Full disclosure: I am a non-Asian American traveling alone in China with limited Chinese skills. When faced with 'issues', I rate the hotel staff by how much they work with me to resolve the problem. Travelers without Chinese skills will still find it very easy to work with hotel staff, especially in the restaurant and tea house.
First, I got lost coming back to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tourist Service Center. To make an hour ordeal simple, I got off at the wrong bus stop and no one there spoke English. HOWEVER, several phone calls later (yes, I had a Must Have Chinese phone number), two different managers and 4 different language levels and I was back where I belonged. A HUGE shout-out to the staff of the Hyatt Mountain Lodge for coming to my rescue.
The smile I found on a selfie I took told it all - I forgot about everything except enjoying the moment. Yes, you could stay here a month leisurely enjoying all the sights and it would not be a wasted 30 days, I only had three.
The hotel has a bus from Lijiang City to the Mountain Lodge. From there you take a small shuttle close to the tourist center. A bus from there (don't forget to buy some oxygen first), then on to the cable car.
Once off the car, steps take you to the 15,300+ feet platform in the picture (4680m).
Don't try to rush this, it is a climb up and down that takes quite a while.
Maybe I can setup a Go Fund Me for my next trip!