Haba Snow Mountain

The Haba Snow Mountain stands by the Jinsha River, 120km southeast of Zhongdian (Shangri-La), with its main peak of 5,396m. The attraction of the Sanba Tourist Area is attributed to the towering peaks of the Haba Snow Mountain and its alpine moraine lake, endless tracks of azalea flowers and cluster of waterfalls cascading down snow-covered cliffs. The glacier on the Haba Snow Mountain is the southmost glacier in China.

Haba is an interesting township beneath the Haba Snow Mountain. The local minorities include Naxi, Hui and Yi peoples, as well as the odd Tibetan. It is primarily of interest to hikers and those who enjoy exploring remote and more traditional villages. The town along the road is inhabited by a small number of Han people plus a mix of local minorities, the area above the road towards the mountain is home to two Hui (Muslim) villages, each of which with its own mosque. Further up the mountain is an Yi village. Further down the valley, beneath the road is a lush agricultural area inhabited by Naxi people.

Opportunities abound for hiking in the surrounding forest and mountains. Keen hikers will be interested to hike to the summit of Haba Snow Mountain, which takes 2.5~3 days at pace for ascent and descent and requires spending nights on the mountain. A guides is required and available in Haba town/villages.