Super detailed travel guide of Meili Snow Mountain

You may not have been to Meili Snow Mountain, but you must have seen this photo – under the blue sky, the top of the towering snow mountain is covered with a golden light. The beauty of Meili Snow Mountain does not stop at mountains that look like gold in the sun. This guide will tell you why Meili Snow Mountain is known as one of the most beautiful snow mountains in the world, and explore the Meili Snow Mountain you don’t know.

Meili Snow Mountain is located at the southern foot of the Himalayas and in the heart of the world-famous landscape “Three Parallel Rivers” (Lancang-Mekong River, Jinsha River, Nu River-Salween River) in the Hengduan Mountains. It is the most beautiful and sacred snow mountain group in Yunnan. Meili Snow Mountain also is a cheap travel destination for 2022.

Meili Snow Mountain means “Medicine King” in Tibetan, so Tibetans also call Meili Snow Mountain “Medicine King Mountain”. The real charm of Meili Snow Mountain lies in its holiness and sacred beauty. It is a holy place for pilgrimage of Tibetan Buddhism and ranks first among the eight sacred mountains in the Tibetan area. There are more than 10 snow peaks above 6,000 meters above sea level, of which the main peak, Kawagebo, is the highest peak in Yunnan with an altitude of 6,740 meters. It is the virgin peak that no one has yet climbed.

Must-see attractions along the Meili Snow Mountain

1. Benzilan

Benzilan, which means “beautiful sand embankment” in Tibetan, is the only way to go on the “Ancient Tea-Horse Road”. People in Benzilan create a rich spiritual and cultural life in a beautiful environment. Tourists can taste Tibetan specialties here, appreciate the magnificence of Moon Bay on the Jinsha River, and experience the sacredness of Tibetan Buddhism at Dongzhulin Temple.

2. Jinsha River/Lancang River

“Three Parallel Rivers (Nujiang River, Lancang River, Jinsha River Parallel Flow)” is a national-level scenic spot and a world natural heritage reserve, with magnificent scenery. At the Jinsha River Dawan Observation Deck, you will be amazed by the ingenious workmanship of nature. The Lancang River Grand Canyon is deep and long, the terrain is steep, the river is rushing, the water is thundering, and it is spectacular, which will definitely leave you with a super audio-visual shocking experience.

3. Dongzhulin Temple

Dongzhulin Temple was built in the sixth year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1667). Its original name was “Chongchong Cuogang Temple”, which means the temple by the Xianhe Lake. At the beginning of the temple, there were only 16 monks. “, which means the achievement of “the temple of two benefits (self-benefiting people)”, and the scale has been continuously expanded. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the number of monks living in the temple had grown to more than 700, and there were 10 living Buddhas, becoming one of the thirteen forest temples in Kham District.

4. Feilai Temple

Feilai Temple is located on the side of the Yunnan-Tibet line. It is a good place to take a panoramic view of Meili Snow Mountain and watch the “Rizhao Jinshan”. Gradually, the surrounding area of the temple has become a tourist distribution center next to the Yunnan-Tibet line. Inns and restaurants are readily available. The base and transfer station of Meili Snow Mountain. From the rooms of many inns around Feilai Temple, you can clearly see the whole picture of Meili Snow Mountain, and the view is excellent.

5. Pearl Lakka

From Feilai Temple, you can walk along the highway for 1 km to arrive at “Pearl Lakka”, which is also the location of the viewing platform of Feilai Temple. The best place, but watching “Rizhao Jinshan” needs opportunity, don’t force it, lest the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

6. Mingyong Glacier

Mingyong Glacier is the largest valley glacier in Yunnan with the lowest altitude at the end. It develops on Kawagebo Peak, the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain. The ice and snow on the top of the Mingyong Glacier do not melt all year round, and the surrounding altitude is low, which is very suitable for tourists to hike. Here you can have a close look at Kawagebo, the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain.

There is a Prince’s Temple at the foot of the glacier, which is full of incense all year round. Half an hour’s drive from the Prince’s Temple, there is a Lotus Temple, a temple dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, located on the second-level viewing platform of Mingyong Glacier. Here, you will feel that you are very close to the sky, very close to God, and very close to your soul.

7. Yubeng Village

Yubeng is the meaning of Tibetan scriptures. It is located at the foot of Wuzi Peak in Meili Snow Mountain. A mountain stream divides Yubeng into Upper Village and Lower Village. Yubeng has a unique geographical environment and is sparsely populated. Since ancient times, there has been only one post road leading to the outside world. It takes 18 kilometers on foot or horseback to go over a 3,700-meter pass. It is known as a modern “Xanadu”. You can visit the sacred mountain in Yubeng and feel the card Wagbo’s Call.

8. Yubeng God Waterfall

The waterfall formed by the melted water from Meili Snow Mountain is also a holy place for Tibetans to bathe and purify their souls. Tibetans take bathing under the Yubeng waterfall as a practice to purify their souls. The holy water retrieved from heaven can divine the fate of people, and it can also eliminate disasters and give blessings to all beings. Tibetan Buddhist believers worship the Meili Snow Mountain and regard the waterfall as holy water. Tourists can walk around the waterfall clockwise three times in accordance with the Tibetan tradition to pray for blessings.

9. Yubeng Ice Lake

Yubeng Glacier Lake, also known as “Base Camp Glacier Lake”, has an altitude of about 3,800 meters and is about an hour away from Base Camp. Glacier Lake is the main water source of Yubeng Village and is known as the heart of Kawaborg. The ice lake water is emerald green, and the blue glaciers complement each other, making people suffocate.

10. Xiaonong Base Camp

Xiaonong Base Camp is the base camp for climbing the Kagbo Peak of Meili Snow Mountain, with an altitude of 3900 meters. The terrain here is open, and the gorgeous and colorful pictures composed of plateau meadows, holy snow-capped mountains, ice lake waterfalls, alpine pastures, and wooden houses and wooden fences can be seen.

11. Cizhong Church

Cizhong Catholic Church is located on the banks of the Lancang River in Yanmen Township, Deqin County, covering an area of about 10 acres and a total construction area of 1,386 square meters. The church was built in the sixth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1867), rebuilt in 1909, and has a history of more than 150 years art value.

12. Tacheng Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park

The Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkey is a national first-class protected animal. This Chinese “national treasure animal”, which is as famous as the panda, has scarlet “sexy” lips, and has the most human-like face, with a white and red face. Yunnan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey National Park is one of the “three” national parks in Diqing Prefecture. It is rich in tourism resources. In addition to the Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkey, there are many nationally cherished animals and plants in the reserve, including first-class nationally cherished plants: such as Jade dragon fern, one-leaf clover, Yunnan yew, bandit wood, etc., secondary plants include golden iron lock, oil wheat hanging spruce, etc. There are also many national first-class protected animals, such as the clouded leopard, golden eagle, and so on. The second-class protected animals are black bears, macaques, golden pheasants, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions about Meili Snow Mountain Tourism

1. Will there be altitude sickness when traveling in Meili Snow Mountain?

Altitude sickness varies from person to person, and it mainly depends on individual physical fitness. A good attitude and regular work and rest can effectively reduce the degree of high altitude sickness. During the journey, do what you can, don’t do strenuous exercise, and pay attention to adjusting your breathing rate. If you are worried about this problem, you can take Rhodiola Rosea capsules 7 days in advance, and after entering the scenic spot, you can take blue nourishing tablets or local butter tea to help relieve it. If your physical fitness is weak, you can consider bringing an oxygen bottle to prevent problems. However, if the reaction is particularly severe, it must be sent to a nearby hospital for treatment as soon as possible.

2. What equipment should I prepare for traveling in Meili Snow Mountain?

(1) The temperature difference in the plateau is large. Even in the morning and evening in summer, you should wear a long-sleeved coat, especially in December, January, and February, down jackets, thick cotton coats, self-heating body warmer and jackets are all necessary; The mountainous area is slippery and steep, so you must prepare raincoats and non-slip hiking shoes, as well as knee pads, trekking poles, etc. You can prepare more disposable underwear for easy changing and washing.

(2) In terms of food, prepare more high-energy, easy-to-carry convenience foods, such as chocolate, beef jerky, red bull, and other dry food, but also do what you can to avoid overloading;

(3) In addition, the ultraviolet rays in the plateau area are strong, so you need to do sunscreen work, prepare sun hats, umbrellas, and sunscreen with high SPF value; in addition, you can bring some commonly used outdoor medicines for emergencies; local sanitation conditions are limited, You can bring some wet and dry tissues; if the local power resources are insufficient, you can prepare a small flashlight and a power bank.

3. To go to Meili Snow Mountain for free travel, choose a carpool or self-driving?

Except for experienced drivers of self-driving travel, others are not recommended to drive by themselves. First, the road conditions are unfamiliar to newcomers. Some sections of the road are curved and narrow, the road conditions are relatively poor, and there are many vehicles coming and going. Second, the altitude increases gradually along the way. If you are driving by yourself, you will not be able to drive after altitude sickness. Safety.
For the carpooling service, many people worry about being “hacked”. In fact, this problem can be avoided. Just choose a regular tourist operation vehicle, and a formal chartered car contract will be signed, and the daily maintenance of the vehicle is relatively good, the car is in good condition, and the procedures are complete. Insurance travel is better. Rest assured, the after-sales service is also relatively perfect.

4. To go to Meili Snow Mountain, should you choose to travel independently or in a group?

For some travelers with better physical fitness and rich outdoor experience, they can choose to travel independently if they have sufficient strategies and preparations; for travelers with insufficient outdoor experience, it may be easier to choose to sign up for a group. If you want to get a better travel experience, you can choose some high-quality pure-play small groups, which can not only get a good experience but also feel more at ease. For Yubeng’s itinerary, it is recommended to travel with a group. Going to Yubeng requires higher physical strength and the journey is more difficult. This may also cause Yubeng to be a not very popular tourist attraction. There are fewer people going, and it is not too free to travel.

5. When is the best season to go to Yubeng?

April-June and September-November are more suitable.

6. In what season is there a high chance of seeing Rizhao Jinshan in Meili Snow Mountain?

In addition to the rainy season (July-August), the chances of seeing the Sunshine Jinshan are relatively small, and the chances are still high in other months.

7. How many days does it usually take to hike Yubeng?

4 days is enough.

8. Which is better, Feilai Temple or Wunongding Observation Deck?

Feilai Temple and Wunongding Observation Deck are the two best places to photograph Meili Snow Mountain. There is a distance of more than 20 kilometers between the two places. The Wunong Observation Deck is in the south of Deqin County, less than 7 or 8 kilometers away from the county seat of Shangri-La County. Feilai Temple is 10 kilometers away from Deqin County. Feilai Temple has more accommodation options than Wucongding.

Meili Snow Mountain Area Hotels

1. Feilai Temple is a relatively mature tourist distribution center. There are many hotels and inns of different grades. The price ranges from 100 yuan to 500 yuan, which is about 16-80 US dollars. The catering industry is also relatively developed, and you can freely choose different consumption levels.

2. Many tourists who go to Meili Snow Mountain will choose Yubeng on foot. The accommodation conditions of Yubeng are not very good compared to Feilai Temple, but they are all Tibetan-style houses built of wood. We recommend Meiduo International Youth Hostel in Shangyubeng, Hiker’s Home in the middle of Xiayubeng, Shenpu Inn in Xiayubeng, and Nongbu Brothers Inn in Xiayubeng.

3. On the whole, the accommodation conditions here are worse than those in cities. Tourists need to reduce the time and frequency of bathing and follow the local customs.

Meili Snow Mountain Free Travel Essential Traffic Raiders

Meili Snow Mountain Scenic Spot is located in Deqin County. After arriving at Deqin County by car, transfer to Feilai Temple by car. The first stop to go to Meili Snow Mountain is usually Feilai Temple. One is Feilai Temple, which is the best viewing location for Meili Snow Mountain, and the other is Feilai Temple, which is the best transfer station for many scenic spots in Meili Snow Mountain. It has mature tourism. Ancillary services. To Deqin is usually from Shangri-La by car. Shangri-La currently does not have a railway station, and the main transportation is airplanes and cars. Foreign tourists can choose the nearest route to fly directly to Shangri-La, or they can fly to Kunming first, then fly to Shangri-La, and then go from Shangri-La to Deqin.

1. Shangri-La-Deqin-Meili Snow Mountain Feilai Temple

Take the shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Deqin County. There are four departures a day: 09:20, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30. The fare is 58 yuan, about 9 dollars, and the driving time is about 4 hours to reach Deqin County. Then transfer to the bus to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. There is no shuttle bus from Deqin to Feilai Temple. After the shuttle bus arrives in Deqin County, you can take a taxi or share a car with your friends to Feilai Temple, which can be reached in 20 minutes.

2. Lijiang-Deqin-Meili Snow Mountain Feilai Temple

From Lijiang to Meili, there are two ways to get there by changing trains. The first one: take a shuttle bus from Lijiang Bus Station to Deqin, and then take a bus from Deqin to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. There is a bus from Lijiang Passenger Station to Deqin County every day, starting at 09:00, the fare is 114 yuan, about 19 US dollars, the driving time is about 6-7 hours, and then transfer from Deqin County to Feilai Temple; the second type: From Lijiang Bus Station, take the shuttle bus to Shangri-La, there are many shifts, then take the shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Deqin County, and then transfer to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. The schedules from Lijiang Bus Station to Shangri-La are: 07:30, 08:10, 08:50, 09:30, 10:00, 10:40, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 17:10, the fare is 63 yuan, or about 10 US dollars, and the travel time is 3-4 hours.

3. Dali-Deqin-Meili Snow Mountain Feilai Temple

From Dali to Meili, there are two ways to get there by changing trains. The first is: to take a shuttle bus from Dali Xiaguan Bus Station North Station to Deqin and then take a bus from Deqin to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. There is a shuttle bus to Deqin County every day from the North Station of Dali Xiaguan Bus Station. Shangri-La takes the shuttle bus to Deqin County and then transfers to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. From Dali Xiaguan Bus Station North Station to Shangri-La: 08:00, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:30, 12:15, 13:00, 18:30, The fare is 106 yuan, or about $15;

4. Kunming-Deqin-Shangri-La

From Kunming to Meili, there are two ways to get there by changing trains.
The first is: to take a shuttle bus from Kunming West Passenger Station to Deqin and then take a bus from Deqin to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. There is a shuttle bus to Deqin County every day from Kunming West Passenger Station. The bus departs at 19:00 and the fare is 258 yuan or about 42 US dollars;
The second type: take the shuttle bus from Kunming West Bus Station to Shangri-La, and then take the shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Deqin County, then transfer to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain. There are also several bus shuttles from Kunming West Passenger Station to Shangri-La. The whole journey is 720 kilometers and the journey takes about 11 hours. The bus departs every day at 8:30, 9:30, 14:00, 20:00, and 20:30, of which the morning and afternoon buses are The ticket price is 249 yuan, or about $40; the night bus is a sleeper, and the fare is 208 yuan, or about $38. After arriving at Shangri-La, take the shuttle bus to Deqin County, and then transfer to Feilai Temple in Meili Snow Mountain.

5. Feilai Temple of Meili Snow Mountain – Yubeng Village

You can enter Yubeng Village from Xidan Village or Ninong Grand Canyon. In Feilai Temple, it is easy to meet ALICE travelers who go to Yubeng on foot. You can charter a car at Feilai Temple Scenic Spot. The cost is about 150-180 yuan per car, which is about 25-30 US dollars, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.

6. Feilai Temple of Meili Snow Mountain – Mingyong Glacier

Deqin Bus Station has a shuttle bus to Mingyong Village at 7:00 and 15:00 every day, 16 yuan per person, about 2.5 US dollars, the shuttle bus sometimes stops, it is best to call and confirm with Deqin Bus Station before traveling. Guests who live in Feilai Temple Scenic Area can wait for the shuttle bus at the entrance of the observation deck. It is more convenient to go by chartered car, and the price is about 200 yuan or about 35 US dollars.

7. Dongzhulin Temple

The shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Deqin County will pass through Dongzhulin Temple, but it will not stop.

8. Cizhong Church

There is a shuttle bus from Deqin to Cizhong Bridge every day, starting at 15:00; you can also take the shuttle bus from Deqin County to Weixi, and then get off at Cizhong Bridge, there are two buses a day from Deqin to Weixi, the departure time: 08:00, 12:00. Cizhong Village is next to the road above Cizhong Bridge. There is a small shop beside the bridge. You can ask the locals for a specific route into the village. The church is on the road on the right after entering the village. After crossing the bridge, go left for 1-2 minutes and there will be a small road. Go right and walk for 20 minutes to reach Cizhong Catholic Church.

9. Tacheng Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park

Tacheng Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park is located in Tacheng Town, Weixi County. You can take the shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Weixi, and then get off at Tacheng. The shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Weixi is at 09:00, 10:30, 12:00,14:00, departure every day.

10. Deqin-Mangkang

Deqin County is adjacent to Mangkang County, Qamdo City, Tibet. Mangkang County is located at the intersection of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet provinces. The main tourist attractions in Mangkang County are based on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. There is a shuttle bus from Deqin County Passenger Station to Mangkang every day, starting at 08:30 in the morning, the price is 89 yuan per person or about 15 US dollars.

11. Deqin-Chamdo

Chamdo is located at the throat of Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan. It is the necessary place for the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. The shuttle bus from Deqin County to Qamdo City runs every two days, starting at 7:30 in the morning, and the price is 280 yuan per person, which is about 45 US dollars.

12. Deqin Vesey

There are two buses every day from Deqin County to Weixi, the departure time: 08:00 and 12:00, the fare is 64 yuan, about 10 US dollars, and the travel time is about 4 hours.

13. Package carpooling

You can also charter a car from Shangri-La directly to Feilai Temple. You can arrange freely along the way, and the itinerary is free. The price is about 600 yuan per day, which is about 95 US dollars. Before chartering, pay attention to confirming the destination and itinerary in advance. necessary trouble.