|
 Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain,
located 15km north of
Lijiang city with an
altitude of 5600 meters
(18,400 feet) above sea
level, is the highest
mountain on the southern
bank of the Yangtze
River.
There are totally 13
snow-covered peaks in
this mountain. Storms
frequently rage on this
mountain and snow-white
is the main rhythm of
this mountain. Shanzidou
Peak, the main peak of
the mountain, with an
altitude of 5,596 meters
above sea level, is
especially clad in white
snow all the year round.
The mountain extends 35
km from south to north
and 12 km from west to
east, producing
different altitudes in
the mountain. Owing to
conspicuous
three-dimensional
climate caused by
different altitude,
various trees and rare
animals living in
different climates can
live together in this
mountain It is estimated
that half of Yunnan’s
13,000 plants species,
400 kinds of trees,
dozens of flowers types,
and one-third of China’s
known species of
medicinal herbs can be
found here.
When the spring comes,
the mountain bursts into
bloom when the
camellias,
rhododendrons, and
azaleas start flowering.
Herders take their
cattle, goats, sheep,
and yaks to graze on its
slopes. In autumn, a
portion of the pines
turns amber yellow,
while the leaves on
deciduous trees present
patches of orange,
bright yellow, and scar.
The mountain is a holy
mountain for the Naxi
(also spelt Nakhi and
Nahi) people, a soul of
the tribe. Allegedly,
the Naxi tribe believed
that their Genius "Sanduo"
was the god of mountain,
living on the Jade
Dragon Mountain. Legends
say whenever the Naxi
people fought with their
enemy, he always
appeared, with white
face like the snow,
wearing white helmet and
white armor, riding a
white horse, holding a
white spear, to help the
Naxi soldiers to defeat
the enemy. Naxi warriors
must sacrifice the "Sanduo"
god before they went to
battle. On the slope of
the mountain lies a "Sanduo
Temple" where the Genius
"Sanduo" of the Naxi
people is worshipped.
The mountain is also a
holy mount of love in
the eye of the Naxi
people. In the past,
many Naxi lovers who
tried to get rid of the
shackle of arranged
marriage and feudal
ethics, in belief of
"would rather die for
freedom than live in
distress", went to the
mountain to sacrifice
their young life for
ideal love. They saw the
mountain as their final
setting place for
themselves and for their
love.
Access to the top of the
mountain is provided by
a cableway from the foot
of the mountain to
Dragon Spruce Meadow.
Seen form Lijiang city,
the mountain, with its
main peak thrusting into
the clouds, appear
magnificent and sublime.
Now, the mountain has
become a nice place for
snow sightseeing,
mountaineering,
explorations and
scientific
investigation. |
