Jade Dragon Mountain
Jade Dragon Mountain is one of Lijiang's big claims to fame.  It is beautiful and can be seen from almost anywhere in Lijiang.  It stands over 5,500 Meters (18,000 feet) tall and is quite unique in the near by mountains.  It is the only mountain around with glaciers.   Can't climb it though.  The city won't let you.  We did visit the mountain close up by going to the shoulder of the mountain that can be seen in the far left of the picture below.  Just take the #7 bus from town, pay 130 RMB each to get into the park, then 80 RMB to ride another bus higher, and your almost there.  Not exactly a wilderness experience, but with a 9 year old and plenty of other things to see, it was convenient. 

This is Jade Dragon Mountain as see from Elephant Mountain (hill) in Lijiang town.  Tiger Leaping gorge is right on the other side of the mountain.  In other words, the Yangtze river is on the other side of the mountain from where we are looking.

After two bus rides we ended up here.

Up we go.  There was a lovely walking path down below that I would have preferred to have been on.  Unmarked, I'm sure.  The gondola ride was part of the second buss ticket.  It had a nice view.

Jade Dragon Mountain is really a small range with 13 distinct peaks.

The gondola lets off at about tree line.

That's a Buddhist... ah...  place, I guess you'd call it, in the distance.

No monks in the compound though.

There was about 1 mile of "approved" walking trail (board walk) to the top of a small rise.  That is where we are in this picture.  If I had been alone I would have headed off down the other side of the rise off into the "unapproved" mountains.  The high grassy meadows keep on going.  But, it was late, it was windy and cold, and the girls wanted to go back.

There goes Emily. Scott says, Hey, but, but, we could keep on going, who's going to know. Kelly says, we're cold.  we're leaving. Scott says, Doa!!