I am a person who loves adventure and challenges, and likes to try various exciting and novel things. I have a group of like-minded friends, and we often travel together, looking for different scenery and experiences. This time, we decided to go to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for a night vision hunting trip.
Why choose Jade Dragon Snow Mountain? Because it is the southernmost snow mountain in China and also the southernmost snow mountain in the entire northern hemisphere. It has an altitude of 5596 meters and snow accumulates all year round. It has the closest temperate oceanic glacier to the equator on the Eurasian continent. It is called “Oulu” in the Naxi language, which means “Tianshan”. Its thirteen snow peaks are continuous, like a “giant dragon” leaping and dancing, hence the name “Jade Dragon”. It is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people and is said to be the incarnation of the Naxi protective god “San Duo”. It has rich natural and cultural resources and is a national 5A-level tourist scenic spot.
We want to have a different hunting trip in such a magical and beautiful place. We want to use night vision binoculars to observe and capture wild animals in the dark, and feel the charm of nature and the passion of life. We chose the Wildguarder owler1 night vision binoculars because it has many advantages, such as:
- It can work in completely dark environments without any light source.
- It can provide high-definition images and videos, allowing us to clearly see the target.
- It can support WiFi connection and mobile phone APP control, allowing us to conveniently share and save our hunting experience.
- It can support up to 8 hours of continuous working time, allowing us to fully enjoy the night vision hunting trip.
The theme and purpose of this article are to introduce our night vision hunting trip in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, share our feelings and gains, and recommend the Wildguarder owler1 night vision binoculars to readers who love adventure and challenges. Next, I will describe our hunting process and experience in detail, as well as other activities and experiences during the hunting trip.
On the first day, we set off from Lijiang City and drove to the west foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Along the way, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Lijiang Ba Zi, and saw traditional Naxi villages and farmland. We got off the bus at Shanghai Village, Longpan Township, Yulong County, and started our hiking trip.
Shanghai Village is a Naxi village located in a valley on the west foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The villagers make a living by planting crops such as corn, potatoes, and sorghum, as well as raising livestock such as yaks, goats, and pigs. There is a clear stream in the village, and the stream water comes from the melted snow on the mountain. The villagers use the water to irrigate the farmland, as well as for drinking and washing water. There is also an ancient Naxi sacrificial place in the village called “Dongba Village”. Dongba is the primitive religion of the Naxi people, which believes that all things in nature have spirits and worships ancestors and totems. Dongba Village is where the villagers worship gods, pray for peace, and harvest.
We found our guide, Wang Shaoqun, in Shanghai Village. He is a forest ranger and also a hunter. He has lived here since he was a child and is very familiar with this mountain forest. He told us that he will take us to a place called “Lengzigai” for camping. There is a high mountain meadow with clear water sources and many wild animals. He said that if we are lucky, we can see rare animals such as Yunnan Golden Monkey, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Snow Leopard, Tibetan Partridge, and Green-tailed Sunbird.
We began our hiking trip with Wang Shaoqun. We carried backpacks and held trekking poles as we walked along the mountain path. Along the way, we saw various plants, including tall conifers like spruces, firs, and birch trees, as well as shrubs, herbs, and ferns. Wang Shaoqun introduced us to some of the plants’ names and uses, such as Corydalis, Hepatica, Daylily, and Gentiana. He explained that these plants were not only beautiful but also had medicinal or edible value. He also told us to observe animal traces in the forest, such as feces, footprints, and fur, to identify the type of animal and its range of activity.
We set up our tents in Lengzi and prepared dinner. Wang Shaoqun took out his night vision binoculars and said he would take us hunting that night. He explained that night vision binoculars were devices that allowed us to observe targets in the dark by amplifying weak ambient light thousands of times using image intensifiers and infrared illuminators, displaying the image on a screen in front of us. He taught us how to use the binoculars, including adjusting the eye mask, focusing, and adjusting the parallax.
We followed Wang Shaoqun’s guidance and tried the night vision binoculars. We found that in the dark, we could clearly see animals such as yaks, wild boars, and deer grazing or resting on the meadow under the moonlight, unaware of our presence. Wang Shaoqun explained that these animals were one of their food sources, but they only hunted excess or harmful animals, such as too many wild boars or sick animals. He said they respected the balance of nature and would not kill innocent animals.
We asked Wang Shaoqun how he learned to hunt. He said he learned hunting skills and experience from his father and the old hunters in the village since he was young. He said hunting was not only for survival but also for protecting the forest. He said he had lived here for decades and considered this forest his home. He said he loved every plant, bird, and animal here and hoped it would remain primitive and beautiful forever.
We were moved by Wang Shaoqun’s words and filled with respect and curiosity for this forest. We asked him if there was any place where we could appreciate the full view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. He said there was a place called the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, where many beautiful sights could be seen, showcasing the mountain’s different styles. He said he could take us there if we were willing.
As soon as we heard about it, we all got excited and agreed right away. Wang Shaoqun said, “Let’s leave early tomorrow morning because we need to arrive at Ganhaizi before sunrise. It is the nearest and best location to see the full view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from below.” He said there is a vast natural pasture and we could see the sunrise and sunset of the snow mountains, as well as engage in horseback riding, grass skiing, and gliding.
We were all very excited and went to bed early. The next morning, we followed Wang Shaoqun and got into his off-road vehicle and headed to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area. Along the way, he introduced us to some of the information about the mountain. He said that Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is an unconquered virgin peak, and the main peak, Shanzidou, is about 5,596 meters above sea level, surrounded by clouds and fog all year round. He said that Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is composed of 12 snow peaks, and its natural tourism resources are abundant, including snowfields, glaciers, alpine meadows, and primitive forest landscapes.
He said that there are three cableways in the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area: the large cableway (Glacier Park Cableway), the small cableway (Spruce Meadow Cableway), and the middle cableway (Mouni Plateau Cableway). He said that the large cableway is the Shanzidou Scenic Area and it is the main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The scenery here is mainly glaciers. The starting altitude of the cableway is 3,356 meters, and the final altitude is 4,506 meters. He said that you can see the highest ski resort in China (four-season skiing resort) and a park consisting of stone caves and holes eroded by glaciers, which is called the “Lucerne Glass Palace.”
He said that the small cableway is the Spruce Meadow Scenic Area, which is a large grassland hidden in a primitive spruce forest. The scenery here is mainly spruce forests. The starting altitude of the cableway is 3,240 meters, and the final altitude is 3,356 meters. He said that you can see thousand-year-old spruce trees and the “Valley of Love” in the Naxi ethnic legend.
He said that the middle cableway is the Mouni Plateau Scenic Area, which is a high-altitude meadow and the best place to view the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The starting altitude of the cableway is 3,356 meters, and the final altitude is 3,700 meters. He said that you can see groups of yaks, Tibetan girls’ singing and dancing, mani piles, and other folk customs.
He said that besides the cableways, there is another must-see attraction, which is the Blue Moon Valley. He said that the Blue Moon Valley used to be the Baishui River, located in a mountain valley north of Ganhaizi and south of Spruce Meadow. He said that the water here comes from the melting snow and flows down the steep cliffs. On sunny days, it appears blue, and the valley is crescent-shaped, resembling a blue moon embedded in the foothills of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
He said that during the process of flowing, due to the blocking of the mountain, four larger water surfaces were formed, known as the “Jade Liquid” Lake, “Mirror Pond” Lake, “Blue Moon” Lake, and “Listening to the Waves” Lake. He said that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of snow mountain reflections, glacier landscapes, and meadow flower seas.
He said that the last attraction is Impression Lijiang. It is a large-scale live performance directed by Zhang Yimou, and the theater is located at an altitude of about 3,050 meters in Ganhaizi. He said that the performance uses Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as a natural background and shows the ancient Dongba culture, the long history of the Tea Horse Road, and the local Naxi folk customs.
He said that the performance is divided into six parts: “Ancient Road Caravan,” “Drinking on the Snow Mountain,” “Heaven on Earth,” “Jumping and Dancing,” “Drumming for Sacrifice,” and “Blessing Ceremony,” with more than 100 Hummer vehicles and over 500 farmer actors from 16 villages and over 10 ethnic groups. He said that it is a grand show jointly staged with nature, where wind, rain, snow, clouds, mist, and sunshine are all effective components given by nature. He said that you can feel the life and beliefs of the Naxi people and the mystery and magnificence of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
After hearing Wang Shaoqun’s introduction, we all felt that the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area was too exciting, and each attraction made us feel thrilled. We decided to follow his suggestion and first go to Ganhaizi to see Impression Lijiang, then take the Glacier Park Cableway to the glacier park, and finally go to Blue Moon Valley to enjoy the snow mountain reflections. We believe that in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, we will definitely see the most beautiful scenery and leave the most beautiful memories.
