At 8,450 Yards in length from the pro tees, Jade Dragon Golf Club is currently the longest regulation 18-hole golf course in the world. Sited at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, the course lays to a more traditional 7000 yards thanks to the length inducing effect of altitude (at 10,000 feet the ball travels some 20% further). The course was designed with input from China No. 1 golfer, Zhang Lian Wei.

The course is set in the bottom of the valley of Shangri-La, which inspired the famous book by James Hilton and later the award-winning film of the same name. The valley faces the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that has eleven snow capped peaks and permanent glacier ?the only one in China. Due to the naturalness of the site, little dirt was moved in its construction and the course ebbs and flows with the natural landscape. Construction was completed in 10 months, quite possibly a record for China.

Lijiang is one of China very special places and home of the Naxi minority, the world last remaining minority whose written language consists entirely of pictograms. Many of the Naxi minorities make their home in the World heritage listed ancient town of Lijiang, which is half an hour drive from the golf course.