Meili Snow Mountain (aka Kawa Karpo) in reality, a multi-peaked mountain range is located in the western section of Deqin County, Yunnan Province, on the border with Tibet Autonomous Region. Apart from its top, which is snow-capped year round (whence the name), Meili Snow Mountain(Meili Xueshan) is characterized by the usual four distinct seasons. Between the mountain's foot and summit are several zones of plant distributions, from a flower-studded tropical zone near the base of the mountain to a frigid zone that comprises the mountain's snow-capped peaks, with intermediate and transitional zones in between. Meili Snow Mountain is also a one-of-a-kind habitat for several endangered species (among them: snow leopards, clouded leopards, Asiatic black bears and red pandas), which is why The Nature Conservancy has chosen to throw its support behind Meili Snow Mountain.
Known for the grandest view in Yunnan Province, Meili Snow Mountain boasts numerous snow-clad ridges and peaks, thirteen of which exceed 6,000 meters (19.685 feet) above the sea level. The most splendid view is of the Kawagebo Peak, the highest in Yunnan Province rising about 6,740 meters (22,112.86 feet). It is still a 'virgin peak' for no one has ever reached the top. Thus, Meili Snow Mountain is a challenge for all mountain explorers from home and abroad.
From the foot of the Kang Karpo Peak, you see the peculiar low-altitude glaciers formed in modern times. Strong updrafts collide with cloud airflow from the inner continents in this area producing frequent dense fog and heavy snow. The resulting topographic extremes include hanging glaciers, icefalls and snow slides. The Mingyong Glaciers, in particular, rushes from an elevation of 5,500 meters (18.045 feet) down to the forest zone 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) above the sea level in rainy seasons. From afar it looks like a huge white snake wriggling its way among the verdant mountains. On the south side of the peak, a waterfall named 'holy collapsing rain' falls from thousands of meters high. Pure water splashed from snow cracks and with the help of the sunlight, rainbows are often seen hanging above the fall.
Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. 'Kang Karpo Peak' means the God of Snow Mountain in Tibetan, and is a holy land for worshiping. Pilgrims from Tibet, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province,and Gansu Province travel to the mountain at the beginning of each winter to worship. Thousands of devout pilgrims worship together and encircle the holy mountain, adding even more mystery and loftiness to the mountain.
How to get there:
1) By plane: One can fly directly to Shangri-la (Zhongdian) from a number of cities, and then take a local bus to Feilai Temple in Deqin County, which is the best jumping off point to view Meili Snow Mountain. One can also fly to Shangri-la via Kunming, then take a public bus to Feilai Temple. Alternatively, one can fly to Kunming and take a charter bus (a 5-6 hour trip) to Feilai Temple.
2) By scheduled bus: There are regular bus routes to Feilai Temple from a number of nearby villages: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang (albeit, via Shangri-la), and Shangri-la itself.
3) By charter bus: One of the easiest ways to get to Feilai Temple is to take a charter a bus. A number of even easier ways to get to Feilai Temple is to hire a minibus, a car, or a cross-country jeep they are available everywhere.
Tips:
1) Feilai Temple, the best vantage point from which to view Meili Snow Mountain, is 10 kilometers from the Deqin County seat. Tourists can make the 10-kilometer trip by a variety of motorized means, or go there on foot. The weather in the vicinity of Meili Snow Mountain is highly changeable. In general, the rainy season is July to August. A down-filled coat can be rented for 20 yuan (with an additional, refundable 100 yuan deposit). An oxygen bag, for those who feel they might need it (the best advice, if one feels that one might need it, would be to abandon the idea of viewing the mountain from the vantage point of Feilai Temple), is available for the same price/ refundable deposit.
2) The best time for visiting the beautiful scenery of Meili Snow Mountain is from January to May. It is difficult to see the mountain in its entirety during summer and autumn, due to heavy cloud cover or mists, but if one is in the area anyway, then try at various times of the day. For example, mists can burn off later in the day, while ordinary cloud cover may first blanket the mountain later in the day, so, depending on whether one or the other is present, one can proceed accordingly (if both are present, well,... shucks!).
The second-best place to view Meili Snow Mountain is Crown Prince Temple on the Mingyong Glacier. To get there, take a regular bus to Deqin (the Shangri-la County seat), which costs 40 yuan. Or, one can get to Crown Prince Temple by charter bus from Xiali. The round-trip fare is a whopping 500 yuan, however.
You are better off viewing the mountain from Feilai Temple, and the charter bus from Deqin to the temple is not disastrously expensive. The very best way to enjoy the area not just the mountain is to get yourself to Shangri-la by whatever means is handy for you (it depends on your departure location of course), then take the charter bus to Feilai Temple. The charter bus trip offers you a fantastic view of the passing scenery through enchanting villages such as Nixi and Bengzilan, and past Dongzhulin Monastery as well as Baimang Snow Mountain, and finally, past Mingyong Glacier before depositing you at Feilai Temple. If you are in the vicinity of Feilai Temple at dusk, you will be able, weather permitting, to behold the sun go down behind Meili Snow Mountain.
When taking a charter bus, do remember to bargain with the driver, and make sure he understands your destination and agrees to the specific touring route of your choice before engaging a charter bus. In the off-season the round-trip fare for a Santana charter bus will set you back about 400 yuan.
If you would like to combine a trip to Meili Snow Mountain with a visit to Mingyong Glacier, then proceed as follows: after viewing Meili Snow Mountain from Feilai Temple (see the above options for how to get to Feilai Temple), take a charter bus on to Bucun Village across the Lancangjiang River, then on foot from Bucun Village to Mingyong Village, where you can view the glacier of the same name. Alternatively, you can rent a cross-country jeep and take it all the way to Mingyong Village.