Harrison writes:
Today I saw some of the most amazing views I will ever see in my life. We visited Jade Dragon Snow Mountain near Lijiang. The journey started with a half hour bus ride before we had to transfer to another shuttle bus to take us up the mountain. This shuttle took an additional forty-five minutes before we reached the area with the cable cars. We went to the top in the cable car and set out on a small hike up into the Yak Meadow, some people needing oxygen tanks because the air was so thin. After hiking for about thirty minutes, we reached the highest point of our hike in the Yak Meadow. Here we took a rest with an astonishing view of the mountain. A few people were disappointed that we couldn’t see the top because it was covered by clouds, but I personally liked being able to imagine the rest of the mountain myself. The mountain looked epic covered in clouds and I thought it was incredible to be so close to a place on earth no one had been to before. Leo, our tour guide, told us that no one had ever been to the top of the mountain because the rock on the top was as thin as a fan. I think that Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was one of my favorite sights to see in China.

Ms. Skawski-Pride adds: On the way back from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain we stopped at the Blue Spruce Meadow where some of us wanted to have our photos taken sitting on a yak by the manmade lake. The water was a beautiful aqua color; its depth only about a foot with water so clear you could see the tiny stones in the sand at the bottom. Each tourist was lead to the water’s edge where a yak was standing in the cool water waiting for the next tourist to climb up into the saddle. The Chinese man at this site helped each student get on and settle into the saddle before leading them out into the water about ten feet from shore. There each person could have their photo taken in several different poses. Much to our delight, there was also an opportunity to dress up in local minority dress and have our picture taken. Harrison had the opportunity to try on a Tibetan shaman’s robe. At first he was rather reluctant, but after some coaxing from the group, he agreed to give it a try. Seeing him in the regale attire was a rather humorous way to end our day on the mountain.

There were lots of Chinese tourists at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, several times the students were asked to pose for a picture with them.

The views from the cable car up to Yak Meadow were spectacular.

We spun the prayer wheels on the way in.

The whole group hiked to the top of the meadow about 14,000 feet. The highest of the 13 peaks is Shanzidou with an altitude of 5,600 meters (18,360 ft).

We used oxygen canisters when needed to fend off headaches and altitude sickness by climbing at that altitude.

A well deserved rest. Note the sleeping dragon mountain shapes in the background for which the mountain range is named.

Left: We talked Harrison into putting on the Tibetan Shaman costume for a photo.