Haba Snow
Mountain
Haba Snow Mountain (haba xueshan)
boasts glaciers, lakes and waterfalls, and contains
one of the best preserved nature reserves in Shangri-la.
The main peak of the mountain
is 5396m above sea level and is capped with snow
all year round. On the mountain side, crystal-clear
glaciers hang and the valleys on the northern
side of the mountain are dotted with numerous
lakes, the most beautiful being Heihai Lake. Each
year between June and August millions of azaleas
come into bloom. One of the most unusual things
about this spot is that you can walk on the flowers
without crushing them!
There are also many waterfalls
here. Tumbling down the northeastern side of the
mountain is Haba Waterfall, also known as the
"Great Hanging Water", which is more
than 200m high and pours down with an amazing
momentum.
The mountain is also rich in
animal resources. Yunnan gold-haired monkeys,
rhesus monkey, wild boar and even snow leopards,
pandas and black bears inhabit this wild land.
Rare plants and medical herbs also thrive here,
including orchids, lily and Chinese caterpillar
fungi.
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