The Golden Altar of the Snow Gods: Witnessing the Miracle at Feilai Temple Viewing Platform

The Window to the Sacred Peaks

1.Located in Deqin: County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the Feilai Temple Viewing Platform sits at an altitude of approximately 3,400 meters along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway (G214). While named after the nearby Feilai Temple (built in the Ming Dynasty), this location is most famous globally as the premier vantage point for beholding the majestic Meili Snow Mountain range. It is widely regarded by travelers and photographers as the best place to view the sacred Kawagebo Peak (6,740m) and the surrounding "Thirteen Peaks" (Prince 13 Peaks) which line up in a spectacular north-south formation. Unlike the rugged trekking paths of Yubeng, this platform offers an accessible front-row seat to one of nature's most awe-inspiring performances, making it an essential stop on the Tea Horse Road.

The Miracle of "Sunshine on Golden Mountain"

2.The absolute highlight of any visit to Feilai: Temple is witnessing the phenomenon known as "Sunshine on Golden Mountain" (Richao Jinshan). This breathtaking event occurs at sunrise when the first rays of the sun strike the snowy summits of the Meili range while the valleys below remain in shadow. For a brief, magical period of about 20 minutes, the cold, white pyramid of Kawagebo and its sister peaks transform into brilliant, glowing pillars of gold against the deep blue sky. Seeing this spectacle is considered a sign of immense good fortune and spiritual blessing. The sight is so moving that it often brings silence or tears to the eyes of the crowds gathered on the deck, waiting in the freezing pre-dawn air.

A Panorama of Thirteen Gods

From the viewing deck, the panorama is unparalleled. You can clearly identify the major peaks of the range, including the warrior-like Kawagebo (the main peak) and the graceful Miancimu (Goddess Peak), which is renowned for its beautiful, slender shape resembling a goddess in prayer. The platform is lined with a row of white stupas (pagodas) and fluttering prayer flags, creating a solemn religious atmosphere that frames the mountains perfectly. Pilgrims often come here to burn aromatic plants (Wei Sang), prostrate, and offer white Khata scarves to the mountain gods, adding a layer of deep cultural spirituality to the visual grandeur.

Starry Nights and Spiritual Lights

When night falls, the viewing platform offers another spectacle. In the clear highland air, the sky becomes a canvas of diamonds. The Milky Way can often be seen stretching directly over the snowy peaks, creating a dreamlike composition of starlight and snow. The silence of the night, broken only by the fluttering of prayer flags, provides a profound sense of connection between heaven and earth. Whether under the golden light of dawn or the silver light of the moon, standing at Feilai Temple is an encounter with the divine nature of the Tibetan highlands.