Mountain Jade Dragon Snow-capped is located northwest of Lijiang River, about 20 kilometers far from Lijiang City.

It is composed of 12 peaks including the summit with its height being 5,596 meters, and its mountain top is covered with snow all the year around and looks like a silver dragon flying swiftly upward to the blue vault of heaven perpetually, hence its name “Mountain Jade Dragon Snow-capped”.

As one of the most biologically diverse regions in Yunnan, Mountain Jade Dragon Snow-capped hads been an important plant-hunting ground since early 20th century. Among the famous plant-hunters was Joseph Rock, an Austro-American, was one of them, who came to Lijiang in 1922 and lived until 1949.

Mountain Jade Dragon Snow-capped has the reputation as “Museum of Contemporary Glaciers” and “Treasure Land of Plants” for its wonderful scene of the snow mountain and a variety of rare animals and plants. The mountain is home to 60 species of animals including snub-nosed monkey and red pandas and 3,200 species of 145 families of seed plants.

Three scenic spots have been developed for tourism, Ganhaizi, where tourists can take the cable-cargondola up to 4,500 meters (14,800 feet) above sea level. Two lower ones are Spruce Meadow at 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) and Yak Meadow at 3,700 meters (12,200 feet).