Duokela Mountain Pass of Meili Snow Mountain
Attraction Overview
If you want to climb over the Meili Snow Mountain, Duokela Mountain Pass is the only way which must be passed. It is the boundary of Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region.
Chinese Name: 多克拉垭口
English Name: Duokela Mountain Pass of Meili Snow Mountain
Altitude: About 4479 meters
Open Hours: All Day
Key Words: steep, pedestrianism
Location: about 10 kilometers north-east of Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province
The Best Time to Visit: All season, but it is dangerious to visit in winter
Duokela Mountain Pass of Meili Snow Mountain
Duokela Mountain Pass is a part of Meili Snow Mountain. It is the famous holy mountain and the boundary of Tibet and Yunnan.
Why is Duokela Mountain Pass so special?
Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. In the 1930s, Meili Snow Mountain was praised by American scholars as the most beautiful mountains in the world. The dangerously steep and beautiful scenery of Duokela Mountain Pass attract many visitors.
Where is Duokela Mountain Pass?
Duokela Mountain Pass of Meili Snow Mountain is located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of Deqin County of Yunnan Province, sitting on the border of Yunnan Province and Tibet. It lies close to the northwestern boundary of the province and is bounded by the Salween River on the west and the Mekong on the east.
How to Get to Duokela Mountain Pass?
►By plane: Fly directly to Shangri-la city (Zhongdian), and then take a local bus to Feilai Temple in Deqin County, which is the best jumping off point to view Meili Snow Mountain.
►By scheduled bus: There are regular bus routes to Feilai Temple from a number of nearby destinations: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang (albeit, via Shangri-la), and Shangri-la itself.
►By charter bus: One of the easiest ways to get to Feilai Temple is to take a charter 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.
History & culture
Duokela Mountain Pass of Meili Snow Mountains is a holy mountain of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists. It is a multi-religious Tibetan area with Tibetan Buddhism as the main body and co-existence of Catholicism, Christianity and Islam. In 1268, the founder of the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism living Buddha, Karma Pakshi made a pilgrimage to kawakbo and determined the route of the Inner and Outer Circumambulating Pilgrimages around Meili Snow Mountain. Thousands of devout pilgrims from Tibet, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province and Gansu Province worship together and encircle the holy mountain Pilgrims, making this mountain more mysterious.
What to See at Duokela Mountain Pass
Sunrise/Sunset: The golden sunrise on the Duokela Mountain Pass of Meili Snow Mountain is a must-see for most tourists who want to admire the spectacular scenery of this mountain.
Glaciers: There are four big glaciers at Duokela Mountain Pass: Mingyong, Sinong, Niuba and Nongsong. The longest and the largest glacier is the Mingyong Glacier.
Natural Resource: The mountain possesses diversity plants and also provide habitat for many wild animals, such as red-spotted stonecrop, lichen, pedicularis, leopard, clouded leopards, takin, etc.
Best Time to Visit Duokela Mountain Pass
The ideal seasons to visit Duokela Mountain Pass are in the winter and spring periods between October and May. The best season is after the end of October, when you can view the main peak because of the nice weather, clean air and the high transparency there.
However, in other seasons, to see the main peak you have to depend on your luck. You are more likely to have a chance to see the snow-covered mountain in the early morning when the sun has just come out
Accommodate at Duokela Mountain Pass
In order to meet the golden sunrise of Duokela Mountain Pass, it’s highly recommended to stay here for one night. There are many guesthouses and hostels around Feilai Temple, most with viewing decks for tourists to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the sun shining over the snow mountains.
Inner/Outer Trekking Routes
The Route of Inner Circumambulating Pilgrimage
1. Xidang Village- Ninong Village- Lower Yubeng (Sacred Waterfall and Sacred Lake)-Upper Yubeng- Xidang Spring
2. Xidang Village- Upper Yubeng (Ice Lake)- Lower Yubeng (Sacred Waterfall and Sacred Lake)- Ninong Village- Xidang Spring
The Route of Outer Circumambulating Pilgrimage
Deqin County Center- Yunling Town- Yangla Village- Yangza Suspension Bridge- Yongjiu Village (northwards) or Yongzhi Village (southwards) – Yongshitong- Dekangyading- Duokeyaka- Shusutong- Qienatong- Abing- Lakangya(near Nu River, at an altitude of 1700m)- Zhana- Longbu- Damuyaka- Gebu- Daguya(4100m)- Gezaya (4300m)- Meijiubugong- Shuoya (4828m)- Dulongyong- Meilishui (near Lancang River)- Adong River- Deqin
Recommended Visiting Route
2 Days Kawa Karpo Meili Snow Mountain Tour from Shangri-La
5 Days Shangrila Discovery with Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage
7 Days Shangrila Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Trekking Tour
10 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Adventure and Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage Tour
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage
12 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Overland Tour with Biluo and Meili Snow Mountains
Nearby Attractions
Yubeng Village in Deqin County, Shangrila
Yubeng is a secluded small Tibetan village tucked away at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain in Deqin county, the northwestern corner of Yunnan Province. It is only accessible by foot or horse/mule. But the trip, however arduous, is worth it. Yubeng is divided into an upper and a lower section. Both parts offer fabulous views of the Mei Li Snow Mountains. Lower Yubeng is smaller, quieter and closer to the lakes and waterfalls that you will likely visit during your stay.
Feilai Temple, the best place to watch goden peaks of Meili mountain at sunrise. So if you plan to watch sunrise, it’s absolutely a good idea to live at Feilai temple the night before. But actually it is unusual to see the goden peaks. The peaks of the mountains are often surrounded with clouds due to the high altitude they are. And this makes more interesting for Meili. There’s a kind of saying that, if any Japanese appears in this area then people can’t see the golden peaks that day. This is because Japanese are not welcomed by Tibetan people. Yes, they hate Japan and Japanese, just like people in northeast of China.
Lancang-Mekong River Grand Canyon
It is called the Lancang River after it reaches Changdu. The river runs south until it leaves China at the Nanla Bayout of Yunnan Province and therefrom changes its name from the Lancang River to the Mekong River. The river finally empties into the Pacific Ocean in the south of Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam.
Useful Travel Tips
► Check with the hotel or guesthouse whether there is water for shower before checking in it for its lack of water in this area.
► It is difficult to see the mountain in its entirety during summer and autumn, due to heavy cloud cover or mists.
► The ultraviolet rays are strong and you may need to bring something anti-sunburn.
► Please keep in mind that in the mountains, do not yell or shout, that would offend the God of the Mountains. Tibetans there is always very quiet and respectful. Believe it or not, at least we do as the Romans do or show the courtesy.
