Located 25 kilometers north of Lijiang, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Yulong Snow Mountain is the southernmost snow-capped mountain in China, and the ocean glacier nearest to the equator of all the snow mountains in Eurasia.

In recent years, due to the increased quantity of ice melting, the glacial tongue of Yulong Snow Mountain has withdrawn along with reduced glacial area and raised the snow line. The retraction of the glacier was as much as 100 meters during the five years from 1998 to 2002. Its thickness and snowy areas also decreased during the same period.

The main cause to the glacier retraction in Yulong Snow Mountain is global warming, according to He Yuanqing, an expert from Chinese Academy of Science.

Yulong Snow Mountain has 13 peaks, stretching 35 kilometers from north to south. Shanzidou, the main peak, is 5,596 meters above sea level.

Neighboring the famous ancient town of Lijiang, Yulong Snow Mountain is a popular tourist destination in Yunnan Province. It is the one and only place you can ski in South China.

All year around, snow falls on the peaks and which are frequently lost in the clouds and fog. Looking from a distance, the mountain resembles a Jade Dragon (Yulong), which is how it got its name.

(CRI March 10, 2005)