Jiaozi Snow Mountain Without Snow

Who says Jiaozi Snow Mountain is only for seeing snow! The spring, summer, and autumn activities are simply legendary✨ No snow means no queues, fewer people, so you can quietly enjoy the beautiful scenery and take great photos. The scenery is truly not inferior to when it’s snowy. Jiaozi Snow Mountain in spring, summer, and autumn hides even more healing landscapes—spring has thousands of acres of azaleas, summer has sea of clouds and meadows, autumn has colorful forests and red leaves. At over 3000 meters elevation, the top mountain in central Yunnan is still stunningly photogenic📸 🌸 Spring (mid-April to early May): Azalea Sea Season ✅ Must-visit: Jingguaitang (densest azaleas), Tianchi (take photos of the snow mountain reflection before 9 AM, comparable to the Mirror of the Sky) ✅ Activities: Take the big cable car to Xiapingzi → hike to Jingguaitang → Tianchi → light climb to Jiaozi summit, about 5 hours at a relaxed pace for photos ✅ Tips: Wear a light jacket + non-slip shoes, bring a camera for layered shots, avoid early April and late May (fewer flowers) 🌿 Summer (mid-July to late August): Natural Cool Paradise When Kunming city is melting in heat, the mountain top here is only 15-20°C! ✅ Must-visit: Daheiqing Meadow (perfect picnic spot), Tianchi sea of clouds (watch the moving fairyland at 6-7 AM) ✅ Activities: Big cable car → Xiapingzi → picnic at Daheiqing → Tianchi to see sea of clouds, no need to summit to enjoy the beauty ✅ Tips: Bring short sleeves + light jacket + raincoat (no umbrella on the windy summit, must bring a hat or you’ll get a headache from the wind), visit on weekdays to avoid crowds, no cable car queues 🍁 Autumn (mid-October to late October): Colorful Forest Festival The whole mountain is dyed red, orange, and yellow. Maple and birch red leaves with green pines, sunlight filtering through branches casting light spots, leaves rustling underfoot, the atmosphere is simply perfect. ✅ Must-visit: Moon Rock (most concentrated colorful forest), Jiaozi summit (red leaves with snow mountain, striking red and white contrast) ✅ Activities: Big cable car → Xiapingzi → Moon Rock → Tianchi → Jiaozi summit, 4 hours to summit without rushing in the dark ✅ Tips: Wear a thick jacket + non-slip shoes (fallen leaves and pine needles are slippery), bring a red scarf for great photo contrast 📌 General Tips to Avoid Pitfalls 1. Don’t fear altitude sickness: At 3800+ meters, don’t run or jump, walk slowly, prepare some glucose in advance 2. Sun protection is crucial: Strong UV + mountain reflection, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat are must-haves 3. Transportation: Drive to Xinshanya Pass parking lot, then take the big cable car up the mountain (saves energy) 4. Clothing: Layered dressing is most practical to handle 10°C+ temperature differences, definitely bring a hat that protects from sun and wind. The summit is really windy. 5. These photos were taken around 2:25 PM on November 15, check if this kind of scenery is what you like and go for it. 6. Cable car operation usually matches the park opening hours, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, some info shows last cable car around 5:30 PM, so plan your return time in advance to avoid missing it. 7. Remember to bring food because it’s off-season and fewer people hike, so fewer shops are open on the mountain. It can be hard to buy food.