 meters, it is the highest snow peak group in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, and also the highest and most beautiful snow mountain in Yunnan Province. Kawagebo peak is located in the core area of the world famous "Three Parallel Rivers" scenic spot. Here, Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River have the shortest straight-line distance, which is only about 66.3 km. It is said that Kawagebo was originally a ferocious God with nine heads and eighteen arms. Later, he was enlightened by master lianhuasheng and converted to Buddhism. The statue of kawagbo is often worshipped on the altar. He rides on a white horse and holds a long sword. He is majestic, just like a protective god. Kawagbo peak, which integrates natural scenery and Tibetan culture, has attracted worldwide attention and numerous domestic and foreign scholars to come for scientific investigation, mountaineering exploration and tourism. 

Mingyong Glacier

There are four large glaciers in Meili Snow Mountain, Mingyong Glacier is the longest and largest one among them. It stretches from the Meili Snow Mountain at an altitude of 6740 meters down to the virgin forest at an altitude of 2600 meters. It is like a dragon with silver scales and jade armor, extending from the high snow peak to the Lancang River at the foot of the mountain. Ice and snow on the top of the mountain do not melt all the year round, forming a unique glacier spectacle. 

Trekking on the Minyong glacier, you can get a close view of Kawagebo. Walking on the Mingyong glacier is a primary intensity, and it can be completed in about five or six hours, which is much less difficult than trekking at Yubeng village. Route and altitude reference: The foot of the mountain (2230m) - Prince Temple (2720m) - Lotus Temple (3100m) - Glacier viewing platform (altitude 3000). If you want to have a more relaxed tour, you can hire a horse at the entrance of the scenic spot. Except for the plank road and the steep mountain road, other parts can be completed by horse. 

Feilai Temple

Feilai temple is located along the Yunnan Tibet highway, 8 kilometers away from Deqin County. The temple was first built in 1614, with a history of nearly 407 years. Feilai temple covers an area of 1500 square meters. It is composed of Zisun Hall, Guansheng Hall, Haichao Hall, etc. Feilai Temple is facing Kawagebo peak, which is the best place to shoot the scene of the golden sunrise on its dramatic snow-capped peaks. Here you can also have a panoramic view of the thirteen peaks of Meili Snow Mountain. The scene of the golden sunrise on its dramatic snow-capped peaks only last few minutes, please prepare your camera in advance. Nowadays, more and more tourists come here to view and take photos, and people begin to call the area around the temple Feilai Temple. You can see many hostels and restaurants here, and it has gradually become a place where tourist to have rest by Yunna-Tibet highway. 

Yubeng Scared Waterfall

Located on the south side of Kawagebo peak, there is a waterfall pouring down from a kilometer cliff, which is called “Yubeng Scared Waterfall”. As the water of the scared waterfall is the melting snow water of Meili Snow Mountain, Tibetan people think that taking bath under the waterfall could purify the soul. According to the Tibetan tradition, visitors can walk clockwise around the scared waterfall for three times to pray. The scenery of Yubeng Scared Waterfall changes with seasons. In spring and summer, the water flow increased, and the scenery is more spectacular. Yubeng is the highest village in Meili Snow Mountain. Starting from lower Yubeng village to Yubeng Scared Waterfall, the trekking tour will takes 2 hours.  

Meili Snow Mountain Accident

In 1991, 17 members of China-Japan joint mountaineering team attempted to reach the summit of Kawagebo Peak, and the team was established by top mountaineers from China and Japan. They set out from camp No.3, the weather turned to bad suddenly when they reached the altitude of 6400 meters, so the team has to go back and plans to reach the peak the next day. However, when the team members made the last voice contact with the base camp that night, they encountered a large-scale avalanche at an altitude of more than 5000 meters. All the team members were died in this accident. 

How to Get to Meili Snow Mountain

1. Bus: Take bus from Shangri-la Bus Station to Deqin in the morning, the journey will take around 4 hours. Then take bus from Deqin Bus Station to Feilai Peak.

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