Xiling Snow Mountain

Xiling Snow Mountain is located in Dayi County, about 95 kilometers (59 miles) away from the Chengdu urban area. Covering an area of 375 square kilometers (145 square miles), it is one of the world natural heritages, a habitat for giant pandas, a great site for skiing, and a national key scenic spot. The mountain top is covered with snow all year round. Measuring 5,346 meters (17,539 feet) above sea-level, it is the highest peak in Chengdu area.

The name of Xiling (western mountain) is derived from the well-known poem “My window frames the snow-crowned western mountain scene; my door oft bids farewell to eastward-going ships” by the famous poet Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD).

The scenery of Xiling Snow Mountain is original, natural, rough and complete, including water scenery such as streams and waterfalls, biology scenery like exotic flowers, rare plants, and valuable animals, and sky scenery such as cloud sea, sunrise, and “Buddha’s halo” over forests. It is separated as front mountain and back mountain. The front mountain (Dafeishui Scenic Area) is popular among hikers. With a length of about 18 kilometers (about 11 miles), it takes 9 to 12 hours to finish the hike. The back mountain is famous for skiing and it takes 2.5 to 5 hours to reach Sun and Moon Platform via walkways. 

Xiling Snow Mountain is suitable for visiting all year round. In spring, the mountain flames with azaleas. Each year from April to August, azaleas blossom one by one from lower altitude to higher altitude, making the mountain a sea of flowers. In summer, the mountain turns into a green world and a great holiday resort due to the mild temperature. One of the interesting activities here in summer is grass skiing. In autumn, the mountain is decorated with red, yellow, and green leaves, like a painter’s colorful palette. In winter, the mountain is a great place for skiing and other snow-related activities. 

There is a romantic love story about the pond. Long time ago, a volcano erupted. To save the lives of his countrymen, a young man jumped into the crater to cover it, but failed. Upon seeing that, a girl who loved the man so much also jumped into the crater. Magically, the volcano stopped erupting and a stream of clear water flew out and formed a pond. Ever since, numbers of mandarin ducks come here to spend summer time.

Located in a forest, the water falls down from high granite and spreads along scale-like red rocks, like white silk waving on red blanket. If lucky, one can see rainbow peering through the water mist.

It is not a real pavilion, but an old tree struck by lightening and then taking the form of a figure resembling the poet Du Fu.

The concept of Yin Yang is ancient Chinese people’s attitude toward nature. It is about two opposing principles, the Yin feminine and negative and the Yang masculine and positive. The Yin Yang Boundary of Xiling Snow Mountain is an amazing natural phenomenon in Baishagang, which is a dividing ridge. To its west is the cold and dry Tibet Plateau; to its east is the warm and humid Sichuan Basin. The two different airstreams from two sides meet at Baishagang and form the unique phenomenon of one side sunny and clear while the other cloudy and foggy, hence the name Yin Yang Boundary.

So named because the sun and the moon can be frequently observed at the same time. Other frequently seen scenery here include Sea of Clouds, mysterious Buddha’s halo, beautiful sunrise, colorful rainbow, etc. It is said that the Buddha’s halo is not often seen here, and those who see it will have good luck.

This is the highest point visitors can reach within Xiling Snow Mountain scenic area and the best site to appreciate Miaojiling, the main peak of Xiling Snow Mountain. To its west, is snow covered mountains stretch for hundreds of miles. When the sun rises, one can see the amazing scene of “sun shines on golden mountains’. To its east, is the vast Chengdu Plain.

Located at the hillside of the back Xiling Snow Mountain, it covers an area of 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) and snows up to four months (early December to late March of the next year). Equipped with beginners’, intermediate level and advanced skiing courses, it can contain 2,000 skiers at the same time. Other facilities here include cable cars, snowmobiles, snowfield pulleys, and sleds, etc. Measuring 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) long, the cable car line between the Sun and Moon Platform and the skiing resort is the longest cable line in China. A single ride on it takes about 40 minutes. In summer, the skiing resort turns into a grass skiing resort.

It is named so because giant pandas have been seen many times here. Other attractions here include woods and waters, especially azalea woods, arrow bamboo woods, and hemlock woods.
 1. Take buses from Xinnanmen Bus Station, Chadianzi Bus Station, or East City Bus Station to Xiling Xueshan (Xiling Snow Mountain).
The buses from Xinnanmen Bus Station leave at 8:40, 9:00, 9:20 and 13:00; the buses from Chadianzi leave at 9:00, 9:10, 9:30, 9:50 and 10:30; the bus from East City Bus Station leaves at 7:00.
2. Take a regular bus to Dayi County from East City Bus Station, and then take buses or private cars to Xiling Snow Mountain.
Chengdu Bus / Metro Search

Entrance Fee	Front mountain: CNY 30; Back mountain: CNY 120 from Dec. to Mar., but CNY 160 during New Year Holiday and Spring Festival Holiday; free from Apr. to Nov. Dafeishui Scenic Area: CNY 30
Cable Car	Sun and Moon Platform - Skiing Resort: CNY 50 for a single trip and CNY 80 for a round-trip; Opening Hours: 09:00 to 16:00	Mandarin Duck Pond - mountain foot: CNY 70 for a single trip and CNY 120 for a round-trip. Opening Hours: 09:00 to 17:30