Yakping Scenic Area

The main attractions in the Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area include Blue Moon Valley, Glacier Park, Yunshanping, Yakping and other major attractions.

Yakping is another meadow pasture located halfway up the mountain. You need to take the scenic shuttle bus from the visitor center to the waiting hall of Yakping and Yunshanping, then take the open-cabin cable car up the mountain, and then tour along the plank road.

Yakping is farther away from the snow-capped mountains and has a higher altitude, so the view of the snow-capped mountains will be better.

The cable car at Yaoniuping moves very slowly, taking about 20-25 minutes. The entire journey offers a leisurely opportunity to admire the snow-capped mountains. Initially, the view is limited, with only the occasional snow-capped peak peek out from a distance. As the cable car slowly ascends and passes over a col, the view suddenly widens, and a vast expanse of snow-capped mountains appears in front of you on the left. From afar, it resembles a majestic and imposing king, leaning against the blue sky and towering over the mountains. It's a thrilling experience. After disembarking from the cable car, you still need to traverse a long plank road to reach the best viewing point. It's not what I imagined, and can be described in one word: shabby. This could be attributed to years of neglect, or perhaps due to the location on the vast plateau, which is subject to frequent winds and freezing weather, making it susceptible to damage.

The scenery at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters is beautiful, but you can only see the snow-capped mountains from a distance.

Standing atop Yak Flat, I gazed at the towering, unbroken mountain ranges stretching out in the distance, one peak higher than the other. It could be the Hengduan Mountains, or perhaps the Roof of the World. At that moment, though I had questions, I didn't want to dwell on them. All worldly concerns vanished, and I simply wanted to quietly observe from afar.

I thought there would be snow on the Yakping meadow, but I was totally overthinking it. The grass was bare, with no snow, only snow beads blown by the wind from the snow-capped mountains opposite. Oh, the wind was so strong on the mountain that it blew my hair like a crazy woman. I couldn't even count the thirteen peaks of Yulong.

Yak Ping is a large plateau pasture, so it may take 2-3 hours to visit it all. Therefore, friends who plan to go to Yak Ping should plan to leave enough time and not go too late. Otherwise, if the wind is strong in the evening, the cable car will swing more violently.

You can ride a yak and take pictures, but it is very expensive, 80 per time. The yak looks very thin and weak, soaking in water, full of flies, very pitiful.

Yak Ping is located in the north of the Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area, at an altitude of 3,700 meters. It is mainly alpine meadows, and you can see the 13 Yulong Peaks. It is accessible by cable car.

There weren't many tourists. There wasn't much snow in late August, and the altitude is less than 4,000 meters. With my four-year-old child, I didn't go to the highest cable car.

Yakping is too far away, so there are hardly any people coming here. So when you get to the top, the plank roads are in disrepair. There is also a temple on top, but it is also closed.

However, the scenery here is much more beautiful than that at the tourist center. However, when we went up, we still didn’t see the true appearance of the snow-capped mountains, and there were no yaks all over the ground as we expected.

Yaoniuping is about 3,000 to 4,000 meters above sea level, so most people won't experience any altitude sickness, but the journey is quite long. The dilapidated plank road has a unique "flavor".

From the visitor center, take the scenic bus for half an hour to the scenic spot, and then take the 1,200-meter cable car to the top of the mountain to reach Yak Ping. There is a large lawn with some yaks walking on the lawn. The circular wooden plank road leads to the observation deck, where you can see the snow-capped mountains. The 13 peaks are just opposite, but unfortunately, the mountain was shrouded in fog and the peaks could not be seen. No down jacket is needed here, a single layer is enough. As for altitude sickness, it is better not to run vigorously, otherwise it will really make you breathless.

Yak Ping is an open grassland plank road with a wider view and shrouded in mist. The temperature in Yak Ping isn't very high, but you'll feel quite hot as you walk. I don't have any altitude sickness, so I ended up wearing short sleeves the whole way. At the highest point, around 3,600 meters (where you can see many black yaks grazing in the distance), you'll feel a slight tightness in your chest. You can rest for a minute or two by sitting by the guardrail before continuing. I recommend walking slowly and not rushing, both to enjoy the mountain scenery and to maintain a balanced body.

In summer, the area is covered with colorful flowers and herds of yaks. In winter, the area is covered with snow, and the mountaintops are extremely vast. Due to limited time, the one-day tour is limited, so I will come back next time.

At the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a place worth visiting.

Yakniuping, known in the Naxi language as "Banlongguo," means beautiful snow-capped meadow. Unlike Yunshanping, Yakniuping's terrain is not flat, but rather varies significantly with the undulations of the mountains. The Black Water River also meanders through the area. Therefore, if Yunshanping is a beautiful watercolor, Yakniuping is a deeply layered oil painting.

Yakniuping is the best place to view the Thirteen Peaks of Jade Dragon Mountain and is also a great spot for photographing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Known in the Naxi language as "Banlongguo," meaning beautiful snow-capped meadows, Yakniuping boasts a varied terrain, with dramatic variations in elevation. The Black Water River also meanders through the area. Yakniuping is like an oil painting with a striking sense of depth.

The Yakping Cableway, also known as the Middle Cableway, is 1,200 meters long with a vertical height difference of 360 meters. You can take the cableway to the upper station, Yakping. Yakping is 3,700 meters above sea level and is a typical alpine meadow scenery. It is the best place to view the 13 peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

3600 meters, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is flat, very nice.

A small alpine meadow, dotted with a few yaks and a winding wooden plank road.

Inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can visit Blue Moon Valley and Yak Ping. You'll need to first take an eco-friendly vehicle, then a shuttle bus. Located at the northern end of the Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, Yak Ping is a vital part of the scenic area, home to Yi and Tibetan villages. The villagers rely on animal husbandry for their livelihood, and their traditional customs and culture are rich. Yak Ping is a typical meadow pasture, with alpine snowfields, the flowing Blackwater River, and a natural, tranquil, and ancient primeval forest setting, creating a distinct and diverse landscape.

A scenic spot of a small cable car, and there is a legend that you can learn about in advance. If the weather is clear, you can also see the snow-capped mountains.

I went there more than ten years ago and the scenery was very good. Alpine meadow scenery, blue sky, white clouds and snow-capped mountains

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has three cable cars, and the one to Yakniuping is the middle cable car. The altitude of Yakniuping is about the middle of the three routes, at around 3,800 meters. Personally, I've found this altitude to be relatively safe, with little to no altitude sickness, so there's no need to worry too much. I even ran a few sections up the slopes, and aside from fatigue and a slight hypoxia, I didn't experience any other side effects. I didn't need an oxygen tank at all. Of course, I'd been taking rhodiola rosea capsules for a week before coming here, so I wonder if that helped. Also, regarding the need for down jackets, I'm not sure if it's necessary before April. After May 1st, you don't need to rent a down jacket when visiting Yakniuping. Even if it rains, it's fine. After all, with temperatures in the teens, wearing too many layers and running up the mountain will still make you sweat...



The above are just a few thoughts for those interested. As for the saying that viewing the snow-capped mountains from Yakniuping is the best, it's true. Here, I deeply experienced the saying that one mountain is higher than another. After exiting the cable car, the snow-capped mountains were right before my eyes. Holy, awe-inspiring, and magnificent—every word of praise came to mind! Moreover, the white clouds were so close and low, as if they had flown from mid-mountainside, obscuring the peaks! One peak was hidden from view upon arrival, obscured by clouds. Only after the clouds cleared did I see the entire snow-capped mountain. After exiting the wooden plank road, there's a 200-300-meter downhill slope, followed by a wooden plank bridge (if you can even call it a bridge...). To the right is a Lama temple with a catchy name: Xuehua Temple, giving me the feeling of bravely exploring the world. Further ahead is one section of uphill slope after another. Of course, you can't see the whole thing. When you think the slope in front of you is the highest point and you climb up, you will find that there is another slope next to it. After a few times, you will feel that the slopes are endless. Anyway, I gave up before I reached the top. After climbing two or three sections, I ran out of time and had to stop. But there is no need to regret. The snow-capped mountains are far away. The higher you climb, the more you see. Just sit down on the grass. The space is vast, as if time has slowed down. The mountains are high and the clouds are low. That's what it's like. I can't say it cleanses the soul, but in that environment, the heart is indeed purified. Talking to the snow-capped mountains and making a wish is still wonderful in retrospect.



In short, in Yak Ping, the clouds, mountains and snow are beautiful. However, in May, I didn’t see a single yak, nor did I see the yak dung that everyone talks about. I think it must be because the pasture is in the protection period and there has been no grazing for a long time. I have to say it is a pity.

It was raining, and they were considerate enough to cover the yaks with straw raincoats. Yak Ping is just over the Blue Moon Valley, and you can get there by walking.

It's a spectacular and beautiful view, but I didn't watch it for long.

Yak Square is right next to the small and medium cableways of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You may be lucky enough to see yaks, but they are rare now.

The yak skewers at the tourist attraction are delicious, but it is not known whether they are real yak meat.

I always pass by here. The last time I went from Lugu Lake to Baoshan, I changed trains here.

Yakping is accessible by cable car and offers typical alpine meadow scenery. It is the best spot to view the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

It took a long time to get up on the cable car. It was a little cold up there, but overall it was very nice. You could see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain clearly, which was spectacular.

Without the plateau, you won’t feel what it’s like to be truly short of oxygen and breathless. There, you will not only have a sense of grandeur, breadth and openness, but also have the confidence to challenge your limits and reshape yourself!

It's a fun place, and taking the cable car is not tiring~~

The middle cable car of Yulong Snow Mountain can reach Yakping. Not many people come here. There is a temple in the distance and the snow mountain behind it. It feels very quiet.

I was a little disappointed not to be able to use the cable car. Yak Ping was indeed littered with yak poop, and it was a shame not to be in the middle of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

This is the farthest of the three cable cars, so it takes a long time. It is recommended to reserve more time to go there.

It's a little far, but there are fewer people and the scenery is better. It's a grassland on the mountain.

Yakping is less crowded, a little further away, and has great views. Recommended

The sky is as blue as a crystal, giving people a very pure feeling

There are few people going there, so it feels okay. The grassland on the top of the mountain

There are few people going there, so it feels okay. The grassland on the top of the mountain

It's okay, worth a visit, the attractions are pretty good

My wife and I really like Yakping. The scenery is beautiful and there are not many people. We can walk slowly and appreciate and feel the surrounding beauty.

This place is very similar to Banff National Park in Canada, and I feel that the Rockies are similar to it. It is especially good to visit in late October.

The scenery is super good. The wind blows the grass low and you can see cattle and sheep. This is the place.

Yaoniuping (middle cableway) has the second highest altitude. From here you can see the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is also a good place to enjoy the sunrise and wild flowers and grasses, suitable for friends who like photography.

Many people visiting Lijiang's Jade Dragon Snow Mountain choose to visit places where they can see the snow up close. Since we're from northern China and are no strangers to snow, we opted for Yakniuping. The weather was clear, and we could see the vast expanse of snow-capped mountains in the distance. It was incredibly beautiful! Highly recommended!

Yaoniuping is a recently developed scenic spot. Due to its higher altitude than Yunshanping, it boasts a more alpine meadow scenery. At 3,800 meters, most people experience some mild altitude sickness, such as dizziness and breathlessness, so be careful not to walk too fast. It's also the perfect spot for viewing the Thirteen Peaks of Yulong (and a great place to photograph Yulong Snow Mountain, especially early in the morning and evening at sunrise and sunset). In the Naxi language, it's called "Banlongguo," meaning beautiful snow-capped meadows.

It is a pasture with snowflake lakes, glaciers and meadows. It is a very artistic place. You can see the Thirteen Peaks of Jade Dragon here. It is a good location for taking pictures of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

The scenery is worse than Yunshanping, and there are fewer people.

Yaks grazing on the green lawn!

Yak Ping is located in the Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area. After going down the snow mountain, you will either go to Blue Moon Valley or Yak Ping. As the name suggests, I think everyone understands Yak Ping.

The villagers make their living from animal husbandry, and their folk customs are ancient and rich in ethnic culture. The landscape of Yaoniuping is a typical meadow pasture, with alpine snowfields and the Black Water River accompanying the natural, quiet and ancient primeval forest landscape, forming a distinct and colorful landscape.

One of the main destinations of this Lijiang trip is Yakniuping, which feels very good.

The scenery is very beautiful, with yaks and snow-capped mountains, but the altitude is a bit high

One of the scenic spots in Snow Mountain, a beautiful attraction, worth a visit

The Yakping Cableway is the middle cableway among the three cableways of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Since the main cableway is often closed, this cableway is the most popular. The scenery after going up is very good, and there is also a good angle to see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

When the flowers are in full bloom, there are not only many yaks on Yak Ping, but also green grass and wild flowers all over the mountain, which is very beautiful.

It takes a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the ancient city to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, followed by a steep climb to the cable car. The ride is smooth and comfortable. An occasional breeze sweeps through the mist, creating a sense of paradise. Looking down, I see lush green trees with diverse leaves and purple and red fruits. Arriving at Yak Ping, I experienced no altitude sickness at all. There's a stall selling grilled yak skewers for five yuan a stick, and saffron for two bags for 100 yuan—both relatively affordable. The vendors are Yi people, kind and friendly, but they don't bargain. If you're truly interested, buy; otherwise, don't bargain, as it can lead to arguments. Yak Ping is home to yaks. Once the mist clears, the adorable herds of yaks appear before your eyes. White clouds, blue sky, and the Lama Temple are a perfect reward for the arduous journey.

There were not many cattle and sheep back then. Maybe it was because of the rain, but the scenery was still good.

It was such a tiring journey! First, we took a half-hour drive up the winding mountain road, then disembarked at Yak Niu Ping and took a cable car up to the snow-capped mountains. The scenery was breathtaking—beautiful and satisfying! There's a real difference between seeing the snow-capped mountains from afar and embracing them up close. The fatigue from altitude sickness slowed our progress somewhat, but it couldn't dampen our desire to explore!

The scenery is very beautiful, very beautiful, there are many yaks, very nice

After reading other people's comments, I was not sure whether the place I went to belong to Yakniuping.

We walked from Blue Moon Valley and it was a bit tiring.

The two yaks are particularly eye-catching. Their fur is very long and the black and white texture makes them look silly.

The spectacular white snow-capped mountains, the flowing water and the yaks are so beautiful.

You can also take photos with yaks for a fee and you can even ride yaks.

We didn't take a group photo, we just took a few photos from the side.

Yulong Snow Mountain is a great place, and you can ride a cow on Yak Ping.

There are three cable cars in Yulong Snow Mountain, large, medium and small. The Yakping Cable Car is the medium cable car, and the destination is more than 3,000 meters above sea level. Because the Pudacuo we visited before is more than 4,000 meters above sea level, there was no altitude sickness when we took the Yakping Cable Car to the destination. I went there in early May and didn’t need to wear a down jacket at all. I was actually very disappointed after going up. I suggest taking the large cable car to Yulong Snow Mountain. It’s a pity.

You won’t have altitude sickness at Yakping, but you need to wear something warm as the wind is stronger than that at Mount Huashan. There are places to rent clothes and sell oxygen in the ancient town at the foot of the mountain.

The scenery at Yakniuping is absolutely stunning in April and May when the flowers are in full bloom. Each angle has its own unique charm. The route is not straight, so be sure to ask for directions when taking the scenic area transportation.

Yakniuping wasn't crowded, but the mountains were truly covered in yaks. Because there were so few people, it felt like I owned the world, hahaha. One complaint I had was that the public transportation had time limits, so if you missed it, you had to wait a long, long time. I encountered a tour group that was incredibly unreasonable, insisting they were using a public bus and claiming it was theirs. Throughout my entire trip to Lijiang, I felt the public services were pretty average.

There is a mother over there too. You can take a ride on horseback, but don't walk slowly because it's all cow dung.

I couldn't buy a ticket for the cable car. More than 10,000 tickets were sold out by 8 a.m., so I had no choice but to buy a ticket for the Yakniuping cable car, which cost 60 yuan per person and took me to Yakniuping, which is 3,700 meters above sea level.

Yak Ping is the alpine meadow where villagers used to graze their livestock. Remember to bring food with you, as the yak jerky you buy there is expensive, and I'm not sure if yak milk is authentic.

Many people climb the 4,506-meter-high Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but few visit Yak Ping. In fact, the most beautiful spot on Lijiang's Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is Yak Ping, where the snow-capped mountains, meadows, flowers, and yaks captivate countless people. Joseph Rock once said, "It's better to die among the flowers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain than on a hospital bed in Hawaii."

There are not many people going here. Most of the tourists go to the snow mountain. There are almost no people here. I met a film crew taking pictures here.

On the top of the snow-capped mountains, how could you have imagined that after walking through a primeval forest, you would suddenly see a vast grassland. Isn’t this a paradise?

The plain on the snow mountain offers a view of the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

There is a flat land at a relatively high altitude nearby with nice views. My husband tried to run on the wooden boardwalk. Fortunately, he didn't suffer from altitude sickness, haha.

It was very windy that day and I was the only one on Yak Flat. It was really cold. But the view was still nice.

Why didn't I see any yaks? =. = The grass was still green and nice for taking photos. But since we're here, we might as well climb to the top.