Spruce Meadow (云杉坪 / Yúnshānpíng) is a stunning alpine meadow on the eastern slope of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Snow Mountain), about 25 km north of Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan, China.

Here are the key highlights:

What It Is

A vast high-altitude meadow at ~3,240 meters, ringed by ancient spruce forests with snow-capped peaks as the backdrop.

In the Naxi language it’s called “You Wu Ge” (游午阁), meaning “land of love and death” — historically regarded as a sacred place where lovers would meet their end for love.

Getting There

From Lijiang Old Town, take the 101 bus (雪山专线) from Zhongyi Market for about ¥15, or a taxi for ~¥80–100.

Inside the park, you’ll ride a shuttle bus, then take the Spruce Meadow cable car (about 8 minutes) up to the meadow.

Tickets (2026)

Park entry fee: ¥100

Spruce Meadow cable car + shuttle bus: ¥60

Tickets can be booked in advance via the “丽江旅游集团” WeChat mini-program.

What to Do

Walk the 1.5 km wooden boardwalk through the meadow and surrounding spruce forest — the full loop takes about 45 minutes.

Take photos with the snow mountain, forest, and meadow layered behind you — especially beautiful in the soft morning light before 9 AM.

It’s often paired with Blue Moon Valley (蓝月谷) for a relaxed day trip, as it’s less crowded than the main glacier park.

Tips

Altitude is moderate (3,240 m), so altitude sickness is usually mild, but walk slowly and bring snacks/water.

UV is strong — bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.

Best light for photos is early morning; it gets busier after 10 AM.

If you’re planning a visit, it’s a great choice for a more relaxed, scenic experience compared to the high-altitude Glacier Park, with fairy-tale-like forest and meadow views.