Natural Scenery
Blue Moon Valley
Lijiang, China
2-3 hours
About
Nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley is formed by glacial meltwater of Baishui River at an altitude of about 2900m. It consists of four connected terraced lakes with bright turquoise water tinted by copper ions, framed by snow peaks and white travertine shores. It is included in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’s general entry ticket with no separate admission; mandatory shuttle buses run from the visitor center, and electric sightseeing carts inside the valley are optional paid services.
Travel Tips
- Altitude reaches nearly 3000m, move slowly without running or jumping to avoid mild altitude sickness; carry portable oxygen bottles if you feel dizzy.
- Strong ultraviolet rays all year; prepare sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and light windproof coats as temperatures stay cool by the lake.
- Wooden boardwalks beside lakes get slippery when wet; wear non-slip flat walking shoes and stay off steep waterside slopes.
- The water’s bright blue color only appears on sunny days; foggy or rainy weather dulls the lake tone, forgo photography if the sky is overcast.
- Do not touch, step on or damage fragile travertine calcified terraces, which take hundreds of years to form.
Facilities
Photography Allowed
AdmissionFree Entry
Opening Hours
Mon06:00 - 16:00
Tue06:00 - 16:00
Wed06:00 - 16:00
Thu06:00 - 16:00
Fri06:00 - 16:00
Sat06:00 - 16:00
Sun06:00 - 16:00
Best Time to Visit
Sunny mornings all year; March to November for clear snow mountain backdrops.