Shika Snow Mountain

Chinese name: 石卡雪山 (Shi Ka Xue Shan)  
Location: Shika Road, Jiantang town, Shangri-La, Diqing Tibetan Prefecture, Yunnan Province.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY210.00 include round-trip cable car.
Estimated tour time: 5-6 hours
Recommended time to visit: Oct to Mar.
Nearby attractions: Napa Lake, Dukezong Ancient Town, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, etc.

Shika snow mountain scenic area is located in the southwest of Jian Tang town in Shangri-La County, Southeast of Qinghai Tibet Plateau, 4500 meters above sea level. National 5A level tourist attraction.Also known as Blue Moon Valley, Shika Snow Mountain is regarded as a holy mountain for the local Tibetans. Shika in Tibetan refers to a mountain abounding in red deer, one of the auspicious animals in Tibetan Buddhism symbolizing longevity and justice.

Shika Snow Mountain is famous for its various alpine and sub-alpine landforms and vegetation due to the high attitude and vertical climate. Boasting its precipitous snow peaks, beautiful valleys, forests, lakes, meadows and numerous legends, it is a comprehensive scenic spots best reflecting the romantic charming of Shangri-la, which attracts many people here for hiking and adventure.

Two cable ways are available on the mountain,  the cable car here is the longest cableway in Yunnan Province. Ascending by cable car, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain from high above. Shika Snow Mountain looks like a sleeping beauty towering high on the vast land with clouds veiled which adds mysterious atmosphere to the mountain.the ecological protection of vegetation extremely well, showing a mysterious faction peaceful scene, the expansive green ranch is embellished with wild flowers of various colors. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are grazing, with white clouds floating way above their heads. The spiritual Lingxi lake with verdant trees, flourish azalea and well kept vegetation which present with you a tranquil and quiet atmosphere. The landscape in the valley is particularly beautiful in late spring, summer and early autumn while the skiing is very good in the winter.

Standing on the top of Shika Snow Mountain, you can see the main peak of the Meili Snow Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain in the southeast and other famous mountains in the far distance.

Historically, Shika Mountain, located between Duke Zong in the east of Tieqiao in Shenchuan and Xicheng in Tieqiao (now the tower city of Lijiang), is the link between Tubo and Nanzhao. It echoes Yulong Snow Mountain in the southeast and Jiangyu, and faces Meili Snow Mountain in the northwest. It is the first Shenshan that the ancient tea-horse road of Yunnan-Tibet entered Tibet during the Tubo period. This sacred mountain helped the Tubo Zampur to realize the desire to live in harmony with the Nanzhao Kingdom, mutual benefit and win-win situation, and promoted the good marriage between the Nanzhao Princess and the Tubo Zampur.

Geological and geomorphological diversity is a major characteristic landscape resource in shekha mountain scenic area. Because it is located in the Three-River longitudinal valley of the Hengduanshan Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, its geological structure is complex, and there are many kinds of strata exposed. Sandstone, limestone, slate and siliceous rocks are interlaced, and its structural characteristics are obvious, such as section, fault, fold and structure. In addition to the karst cave, there are various peaks, U-shaped valleys, impact fans, glacial moraines and ancient glacial landforms and so on.Unique valleys and blue alpine lakes surrounded by meadow and forest are extremely attractive to tourists.