Jiaozi Snow Mountain Scenic Area (轿子雪山风景区) covers an area of 253 square kilometers, with its main peak reaching an altitude of 4223.4 meters, making it the highest peak in central Yunnan. Its name, Jiaozi, which means “sedan chair” in English, comes from its appearance resembling a sedan chair placed among numerous mountains. The scenic area boasts majestic peaks, cascading waterfalls, clear and mysterious lakes, vibrant flowers, and unique trees, with rare birds and animals occasionally appearing. It features a three-dimensional climate ranging from frigid to temperate to tropical, presenting a unique landscape where “one mountain has four seasons, each with its own distinct scenery.”
Exploring all the attractions of Jiaozi Snow Mountain typically requires at least a full day, while a quick visit would still take up half a day. Therefore, many tourists choose to start their journey from Kunming City and stay overnight in Zuanlong Town at the foot of Jiaozi Snow Mountain, then head to the scenic area early the next day for sightseeing.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Jiaozi Snow Mountain
- Vlog about Jiaozi Snow Mountain
- Other Attractions in Kunming Suburbs
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 day |
| Ticket Price | Admission: 35 RMB Shuttle Bus: 30 RMB Xinshan Pass Cable Car: 80 RMB (One- Way) Xiapingzi Pass Cable Car: 167 RMB (One-Way) Insurance: 3 RMB Combined Ticket 1: 235 RMB inicluding admission, cable car at Xinshan pass and shuttle bus Combined Ticket 2: 315 RMB including admission, cable car at Xinshan Pass, shuttle bus, and cable car at Xiapingzi Pass |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.30; Last admission: 15.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0871-68947299 |
Location and Transportation
Jiaozi Snow Mountain is located 147 kilometers away from Kunming City, Yunnan Province, in Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County. Visitors can take a bus from Kunming North Bus Station (昆明北部客运站) to Zhuanglong Town (转龙镇), which takes approximately 3.5 hours. After getting off the bus, there are small cars available to take travelers to the scenic area, usually costing around 30 yuan.
Highlights of Jiaozi Snow Mountain
High Mountain Lakes
Located at an elevation of 3800 to 4100 meters, the Jiaozi Snow Mountain Scenic Area is dotted with numerous glacial cirques that hold water year-round, forming high mountain lakes, also known as Tianchi, or “heavenly pools.” Among the most renowned are the Snow Mountain Tianchi, Mubang Lake, and Jingguai Pond. Due to their high elevation and the unstable climate at the mountain’s summit, disturbances on the lakes, such as ripples or loud noises, often lead to rainfall or hail, adding to the mystique of Jiaozi Mountain. The water in these lakes is crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding mountain scenery, creating a picturesque and tranquil atmosphere.
Colorful Flower Creek
Flower Creek is a series of sister waterfalls nestled within the high mountain waterfall group, stretching over 800 meters long and 6 to 10 meters wide. Alongside the creek, dense primitive azalea forests flourish, with the stream flowing among pristine white rocks. In autumn and winter, the creek freezes, forming a vast expanse of pure white ice. As spring transitions into summer, the creek banks burst into a riot of colors with blooming azaleas in shades of red, white, and yellow. The vibrant hues of the flowers juxtaposed against the flowing water create a stunning natural spectacle, with petals drifting along the current, presenting an idyllic scene of untouched beauty.
High Mountain Meadows
On the gently sloping plateau on the western side of Jiaozi Mountain, at an altitude of 4000 meters, lies several hundred acres of high mountain meadows. The color of the grass changes with the seasons, with lush green waves rolling in during the summer and a golden hue taking over after autumn. The grass naturally grows in clusters, rows, and ranks, creating a picturesque landscape. Wildflowers dot the meadows, adding to the natural beauty of the high mountain grassland.
Miraculous Buddha Light
Buddha light, also known as “halo,” is an atmospheric optical phenomenon where a magnificent halo of rainbow-colored lights appears above the clouds, forming a semicircular rainbow enveloping the shadows of visitors. As people move, the shadows move accordingly, creating an ethereal effect known as Buddha light. The Buddha light is usually visible from 14:00 to 17:00 on clear days when there is mist in the air. The outer edge of the halo is red, while the inner edge is purple, creating a stunning display of colors against the mountain backdrop, providing visitors with a spiritual and awe-inspiring experience.
My friends and I made a last-minute decision to set off, and we arrived at Jiaozi Snow Mountain around 1 PM. The journey up via the cable car was surrounded by lush green grass, which made me worry that we wouldn’t see any snow during our trip. To my surprise, as we climbed higher, we first encountered ice shards and then thick layers of snow. I was so delighted!
The weather was not great and it was very cold, but I still persevered and climbed to the top of the mountain. The visibility was poor, and the view was not as beautiful as it would have been on a sunny day.
Today’s Jiaozi Snow Mountain has no snow, only ice. It was quite hot at noon, but there was a strong wind coming from behind. I really couldn’t climb up.
I woke up late and arrived at the park at 12:30 PM. We started our ascent after taking the cable car down at 2 PM. The summit was over 3 kilometers away, and it took us more than two hours to reach the top, arriving at 4:20 PM. After taking 10 minutes for photos, we began our descent, which was super quick and only took an hour. We had to hurry because we needed to catch the last cable car… Read more »
The round-trip trek to Jiaozi Snow Mountain covers approximately 24 kilometers with an elevation gain of around 1600 meters. The scenery along the way is incredibly beautiful. After walking through the forest, you can see the snowy ridges, the White Stone Rock (白石岩), and the Beimu Room Peak (贝母房峰) on the opposite side.
The scenery after the rain at Jiaozi Snow Mountain is stunning; it truly exceeded my expectations for this trip.
It’s important to have some oxygen available. Our 8-and-a-half-year-old child needed supplemental oxygen when we reached an altitude of around 3900. The elderly began to show significant fatigue at around 3800. Everyone’s physical condition varies, so this can be taken as a reference; just take it at your own pace.
July at Mount Jiaozi, Few people and beautiful scenery, Every breath is the taste of nature.
Last January, I visited the Jiaozi Snow Mountain. At that time, it was covered in white snow, freezing the Tianchi Lake and waterfalls. The chilling wind on the mountaintop was bone-piercing and relentless. In the summer, the temperature at Jiaozi Snow Mountain is just right. It is very comfortable with normal clothing plus sunscreen. It truly lives up to its reputation as a summer resort.