Blue Moon Valley is a scenic spot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, popular among visitors for its clear blue lakes and stunning mountain backdrop, making it ideal for photography.
If you are interested in Blue Moon Valley, you can find some travel tips on this page.
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1. What to See
White Water TerracesThe main attractions of Blue Moon Valley are four blue lakes and the White Water Terraces, where the clear White Water River cascades down the terraces.
You could stroll along the lakeside plank trails and capture stunning photos featuring both the snowcapped mountains and the blue lakes, which are the highlights of the area.
2. Which Is the Bluest Lake to Photograph?
Among the four blue lakes, Yuye Lake is the bluest and the best spot for capturing photos of the blue lake alongside the snow peaks.
After getting off the sightseeing bus, walk up a short distance to reach Yuye Lake.
3. What Is the Best Time to Visit?
Blue Moon ValleyTo capture the lakes' vibrant blue color, it is best to visit on a sunny day as sunlight serves as the best filter. The ideal time is between 11am and 2pm when the sunlight is most abundant.
For your month selection, March to May and October to December are the better choices. During these months, there is more sunshine and less rainfall.
You could check out more weather tips in our article about Lijiang Weather.
4. How to Get to Blue Moon Valley
Blue Moon Valley is located within the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area. It is about a 1-hour drive from Lijiang Old Town.
Once you have entered the scenic spot, there are several options to reach Blue Moon Valley.
You could take the sightseeing bus directly from the tourist center or you could also catch a bus from Glacier Park, Spruce Meadow, or Yak Meadow to Blue Moon Valley.
5. What Is the Recommended Tour Route?
Spruce MeadowWe recommend the tour route: Spruce Meadow → Blue Moon Valley, which is suitable for most visitors, especially families with children or elderly members.
This is a half-day tour that offers beautiful scenery, including snowcapped mountains, lakes, and forests, and generally avoids serious altitude sickness.
If you're looking for a full-day tour, you could add Glacier Park or Yak Meadow to the half-day itinerary.
Glacier Park provides the best viewpoint for stunning views of glaciers and snow peaks (the best time to visit is from October to April as there may be insufficient snow at other times), but be aware of potential altitude sickness.
Yak Meadow has scenery similar to Spruce Meadow but is at a slightly higher elevation of 3,700 meters (12,140 ft).
While it lacks the forested landscape, it is closer to the snowcapped mountains, offering a more expansive view with fewer visitors.
6. How Long Does It Take to Visit Blue Moon Valley?
A visit of 1–1½ hours is enough for both photography and strolling.
7. What About the Ticket for Blue Moon Valley?
Blue Moon Valley does not require a separate ticket as it is included in the entrance ticket for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
This ticket should be paid for on-site when entering the mountain's scenic area.
8. How About Altitude Sickness?
Blue Moon Valley is at an altitude of 2,900 meters (9,510 ft) where the vegetation is abundant and the oxygen levels are relatively high.
The area mainly consists of flat land and gentle slopes, so as long as you don't walk too fast or constantly climb, you are unlikely to experience altitude sickness.
If you are concerned about altitude sickness, you could buy one or two oxygen bottles in Lijiang Old Town or the downtown area (which are cheaper than the scenic area) in case you need them.
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