Dragon Girl Lake: The Blue Tear Beneath the Snow Mountain

🌟 Highlights at a Glance
Snow Mountain Mirror Lake: Dragon Girl Lake is a natural lake at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The water is clear and blue, and on sunny days, it perfectly reflects the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, resembling a "blue tear" embedded in the meadow.

Pristine Pasture: The lakeside is surrounded by alpine meadows and primeval forests, where herds of cattle and horses graze leisurely. The Tibetan cultural atmosphere blends perfectly with the natural tranquility, earning it the nickname "Little New Zealand of Lijiang."

Free and Less Crowded: Compared to popular scenic spots, this place has fewer visitors and no entrance fee (only a 30 RMB sightseeing bus fee during peak season), making it ideal for escaping crowds and enjoying the healing vibe of the snow mountain and lake.

📅 Travel Guide
▪️ Morning 6:00-9:00: Golden Sunlight Reflection
Stay overnight in Yuhu Village (Stone Homestay, about 150 RMB per person), then hike to the eastern lakeside meadow before dawn (about 20 minutes) to wait for the sunrise that dyes the snow mountain golden. The lake surface acts like a mirror reflecting the "double golden mountain" spectacle (requires calm and clear weather).

▪️ Late Morning 10:00-12:00: Lakeside Pastoral Experience
Horse Riding Around the Lake: Rent a local Naxi herder’s Yunnan horse (50 RMB/hour) and ride along the lakeside grass, capturing stunning prairie photos with the jingling of horse bells (wearing white or red long dresses makes for better photos).

Picnic Time: Bring your own tsampa, butter tea, and Lijiang baba (local bread), and enjoy them sitting on the meadow facing the snow mountain and lake view. All trash must be taken away.

▪️ Afternoon 14:00-16:00: Explore Yuhu Village
Stone Ancient Village Walk: Walk 10 minutes to Yuhu Village to see the unique sight of houses built with glacial stones. Visit the former residence of American explorer Joseph Rock (25 RMB entrance fee) to learn about the background of "Lost Horizon."

Coffee Break: Rest at the "Wuluken" café in the village, order a cup of Yunnan small bean coffee (38 RMB), and gaze at the snow mountain in a daze.

▪️ Dusk 17:00-19:00: Sunset Silhouette Photography
Return to Dragon Girl Lake before sunset to shoot silhouettes of "people, horses, and snow mountain" using the soft light (best spot: western lakeside slope). You might catch dynamic scenes of herds of sheep returning.

📸 Must-Visit Photo Spots
Lake Center Reflection: When there is no wind, crouch low to shoot symmetrical compositions of the snow mountain reflected on the water. A polarizing filter is recommended to reduce glare.

Meadow Lone Tree: On the north side of the lake, there is a solitary dead tree. Lean against it and look out at the snow mountain to create a lonely cinematic scene.

Herding Horses Welcoming Snow: Ask herders to lead horses to stand in the shallow water and capture natural moments of horses drinking with the snow mountain as the backdrop.

🌿 Exclusive Experiences
Starry Sky Camping: In summer nights, you can camp by the lake (bring your own tent). The Milky Way rises from the snow mountain peak, and at 3 a.m., star trails are visible to the naked eye (remember to keep warm).

Naxi Home Visit: Book a visit to a Yuhu Village family (30 RMB/person), learn to make butter tea, milk a yak, and listen to elders tell the legend of the "Dragon Girl turning into the lake."

💡 Travel Tips
Transportation:
Rent an electric bike in Lijiang Old Town (models with over 80 km range, about 80 RMB/day), and ride for 1 hour to "Dragon Girl Lake" using navigation;
Or take bus route 17 to the entrance of Yuhu Village, then walk 2 km (free but infrequent service, check real-time schedules).

Avoid Pitfalls:
During peak season (October to February), there may be checkpoints at the village entrance requiring a 30 RMB round-trip sightseeing bus fee. Enter before 7 a.m. to drive directly;
Refuse roadside "high-priced horse riding packages" and negotiate prices directly with lakeside herders.

Gear: Windproof jacket, sunglasses, high-top waterproof shoes (due to heavy dew on the meadow), cash (weak signal).

Best Seasons:
November to March: The lake water is bluest during the dry season, and the snow mountain has abundant snow;
May to June: Wildflowers bloom on the meadow, but the rainy season often brings clouds and fog covering the mountain.