Last updated: April 2026. Verify prices and booking policies before visiting.
About 25 kilometers north of Lijiang's Old Town, thirteen snow-capped peaks run in a line. The Naxi call it Ourou, which roughly means son of the gods. The highest peak, Shanzidou, reaches 5,596 meters and has never been summited.
A gondola reaches a wooden boardwalk at 4,680 meters, the highest point the park opens to visitors. The glacier stretches upward from there; below, Lijiang's valley and Blue Moon Valley spread out together. When clouds move in, everything above and below turns white.
Mountain weather shifts fast. Mornings are usually clear by 7 or 8 a.m., and cloud cover can fill in within half an hour after noon. If you want the Glacier Park gondola, leave early.
What Makes it Worth It
An actual glacier
The ice at 4,680 meters isn't decorative. It's permanent glacier that has been accumulating for tens of thousands of years. Few places in southwestern China let ordinary visitors stand this close to it.
Four zones across nearly 2,000 meters of elevation
The park has four main areas: Glacier Park (4,680m), Yak Meadow (3,700m), Spruce Meadow (3,240m), and Blue Moon Valley (2,900m). Pick one or two and explore them properly. Rushing all four in a day doesn't leave much room to actually be there.
The color of Blue Moon Valley
Three lakes fed by glacial meltwater. Calcium carbonate and minerals give the water its turquoise-to-jade color, most saturated on a sunny afternoon. At 2,900 meters, there's no altitude sickness risk. It's the one place in the park where you can slow down without worrying.
A mountain with meaning
In Naxi tradition, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is home to the guardian deity of Lijiang. Young lovers who died for each other were believed to reunite here. The Impression Lijiang show, directed by Zhang Yimou and performed by around 500 Naxi cast members at 3,100 meters, uses the mountain as its backdrop. It's one of the highest-altitude open-air performances in the world.
What to Expect
Altitude sickness
At 4,680 meters, oxygen is roughly 60% of sea level. Lightheadedness and shortness of breath are common even for people in good shape; some get headaches or nausea. Renting an oxygen canister (60 CNY) is a practical precaution, not an optional souvenir. If you have a serious heart or lung condition, skip the large gondola.
Medical staff and oxygen stations are present in the park. If you feel clearly unwell, go down immediately. Don't push through it.
How to book tickets as a foreign visitor
This is where many independent travelers get stuck. The official booking channel is a WeChat mini-program called Lijiang Tourism Group (丽江旅游集团), which is in Chinese, requires your passport number, and uses WeChat Pay or Alipay for payment. For visitors without a working Chinese payment setup, this process is difficult.
Three alternatives that actually work:
Trip.com (English) — Accepts international credit cards, supports passport booking, and sells individual gondola tickets without requiring a tour package. The most reliable option for independent foreign travelers.
Klook / GetYourGuide / Viator — English-language platforms selling bundled day tours that include transfers, park entrance, and gondola tickets. Prices are higher than buying direct, but the booking process is in English and payable by international card. Worth it if you don't want to sort out logistics separately.
Ask your accommodation — Many Lijiang guesthouses and hostels regularly help foreign guests book through the WeChat mini-program at face value. Worth asking at check-in.
The large gondola has a daily quota. During peak season (May Golden Week, July–August, October Golden Week) it sells out. Booking opens 7 days in advance; aim for 2 weeks out during busy periods.
Queues and crowds
Even with a ticket, gondola waits during peak season can run 2–3 hours. Getting to the ticket gate before 7 a.m. cuts wait times significantly.
Temperature
Even in midsummer, temperatures at 4,680 meters drop below 10°C, lower once wind picks up. The park rents down jackets (50 CNY/piece), but quality varies. Bringing a light windproof layer is more reliable.
Weather window
The clearest conditions are typically between 7 and 10 a.m. Clouds build in the afternoon and rain is common. When the summit is socked in, there's nothing to see from the boardwalk. Weather forecasts give a general sense, but mountain conditions are only confirmed on the ground.
Don't Miss
Glacier Park boardwalk (4,680m) — The gondola drops you at a wooden walkway that leads to the highest viewing platform, about 30–40 minutes round trip. The path is not steep, but the altitude makes you aware of every extra step. Look closely at the blue ice crevasses in the glacier face and the ridge line of all thirteen peaks spread behind you.
Blue Moon Valley — Included with the park entrance ticket, no additional charge. Three lakes arranged in a cascade; the lowest, Mirror Lake, is the clearest and most vividly colored. The walking path is flat; allow 1–1.5 hours to go through. Avoid midday when it's most crowded.
Yak Meadow (3,700m) — Reached by the middle gondola. A high-altitude grassland where yaks actually graze. All thirteen peaks line up along the northern horizon, and you can see more of them here than from Glacier Park. Noticeably quieter, too. Worth the detour if you have the time.
Impression Lijiang — Roughly one hour. When weather cooperates, the mountain is visible behind the stage. Tickets are sold separately (140 CNY standard, 205 CNY VIP).
Practical Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Park entrance (includes Blue Moon Valley) | 100 CNY per person |
| Large gondola — Glacier Park | Approx. 140–180 CNY per person (round-trip) |
| Small gondola — Spruce Meadow | Approx. 55–60 CNY per person (round-trip) |
| Middle gondola — Yak Meadow | Approx. 60–80 CNY per person (round-trip) |
| Park sightseeing bus | 20 CNY per person |
| Blue Moon Valley electric shuttle | 50 CNY per person (walkable alternative) |
| Impression Lijiang show | 140 CNY (standard) / 205 CNY (VIP) |
| Down jacket rental | 50 CNY per piece |
| Oxygen canister | 60 CNY per canister |
| Opening hours | Approx. 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (6:30 a.m. in winter) |
| Booking/Tickets | Large gondola: 7-day advance required; Trip.com (English) or tour platforms |
Prices are indicative — confirm current rates before visiting.
Payment: Alipay and WeChat Pay are the standard methods throughout the park. Foreign visitors can link international Visa or Mastercard cards to either app. Set this up before arriving; Wi-Fi inside the park is unreliable.
Getting around inside the park: Three bus routes connect the main zones. Signage at stops is mainly in Chinese, with some English. Staff English is limited. Pick up a park map at the visitor center (English versions are available) or screenshot your route in advance on Google Maps or Amap. Pointing usually works for simple directions.
Getting There
From Lijiang Old Town
A taxi covers the 25–30 kilometers in 30–40 minutes and costs 60–80 CNY. Use Didi or ask your accommodation to arrange one. Once inside the park gate, the sightseeing buses (20 CNY) connect the entrance area to each zone. Glacier Park, Yak Meadow, and Spruce Meadow each have a separate route.
Joining a day tour
Travel agencies and hotels offer packages that typically include hotel pickup, park entrance, and the large gondola ticket, at 300–500 CNY per person. For foreign visitors unfamiliar with the Chinese booking system, this removes the biggest friction point. Verify whether Impression Lijiang is included or sold separately.
Self-driving
Parking is available at the park entrance. From Lijiang Old Town, take the northern road toward the scenic area, around 30 minutes. Private vehicles are not permitted inside the park; switch to the sightseeing bus after parking.
The gondola ticket needs booking a week out. The weather is unknown until the morning you actually go. Altitude sickness does what it wants regardless of how fit you are. There are more ways for this day to go sideways than most.
That said, Blue Moon Valley requires no advance booking and has no altitude concerns. On a clear afternoon, the color alone is worth the entrance fee. If the schedule allows, pair it with an early morning gondola ride up to Glacier Park. That combination covers what the mountain actually is.
