Meili Snow Mountain Hiking Guide

‍♀️1. Preparation Before the Trip

📅Best Travel Time: October to May of the following year (avoid the rainy season, best time to see the snow-capped mountains!)
☀️Weather: Mostly sunny, high visibility, every shot looks like a masterpiece

🚗Transportation:
✈️By plane: Direct flight to Diqing Shangri-La Airport, then 4 hours by car to Deqin (charter about 600 RMB/car)
🚌By bus: Direct buses from Lijiang/Shangri-La to Deqin (about 4-5 hours)

🏨Accommodation Recommendations:
Feilai Temple/Wunongding View Hotels! You can watch the sunrise over the golden mountain right from your bed🌅
Recommended: Eye of Meili View Hotel (about 200+ RMB/person per night)

🎫Ticket Guide:
Meili Snow Mountain National Park 150 RMB/person
Mingyong Glacier 55 RMB/person
Yubeng Village 55 RMB/person

🧳Essential Gear:
Three-piece sun protection set☀️ (sunscreen + sunglasses + hat)
Warm jacket🧥 (big temperature difference between morning and night)
Hiking boots🥾 (a must for trekking!)
Oxygen bottle💨 (altitude over 3000m, easy to get altitude sickness)

🚶‍♀️2. Itinerary

Day 1: Acclimatization in Shangri-La
✔️Arrive in Shangri-La (altitude 3200m)
✔️Visit Dukezong Ancient Town🏯 and spin the world’s largest prayer wheel
✔️Overnight in Shangri-La (recommended: The 5th Meteorite Hotel)

Day 2: Head to Meili🚗
✔️Stop by the Jinsha River Great Bend on the way!
✔️Check in at Deqin hotel
✔️Watch the sunset at Feilai Temple in the evening🌄

Day 3: Sunrise over the Golden Mountain + Glacier Trek
✔️Wake up at 6:00 to see the sunrise over the golden mountain (so stunning it brings tears!)
✔️Visit Mingyong Glacier (about 3 hours trekking)
✔️Return to Deqin County

Day 4-5: Fairyland Yubeng Village🏔️
✔️6-hour trek into Yubeng (a stunning Tibetan village)
✔️Next day trek to the Divine Waterfall (wishes come true here✨)
✔️Overnight in Yubeng Village (recommended: Trekker’s Home)

Day 6-7: Return Journey
✔️Trek out of Yubeng (about 4 hours)
✔️Return to Shangri-La

💰3. Budget Reference
3500-5500 RMB per person (including transportation, food, and accommodation)
A bit pricey but totally worth it!

⚠️4. Notes
❗Altitude Sickness: Avoid running or jumping, drink plenty of water, bring glucose
🌧️Unpredictable Weather: Bring down jacket + raincoat
📿Respect the Culture: Spin prayer wheels clockwise, no photos inside temples

💡5. Hidden Gems
🏰Cizhong Church: A century-old church blending Chinese and Western styles
🛖Songzanlin Monastery: The Little Potala Palace, great for photos

Meili Snow Mountain is the top of the eight sacred mountains in the Tibetan area. Those who see the sunrise over the golden mountain will be lucky all year long💫