Yubeng Valley, Meili Snow Mountain

Trail · Shangri-La — Northwest Yunnan

A two-village trekking base reached only on foot or by mule, Yubeng sits at 3,050 to 3,150 meters below Kawagarbo, the 6,740-meter sacred summit of the Meili Snow Mountains that Tibetan Buddhists have never allowed anyone to climb. Forest along the trail to the glacier turns color through September and October.

Best for: a multi-day trek through forest to a sacred glacier

Don’t miss

  • Foot- and mule-access only village
  • Below the unclimbed Kawagarbo summit
  • Trail to Meili's glacier
Typical year

Peak: September 1–October 31

Climatological window from published records — the weather model’s elevation extrapolation isn’t reliable on this terrain, so this is the long-run normal rather than a season-specific forecast.

Source: https://www.chinahighlights.com/shangri-la/attraction/yubeng-village.htm

Yubeng Valley, Meili Snow Mountain on the map

More things to do in Shangri-La — Northwest Yunnan

Pudacuo National Park

National park

Typically October 1–October 31

China's first officially designated national park protects a plateau of alpine lakes east of Shangri-La, Shudu Lake sitting at 3,705 meters ringed by spruce and fir. Birch along the lake's east shore turns gold through October, framed by early snow on the surrounding peaks.

Don’t miss: China's first designated national park · Shudu Lake at 3,705m · Birch on the lake's east shore

Napa Lake (Napahai)

Lake

A seasonal plateau lake eight kilometers from Shangri-La town, Napahai fills with water in summer and recedes into the Yila Grassland by winter. In autumn the grassland turns gold and the wetland draws migrating black-necked cranes, with Khampa herders grazing yak on the surrounding pasture into October.

Don’t miss: Seasonal lake and Yila Grassland · Black-necked crane migration · 8km from Shangri-La town

See all things to do in Shangri-La — Northwest Yunnan →

Frequently asked

When does Yubeng Valley, Meili Snow Mountain peak?
In a typical year, color peaks around September 1–October 31. The weather model's elevation extrapolation isn't reliable on this terrain, so this is a climatological window (source: https://www.chinahighlights.com/shangri-la/attraction/yubeng-village.htm) rather than a season-specific forecast.
What is Yubeng Valley, Meili Snow Mountain best for?
A multi-day trek through forest to a sacred glacier.
See it on the map

Own or manage Yubeng Valley, Meili Snow Mountain? Update your listing or get in touch.