We are going to Lijiang in early March and would like to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Are there any problems with altitude sickness in visiting this site? We're in our early 60's, although I don't know if age is actually a factor with altitude sickness.

Age isn't a factor nor is general health really, it's all about how you react to less oxygen, and everyone is different. IN GENERAL, however, most people don't experience discomfort until you get to about the 9,000-10,000 feet level. Lijiang is at about 7,000 feet, and the parts of Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Snow Mountain where you are going are not much higher than that, I don't think more than 1,000 feet at most and really in my memory I think they are at about the same elevation for viewing. Some parts of Tiger Leaping Gorge are of course at a lower elevation than Lijiang as they are down in the Gorge. (I don't expect of course that you are CLIMBING Jade Snow Mountain, just going to look up at it, if you are climbing the mountain, that is different at that is more than 15,000 up.) Overall, IMO you will at all times be at or below 10,000 feet, mostly in the 8,000 foot range. I personally don't think you will have a problem in that elevation.

By way of comparison, most US ski resorts in the Rockies, like Aspen Vail, etc start with a base elevation in the ski towns at about 7,000 feet. If you have been there with no issues, you can do Lijiang.

We didn't have much of a problem in Lijiang and neither did our friends who were in their 60s. The trip up Jade Dragon will, or can, take you up to about 4,400 meters or about 14,400 foot but most likely you'll only spend a few minutes up there. Only some shortness of breath but nothing serious around Lijiang.

Thanks for the input. We are 6 weeks out for our trip to Singapore, Thailand, and then Lijiang. This leg is at the end of our journey, and I must say, I'm getting a little nervous. We have 5 days in that area and have scheduled one trip using Diethelm for Jade Snow Mountain. You're right, we aren't climbing...hope we're not gonna be crawling. At this point we are planning to just pass through Kunnming and devote the whole time in the Lijiang area. Any thoughts on that from those of you who have been? We're not sure about the trip to the Gorge, since it's 3 hours out from Lijiang and I don't want to become too much of a pretzel. On the other hand, we we're here and don't want to miss what the area offers. It's a bit late, but any additional thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Cicerone and Hanuman...
I just reviewed your posts on the area, so no need to repeat yourselves. (some thoughts on Kunnming would be helpful) I also have a question about weather in early March in Lijiang....I was under the impression it would be comfortable, but you're indicating cold. Have you been this time of year? I was looking forward to strolling around the area, but perhaps I should pack gloves and a winter coat.

Kunming is just another city not much in terms of sights or anything else. There's one main street where most of the high end shops and hotels are located on or near but apart from that I did not find the city that interesting.

Good idea concentrating your time around Lijiang.

When I was in Lijiang last week of February, it was similar to late winter or early spring in Boston. I was comfortable in a leather (fall/spring) coat. I didn't need gloves or a hat, but I would needed those if any of the days had been windy.

You didn't wear the matching leather pants?

Hanuman asked: <i>You didn't wear the matching leather pants?</i>

Nope, wore my spandex bike pants and lots of bling.

I liked Kunming, but that was mostly because it was much warmer and drier than Chengdu, and I did an interesting loop south by bus. The town itself had a nice park, but was being &quot;modernized&quot; with new glass and concrete buildings. You can use it as a base for visiting the Stone Forest, which I found worthwhile.

Thanks for the input....Probably will skip Kunming and stay in Lijiang the whole time. I will post a separate query for Tiger Leaping Gorge input, but if any of you have been, I'd love your input

We have been to Kunming and Lijinag twice - lots to see I think, but its also just nice wandering around Lijiang or sitting in a cafe watching many different people pass by, tourists, people in their local dress etc.
We went to Tiger Leaping Gorge. I had looked at doing this trip for a few years and would have loved to have hiked the gorge. However, by the time I visited it was changing fast and now there is a road that takes you all the way down the gorge to the bit where you can walk down to Tiger Leaping Gorge. When I say walk down too there are loads of steps and the walk back up is taxing - they have people with sedan style chairs (as at many such places in China) waiting to carry you up or down! But its do-able if you just take your time. Often combined with the tour to Tiger Leaping Gorge is the chance to go to the bend where the river turns (see http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attr...shigu_drum.htm).
On Jade Dragon Snow mountain there are diffferent parts you can go up. There is one level where you can buy oxygen - but we didn't go that high but to where one lower level. This was really nice, we ate yak kebab at a local stall and walked slowly along - your heart kind of flutters but just a slow walk is fine. Scenary was very nice and I'd suggest this level is fine for most people - no need to go higher.
Yunnan is a fascinating area with many different people - do go.

Just to add I saw no-one in Speedos when I was there - this is not what I meant by &quot;local dress&quot; !

I had intended to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge, but by the time I got to Lijiang I'd been traveling for seven months and I didn't think either
my shoes or my feet were up to it. So I took a local bus up to the little village of Dazu, at the far end, instead. I don't recommend doing that unless you're willing to rough it (cheapest but most basic accommodation I've ever been in), but I do recommend seeing TLG.

My (unedited) photos of Dazu, TLG and Lijiang are at kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/287618.

Janey and others: Is Tiger Leaping Gorge as spectacular as guides make it appear....I don't think I'll be walking up steps or doing hard hiking on this journey. Definately going to Jade Mountain..but is the 3 hour drive each way to the Gorge worth it? Subjective question, I know, but I'm looking for subjective replies (aren't we all when we post queries)

I just asked my husband and his reply was &quot;well its nice&quot; - as you say its subjective, this is not Niagara Falls or anything - but nice. I guess I'd read a lot about it and for me it was something I wanted to see - I read about how it was changing and the new road through and how this would spoil the &quot;lower road&quot; and so I wanted to see it all before it was all spoilt. I had read lots of accounts by people who had hiked through and this was part of that adventure. For us we went on from here to Zhongdian so we didn't back track to Lijiang the same day. I guess it depends how many days you have in Yunnan and what you'd like to see.

Thanks again, everyone for responding. 6 more weeks to figure it out.

Snowy Mountain is over 14,800 high. Oxygen is available in cans for 60Yuan each. You WILL need one if you're older, in bad shape, or otherwise sensitive. In good health myself, I even got dizzy getting off the gondola. MINIMUM of effort should be expended that high if you are not accustomed to it. LiJiang is 12000 high...you may have difficulty there too.

Don't drink the water or eat street food as it can and will get you sick...violently so. Boil water for 5+ minutes due to altitude to kill all the bacteria. I didn't boil enough and still got sick from it. CAREFUL...this is not your typical metropolis. Also...the other white people there seem all like snobs to me....but I didn't go there to see them anyway.

The OP's trip was more than 3 years ago.....