Amidst Snowy Mountains and Gorges, Five Centuries of Mufu’s Glory Shines on Posterity

Schemes and love, the eternal themes of film and television—have you ever been captivated by them?

Kindness and tolerance, the enduring virtues of the human world—have you ever possessed them?

The ceaseless Jinsha River nourishes the people of the Lijiang Basin. The Mufu, unwilling to be confined by the walls of Dayan, remains a place of ever-changing events. Five hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Today’s Lijiang boasts three World Heritage Sites: the cultural heritage of Lijiang Ancient Town, the natural heritage of the Three Parallel Rivers, and the documentary heritage of the Naxi Dongba ancient manuscripts. It has long been a world-renowned tourist city.

At the Dongba Valley Scenic Area at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a Snow Mountain Gorge Performance Park is partnering with renowned director and actor Yu Rongguang to create a new tourism model that brings film and TV dramas to life. Spanning 3,000 mu (200 hectares), the Mufu Fengyun Mountain and Water Scenario Area deeply integrates the TV drama 'Mufu Fengyun' with live-action performances. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stand; nearby, the ancient architectural complex and classic scenes from the drama are meticulously recreated. Main performers in period costume move among them. This innovative live performance and interactive experience offers visitors something that an article, a few photos, a video, or a live stream cannot fully capture—you truly need to experience it yourself. Amid the fusion of snow mountains and gorges, nature and culture, you begin to understand the historical legacy of Mufu and the customs of the Naxi people, and thus come to know the real Lijiang.

The Ethnic Welcome Show brings you into the grand folk celebrations of Lijiang; the Naxi Blessing Show offers a glimpse of sacred prayer rituals passed down through millennia; and the Mufu Fengyun Scenario Show incorporates classic scenes such as Mu Zeng carving scriptures, the gold mine robbery, the Tea Horse Road, the Valley of Love Sacrifice, and the Mufu Academy.

Beyond historical reenactment, there are also contemporary attractions. The canyon glass suspension bridge and 'Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Mirror' are unparalleled, both in engineering difficulty and geographic advantage. To capture touching moments at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and record the beauty of Lijiang in your journey, why bother going all the way to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Dayan Ancient Town?

Following the route past the caravanserai on the Tea Horse Road, you are greeted by an endless sea of flowers. This is the legendary Third Kingdom of Yulong, where 'morning mist and flowing clouds form the gauze canopy, and green grass and fresh flowers make the carpet'—a scene of eternal poignant beauty. The Valley of Love Sacrifice witnessed the end of lovers, but it forever extols the virtue of unwavering love. Look, Mu Zeng and A Leqiu from 'Mufu Fengyun,' who pledged to die for love, are descending from the sky.

What kind of time-traveling journey this will be depends on your inner desires and self-awareness. Yet, seeking unity and integration amid ethnic conflicts, leaning toward compassion and tolerance in family feuds, and pursuing true love within ethical constraints are universal aspirations, from nations down to individuals and families.

If life is a drama, I too would like to find the moral principles and codes of conduct I should follow in the grand play of 'Mufu Fengyun.' What about you?

If you have visited Lijiang many times, perhaps you need to experience a new scenic spot. The Snow Mountain Gorge Performance Park beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain features not only the indoor scenario show 'Snow Mountain Myth,' hailed as a grand epic Dongba fantasy, but also the outdoor mountain-and-water scenario show 'Mufu Fengyun,' which fully interacts with visitors. Both are directed by the famous actor, director, and producer Yu Rongguang. Through the park tour, visitors can relive this classic ethnic costume drama that tells the story of the Mu chieftains’ rule over the Naxi people in Yunnan during the Ming Dynasty, and the ever-changing grudges and entanglements within the Mu family.

During the more than two-hour tour, there is a welcome show at the park entrance, a blessing show after walking into the flower sea, and a love-suicide show by the gorge. Each performance lasts only about 10 minutes, but the actors use outdoor wire work to descend from the sky, perform somersaults in armor weighing over 10 jin (5 kg), all without any compromises. The backdrop is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After each show, you can freely take photos with the actors. Along the entire route, there are also social-media-worthy spots like the flower sea, the Snow Mountain Mirror, the filming base of 'Mufu Fengyun,' Yu Rongguang’s Works Exhibition Center, the Sky Walkway, a via ferrata climbing experience, the Bodhi Wisdom Valley, and the Caravanserai Inn.

Address: In Dongba Valley Scenic Area, heading from Lijiang towards Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Outdoor show times: 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 15:00 daily.

Director: Yu Rongguang

Basic ticket: Entrance + outdoor live performance + round-trip shuttle bus (5-8 minutes one way) total 220 yuan. The Sky Walkway glass bridge is 60 yuan (free walking trail alternative available). The Snow Mountain Mirror is 20 yuan (costume rental at visitor center).

Recommended visit duration: 2.5–3 hours.

The park’s food center not only gathers delicacies from across Yunnan, but also features Yu Rongguang’s own restaurant brand—Papa Yu’s Kitchen.

Special recommendation: Asia’s first Gellé Frères-branded hotel—GF Mountain & Wilderness Hotel (GF Health & Wellness Hotel) has opened in the Snow Mountain Gorge Performance Park. The hotel offers energy rooms, the Qing'an Culinary Art Gallery, the Pu Wellness Park, the Mi SPA Healing, Qing'an mini, a Gellé Frères skincare experience store, a Kids Club, and more.

Gellé Frères is a French high-end natural botanical skincare brand founded in 1826, historically acclaimed as both a 'family of perfumers' and a 'family of aromatherapists.'

All original text and images copyright @天蓝年代, please contact for reprint.

I am a featured photographer for AirAsia, Tourism Malaysia, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Embassy of Canada in China, a financial writer, multi-media journalist, contracted traveler, contracted photographer, and a winner of the Yunnan News Award (Online Commentary Award, Innovation News Award).