Haba Snow Mountain Travel Tips

Haba Snow Mountain Travel Tips will mainly introduce the useful information including the transportation, best time to visit, how many days to visit, etc, which can give you the better understanding of Haba Snow Mountain. Haba Snow Mountain is a mountain rising above the northwest side of Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan. It rises opposite the higher Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and towers 3,500 meters above the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, also known as the Jinsha River. The summit of the mountain is a popular destination for amateur mountaineers and its lowest slopes are crossed by the popular Tiger Leaping Gorge trail.

Useful Numbers of Haba Snow Mountain

  • Fire: 119
  • Police: 110
  • Ambulance: 120
  • Consumption Complaint: 12315
  • Shangri-La Haba Snow Mountain Yunshang Haba Inn: 13988716224
  • Shangri-La Haba Snow Mountain Haosi Post House: 18608872938

Entrance Tickets

  • Tiger Leaping Gorge (65 CNY)
  • Haba Snow Mountain (200 CNY)
  • Local Tour Guide (150 CNY/DAY)
  • Horses for Luggage(100 CNY/DAY)

These prices are for reference only and are subject to actual conditions.

Best Time to Haba Snow Mountain

Best time to climb Haba Snow Mountain is between mid of March till end of June and mid of September till mid of December. Because the other periods are mostly rainy or windy. From April to June, the blossoming rhododendra add more glamour to mysterious Haba Snow Mountain. In the late autumn, the forest is full of color, the air is pure, and the starry sky can be photographed. From November to December, the light wind makes tourists more easily to climb up to the summit. 
More about When is The Best Time to Climb Haba Snow Mountain

How Many Days to Complete the Climbing?

Some people do it in 5 days, others have done it in 4 days. If you are short on time, then this amount of time might be your only option. But if you really want to take your time and appreciate every moment of the trekking, we recommend doing it over 5 days – especially if you want to enjoy the beautiful sceneries in Haba Snow Mountain.

Suggested Itinerary for Haba Snow Mountain Climbing

Day 1: Haba village (you can see the whole scenic spot of Tiger Leaping Gorge) - Bianxin village ( you can enjoy idyllic scenery of Shangri-La) - Haba Snow Mountain Scenic Spot - Haba village

Day 2: Haba Village - Yi Minority Village (2,800 meters) (original religion, original living structure, original life style) - Sheep’s Shed (3,100 meters) (pasture) - Lanhua Ping (3,500 meters) (you can see the peak of Haba Snow Mountain and see the primeval forest）- Rhododendra Forest (3,900 meters) ( you can see various of mountain rhododendra in this place where is named the second Jiuzhaigou) - Bay Sea (4,200 meters high, you can view plateau lake there) or you can stay at Lanhua Ping.

Day 3: Bay Sea - Yellow Sea - Small Sea - Base camp (4,100m) (enjoy the sight of plateau)

Day 4: Come out on the top of the mountain and return to Haba village, or you can stay at the Base Camp and return Haba Village the second day.

Day 5: Go back to Lijiang or Shangri-la.

Important Travel Tips for Visiting Haba Snow Mountain

How to Get to Haba Snow Mountain

Tourists can take a long-distance bus from Lijiang or Shangri-La to Qiaotou and it will take about 2 hours. Then rent a car or a minibus driving along the highway near Tiger Leaping Gorge for Haba Village. 

Long-distance buses frequently shuttle between Lijiang and Shangri-La every day. You can take the  long-distance bus and get off at Qiaotou if you miss the direct  long-distance bus for Qiaotou from Lijiang or Shangri-La. It’s easy to rent a car or a minibus at Qiaotou and takes around 2 hours to get to Haba Village.

Haba Snow Mountain Food

Most of the guesthouses in Haba Village provide local food for backpackers. Besides, You can take some food at only the Guesthouse around the Base Camp (4,200m). Please note it provides Muslim food without pork. Other than the impressive range of locally gathered wild mushrooms, there is a definite shortage of culinary variety in this town. The staple food is often baba or flatbread rather than rice, and you may be offered Tibetan-style buttered tea, which is an acquired taste by all tourists. The saving grace is that all food available is locally produced and is completely free of agricultural chemicals.

Where to Stay in Haba Snow Mountain

There are not many accommodation choices around Haba Snow Mountain. Before you start trekking, the guesthouses in Haba Village seems to be the only and the best option for you. Most of guesthouses provide equipment for climbing. After getting to the Base Camp, at the hillside nearly at an altitude of 4,200 meters, it’s better for you to spend one night there. It’s an important landmark of Haba Snow Mountain and a relatively good place for a rest. You can pitch a rent if there is no available room as it’ s the only lodging place on the halfway.

Things to Do in Haba Snow Mountain

Haba Snow Mountain is regarded as an ideal trekking paradise for beginners who are intended to climb a real snow mountain at an altitude of more than 5,000 m. You will go through alpine vegetation, meadows, moraine lakes, waterfalls, boundless snow and glaciers with panoramic views of snow mountains all around you. Abundant wildflowers like rhododendra and clouds may come into sight at the right time.

Top Attractions in Haba Snow Mountain

Must-See Sceneries in Haba Snow Mountain

Snow Peak

On the top of the main peak of the mountain snow persists throughout the year. The upstanding main peak, together with four little peaks around it, seems to be a shining crown on a fine day in the distance. Sometimes, they are partly hidden in clouds and mist and the crown becomes dimly visible; sometimes, they are totally lost.

Magnificent Glaciers

At about 4,700 meters above sea level, there are glaciers resembling frozen waterfalls that flow down steep slopes. Those glaciers are classified as maritime temperate glaciers in the southern latitude limit in China.

Heihai Lake

The Black Sea is different from the Black Sea in south-eastern Europe. Actually, it is a lake that gets its name from the color of its water which is as black as ink. An abundance of Chinese giant salamanders will swim together forming a ring in the shallows of the Black Sea with an appropriate temperature is reached, which makes it more attractive.

Wonderful Waterfalls

There are also rivers and waterfalls in Haba Snow Mountain. Jianshan Waterfall is about 40 meters high. The sufficient water flow makes it spectacular. From April to September, when the snow and ice melt, the water rushes down the steep slopes from the clouds and mist, forming the great Dadiaoshui Waterfall, which makes the waterfall look like a mighty river flowing down from heaven.

Beautiful Azaleas

From April to June, when the rhododendra are in full blossom and you visit Haba Snow Mountain, you will be surprised to find that there are so many varieties of rhododendra. More than 200 hundred kinds of rhododendra are distributed from the bottom to the top of the mountain, accounting for 70% of those in Yunnan.

Matters need attention

  • Take care of your luggage and important things, such as passport and visa.
  • Check out the weather report before your travel. Do not go sightseeing in bad weather.
  • Respect and follow local custom and avoid conflicts.

Climbing Tips & Route of Haba Snow Mountain

Climbing Route of Haba Snow Mountain

  • Start Point of Haba Snow Mountain: Tiger Leaping Gorge
  • Mountaineering level: Entry level

Recommend you to start with a warm-up trekking from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Haba Village first instead of arriving Haba Town by bus. Then you can start your Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour from Haba Village. From Haba Village to the Base Camp, it takes an average walk of 5-6 hours. The Base Camp is at the altitude of 4,100 meters. From here, hike up to 4,900 meters in 3 hours, and another 2 hours to the top. If there is no snow up to the 4,900m point, you can easily get there in 2 hours, and another 1.5 hours to the top (5,406 meters).

Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tips

In a fine day, ordinary tourists may reach the summit successfully if they follow the professional climbers. However there are some accidents happened, some of famous travelers died here, so everything needs to be paid full attention and taken care of. Yunnan Exploration Travel has rich experiences in working out Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour and provides professional English-speaking guide that make your individual climbing tour more convenient and safer. If you are interested in, please contact our staff to consult more details.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is located between the Haba Snow Mountain and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Compared with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Haba Snow Mountain hasn’t been developed yet; altitude of main peak is less than 5,500 meters which is an entry level for beginners to climb Snow Mountain, therefore many of the avid mountaineers to start climbing from the Haba Snow Mountain. In a fine summer day, ordinary tourists may reach the summit successfully if they follow the suggestions from the professional climbers. However there are some accidents happened, some of famous travelers died here, so everything needs to be paid full attention and taken care of.

Essential Items for Trekking

High-top waterproof hiking shoes, head lamps, talpenstocks, gaiters, snow goggles, wind-proof caps, gloves, winter jackets, technical pants, raincoats, vacuum cups, backpacks with rain covers, close-fitting quick-drying clothes, more than three pairs of socks, personal medicines, mobile power supply, sunscreens, lipsticks and other personal items!

Note: It should be emphasized that the gloves should be double-layered, the socks must be thick, the hiking shoes should be bigger, the backpacks should be around 20 liters.

What to Pack (Equipments) for Haba Snow Mountain Climbing

Since you are going to climb the mountain, mountaineering equipment is indispensable. If you don’t have your own climbing equipment, you can rent it there. You are supposed to have suitable waterproof shoes and clothes, warm gloves, hat, couple a pair of socks, sunscreen, lip balm, and take mobile power bank and hiking stick. Sleeping bag is very useful, especially if you visit during winter. More details, as follows: 

  • A suit of winter jacket and pants(GORE-TEX fabric, windproof, waterproof, breathability, wearproof), fleece jackets(proof wind and keep warm), long underwear(absorb sweat and dry);
  • Quick-dry pants(Optional, it is used on the way to base camp); 
  • Down jacket and pants(be standby for climbing to the summit and defend the cold at base camp); 
  • Gaiters(Bring your own, or you can rent from the guide on Haba Snow Mountain);
  • Snow glasses(Bring your own, or you can rent from the guide on Haba Snow Mountain). Please note that nearsighted people should wear glasses with frames;
  • Gloves(Bring your own, or you can rent from the guide on Haba Snow Mountain). The gloves should be fleeced, warm and water-proof; 
  • Head lamp with battery(Bring your own, or you can rent from the guide on Haba Snow Mountain);
  • High-top waterproof hiking shoes and socks;
  • Sleeping bag(it is essential for camping route);
  • Backpacks(50 liters and 20 liters);
  • 1 liter of vacuum cup;
  • Food and snacks like chocolate, energy gel, raisin, beef jerky

Note: It should be emphasized that the gloves should be double-layered, the socks must be thick, the hiking shoes should be bigger, and the backpacks should be at least 20 liters.

Other Travel Tips for Visiting Haba Snow Mountain

  • In China, please had better not travel in peak seasons, such as Chinese New Year, International Labor Day and National Day. If you want to experience the traditional festival culture, Taking a tour during the traditional festivals of China can get the opportunity to experience the festivals culture.
  • Be careful of the changeable temperature. A few chilly days could be followed by relatively hot weather. So it is better to take some early winter clothes to protect you away from the sudden low temperature.
  • It is impossible for one to take a climbing Haba Snow Mountain tour alone. For those people who like hiking, they must need a local guide who is familiar with the road conditions and routes.

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