Meili Snow Mountains

Background

The Meili Snow Mountains lie around Deqin County in northwestern Yunnan, with the Nujiang River to the west and the Lancang River to the east, and belong to the Nu Mountains of the Hengduan range. The range runs about 200 kilometres north to south and about 30 kilometres east to west, covering about 6,000 square kilometres; the main peak, Kawagebo, at 6,740 metres, is the highest in the range, the crest rises above 6,000 metres, and there are thirteen main peaks. The valleys on either side sit at about 1,500 to 1,900 metres, a dramatic contrast with the snow peaks. Kawagebo is regarded as sacred by Tibetan Buddhists. Local people believe that climbing the sacred mountain is blasphemy against the gods, and mountaineering accidents are seen as a sign of the gods' anger. Because of the climbing ban and the dangerous terrain, none of the range's major peaks has ever been summited.

Local customs

• Wait at a viewpoint around Deqin for the morning light to turn the snow peaks gold, a sight known locally as "sunlit golden mountain"
• look out over glaciers and the villages at the foot of the mountains from the open hiking routes
• drive along the Lancang River valley for views of the long line of snow peaks.

Travel tips

• The scenic area is at high altitude and the weather changes quickly, so bring warm clothing
• travel and safety arrangements follow official and scenic-area notices. Deqin County is the nearest larger settlement to the mountains, and the viewpoints are reachable by road
• check official notices for schedules.
• About 67% of the year's precipitation falls in the monsoon season, when cloud and mist are frequent, so whether you see the peaks depends on the weather
• clear days are relatively more common in autumn and winter.