Blue Moon Valley（蓝月谷） is one of the most photographed spots in the entire Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, only 25 km/40 min north of Lijiang Old Town.
Its “wow-factor” is the chain of four intensely turquoise lakes – Yù-yè Hú, Jìng-tán Hú, Lán-yuè Hú and Tīng-tāo Hú – linked by the white-water limestone cascades called White-Water Terrace. The colour comes from dissolved copper ions and fine limestone particles suspended in the glacial melt-water; when the sun is high (11 am-2 pm) the lakes glow an almost unreal sapphire blue and perfectly mirror the 5 596 m snow peak behind them.

### Quick planning sheet

| Best months | mid-March-May & mid-Oct-Dec (dry, clear) |
| Best time of day | 09:00-11:00 or 15:00-17:00 for softer light & fewer tour buses |
| Altitude | 2 800-2 900 m – gentle walking, but bring one small O₂ bottle if you are sensitive |
| Ticket | no separate fee; covered by the ¥100 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic-area ticket |
| How long | 1-1½ h for the valley only; half-day if combined with Spruce Meadow cable-car |
| Getting there from Lijiang Old Town | ① Bus 101 “Snow-Mountain line” (¥15, 50-60 min) ② shared blue taxi ¥20 pp ③ private car/tour ¥150-250 round-trip |

### Recommended mini-route
1. Ride the scenic shuttle to the second stop “Shui-yuè Pavilion”.
2. Walk the plank path **upstream** (against the flow):
White-Water Terrace → Tīng-tāo Hú → Lán-yuè Hú → Jìng-tán Hú → Yù-yè Hú.
Going this way the backdrop of the snow mountain gets progressively better and you finish at the bluest lake.

### Photo tips
– Yù-yè Hú is the bluest; stand on the small wooden pier for the classic “snow-peak + lake” postcard shot.
– Polarising filter cuts glare and deepens the colour; a wide-angle (16-24 mm) lets you include both lake and peak in one frame.
– Drones are officially banned inside the valley – security will confiscate SD cards.

### Add-ons in the same area
– Spruce Meadow cable-car (3 200 m, 30 min round-trip) – alpine meadow view of the massif; good acclimatisation stop.
– Glacier Park cable-car (4 506 m, 90 min round-trip) – if you want to stand on snow; start early (08:00) to beat queues.
– Impression Lijiang outdoor show (daily 12:50 & 14:50) – 300 Naxi performers on a mountain-backed stage, tickets ¥190-280.

### What to bring
Sun-block (UV is fierce above 2 800 m), sunglasses, light wind-breaker (temp drops 6 °C if clouds appear), 500 ml water, small change for shuttle bus (¥20 each ride).

In short, Blue Moon Valley is an easy half-day excursion that delivers the colour-of-the-Caribbean right at the foot of a 5 000-metre Himalayan snow-peak – definitely worth the early start.