lijiang travel guide

Lijiang Travel Guide

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Lijiang tours.

How to Plan a Trip to Lijiang

Lijiang is an ideal destination for holidays owing to its relaxed atmosphere and wonderful scenery. We hope this article will give you some inspiration and helpful guidance if you are planning a trip to Lijiang. Alternatively, contact us if you have any questions or would like us to create a Lijiang trip based on your requirements.

What You Should Know before Going to Lijiang

• The altitude is about 2,400 meters or about 7,800 feet. Some people may get some altitude sickness. So, take it easy the first day or two.
• The English service in Lijiang is not as developed as in Beijing and Shanghai. Basic English service at most of Lijiang's attractions and hotels is available though.
• Lijiang is very popular among domestic tourists which means crowds are expected during China's public holidays.

What Are the Must-Sees?

It may be difficult for you to choose what to see in your coming Lijiang trip with over 20 great attractions in Lijiang, especially if you are first-time visitors.

Therefore, we have listed the most popular five attractions suitable for all kinds of visitors. These are the Lijiang "must-sees".

Find out more about them and more on our Top 10 Attractions in Lijiang or The Ultimate 10 Things to Do in Lijiang .

How Many Days for a Lijiang Trip?

Usually, it takes 3 days for an "essence of Lijiang" trip. Here is our suggested itinerary:

• Day 1: Lijiang arrival + Lijiang Old Town sightseeing
• Day 2: Naxi culture experience in Baisha Village + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (by cable car)
• Day 3: Departure

If that looks good to you, check out more details of our 3-Day Essence of Ancient Lijiang Tour .

Lijiang is known as "the backpackers' paradise". Leisurely and carefree, backpacks are more at home in Lijiang than suitcases, not least because it has China's best hikes. If you are fond of hiking, you could refer to our 5-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour — in brief:

• Day 1: Lijiang arrival + Lijiang Old Town
• Day 2: Baisha Village + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (by cable car)
• Day 3: 7-hour Tiger Leaping Gorge hike
• Day 4: Continue the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike (4–5 hours' hiking)
• Day 5: Departure

All our itineraries are flexible. If you have any ideas or requirements, contact us . We will make any adjustments you need based on your group size, time, budgets, interests, preferences, and other requirements.

Extending Your Lijiang Tour

Most travelers connect Lijiang with Kunming and Dali . You will need 6 days to visit the essential attractions in these three most famous cities of Yunnan.

• Day 1: Kunming arrival
• Day 2: See the Stone Forest and Stone Village, then transfer to Dali by bullet train.
• Day 3: Enjoy Dali Ancient Town, and bike around Erhai Lake.
• Day 4: Transfer to Lijiang, and explore Lijiang Old Town.
• Day 5: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Day 6: Lijiang departure

See more details of our 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour if you are interested in this itinerary.

Many travelers will also put Shangri-La in their list. If you have the same idea, look at our 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour to meet the highest amazing beauty of Yunnan.

Best Times to Go

Lijiang's average daily temperature range is 8–19°C (46–66°F), which happens to be the middle seasons' too, when it is best to travel.

Although Lijiang is suitable for traveling all year round, the best times to visit Lijiang are from late March to May and mid-October to November .

The high altitude and low latitude results in cooler summers and milder winters in Lijiang. Thus, Lijiang is often a top destination for summer and winter vacations in China too.

Top Weather Tips :

• Due to its high altitude, sun protection is necessary.
• Temperatures differ greatly between day and night. Convenient and comfortable layers are practical for taking on and off.
• Rainy season is from June to September. Cloud is more likely to spoil views and raingear is recommended, especially on hikes.

Check out Lijiang Weather to discover the best places to go in each season in Lijiang and more top tips.

How to Get to Lijiang

Lijiang has an airport and a railway station to connect with other cities in China and Yunnan.

Domestic cities such as Beijing (4 hours), Shanghai (4 hours), Hangzhou (4 hours), Nanjing (3½ hours), Guangzhou (3 hours), Shenzhen (3 hours), Kunming (1 hour), Guilin (2 hours), Chengdu (2 hours), and Chongqing (2 hours) have direct flights to Lijiang.

Driving and taking a bullet train are the two main ways to get to Lijiang from other cities in Yunnan.

From Kunming to Lijiang , it's a 3½ hours' journey by a bullet train.

From Dali to Lijiang , driving is recommended (2½ hours) or a 2 or 2½ hours' journey by normal train.

From Shangri-La to Lijiang , driving is the only way (3 or 4 hours).

Where to Stay in Lijiang

Hotels in the best places to stay with a convenient location, regional features, and good reviews are recommended here for your reference:

Lijiang Old Town Area — Top Choice

• Luxury and special : Indigo® Lijiang Ancient Town
• Boutique : Blossom Hill Inn Lijiang, Ivy Garden Resort Hotel
• Economical : Manxin Lijiang Holiday Hotel

Shuhe Old Town — Quieter Relaxation

• Luxury and special : Banyan Tree Lijiang
• Boutique and economical : The Bivou Lijiang

Tiger Leaping Gorge — Hikers' Stopovers

The hotel facilities and services in Tiger Leaping Gorge are relatively lower than those in the city areas.

• Inns : Halfway Guesthouse, Tina's Guesthouse

Recommended tour: 5-Day Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

Lugu Lake — Scenic Accommodation

• Luxury and special : Lugu Lake Shui Mo Lake View Hotel
• Boutique and economical : Shilily Hotel

Find Your Ideal Lijiang Tour Here

All our tours can be customized. Feel free to contact us and we will create a trip based on your requirements, or see our popular Lijiang tours for inspiration:

• 1-Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour — Pilgrimage to Joseph Rock's favorite mountain
• 3-Day Essence of Ancient Lijiang Tour — including ancient towns, minority cultures, snow-capped mountains, and mysterious murals
• 7-Day Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour — A Feast of Landscapes and Ethnic Minority Culture
• 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Private Tour
• 11-Day China Classic Tour
• 14-Day China Natural Wonders Discovery
• 3-Week Must-See Places China Tour Including Holy Tibet
• How to Plan Your First Trip to China 2024/2025 — 7 Easy Steps
• 15 Best Places to Visit in China (2024)
• How to Plan a 10-Day Itinerary in China (Best 5 Options)
• 2-Week China Itineraries: Where to Go & Routes (2024)
• China Weather in January 2024: Enjoy Less-Crowded Traveling
• China Weather in February 2024: Places to Go, Costs, and Crowds
• China Weather in March 2024: Destinations, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in April 2024: Where to Go (Smart Pre-Season Pick)
• China Weather in May 2024: Where to Go, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in June 2024: How to Benefit from the Rainy Season
• China Weather in July 2024: How to Avoid Heat and Crowds
• China Weather in August 2024: Weather Tips & Where to Go
• China Weather in September 2024: Weather Tips & Where to Go
• China Weather in October 2024: Where to Go, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in November 2024: Places to Go & Crowds
• China Weather in December 2024: Places to Go and Crowds

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Getty Images/AWL Images RM

How popular is this time-locked place? Lijiang’s (丽江, Lìjiāng) maze of cobbled streets, rickety (or rickety-looking, given gentrification) wooden buildings and gushing canals suck in over eight million people a year. So thick are the crowds in the narrow alleys that it can feel like they've all arrived at the same time.

Your next trip starts here

Go from dreaming to planning with trip planning options made to help you craft your ideal itinerary.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Black Dragon Pool Park

On the northern edge of town is Black Dragon Pool Park; the view from here of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is an obligatory photo stop in southwestern China…

Lijiang Old Town

The old town is centred on busy and touristy Old Market Square, with the Waterwheel defining the northern edge and the lively Zhongyi Market marking the…

Towering over the west side of Lijiang's Old Town, Lion Hill's 23 hectares of park land are a pleasant diversion. The obvious high point is the panoramic…

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain soars to some 5596m, and the massif's thirteen peaks dominate the skyline of the surrounding regions. Undeniably beautiful, the…

Mu Family Mansion

The home of a Naxi chieftain, the Mu Family Mansion was heavily renovated (more like built from scratch) after the devastating earthquake that struck…

Museum of Dongba Culture

The Museum of Dongba Culture houses displays on Naxi dress and culture, Dongba pictographic script, Lijiang's old town and the dubious claim that the…

Dongba Cultural Institute

The Dongba Cultural Institute is part of a renovated complex on the hillside north of the old town. Here you can see Naxi cultural artefacts and scrolls…

Old Market Square

The heart of the old town.

Latest stories from Lijiang

Wildlife & Nature

May 25, 2017 • 5 min read

Under an endlessly bright, blue sky, amidst clean, crisp air, an old woman herds a grunting, clucking menagerie of farm animals down the road towards you…

Sep 5, 2014 • 7 min read

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Lijiang Old Town Travel Guide, 丽江古城 (China)

Located in the picturesque province of Yunnan (云南) , Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城) is one of China’s best-preserved ancient town. Home to the Naxi minority ethnic group, Lijiang has a history of more than 800 years. The old town is famed for its unique network of water system and ancient architecture styles. Such is its value, Lijiang Old Town was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. So join us, as we show you the sights of Lijiang Old Town and things that you should know while planning for your Lijiang trip. Do share this Lijiang Old Town Travel Guide with your travel buddies!

Related VLOG/posts:

Must-See Places in Lijiang 丽江 (Yunnan, China)

Lugu Lake Travel Guide 泸沽湖 (China)

Places to visit in Chengdu (Sichuan, China)

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Lijiang Old Town Travel Guide

We were fortunate to be able to explore Lijiang Old Town twice, in Nov-2017 and Sep-2018. The following are what we’re gathered from our trips, plus some important travel tips.

Introduction: Lijiang Old Town, 丽江古城

Lijiang Old Town, also known as Dayan Old Town (大研镇) , had its roots from the late Song (960 – 1279) and early Yuan (1271 – 1368) dynasties. The town rose to prominence in ancient China due to its strategic location along the Ancient Tea Horse Road . A major tea trading route linking China and South Asia .

The region is home to the Naxi people, who practise the Dongba culture and religion. Sadly though, most of the Naxi people had moved out of the old town in recent years. Mainly due to its commercialization and high cost of living.

Cobblestone streets and stone bridges

As with many ancient towns, Lijiang Old Town features wide cobblestone streets and archaic stone bridges. While its novel water system bears proof to Lijiang’s status as a crucial city during its heydays.

The Square Market (Sifang Square) is the social and geographical centre of town. From here, a few major streets branch out. Including Xinhua Street, DongDa Street, Guangyi Street, QiYi Street and WuYi Street.

Due to its myriad of narrow and twisting cobblestone alleys, Lijiang Old Town is out of bound to vehicles. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end of the old town to the other.

Elevation of 2400m

Lijiang city is at an elevation of 2400m . Most visitors do not feel any major signs of altitude sickness while in the city (i.e. old town).

However, altitude sickness often set in during trips to YuLong Snow Mountain . While many visitors also experience shortness of breath while climbing stairs at Tiger Leaping Gorge .

Orderliness and Cleanliness

Lijiang Old Town is a major destination for both local and foreign tourist. Thus, the Chinese government is particularly cautious about maintaining its security and cleanliness.

The police presence in Lijiang is heavy and obvious. Police squads can frequently be seen patrolling the old town. Ensuring Lijiang is a generally safe place.

Even the taxis in Lijiang city are heavily monitored. We were assured by our hotel host that taxi drivers (at least those plying near the old town) generally charge by meters and does not try to rip off tourist.

The authorities had also done a good job in ensuring Liijang Old Town’s cleanliness. The streets are largely well kept. While the public toilets within the old town are amongst the cleanest you’ll find at any Chinese tourist attractions.

How many days to plan for Lijiang City

Lijiang is a relatively small city. As a tourist destination, there are only a few essential attractions to visit in the area. Including:

#1, Lijiang Old Town : Due to convenience, this is where most visitors will stay during their visit to Lijiang.

#2, YuLong Snow Mountain * : The southern-most permanent snow-capped mountain in the northern hemisphere. The base of the mountain (where visitors take the cable car to the peak) is a 30 minutes’ drive north of Lijiang Old Town.

#3, Tiger Leaping Gorge * : One of the deepest gorge in the world with spectacular flow especially during the wet season. Tiger Leaping Gorge is situated on the border between Lijiang and Shangri-La county. With its viewing platform on the side of Shangri-La county. The viewing platform is much closer to Lijiang (1.5 hours’ drive) than to Shangri-La (3 hours’ drive).

*Note : For more info on YuLong Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge, refer to our other blog “ 3 Must-See Places in Lijiang “.

Most visitors would only need around 3 days to cover the above. Thus, many visitors to Lijiang typically bundle their trips with visits to other nearby destinations.

Other major tourist destinations in the region

The closest major tourist destinations (to Lijiang city) are Lugu lake (northeast, 4.5 hours’ drive, 210km), Shangri-La (northwest, 2.5 hours’ drive, 170km) and Dali (south, 2.5 hours’ drive, 180km).

Related post:

• Lugu Lake Travel Guide 泸沽湖 (Yunnan, China)
• 3 Must-See Places in Lijiang

How to get from Lijiang Airport to Old Town

Lijiang has a small airport which mostly serves domestic routes. Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) is 28km (30 minutes’ drive) south of the city. The most popular transport modes between the airport and old town are airport bus , private car (~RMB 80/car) and regular taxi (~RMB 80/car).

Airport Bus

The Airport Bus cost RMB 20/pax. Journey approximately 30 minutes. Pay directly to the driver on the bus (receipt will be issued). Departure should be every 30 minutes or so.

Note that the airport bus does not stop at the old town. Instead, its terminal station (in the city) is at the rear of Blue Sky Hotel . Which is a 10 minutes’ walk from the northern end (i.e. Waterwheel) of Lijiang Old Town.

However, depending on which part of the old town you’re staying, you might need to take a taxi from Blue Sky Hotel. Local taxis are coloured green (NOT BLUE). Base fare starts from RMB 8. For example, if you’re heading to the old town’s South Gate the fare is RMB 16 and takes 10-15 minutes.

Lijiang Airport to Lijiang Old Town

For this trip, it is best to book a transport (private car, RMB 80/car, 30 minutes) with your hotel. Given that the cost of a private car is relatively cheap (especially if shared), and that you’ve just landed from a flight, it would be easiest to just engage a private car.

In addition, your driver will help you to call the hotel upon arrival at the old town’s entrance. Ensuring that the hotel staff will be around to help with your luggage and guide you to it.

Lijiang Old Town to Lijiang Airport

Again, if there is 2 or more pax, it might be worthwhile to just book a private car with your hotel. Else, if you’re alone and on a budget, consider the airport bus. Especially if you’re staying at the northern parts of Lijiang Old Town.

Lijiang Old Town Preservation Fee (?)

There is often much confusion on whether there is a requirement to pay for entry into Lijiang Old Town.

On most websites, this fee ( RMB 80 ) is often termed as “preservation fee”, “maintenance fee” or even “protection fee”. However, not all visitors reported paying or even knowing about the presence of such fees.

Interestingly, in the official tourist map/brochure that we personally obtained from information booths within the old town, it is stated that the “maintenance fee” is “80 yuan per person per time”.

However, based on our visit to Lijiang Old Town in Nov-2017 and Sep-2018, we never had to pay any fee . We had never seen any booth collecting the fee. And no one had ever inquired if we had paid it. In fact, we even spoke to the manager of a hotel in the old town and was told that the fee was “abolished” (for reasons that we shall not state in this blog) .

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Where to stay in Lijiang

For convenience, most visitors choose to stay within the old town, or along its fringes.

There are a good number of small and tastefully renovated boutique hotels, both within and along the outskirts of the old town. Naturally, visitors should expect to pay slightly more and have smaller rooms for hotels situated within the old town. Having said, the average room pricing in the area is reasonable and good deals can often be snagged, especially if booked early.

Xilu Xiaoxie Inn

During our Sep-2018 trip, we stayed at Xilu Xiaoxie Inn** . Which is one of the most highly rated hotels (on Booking.com ) within Lijiang Old Town.

The inn is conveniently located along QiYi Street. Making it a short walk from The Square Market. And is a 5 minutes’ walk from the South Gate (Nanmen Street).

As with many hotels in Lijiang Old Town, the staff will usually meet you at one of the town entrances (e.g. gates) upon your arrival. And walk you in so that you’ll not get lost in the maze of alleys.

Front courtyard of Xilu Xiaoxie Inn

Similar to most boutique hotels within the old town, Xilu Xiaoxie Inn is a relatively small property. The rooms, though small, are tastefully done up, clean and in excellent condition. Some rooms even have a loft with double bed.

The staffs are extremely courteous, friendly and helpful. And the hotel manager is able to communicate well in English (but not the rest of the junior staffs).

The hotel is situated near a school. Which have a number of small eateries serving cheap and good local breakfast from as early as 6am.

Our images of Xilu Xiaoxie Inn

Loft room with double bed

Room with double bed

For dog lovers, you will be interested to know that the inn has a pair of beautiful and gentle Malamute.

**Disclosure: The links to Xilu Xiaoxie Inn are affiliated links. It will cost nothing to you, but we do receive a small fee if you book through these links. This small fee will go a long way to help us maintain this blog.

Related posts:

• Lugu Lake Travel Guide 泸沽湖 (Yunnan, China) 
• Xi’an Attractions (Shaanxi, China) 
• Huashan Travel Guide (Shaanxi, China) 
• Great Places to visit in Chengdu (Sichuan, China) 
• How can foreigners get a driving license in China 

Sights in Lijiang Old Town

The following images are the photography loot from our 2017/2018 visits to Lijiang Old Town.

Photography Tips

Unsurprisingly, most of the more scenic spots are away from the main tourist-infested areas (e.g. The Square Market and northern part of town).

The best time to capture stunning images is usually the golden hour just before sunset. When the sky takes on a golden hue and the alleys are starting to get lited up in a sea of tungsten yellow.

Evenings are also another great time to get some lovely images. As the old town’s lighting explodes into a full bloom of contrasting colours. Though the tourist crowd at this time might clutter your shots. Tripods are essential during the evenings.

Our favourite photography spots

We especially love the stream ( Middle River ) running parallel to QiYi Street . Due to its location off the main streets, this area along the stream tends to receive fewer visitors. There are a number of peaceful and lovely spots here. Especially suitable for lovebirds, photography buffs and those looking for a crack Instagram shot.

Panoramic photo of Lijiang Old Town

Go to Lion Hill to take a panoramic photo of the entire old town. Numerous cafes/restaurants on Lion Hill have upper levels that provide sweeping views of Lijiang Old Town.

Most of them are ok for visitors to take a quick photo. However, they do require some form of purchase if you’re using the seats and/or need more time for your photo taking. Which is absolutely reasonable given that they have a business to run.

Random sights in Lijiang Old Town

The Bund, Shanghai

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• Travel guide

The forgotten kingdom

What is lijiang.

Lijiang was originally ‘discovered’ by backpackers well before domestic tourism developed. While massively popular now among Chinese tourists, the greater area still offers rarely visited gems of natural beauty, and boasts a cultural history different from any other place in China.

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Restaurants.

Prague Café (Lijiang)

Australia House

Papillon Rouge Restaurant

K2 Hostelling International

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Trips & activities.

The Tea Horse Trail of rural Lijiang

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Trek along the Ancient Stone Village of Baoshan

Lijiang travel guide

Lijiang lies in northwest Yunnan, connecting the Yungui Plateau and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It borders Diqing to the north, Dali to the south, Nujiang to the west, and Sichuan's Liangshan and Panzhihua to the east. It administers the Old Town, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Yongsheng County, Huaping County, and Ninglang Yi Autonomous County.

The Jinsha River passes through as the lowest point, while Yulong Mountain, Laojun Mountain, and Xiaoliang Mountain form the area's backbone. Famed sights include Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang Old Town, and Lugu Lake.

Lijiang was a trading hub on the Silk Road and Tea Horse Route, with over 900 years of history and well-preserved Song and Yuan architecture. The Dayan Ancient Town is one of the few remaining minority old towns, with waterways, bridges, and traditional dwellings that resemble a southern water village.

There's also the mysterious Kingdom of Women, majestic snow mountains, boundless flower seas, and magnificent rivers and valleys. In Lijiang, indulge in carefree play under the warm sun, appreciate awe-inspiring nature on a hiking adventure, or anticipate a magical encounter on an intoxicating night.

Healing, romance, time travel, discovery, purity, daydreaming - Lijiang offers all this and more, waiting for you to uncover its allure!

Bangbang Club

The lively Bangbang Festival, also called the “Farm Tool Fair”, “Mile Festival”, or “Mila Festival”, is held in Lijiang on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Ancient Dayan Town overflows with crowds browsing and buying bamboo, wood, and iron farm tools, fruit tree saplings, flowers, and other merchandise lining the streets. Originally a Buddhist temple fair during the Qing Dynasty, it evolved into a market trading farming implements and wooden items. Today, the Bangbang Festival maintains its bustling commerce and traditional Naxi ethnic minority culture. Visitors can shop for handmade goods, admire craftsmanship, enjoy cultural shows, and sample cuisine alongside locals in celebratory attire. By exploring this iconic trade fair, tourists can discover Naxi customs while contributing to the livelihoods of indigenous artisans. The timeless spirit of the Bangbang Festival offers a window into Lijiang’s heritage.

Three Blossom Festival

The Sando Festival is the biggest traditional holiday of the Naxi ethnic minority in Lijiang. Celebrated on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month across Lijiang’s urban and rural areas, ancient music ensembles play throughout the city while locals sing and dance in jubilation. Many picnic at scenic spots like Lashi Lake with hot pot meals to mark the occasion. The festival honors the three ritual flowers that represent vitality - peach, camellia and lychee blossoms. Locals don traditional attire, host lavish feasts and flock to temple fairs. Visitors can join in the festivities - appreciating Naxi singing and dance, sampling delicacies, and immersing themselves in rich indigenous culture. Through its vibrant celebrations, the Sando Festival offers an unforgettable glimpse into the heart of the Naxi people and their strong sense of cultural identity in Lijiang.

Dongba Association

The Dongba Festival is held on the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month in Yushui Village, Lijiang. Local Dongba priests gather early at the Dongba Shuodian Temple to light incense, make offerings to deities and ancestors, and pay tribute to Dongba founder Shuodian. It is an opportunity for Dongbas from across the region to congregate, recite scriptures, perform rituals, chant, dance, and demonstrate their skills and talents to one another. Visitors can witness Dongba priests in colorful regalia hosting elaborate ceremonies, engage in singing and dancing, and gain insight into Naxi culture and mythology through spiritual blessings, dances and dramas. As the core of the Naxi Dongba religion, this festival offers a window into their ancient pictographic script, mystical knowledge and role as protectors of Naxi traditional culture in Lijiang and beyond.

Naxi Torch Festival

The Naxi Torch Festival is celebrated over three nights from the 25th to 27th day of the 6th lunar month in Lijiang's Dayan Old Town. According to ancient Naxi customs, large ceremonial torches are lit outside homes while youths holding smaller torches walk along fields and trails, singing into the late hours. The bigger the bonfires, the greater fortune for the coming year, filling everyone with joy. Visitors can watch torch-lighting rituals, join public dances around bonfires, and sample specialty cuisines as Naxi people don traditional outfits to mark midsummer and pray for bountiful harvests. With glowing torches symbolizing prosperity and warding off evil spirits, the Torch Festival's vibrant nighttime revelry offers a window into the rich cultural heritage of the Naxi minority. Visitors leave with a lasting memory of Lijiang lit up by fiery jubilation.

Lijiang July Meeting

The time-honored Lijiang July Fair, also called the “Sudden Horse Fair”, is held in mid-July for around 15 days in Dayan Old Town. Naxi people lead livestock and bring agricultural products, local specialties, and traditional Chinese herbs to trade at the fair. Vibrant festivities fill the streets, especially around Sifang and Xindajie, with live performances entertaining the crowds. Visitors can browse textiles, handicrafts, and curios; sample Naxi cuisine and observe horse trading ceremonies. By celebrating the Naxi’s ancient caravan culture, this lively marketplace offers an intimate look at indigenous traditions, customs, and livelihoods. Wandering the July Fair provides a vivid experience of Lijiang’s enduring cultural heritage and insight into the Naxi people’s proud ethnic identity.

Best Travel Time

Dressing guidelines.

Lijiang's intense sun exposure demands UV-blocking sunglasses and liberal sunscreen application. Wide-brimmed hats, preferably with ear coverage, and large scarves also prevent sun damage. For hiking, bring gloves (for warmth and horseback riding) and comfortable, durable shoes. Pack light using a daypack and quality luggage. Essential toiletries like facial masks and skin care products will refresh you after long days exploring. Don’t forget your camera to capture Lijiang’s beauty.

Dress in breathable, flexible layers to adapt to shifting mountain conditions. Light jackets and sweaters transition from cool early mornings to warm afternoons. Fabrics that wick moisture will keep you dry during active pursuits and occasional rainfalls. Check the weather forecast to anticipate extra gear needs. With sun protection, adjustable garments, and versatile footwear, you’ll be ready to fully experience Lijiang’s natural wonders and rich cultural heritage.

Medical treatment

Lijiang surrounding cities.

Popular tourist cities in China

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 3 Get around
• 4.1 Gucheng District
• 4.2 Yulong County
• 4.3 Other counties
• 7.2 Mid-range
• 7.3 Splurge
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge
• 10 Stay safe

Understand [ edit ]

Lijiang is the main center of the Naxi or Nakhi people, though it is by no means a Naxi-only town: at least half a dozen other ethnic groups are represented. The Naxi number under a million and are perhaps best known for their embroidery; they also have their own language with its own hieroglyphic-style writing system, and their own religion, clothing, art, architecture, music and dance. The Chinese government classifies the Mosuo (found mainly further north around Lugu Lake ) as part of the Naxi group, but neither the Naxi nor the Mosuo accept this.

Lijiang or nearby Baisha (now a village 12 km north of town) have been important for about 2000 years, when the Naxi settled in the area, and Baisha was the capital of a Naxi kingdom from 658 to 1107. Then the area came under Chinese control and Lijiang became the administrative center. Parts of the old town date back to this period, built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The town was built where the Jade River divides into three and its streams form the canals and waterways which flow along the old town streets.

In 1278, the Yuan Dynasty appointed the Naxi chief Mu De hereditary ruler of the area, and the Mu family retained power for about 500 years. Today their palace is one of the major tourist attractions of the old town.

Lijiang became known in the west through two men who lived in or near the town in the early 20th century, Austrian-American botanist Joseph Rock who wrote a Naxi dictionary, several scholarly papers, and many articles for National Geographic, and Russian Peter Goullart who wrote several books. It has been suggested that Rock's articles inspired James Hilton's Lost Horizons novel about a fictional Himalayan paradise, Shangri-la, but the claim is controversial.

After China started to admit foreign tourists in the 1980s, Lijiang began to attract many visitors. To fulfill their needs, local people started restaurants and cafes. Chinese people also long for the lifestyle and the excellent environment in Lijiang and started to pour in.

An earthquake in 1996 flattened large parts of the town, though quite a few of the traditional wooden buildings remained standing while far more of the Mao-era brick or concrete structures collapsed. Since then there has been extensive rebuilding, mainly in traditional styles. There have been some complaints that much of that work followed traditions of central China, rather than locally appropriate ones, but most visitors will just notice a lot of rather pretty old-looking buildings.

Get in [ edit ]

Most guest houses in the traditional architectural style are in the old town. As taxis are not allowed to enter the old town, they have to stop at the gates. So either be prepared to carry your luggage a bit or call the hotel to send someone to carry your luggage on a cart.

By plane [ edit ]

There are many flights from Kunming to Lijiang, from early morning to late at night.

It is also possible to book a flight to Lijiang from any major city in China, direct flights are available from Shanghai, Beijing etc., but many flights will stop in Kunming and many will require a change of planes there.

The modestly sized airport is 40 minutes from the city. You can take a taxi for ¥100 (official fixed price) to get to the city. There are touts that will offer the same trip for ¥60-80, but it is likely you will find yourself squeezed into the same vehicle with strangers. Alternatively, outside the arrival hall, you will find the airport bus, which leaves regularly when full, for ¥20, to the Blue Skies Hotel near the Guangfang Hotel, which is 1 km from the Old Town. A taxi to the old town will be ¥7-10 from the Blue Skies Hotel carpark.

When leaving Lijiang, arriving at the airport an hour before your flight is sufficient. Taxi back from Old Town to airport is around ¥110, with additional ¥10 toll fee.

Lijiang is at 2,400 m (almost 8,000 feet) so there is some risk of altitude sickness if you fly in from a lower altitude. The risk is not remarkably severe , but it may be more prudent to fly to Kunming at 2,000 m, acclimatise there, then come to Lijiang. Dali would be an interesting intermediate stop. If you do fly direct to Lijiang from sea level, plan to take it easy the first day or two while your body gets acclimatised.

By train [ edit ]

• 26.814209 100.251518 2 Lijiang Railway Station ( 丽江站, Lijiang Station ), Shangji Road, Huangshan Town, Yulong County (玉龙县黄山镇上吉路) ( Several public bus lines serve the station, including the number 18 and some number 4 buses. Taxis are reluctant to use the meter and will demand high fares of ¥30-40, though with bargaining ¥15 may be possible. Taxis are not easy to come by in Lijiang, but small SUV-type vans cruise around offering a share-taxi service ). The train station is an impressive structure about 7km south of Lijiang old town. ( updated Apr 2019 )

A new bullet train service commenced on January 2019, which can take you to Lijiang from Kunming in 3-3½ hours (6 trains per day). First class seats ¥330-350, second class seats ¥210-220. Some of these trains travel non-stop all the way to Lijiang while others stop at one or more of the following stations: Lufeng South, Chuxiong , Xiangyun, Heqing. The bullet train begins its journey from the Kunming South Railway Station and also stops at the Kunming Railway Station.

There are four normal trains leaving each evening that take 8½-10½ hours. Soft Sleeper ¥226, Hard Sleeper ¥153, Hard Seat ¥89 (Apr 2019).

If you travel as a family, consider the VIP chamber which is at the price of ¥614, one less than purchasing three individual tickets in a four-bed standard room. You may feel a bit tight for luggage storage space, but you gain more valuable privacy, with your own family.

From Dali the train is a faster, cheaper alternative to the crowded buses: A hard (padded) seat is ¥34, and the journey takes only 2 hours from Dali city on a K-class train. (As of April 2019, although there are bullet train services from Kunming to both Dali and Lijiang, these are separate services and it is not possible to take a bullet train from Dali to Lijiang. When this service becomes available, the journey time between Dali and Lijiang will be less than one hour.)

By bus [ edit ]

• 26.862518 100.233789 3 Lijiang Bus Station ( 丽江客运站 Lijiang Passenger Transport Station ), 25 Kangzhong Road, Gucheng District (古城区康仲路25号) ( The bus station is south of the old city. You can take the bus 8 in front of the bus station to the old town ), ☏ +86 888 5121106 . ( updated Apr 2019 )
• From Dali , minibus/bus/comfort bus at ¥55/60/80 about every 30/60 min, ~3 hr on highway.
• From Shangrila there are regular services and overnight service from Kunming stop here.
• from Chengdu there is a direct bus which starts at 11:20 at Xinnamen station in Chengdu . It takes about 24 hours to do the trip, and cost about ¥280. Alternatively, you can take a train from Chengdu to Panzhihua (15 hr, ~¥191 for a hard sleeper) to arrive in the early morning. At the exit of Panzhihua train station, take one of the bus 64 on the left of the exit and get off at the terminus, which is the bus terminal (¥3, ~1 hr). Then, you can take a bus to Lijiang, which run every 45 minutes from 07:00 to 13:00 (from ¥83 to ¥92, ~8 hr).

Get around [ edit ]

Walking is the only option in the old town, while taxis are often the easiest way around the rest of town, meter starts from ¥9 (as of Mar 2019). Make sure you have the exact location info or address for the cab driver. Some of them do not know a whole lot more than you do.

Fracture alert: watch where you are walking. It is easy to trip on the cobblestones or fall into the canals from the walkways or bridges, many of which do not have handrails. The cobblestones can be very slippery when wet.

To see the sights outside the old town, the options are walking, biking, public bus, private mini-bus, or taxi. The public bus mainly stays within the city and stops. The mini-buses are the same price as the public bus within the city. They will have the number of the bus on the front windshield. The price of a mini-bus to a nearby village is ¥1-5, but the starting location within the city is different for most villages. If you do not know where you want to go and are limited on time, the best option is to rent a taxi or mini-bus for the day, but the price can vary wildly from about ¥100 all the way up to ¥300. The price mainly depends on whether you can speak Chinese or not, and how comfortable you look when you try to bargain the deal.

See [ edit ]

Gucheng District [ edit ]

• 26.87267 100.23334 2 Mu Palace ( 木府; Mùfǔ ), 49 Guanyuan Lane, Guangyi Street, Gucheng District (古城区光义街官院巷49号) , ☏ +86 888 5181468 , +86 888 5122572 . 08:30-17:30 . The palace where the Mu Clan of the Naxi people ruled for over 400 years. It is a large complex that extends part way up the hill behind it. There used to be a lot of high quality paintings in the palace and finely carved wooden doors, but most were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. At the back hill of the Mu's Palace is the 'Lion Hill Scenic Area', which requires additional ¥40 entrance fee. At the top is a Daoist temple, with a few Daoists ready to give fortunes to visitors for a donation. A taste of Mulaoye Wine (木老爷酒; Mùlǎoyejiǔ), a kind of local alcohol, is available for ¥5 (in a shot glass), and there is also a free tea tasting area. Allow at least two hours explore this expansive complex and do wander off into the side courtyards as it will take you back to the main courtyards. If you are visiting Wangulou, exit the Lion Hill Park from the south exit which leads you right into the back entrance of Mu Palace. Entry fee is ¥40 (as of Mar 2019). Discounts are available for children over 1.2 metres in height and adults aged between 61 and 69. Children under 1.2 metres in height and adults aged 70 and over may enter for free . ( updated Mar 2019 )
• 26.923063 100.204618 5 Shuhe Old Town ( 束河古镇 ), Shuhe Road, Gucheng District (古城区束河路) ( About 8km north of Lijiang OId Town. Take bus no. 5a or 5b from Lijiang Old Town, bus no. 6 from Xiangshan Market or bus no. 11 from the bus station. It should take no more than 30 minutes to get there ), ☏ +86 888 5174636 (tourist hotline) . Better than Lijiang if you want a place less commercialized; a horse ride in the town is an attraction. ( updated Jan 2020 )
• 26.925601 100.203905 6 Old Tea Horse Road Museum ( 茶马古道博物馆 ), North Gate, Shuhe Old Town, Gucheng District (古城区束河古镇北门) . 07:30-17:30 . One of the main attractions in Shuhe Old Town. The museum is housed in a former Buddhist temple, which was historically known as the Dajue Temple (大觉宫) and dates back to the late Ming Dynasty. So besides the exhibitions on the Old Tea Horse Road, one can also view some old Buddhist murals. More murals from the same time period may be seen at Baisha Old Town (see below). ( updated Jan 2020 )

Yulong County [ edit ]

• 27.009452 100.260139 8 Dongba Valley ( 东巴谷 ), Yuquan Road (玉泉路) ( About 2km south of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area ), ☏ +86 888 5131705 , [email protected] . 07:00-17:00 . On your way to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you may stop by at the Dongba Valley culture center. They moved some families from other places to this village and let them live their normal lives. Such domestic scenes as the husband in a family counting change while the wife is comforting the baby or two young siblings baking cookies and selling them to visitors are common. There are live singers and instrumentalists performing at different corners. Some singers are pretty and sing well. ¥40 . ( updated Apr 2019 )
• 26.95813 100.21676 10 Baisha Murals ( 白沙壁画 ), Baisha Ancient Town (白沙古镇) ( Opposite the Baisha Town Government building ), ☏ +86 888-5137026 . 08:00-17:30 . The Buddhist murals here reflect a fusion of both Han Chinese and Tibetan painting techniques with Naxi cultural traditions. ¥30 . ( updated Sep 2018 )
• 26.95752 100.21571 11 Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute ( 白沙锦绣艺术院 ), No. 17 Group 1, Sanyuan Village, Baisha Ancient Town (白沙古镇三元村一组17号) ( opposite the post office ), ☏ +86 13095230290 , [email protected] . The Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute. It is a typical Naxi courtyard with a very nice surroundings. The mission of the institute is to save, protect, inherit and promote the Naxi traditional hand-made embroidery. It occupies 800 m² and there are many embroidery masters and students. You can try how to do hand-made embroidery there if you have time. Also you can buy some very nice embroideries there if you like.  
• 26.864067 100.140089 12 Lashihai Lake Wetland Park ( 拉市海湿地公园, Lashihai Wetland Park, Lashi Lake Wetland Park ) ( On the south side of Lashihai Lake. Take bus no. 31 or 32 from the Zhongyi Market (忠义市场) bus stop on Changshui Road on the southwest side of the old town ), ☏ +86 888 5440199 , [email protected] . 08:00-17:00 . A popular area for bird-watching, particularly during the winter months when thousands of migratory birds flock here from distant lands. You can also go horse-riding around the lake. Boating activities, however, have been banned since October 2018. ¥30 . ( updated Apr 2019 )
• 26.861637 100.100807 13 Zhiyun Monastery ( 指云寺, 指云禅寺 ), Hainan Village, Lashi Township, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County (玉龙纳西族自治县拉市乡海南村) ( Near Lashihai Lake. Take bus no. 31 from the Zhongyi Market (忠义市场) bus stop on Changshui Road on the southwest side of the old town. Get off at the final stop. ), ☏ +86 888 5158111 . 08:00-21:00 . A Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Unlike many other sights in Lijiang, the monastery has so far resisted commercialisation and sees relatively few tourists. Free . ( updated Feb 2020 )

Other counties [ edit ]

• 26.78378 100.38896 14 Gold Dragon Bridge ( Jinlong Bridge 金龙桥, Zili Bridge 梓里桥 ), Yongsheng County (永胜县) ( Take a taxi. The bridge is roughly 50km southeast of the old town ). Built between 1876 and 1880, this iron chain suspension bridge spans the Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze. It is said to be the oldest bridge on the Yangtze still in use today.  

Do [ edit ]

• 26.8772 100.232838 1 Naxi Concert Hall ( 纳西古乐会 ), 86 Mishi Lane, Xinyi Street, Gucheng District (古城区新义街密士巷86号) , ☏ +86 888 5127971 . 20:00-21:30 . Enjoy the traditional Naxi music Culture Show performed by the Naxi Orchestra, which includes some 70-90 year old men. The music itself is a combination of traditional Chinese music dating back to the Tang dynasty and local instruments and flavours. The music is well performed, however be prepared for long explanations of its musical history in Mandarin between each piece and the sometimes self-serving comments of Xuan Ke the Director. While the Naxi Ancient Music group of Lijiang is famous and well promoted, there are other excellent classical Chinese music groups playing in Lijiang's parks (for ¥10) or at weddings or housewarmings all over Yunnan. ¥120-160 .  
• Float styrofoam boats . Along the main streams are girls selling candles that float on delicate flower-shaped styrofoam boats. Tourists can purchase one, make a wish, and send their candle down the waterways. Late in the evening after groups have had significant amounts of alcohol you can see many floating candles sailing down the waterways. If you are environmentally conscious and have reservations about sending styrofoam downstream do not worry. There is a net, far down the waterway, that catches the boats. The girls just go down, pick the boats up, and re-sell them the next night. ¥10 (September 2010) .  
• Biking . Rent a bike downtown, e.g. at Ali Baba's near Mao Zedong's statue, and see the sights. Ali Baba's will give you a handmade map of smaller surrounding towns that capture the quaint styles of Lijiang without the heavy tourism and the tacky souvenir shops. There are at least three towns, ranging from converted hippy communes to remote farming villages. There is a beautiful remote Buddhist monastery at Puji Mountain which is worth the 30 minute hike. There is also a Tibetan village labeled on the map but is hard to find, so ask Ali Baba for directions. Most of the terrain around Lijiang is level and the roads have only light traffic. These small, non-touristy towns and other sightseeing destinations can be reached within a 20-minute ride. About ¥40 per day including a map .  
• Walk the canal path . To get to the Black Dragon Pool you can walk the canal path north near the main water wheel. It will take you to the south entrance of the park. The north part of the park is free and you can get there by walking around the south entrance and keep heading north. You should reach a street with the main entrance to the park. Keep going north and you will see a small bridge that leads to a large white building. The white building is the Dongba Museum, everything north of that is free. If the guards bother you at the gate, just walk back to the street and keep walking north and there will be another path to get in to the free part with no gates or guards to bother you. Further north of the park is a local college, and northwest of that is a small reservoir. The reservoir is a good place to take photos of the snow mountain when it is visible. On hot sunny days in the summer there will be lots of locals swimming there in the afternoon. At the local college you can find students to help you. The English building is the large pink one just right after you enter the south entrance. There is a student run café that is open in the evening from 18:30-22:00 in the "butterfly" building, which is opposite of the English building. As of 2007 the school had an English corner every Thursday after lunch (~13:00), and after dinner at ~17:40. The English corner is so-so, but it is a great chance to ask students about where to go, and cheap transportation. Many of them are from other places in Yunnan.  
• Visit Naxi villages . If you would like to visit some of the Naxi villages in the hills surrounding Lijiang, you can rent a small van to take you around for ¥100-300, depending on the driver and how much Chinese you speak. There are regular minivans on Shangrila Road, the main road on the west side of town, which take locals to and from the villages. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a mini-van to go back to Lijiang after 17:00 if you do not make arrangements with the driver who took you there. The regular one way mini-van fee is ¥2 to Shuhe, and ¥3-5 for villages farther north (2007). It is highly recommended to ask a student at the local college on where to find the mini-buses and the prices of the village you want to go. Many drivers will try to rip you off if you do not speak Chinese, and the buses are not always easy to find as they look the same as the private "3-8" buses that travel inside the city.  
• Impression Lijiang . A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500 m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou (director of Hero, House of Flying Daggers), Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses. However, the show does not have a plot. Tickets cost ¥190 and can be bought from the ticket booth in the Old Town (make a right at the water wheels and walk down the main street, the booth will be on your left). The ticket price does not include transportation to and from the theater (approx 1-hour drive) or the entrance fee for the park (¥80). There is also an Old Town Preservation fee that the park tries to charge as well, however, this can be avoided by claiming to have already paid at you hotel (and showing your hotel key). Bus 7 will take you to the theater for ¥10 and can be caught across from the Mao Zedong statue, but be sure to find out what time the last bus leaves the park.  
• Dry Sea Meadow ( Ganhaizi ). The closest chair lift up the mountain to Lijiang. It transports visitors to a large meadow located at 3050 m. ¥160 return .  
• Cloud Fir Meadow ( Yunshanping ). From the reception centre which is next to Impression Lijiang on the Lijiang-Daju road a fleet of buses transports visitors to a cable car. Both bus transfer and cable car costs a total of ¥110 for a return trip. From the upper terminus of the cable car a vehicle takes you to the Cloud Fir Meadow for ¥50. The view is not very spectacular which makes this trip highly overpriced.  
• Yak Meadow ( Máoniúpíng ). The furtherest from Lijiang at a distance of 60 km, this cable car, costs ¥60 for a round-trip. At an elevation of 3,500 m and the least-visited of the three chair lifts this area offers grazing yaks, a Tibetan temple and a number of hiking possibilities. On the way to the chairlift’s lower terminus the road drips down and crosses a river. A number of yaks are located here where for a fee you can sit on one. Their owners seem to have no objection to visitors taking photos for no fee of the yaks standing in the river with awesome Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background. You can also access Yak Meadow by hopping aboard bus 7 across from the Mao Zedong statue which will take you to the Impression Lijiang Theater for ¥10. At the theater there is a ticket booth to the left of the show entrance which sells tickets to both Spruce Meadow and Yak Meadow (¥80) and provides a tour bus to and from the cable cars and a cable car ticket. Be sure to find out what time the last bus passes the Impression Lijiang theater or you may find yourself calling a taxi which could be expensive. Also see "Impression Lijiang" info for entrance fees to the park.  
• Go hiking to local Naxi villages , Old Town Lijiang ( Start in old town ), ☏ +86 13769001439 . Get out of Lijiang and discover the real place, by hiking in the Lijiang valley or in the hills to temples, lakes, villages and scenic lookouts. Agencies like Lijiang Guides can arrange trips to remote villages, as well as Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lugu Lake and Baoshan stone village.  

Buy [ edit ]

Loads of tourist shops available in old town. Probably overpriced, but Lijiang does not have as many cases of the Westerner price being too much higher than the Chinese price as in many other parts of China.

• Burned wood carvings - One of the popular local specialties. Quality varies greatly by the individual artist, and prices vary by shops. Some shops do custom etchings of your face (near photo-realism) with Lijiang in the background. Expect to have your picture taken, then come back in a few hours.
• Yak horn combs - Also popular, with some combs also carved from the yak hoof (the ones with the rougher edge on the handle).
• Naxi clothing - For ¥5 you can get your picture taken in them without having to buy them. Local skirts that include designs that appear Ancient Egyptian may actually be based on pictographs that preceded Chinese characters.
• Art and writing samples (东巴; Dōngbā ) - The Naxi have the only living hieroglyphic language in the world, and shops with samples of it, or of the unique Naxi style art, are abundant.
• Yunnan Coffee - Coffee ground to a fine powder then added to water, although most contain milk and sugar powder already.
• Warm Clothing - In the Old Town warm clothing is quite expensive if you are just looking for something cheap to keep the chill out. The road just outside the town by the waterwheel has very cheap hats, mitts, and even long johns. Just turn left at the first intersection.
• Small red coconut - do not buy a small red fruit shaped like a coconut. It is just a coconut painted red and sold for a very high price. This is a scam.
• Naxi hand-made Embroidery , Baisha Village ( 12 km north of Lijiang City ), ☏ +86 13095230290 . You can find many nice Naxi hand-made embroideries in the Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute. Some of them are arts, very unbelievable, made by the famous Naxi masters.  

If you are looking for supermarket that offers fair prices, there is none in Old Town. The nearest option will be 'Dragon Life Supermarket' near the South Gate, along the southwestern part of Old Town, or 'Good Mood Supermarket' near the North entrance of Black Dragon Pool.

Eat [ edit ]

There are three primary types of restaurants in Lijiang: Naxi, Tibetan, and Sichuan. Some restaurants offer more than one type of food. Much Western food is also available, but more expensive. A bowl of noodle costs from ¥12-15 (slightly more pricier than Dali) (as of Jul 2019).

Lots of local snack-type foods available from street vendors, including:

• Baba - a flat wheatbread available; a savory version sometimes served with chili sauce and a sweeter version that tastes honey-flavored.
• Naxi style fried white cheese - A soft white cheese cut into slices then fried in a non-greasy batter. Served with sugar sprinkled on top and very delicious (only seen in restaurants).
• Yak's milk yogurt - Has a bit of a different flavor than cow's milk yogurt, but very good. Commonly served with honey, muesli, and/or fruit. Can also be made into fruit shakes.
• Fried yak meat - served on skewers.

Budget [ edit ]

If you are in the old town, it's probably better to get out to find cheap prices.

Mid-range [ edit ]

• Prague Café ( from main square take Easterly road, over a bridge, on the left(?) ). The food is good and fairly reasonably priced (given the touristy area it is in) and it has a friendly atmosphere, but the drinks are expensive. Especially green tea at ¥15/cup!  
• Country Sky , Hongye Street, Shuhe Ancient Village ( Just outside of Lijiang ), ☏ +86 888 5178132 . Serves lunch and dinner and offers vegetarian and traditional dishes at fair prices.  
• N's Kitchen , 2/F, 17 Jishan Alley, Xinyi St ( Find your way to a small square in the old town some people call the grass selling square. The place is easy to miss because it is on the second floor. The entrance is by the southern entrance to the square, across from Susan's Naxi ), ☏ +86 888 5120060 . Serves western breakfast, tasty sandwiches, monster burgers, and pizzas. Free Internet and WiFi. And they have very nice bikes for hire. You could also get lots of informations of biking and hiking here. the view from the balcony is nice and you can chill out a while.  
• Qiuyuege Restaurant , 32 Cunwen Sect, Xinhua St , ☏ +86 888 5125671 . Serves Naxi foods. Free live music and free Internet and WiFi.  
• Lijiang Gulou Restaurant ( 丽江古楼; Lìjiānggǔlóu ), 49 Yellow Hill Lower Section, Xinhua St , ☏ +86 888 5186923 . Serves Naxi and Sichuan food. The best ma-po tofu!  
• Adam Restaurant . A unique restaurant inside the old town. There is no menu in this restaurant. Adam, the owner, will only cook when the visitors come in. You only need to enjoy the food he cooks and pay the food as your convenient. It is worth trying for the food adventure.  
• Nordic Delight ( along the river path to the Black Dragon Pool ). A bakery and café with very good cheese cake and coffee. Seems closed. ¥25 for a slice of Oreo cheesecake .  

Splurge [ edit ]

Drink [ edit ].

There are a couple of local drinks worthy of special mention. Lijiang Yinjiu and Sulima (both commonly available in Lijiang) are modern renditions of ancient beer types of the Naxi and Mosuo people and far more enjoyable than the typical bland Chinese lager. Yunnan is famous for tea, as well (though Pu'er , Yunnan's best-known tea town, is way down south on the road to Xishuangbanna ) and every fourth shop is a tea shop specializing in the length and breadth of Chinese tea, the likes of which you will not find in your average Western Chinatown. See Chinese cuisine#Tea for details.

Unlike the rest of China, Lijiang's cafés and restaurants shut down around 11PM. The bars have to shut down their music at 23:30. But you can drink until you finish your alcohol. Along the canal you find find it packed with bars. It's packed with people even on rainy days. The cost for a dozen beers ranges from ¥98 at 21:00, all the way to ¥600 around 23:00. The bars along the canal are the most touristy. If you walk past Four Square street deeper into the old town you will find less touristy bars where you aren't constantly asked to buy flowers for the girls.

There are too many bars inside old town to list, but here are a few:

• Freshnam Cafe ( 68 WangJiaZhang Alley WuYi Street Lijiang, right beside Mama Naxi Guest house (5 minutes walk from si fang jie) ), ☏ +86 13578383745 . 10:00-00:00 . Western/Korean bar. Easily accessible, 5 minutes walk from old town center. In the day, it is a quiet cafe, ideal for some hot tea or smoothies. Live music starts from 20:30 every night, perfectly located away from the tourist crowds. Refreshing cocktails served at reasonable prices, definitely worth a visit. Free wifi available and even a shelf of books for your reading pleasure.  
• LMC - Lijiang Millionaire's Club , Bai Sui Qiao ( From old town square, either down Qi Yi Street and first left to Bai Sui Qiao, or go along Wu Yi street to the Big Stone Bridge, and go downstream to next stone bridge, Bai Sui Qiao. LMC is on your left, upstairs in Water Nymph cafe ), ☏ +86 13769001439 . after sunrise til late . LMC is a new cafe/bar in old town, the only one in the old town run by foreigners, and a good meeting place for travelers. Has free Wi-Fi, live music every night, film nights on Tuesdays, local and imported beers, wines from all over the world, as well as pizza, pasta and Indian meals. reasonable .  
• Stone the Crows , 134-2 Wenzhi Alley, Wuyi St, Lijiang old town ( half way along the shortcut between Wuyi st and Wen Hua Alley ), ☏ +86 13368881832 , [email protected] . 18:00 - very late . Down-to-earth Irish pub with a fine selection of drinks, pool table and big movie playing TV. It can be a little hard to find as it is located down a small quiet alley, but it is well worth doing so. Popular with both foreign tourists and locals, this is a great place to escape the busy main streets and guarantees absolutely no karaoke. The kitchen stays open until 02:00 offering snacks, burgers, pizza and to any hungry customers. ( updated Oct 2018 )
• Sweet Air ( 漫香(Man Xiang) ), 古城区 崇仁巷(饮玉巷(近振兴巷)) . This is probably the best bar in the old town that is not touristy. Once you step inside, you can tell they spent a lot of money on the renovations. There is a see through floor where the wine cellar lies below, and stone walls. They have a live band that starts playing at 21:00. They have a drummer from Africa and a bass guitarist from USA. You won't find people trying constantly sell you flowers or ice cream here. This place is hard to find, so most of the customers are regulars. You can sit at the bar counter and buy one beer, or get a table and get a dozen. Come early or their won't be any seats. ¥40 a beer, ¥480 a dozen .  

Sleep [ edit ]

Lijiang has plenty of hotels to fit all budgets and styles.

It is sometimes difficult to find specific addresses in the old town; the best option, especially in low season, is to walk around town and check out prices and rooms to see which suits you best, as there are many different options to choose from. In the winter, ensure that there is a heated mattress pad or heating in the room as the nights are quite chilly.

There are hundreds of beautiful and clean Chinese hotels not listed below. To find them it's best to ask around, or stand in the train station bus drop-off stop (East of the water-wheels central square) with a big backpack and look lost. Nice ladies will approach you: expect to get a double room for around 80Y-100Y, depending on the season.

• Enjoy Inn , No.39 Lower Ba Yi of Qi Yi street in the old town (丽江古城七一街八一下段39号) ( From the bus station it's best to take a taxi (¥7-10 approx). Taxis cannot drive into the centre but they can get you very close. Ask the driver to take you to the 'first middle school of Lijiang' (丽江市第一中学) then walk straight into old town along the quaint Chinese street with the stream on your right and various dumpling restaurants on your left. Enjoy inn will be on your left after 300 meters - just at the end when the road swings right with the make-shift football pitch on your left. ), ☏ +86 13688766022 (English or Chinese) . Really charming little place situated on a very Chinese street with food vendors in the morning and some nice little dumpling houses. Easy walking distance to centre in a much nicer and less hectic part of the town. Lovely communal open-air courtyard to relax in. Run by Joy who speaks very good English and is extremely helpful. A tea-enthusiast who is happy to share her stash over a chat and is very happy to point you in the right direction if you're interested in buying some. Knows a lot about the area and very happy to help. Wifi throughout, computers available, hot water etc. Single room/twin room shared bathroom ¥40/¥70, double bed private bathroom ¥160, family suite ¥360 .  
• Happiness Inn , Lijiang old town, Xin Hua Street Huang Shan Shang Duan ( Easy to find. Coming from the waterwheel on Dong Da Jie, go to Sifang square and turn right up the hill at the end of the square. The Inn is on the left about 5 minutes up the hill. ), ☏ +86 15987932280 (English OK), +86 888-8897356 (Chinese only) , [email protected] . Cute, quiet inn near the top of the hill. Run by very a friendly English-speaking young woman who goes out of her way to help guests with exploring the town and surroundings and often invites guests for communal meals. ¥80-120 .  
• Long time no see Guesthouse (in Chinese: 好久不见) , Old City, five one street, Vincent lane No. 46 ( It is in the outer part of the old town area. You have to pass first the Garden Inn and the Panba Hostels on the Wenming Lane, Wuyi Street, Old-Town District, Lijiang. On the next crossroads behind the Panba turn right and after 15 meters you will see it on the left side ), ☏ +86 18636153997 , +86 1533440 8870 , +86 182 8885 7737 , +86 888 5390 1114 , [email protected] . Check-in: almost anytime . Very nice and very beautiful guesthouse with a very friendly woman, who is the owner. It is in the outer part of the Old City in a very quiet area. The house is older than 100 years, but completely renovated. The rooms are clean and big, the free wi-fi is very fast, the beds are in very good condition and the bathrooms are almost perfect. The laundry is for free and sometimes some friends of the owner come to cook for the people in this guesthouse. All rooms have flatscreens with satellite-TV. If you want something really good for your money, then you should go there! Double and twin rooms for around ¥100, very big room for about ¥160 .  
• TianYiJiao 天一角 , 束河古镇街尾村88号 ( in ShuHe village, on SiFangJie main road, take the small road left of Le Petit Paris about 100 m, turn right and walk 50 m ), ☏ +86 13758815544 . Guesthouse, beautifully furnished, with open air courtyard. Free Wi-Fi, public kitchen, free washing machine. Areas for chatting, drinking tea and beer. Rooms have ancient Chinese locks. Owner Mr Wen doesn't speak English, but has travelled all over China, and each night happily shares tea with guests. Double rooms from ¥150 .  
• After Sunday Guest House ( In ancient Shuhe Village outside of town, just follow Hongye road past the little pond and you will see it on your left ). Quiet and the people who run it are friendly. Double ensuite ¥60 per night in low season .  
• Be With Me Inn ( in ancient Shuhe Village outside of town, on a side lane off a street with no name that is referred to as the bar street and meanders along one of the main streams that crisscross the town, it is 5-minute walk from Laosifang Street (the old square) ), ☏ +86 13708822910 , [email protected] . Another wonderful option is this charming inn. The owner is a young woman who speaks little English, but is extra accommodating and provides a wonderful service.  
• Dongba House ( 东巴豪斯客栈; Dōngbā Háosī Kèzhàn; formerly called the MCA Guesthouse, or MCA Dongba House Holiday Inn ), 16 Jishan Lane, Xinyi Street, Lijiang Old Town (古城区新义街积善巷16号; Gǔchéngqū Xīnyìjiē Jīshànxiàng) , ☏ +86 888 5175431 , fax : +86 888 5175431 . In a traditional Naxi courtyard house. Cheap but clean. The restaurant has a great view of the old town below. Free internet and free wireless available. Dorms ¥20-30, doubles ¥50 .  
• 26.87699 100.23908 1 [dead link] Garden Inn ( May's Garden Inn ), 7 Wenming Lane, Wuyi Street, Old Town District, Lijiang, Yunnan ( on the east side of Lijiang old town, a few minutes walk from the center of the old town (Sifang Square) ), ☏ +86 888 889 7829 , [email protected] . Check-out: 12:00 . Beautiful views of the mountains and valleys below. Rooms are comfortable and clean (dorms bed aren't comfortable and not safe, piece of wood which support the mattress was moving). Great atmosphere and wonderful staff that go out of their way to make sure your experience in Lijiang is a special one. Free Internet. Staff can organize trips: Lijiang to Qiaotou ¥35; Lijiang to Lige island ¥80 one way. Many more trips on request. Airportshuttle if you order in advance ¥80. Dorms from ¥40 (updated July 2012), standard rooms from ¥120 and luxury rooms from ¥100 .  
• International Youth Hostel ( 丽江老谢车马店青年旅舍 ), 25 Jishan Alley, Xinyi Street, Old Town , ☏ +86 888 5116118 , +86 888 5102345 , [email protected] .  
• [dead link] K2 International Youth Hostel , 1 Guailiu Lane, Kangpu Road, Shuhe Old Town , ☏ +86 888 5130110 , fax : +86 888 5130115 , [email protected] . ¥120-160 .  
• Luminn ( 留名客栈; Liú​míng​ Kè​zhàn​ ), Qiyi Street, Xingwen Alley, Lijiang Old Town , ☏ +86 888 5128707 , +86 13108889313 . Guesthouse started by a Chinese young couple who both graduated as English majors. There are 10 guestrooms with clean and big bathrooms and big comfortable beds. There is a bar upstairs and a big kitchen and dining room downstairs. Free washing machine available. ¥70 .  
• Mama Naxi's Guesthouse , 78 Wenhua Lane, Wuyi St ( telephone upon arrival and they will send someone to guide you ), ☏ +86 888 8881012 , +86 888 5185930 . Excellent friendly guesthouse south of the old town. This is an excellent place to share rides with others. Mama not only provides large communal meals (at 18:30, ¥25) but can arrange transport in minivans. Free internet and WiFi. Fairly clean and fun budget guesthouse that is a favorite for young backpackers. Dorms ¥25, double from ¥80 . ( updated Feb 2019 )
• Old Cattle Hotel ( from the bus station take the road opposite, turn left up a stone-paved road beside a stone stream, take a left at the top, and you will be in the old town, the hotel will be on the left ). Inside a traditional courtyard building. A bit cold in the rooms in winter, but have lots of bed covers. Doubles ensuite ¥50 (2005) .  
• The Yuegulou Inn ( In the golden region of Lijiang Old Downtown ), ☏ +86 888 5125671 , +86 888 8885211 , +86 13187791705 , fax : +86 888 5121181 , [email protected] . A historical cultural hotel in Naxi-style, offers 32 standard rooms at various price points. Free internet is provided in most rooms. They provide free airport pickup or dropoff if you stay two or more days. Other facilities include free washing machine, in room phones, flat screen TVs in some rooms and electric blankets. ¥100-360 .  
• Story Inn , 166 Bayi Xia Section, Qiyi St , ☏ +86 15887565098 . A nice and very friendly inn in the southern part of the Old City. Very helpful staff, quiet, area, free Wi-Fi in the room, simple breakfast (included in the rate) in the courtyard. Laundry available, if you ask nicely. Rooms equipped with TV, kettle and in-built radiotor heater and heating blankets. As you arrive in Qiyi Street, give them a call to pick you up. The place is not easy to find, but worth it! Double and Twin Rooms for around ¥150 .  
• Baisui Inn ( 百岁桥客栈 ), 25 Baisui Fang, Xingyi Street, Lijiang Old Town , ☏ +86 13688766252 , [email protected] . A 300-year-old Naxi traditional house renewed in 2004 with a pebble cobbled courtyard surrounded by three wooden buildings. The owner Mrs Ho has been living in the old town since she born. As the old Naxi saying says: one Naxi lady equals to 8 horses, the poor lady works all day long in the Inn. The inn is very peaceful, quiet, and good location. Haba is a guide who speaks very good English and Japanese. He is a nephew of Mrs Ho, assists Mrs Ho in the inn most of the days.  
• Bruce Chalet (纳西明珠渡假居) , Ronghua Road, Shuhe Old Town, Gucheng District , ☏ +86 888 5188784 , [email protected] . Charming guesthouse with an open courtyard and view of the Jade Dragon Mountain. Clean and tidy, each room has a Western toilet, heated mattress, and flat-screen TV; some rooms also have a balcony view of the mountain. There is also free wifi, spring water, and computer access in the common room. Breakfast is available for ¥10 and there is self service laundry for ¥10/load. The owner speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese and can help you organize tours, trips, and arrange a car/driver. 7-10 minutes walking from Shuhe Old Town, this guesthouse is ideal for travelers looking to escape the touristy parts of town and want to just relax. ¥170-450 .  
• Lijiang Sina Hotel 新纳大酒店 , 中国云南丽江古城七一街崇仁巷96号 ( No. 96, ChongRen Alley, QiYi Street, LiJiang Old Town ), ☏ +86 13769004122 , [email protected] . Lijiang Sina Hotel is in the famous "World Cultural Heritage" – inside the old town of Lijiang City. Accessing the hotel by the South Gate, its architectural structure is rich in art and also follows the traditional "Naxi" dwelling and is owned and managed by Emperor Resorts International Pte Ltd, Singapore. For info - Facebook Page - Lijiang Sina Hotel 新纳大酒店  
• Lijiang Tianlun Guesthouse ( close to the main street ), ☏ +86 10 65187710-110 , +86 13401175525 , fax : +86 10 65187712 , [email protected] , MSN:[email protected] MULTIPLE-EMAIL . A traditional building of Naxi culture. Opened in 2008, with 24-hour hot water and good English service, kitchen, book bar, tour guidance, Naxi breakfast, airport pick-up. Different type rooms are available. ¥180-560 .  
• Moon Inn , Wuyi Road, Dayan ( In the old town ), ☏ +86 888 5180520 , +86 888 6661073 . A delightful, upmarket hotel. Surrounding an open air courtyard the 10 double and twin rooms all have ensuite bathroom and Western toilet. Some have marvellous views over rooftops to the mountains. At night, as the roofs come alive in coloured lights, the effect is spectacular. The Li family run the hotel, and offer a computer with internet connection in the lobby, laundry and meals. Listed rates from ¥400, discounted from ¥200 .  
• New Senlong Hotel , Minzhu Road, Lijiang Old Town . Four-star traditional Naxi palace-style hotel that is adjacent to Ancient Town. Inside the hotel’s traditional setting, modern facilities and services can be enjoyed. Amenities include 214 deluxe guestrooms, The Mushroom King restaurant, KTV, spa, and roof garden to name a few. Guaranteed online reservation is available. Listed rates from ¥1,080, discounted from ¥360 .  
• 26.87377 100.241783 2 Hidden Garden , No. 46 Wenming Alley, Yishang Street (Wuyi Str.) Old Town District 674100 Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( get a taxi to Beimen Po Gucheng guan li ju (北门坡 古城 管理局). When you get off the taxi you are at the northside of the old town. Walk down the old cobble street then turn left after 25 meters. After 50 meters this alley ends, you turn left. Follow the street for 120 meters, turn right. The Hidden Garden is situated after 40 meters on the left hand side. ), ☏ +86-888-5301116 , [email protected] . Check-in: 12:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Hidden Garden Lijiang is the newest small scale (10 room) guesthouse tucked away in the narrow alleys of Lijiang Old Town. The hostel is located in the upper north eastern parts of the Old Town, just outside the crowds and noise of the center. The old Naxi style house has the ancient look and feel, with modern facilities. There is a peaceful garden, a relaxing and quiet place to hang out, have a coffee, or discuss your travel itinerary with the multilingual staff. Listed rates from ¥228 .  
• [dead link] Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa , ☏ +86-0888-5300111 , [email protected] . Shuhe Road, Shuhe Old Town. Possibly the most comfortable place to be in Lijiang is here, with rooms starting at ¥1,400 per night and villas starting at ¥2,400 per night (as of Sept 2011). The interiors are of contemporary Chinese design, reflecting Naxi architecture and style. Amenities include new 42” LCD TV and sliding doors for washrooms. For cuisine, there is fine international cuisine, with local Chinese food in their restaurant. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain backdrops the resort. Water is free and transportation is well. The hotel is about 7 minutes away from Shuhe Ancient Town.  
• Banyan Tree, Lijiang , ☏ +86-888-5331111 . Yuerong Road, Shuhe Old Town. For those with deep pockets the Banyan Tree Lijiang is possibly one of the world's nicest hotels with rooms from ¥3,000 per night (price of Apr 2008). Placed way out in the middle of farmland, this hotel is quiet, peaceful, and from afar looks like a fortress village. The "rooms" are small villas built in traditional farmhouse architecture, comprising of a bath, study and bedroom with a direct view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a private garden, patio, and an outdoor jacuzzi. The food here is mediocre but the prices are comparable to the touristy parts of the old town with meals costing ¥30-40. However the water is outrageously expensive with a bottle of Perrier setting you back a staggering ¥45, making it more expensive than a glass of wine (¥38). A taxi is required to get to and from the hotel (¥10-15 to the old town) (Nov 2006). This hotel is quite far from the center of Lijiang city.  
• Guanfang Hotel . Although not in the old town (it's in the new city), you can get a taxi ride from this hotel to the old town's entrance for a reasonable fee (less than ¥10). Guanfang hotel is part of a hotel chain owned by a Yunnanese hotelier group - it has "Guanfang hotels" in other cities in Yunnan province. The Lijiang Guanfang hotel is built to a resort (bungalow) style. The hotel ground area is very big and you have to walk quite a distance from the hotel lobby to your assigned bungalow (containing a number of rooms). But the rooms are pretty spacious and it's beautifully set and are between 4-5 stars.
• Hotel Indigo Lijiang
• InterContinental Hefu Lijiang

Stay safe [ edit ]

The smaller streets in the old town are reported not to be safe at night. Do not walk alone.

As the city lies at the foot of the Himalayas, you may be susceptible to high altitude sickness, especially if you go visit the 3,000 m-high mountains in the area.

Go next [ edit ]

Lijiang is on a popular route described at Yunnan tourist trail . Other major towns along that route are:

• Dali , next main city south. There is a direct bus to Xiaguan, Dali new town. You need to take another bus to Dali ancient city. There is also a direct bus from Lijiang to Dali ancient city; ask your hotel or a tour agent to book the ticket. All of the Lijiang buses pass the Dali old town on the way to Xiaguan. Just tell the driver to drop you off in Dali.
• Shangrila , next main city north. It is ¥60 from Lijiang to Shangrila by express bus. about 4-hr trip, bus every hour.

Both Dali and Shangri-la can also be reached by train. The train trip to Dali is 2½ hours while the trip to Shangri-la takes about 1½ hours.

Other places in the region include:

• Shaxi , between Lijiang and Dali. Unexploited ancient town unlike Lijiang, is less visited by tourists, but is more popular than it was in the past. As of 2024, it’s possible to get a direct bus to Shaxi from Lijiang’s main bus terminal, so it’s no longer necessary to change buses in the county seat of Jianchuan County.
• Lugu Lake , north of Lijiang near the Sichuan border, direct bus from Lijiang. As of 2010, the road was under construction and very rough, more than seven hours of rough ride. Presumably construction is now complete, so travel should require about four hours and be reasonably comfortable.

Lijiang is also a jumping off spot for treks; see Tiger Leaping Gorge (quite nearby) and Three parallel rivers (more of an expedition).

• Qiaotou for Tiger Leaping Gorge - regular bus services are available from the main bus station. You can also take any Shangrila bound bus and have the driver drop you off at Qiaotou. Costs about ¥25. If you take a Shangrila bus, make sure to ask for the ticket to Qiaotou only, otherwise they will charge you the full fare to Shangrila.
• For the Three parallel rivers region you will need a guide (readily available in either Lijiang or Shangrila), equipment, and at least a week.

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Rachel Meets China

A Guide to Visiting Lijiang in the Yunnan Province

With winding streets filled with colorful umbrellas and glowing lanterns, Lijiang feels like a dream! Located in the northern Yunnan Province, Lijiang is a fantastic destination to visit if you want to experience local Yunnan culture and cuisine. It’s also a great in-between stop if you plan to travel to other places in Yunnan like Shangri-la and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Before visiting Lijiang I had just traveled to two small Chinese villages – Furong in the Hunan Province and Xijiang in the Guizhou Province – so Lijiang was a nice place to relax, shop, and enjoy beautiful rooftop views!

Where To Stay in Lijiang

The main attraction of Lijiang is the Lijiang Old Town, so it is best to stay near that area of the city. You can either stay inside the old town itself, or the area right outside of it. If you stay outside the old town I recommend staying near the north gate, where there are lots of shops and restaurants conveniently located nearby. The southern part of the old town is not as active and has less to do.

I stayed outside the north gate in a boutique hotel I found on Trip.com. It was a great deal (about 70 RMB) for a large room that was just a 10 minute walk to the Old Town gate.

If you do choose to stay inside the Old Town, just keep in mind that cars cannot drive inside so you’ll have to carry your luggage through. Many people stay outside the Old Town for one night if they are coming late from the airport or train station, and then move to a hotel inside the old town the next day so they can find their hotel more easily inside in the daylight. The Old Town is a bit of a maze when you’re going through for the first time!

Things To Do in Lijiang

Lijiang old town.

The old town is a maze of alleys and wooden shops, selling everything from Yunnan snacks to dresses and drums. The Old Town itself is pretty big, and you can wander for hours around to find new shops.

Also this is where those umbrellas are that everyone takes their Lijiang photos in front of. Did you even go to Lijiang if you didn’t take a photo in front of the umbrellas? 😉

Black Jade Dragon Pool

This famous site is a close 15 minute walk north from the Lijiang old town gate. It costs 50 RMB to get inside, and your ticket is valid for a month. On a clear day you can see the beautiful jade snow mountain in the background. Unfortunately it was foggy when I went, but still very pretty!

Find A Rooftop

Cafes and restaurants in Lijiang Old Town have great views! I recommend walking up towards Lion Hill for good coffee shops that have nice views over the city. I went to several different coffee shops (sometimes twice a day) to see the different views. You can never have enough coffee on a rooftop!

While walking around I also passed a hotel with a great little orb to sit in and take photos! 

Unfortunately you had to be a guest staying there to take photos, so I found a different restaurant with another orb like it. It was nice during the day, but especially beautiful at night!

Visit Jade Snow Mountain

This scenic area is north of Lijiang and you can take a van or hire a driver to take you. The area has three attractions – the Blue Moon Valley, Yak Meadow, and the Jade Snow Mountain itself. There are various buses and cable cars that will take you where you need to go. I just went to the Blue Moon Valley and it was lovely! Unfortunately it started raining when I was there, but I still had a nice time. It’s a popular place for people to take wedding photos, and they have Yaks there that you can take photos with.

Other Things To Do In Lijiang

• Rent a bike to Shuhe Village: I didn’t actually do this, but heard it’s lovely. I had just traveled to several villages in other places and preferred to spend my time in Lijiang Old Town, but if you have more time this is a nice day excursion.
• Elephant Hill:  The Elephant Hill is a mountain you can hike inside Black Jade Dragon Pool area. Unfortunately they have a rule that you need 4 people to go at a time for safety. I waited and chatted with the security guard for awhile but decided to go back and explore more of Lijiang Old Town instead. I was going to Tiger Leaping Gorge soon so I knew I’d get those mountain views in.

Travel to Lijiang in the Yunnan Province

Overall, I found Lijiang very charming and worth a trip to see. I didn’t stay long –  just for one day before going to Tiger Leaping Gorge, and one day coming back from Shangri-La. For me that was the perfect amount of time to see what I wanted.

There are people who recommend staying longer and doing day trips to the surrounding areas, so it depends on what you’d like to do and how much time you have. Some people say Lijiang is too touristy now, but I still think it’s a fun place to spend time in while exploring Yunnan. It’s a fun flavor of China mixed with something else!

Check out my other adventures in Yunnan:

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Beautiful photos! It sounds like a great place to visit.

Beautiful, and colorful! ALWAYS informative.

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Lijiang (丽江) travel guide: discover the top things to do

• April 10, 2024

Lijiang (丽江) is one of the most popular destinations in Yunnan. In this guide, you’ll find all the info you need to organize a trip to this ancient Chinese city and the nearby attractions.

If you read my blog, it’s quite clear that Yunnan is my favorite province in China : it’s an incredibly diverse place ( here is my travel guide to Yunnan ).

In this article, I talk about one of the most famous places in Yunnan: Lijiang. It is a city with a millenary history, historically busy with traders and tourists. Maybe you have never heard of it, but Lijiang is one of the most visited cities throughout China.

As you can imagine, it is a place that is incredibly crowded at certain times of the year. Despite what many say, Lijiang has not become touristic in recent times; it has always been very busy! Due to its position on the Tea Horse Road Lijiang has been very popular over the last few centuries.

How to get to Lijiang

Since Lijiang is a very popular destination, getting there is not difficult.

• You can fly to Lijiang from most of the main cities in China.
• You can take a train (fast or regular) from Kunming ( you can book it on Trip.com )
• Finally, you can take a bus from Kunming.

The best way to get to Lijiang from Kunming (here is my travel guide) is by fast train. Once you get to Lijiang, don’t take the taxis waiting for tourists outside the train station. They are overpriced. Take one of the buses outside the train station instead: you’ll get to Old Town for only 3 RMB.

Top things to do and to see in Lijiang and the surroundings

One thing to remember is that Lijian is divided into the modern part and the Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Fortunately, you no longer need to pay 80RMB per person to visit the Old Town . But you still do if you also want to visit the Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭).

Lijiang is famous for the architecture of the buildings designed following the Naxi (one of the Chinese ethnic minorities) traditions, as you can see in the picture above.

In this picture, you can see a Mosuo woman. This ethnic group is famous because it’s a matriarchal society, meaning that women often head the house, inheritance is through the female line, and women make business decisions. Read more info here.

The best time to photograph Lijiang is before sunrise. The city is empty, and it will be all for you.

The old town is not very big and a few days is enough to visit it. Ideally, use Lijiang to make some excursions nearby, including the other three old towns in the area: Baisha, Shuhe, and Yuhu.

If you plan to stay a bit longer in Lijiang, these are some places you can visit that are not too far away.

Yulong or Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山

This national park is one of the highlights of the area, and if it’s a sunny day, you’ll probably notice the iconic peak of the mountain while visiting Lijiang.

I wrote a detailed guide with all the info you need to visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Don’t miss it.

Blue Moon Valley 蓝月谷

The Blue Moon Valley is one area you can visit inside the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Park. It’s famous for the pristine crystal-clear water that comes directly from the glacier.

The area is very popular, so if possible, head there early in the morning before the tourists from Lijiang arrive.

Here, you can find my complete guide on how to visit the Blue Moon Valley.

Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡

Another nice trip from Lijiang is to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. At a maximum depth of approximately 3,790 meters (12,434 feet) from the river to the mountain peak, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world’s deepest and most spectacular river canyons. The people living in the area are mainly Naxi.

A short interesting day trip from Lijiang is to Shigu, just a couple of hours away, and a good place for hiking with a majestic view of the Yangtze River.

Check my article for a detailed guide on how to visit Shigu.

The old town of Shuhe 束河

When you hear people talking about Lijiang and its Old Town, they generally refer to Gǔchéng (古城), but that’s not the only Old Town in Lijiang.

There is another Old Town called Shuhe (束河). This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fewer tourists and smaller than Lijiang Old Town. Shuhe is very beautiful, as you can see in the picture above, and, though similar to Lijiang, it has more canals, and the water is crystal clear.

Baisha Old Town 白沙

Probably the last hidden gem in the area, Baisha is becoming increasingly popular among people who visit Lijiang but try to avoid the crowds.

Baisha is a lovely small ancient town, just a 20-minute ride from Lijiang, filled with cute coffee shops. It’s definitely worth a trip before it becomes too crowded.

Check out my travel guide to Baisha.

Yuhu Village 玉湖村

Yuhu is a beautiful village in the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park. Unlike in Lijiang, people are actually living there, and you won’t find many tourists. This was the home of the Austrian explorer Joseph Rock , the first Western to write extensive literature about the Naxi people. In Yuhu, you can explore a small museum built inside his former residence.

A visit to Shangri-La 香格里拉

Lijiang is the ideal starting point to visit Shangri-La, a Tibetan town easily reached by bus or high-speed train. The original old town completely destroyed in a fire in 2014, but it has since been rebuilt. If you don’t have the chance to visit Tibet , this is a cheaper option to witness some Tibetan culture.

Here you can find my travel guide to Shangri-La.

Lugu Lake is now conveniently connected to Lijiang via a new road, and it takes about 3 hours to get there. The lake is truly beautiful, but what makes this place so unique is the local Mosuo minority, one of the last matriarchal societies in the world. I definitely recommend it.

After your trip to Lijiang, you might want to continue exploring this part of Yunnan by visiting Dali Old Town and Shaxi Old Town.

Where to stay in Lijiang

Although Lijiang is so popular, it is possible to spend very little money on accommodation. Hostels start from 5€ per night, but there are hotels and guest houses for all tastes and budgets. When organizing your trip to China, I recommend using Trip.com because it has more options than Booking.com.

If you don’t want to book a room in a fancy hotel, remember that the beds in regular hotels and guest houses are all very hard, and the rooms don’t have any heating system, even if Lijiang can be relatively cold at night. All rooms have electric blankets, though.

The funny thing is that in China, those who design the rooms think separating the bathroom and the bedroom is not that important, so you’ll often find a glass.

One last tip: you can ask for a discount on the room price if you are in a guest house. If they ask you for 150RMB, try to get the price down to 120/130RMB.

In addition to the information I have written, remember this:

• Lijiang is on a plateau at an altitude of 2400 meters, so the sun is very strong. Remember to bring sunscreen lotion.
• Don’t forget to visit the Black Dragon Pool outside the Old Town.
• Don’t forget to visit the other Old Town: Shuhe.
• Before visiting China, get a VPN. If you don’t have one, you won’t be able to use Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc…
• The weather is quite pleasant year-round and never too cold or hot. However, it is better to avoid the months from May to October because it’s the rainy season and all holidays, such as Chinese New Year.
• On Momondo , you can find some discounted flights to China.
• Here’s the complete travel guide to China .

If you have other questions, please feel free to ask. Here you can find some more pictures I took in China. Here is an article about a place that is not very popular among tourists: the beautiful Jiuxiang caves.

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6 thoughts on “lijiang (丽江) travel guide: discover the top things to do”.

Great post! I’m excited to explore Lijiang now. This post has helped me plan my itineraries. Thanks!

Glad it helped!

Great post! I don’t see a date for the posting though. Is Shangri-la still basically just a construction site? I was hoping to travel there this summer, flying into Lijiang and then also visit and fly out of Shangri-la.Thx!

Hi. It should be completed now. I visited the city about 2 years ago. Next year there is also a new fast train connecting Lijiang to Shangri-La.

Oh, I love your photos. They look authentic but still charming, completely different from other travel bloggers. Thanks so much for your sharing!

Thanks a lot!

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• Lijiang Ancient Town

• Lijiang Ancient Town Overview

Chinese Name : 丽江古城 English IPA : Lijiang Ancient Town Location : Ancient Town District, Lijiang City Population (city) : 25279 Language : Naxi Language, Yunnan Dialect Zip code : Tel code : Time zone :

Lijiang old Town is officially called “Dayan Town”, “Dayan” literally means a “great ink stab”, a graphic description of the town’s location on a piece of rich flatland fed by a river and surrounded by green mountains. It is a well-preserved Naxi ancient town, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make it one of the most popular travel destination in China. 

Highlights:

▪ Three Parts of the Old Town of Lijiang:   Dayan Old Town, Baisha Old Town and Shuhe Old Town. The three ancient districts retain a special character of old Naxi and Han construction and Naxi customs, arts and culture.

▪  Style of Architecture:  Due to  the combination of the multinational culture and the progress of Naxi ethnic minority, the buildings here incorporate the best parts of the architectural traits of Han, Bai, and Tibet into a unique Naxi style. 

▪ Naxi Culture:  The ancient traditional culture of the Naxi ethnic group is the Dongba culture, which is based on the Dongba Religion. 

Other Destinations in Lijiang

• Baisha Ancient Town
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Shuhe Ancient Town
• Baoshan Stone Town
• Lashihai Lake
• Yongsheng County
• Ninglang County
• Yulong County
• Gucheng District
• Yuhu Village
• Huaping County
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Liming Town
• Lijiang Ancient Town Attractions

Lijiang Ancient Town Attractions mainly lists the top attractions, such as Bar Street, Mu’s Residence, Wangu Tower, etc. This part, Yunnan Exploration mainly introduces some of the famous attractions for you to help you find your own way to explore its grand natural view, peaceful ancient towns and time-honored architectures. What's more, Lijiang Ancient Town features wide cobbled streets ambling over stone bridges and waterwheel-driven canals filled with huge goldfish and lined with shops, cafes and bars. You can not only explore the amazing [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Attractions >>

• Lijiang Ancient Town Tours

Lijiang Ancient Town Tours not only allow you to go through the surrounding attractions by taking a stroll around the ancient town, enjoying natural views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and going for a hike along Tiger Leaping Gorge, but also make it possible to get around the top attractions in Dali and Shangri-La. Yunnan Exploration offers you the most classic tour of Lijiang Ancient Town. Lijiang Ancient Town is a famous tourist destination for its ancient town, spectacular natural [...]

• More City Tours Including Lijiang Ancient Town >>
• All Tours Including Lijiang Ancient Town >>

Climate & When to Go

The weather of Lijiang Old Town is generally mild, with abundant rainfall in the monsoon period and plenty of sunshine throughout a year. It has an average temperature around 12.6 °C without great changes in the four seasons. But like all highland areas that are bordered by mountains, the weather can change several times in a single day. The rainy season is from June to October, with the heaviest and most recurrent rainfall periods occurring during July and August. Any time during the year is suitable for [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Climate & When to Go >>

Transportation

Lijiang Old Town is located in Ancient Town District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province on Yungui Plateau, at an altitude of 2400 meters. This ancient town is adjacent to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Ancient Town and Baisha Old Town. It Lies between Dali and Shangri-La and it’s convenient for you to transfer to Dali or Shangri-La.  How to get to Lijiang Ancient Town From Kunming By Bus: You can take a bus to get there. Here is the bus schedule. It takes 7-9 hours, so it’s [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Transportation >>

• Festivals and Activities

Lijiang Old Town was built during the late Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), making it enjoy 800 years history. There are about 4,200 original families living in the old town today. Dozens of minorities inhabit in Lijiang Old Town with Naxi Group as the major population. As a result of the combination of the multinational culture and the progress of Naxi ethnic minority, Lijiang Old Town display its charm with unique festivals and brilliant culture. Go through a list of the festivals. 1.San Duo [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Festivals and Activities >>

Travel Tips

‣ Money Exchange You can use cash and your passport to exchange for Chinese Yuan in every branch of Bank of China without fees charged. And 17 kinds of currency are supported, such as English pound, US dollar, Singapore dollar, Euro and so on. • Branch Office in Gucheng District(Address: 42 Yuyuan Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang) • Xianggeli Branch Office(Address: 9 Qixing Street, Gucheng District, Lijiang) • Branch Office in Fuhui Road(Address: 581, 583 Fuhui Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang) • Lijiang Branch Office(Address: Changshui Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang) ‣ Useful Numbers • Fire: 119   [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Travel Tips >>

Useful Maps

Lijiang Old Town is located in Ancient Town District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province on Yungui Plateau, at an altitude of 2400 meters. This ancient town is adjacent to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Ancient Town and Baisha Old Town. It Lies between Dali and Shangri-La and it’s convenient for you to transfer to Dali or Shangri-La. Go through the maps below and get a better acquaintance about Lijiang Old Town. [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Useful Maps >>

• Lijiang Ancient Town Accommodation

The hotels in Lijiang Old Town include luxury 5-star hotels, comfortable 4-star hotels, budget hostels. They share good location with many incredible ethnic restaurants, stores, bars, cafes and attractions. The antique ethnic buildings offer you a special experience and a comfortable stay. Read through our accommodation list and pick the right one for yourself. You're sure to find just what you need. 1.Inter Continental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort(丽江和府洲际度假酒店) Located in the southern of Lijiang Old Town, the InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort is the international five-star [...]

More Lijiang Ancient Town Accommodation >>

Other Hot Destinations in China

• Bingzhongluo
• Dali Ancient Town
• Dongchuan Red Land
• Dulongjiang
• Haba Snow Mountain
• Heshun Ancient Town
• Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
• Meili Snow Mountain
• Shuanglang Town
• Stone Forest
• Three Parallel Rivers
• Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

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Lijiang Ancient Town Travel Guide

Things to do.

• Lijiang Ancient Town Shopping
• Lijiang Ancient Town Culture

Travel Information

• Lijiang Ancient Town Travel Tips
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• Lijiang Ancient Town Education
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Tips Before Travel

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Don't assume you're restricted to the main hubs of Beijing and Shanghai, our tours can start from any city.

Register with your embassy

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Always have local cash

Exchange some local currency for your trip

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Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once enquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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Lijiang Travel Guide

• Travel Guide

General Information

Lijiang is the home to the Naxi people who have been preserving their culture from generation to generation. You can have a chance to visit their traditional Han-styled houses and listen to their 500-year-old folk music performances. Lijiang’s central area is divided into the new town and the historic Old Town of Lijiang is the most sought-after attraction of this city. It used to be China’s important goods distribution.

Panoramic view of Lijiang

In this Lijiang travel guide, we’ll provide you with essential information about climate, the best places to visit, activities to do, etc. Follow it to prepare for a perfect trip to China !

Climate and Best Time to Visit Lijiang

Lijiang has a highland subtropical monsoon climate due to its location at a relatively high altitude. The climate is characterized by mild temperatures, abundant sunshine, and distinct seasonal variations.

• Spring (From March to May): During this time, Lijiang is generally mild and pleasant. The temperatures gradually rise during this season, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. However, it can still be quite chilly at night and also brings occasional rain showers.
• Summer (From June to August): Lijiang experiences a relatively cool summer compared to many other parts of China. The average daytime temperatures range from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. While it can get warm during the day, the nights remain cool and refreshing. Summer is also the rainy season in Lijiang, with frequent showers and occasional thunderstorms. The rainfall contributes to the lush greenery and beautiful landscapes of the region.
• Autumn (From September to November): Autumn is considered the best time to visit Lijiang due to its mild and comfortable weather. The temperatures start to cool down, and the average daytime temperatures range from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. The skies are generally clear, and the scenery is at its most picturesque, with colorful autumn foliage adding to the charm of the region.
• Winter (From December to February): This season in Lijiang is chilly, but not extremely cold. The average daytime temperatures range from 7 to 12 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. While snowfall is not very common in Lijiang’s urban areas, the nearby mountains, including Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, are often covered in snow, creating a stunning winter landscape.

The climate of Lijiang

Due to its geographical position, Lijiang has cooler summers and warmer winters than the North of China. This city receives a higher amount of rainfall in summer and it may rain heavily. Thus, the best times to visit Lijiang are in Spring and Autumn, but if you desire to see the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, don’t forget to come to Lijiang in Winter.

Getting to Lijiang

The plane is the most convenient mean of transport to get to Lijiang from other countries or regions of China. The nearest airport to Lijiang is Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) . It has direct flights connecting to major cities in China, including Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou, Chengdu , and Kunming. Once you arrive at the airport, you can take a taxi or airport shuttle bus to the city center of Lijiang.

Lijiang Sanyi Airport

The train is also another way to travel to Lijiang, but it is not very popular among tourists. In fact, Lijiang doesn’t have a train station within the city, so you must reach Lijiang by train via the neighboring city of Kunming. From Kunming, you can take a high-speed train or a regular train to Lijiang. The distance from Kunming to Lijiang is also relatively long, it takes approximately 3 to 6 hours to travel by train, depending on the type of train.

Lijiang is well-connected to nearby cities and towns by bus services. There are long-distance buses available from major cities in Yunnan Province, such as Kunming, Dali, and Shangri-La. The bus journey durations vary depending on the distance, but it can take several hours to reach Lijiang from these cities.

If you prefer a more flexible mode of transportation, you can also consider renting a car or hiring a private driver to travel to Lijiang. The roads leading to Lijiang are generally in good condition, and you can enjoy the scenic drive through the mountains of Yunnan Province. However, it’s important to note that you may require a Chinese driving license or an international driving permit to drive legally in China.

Getting around Lijiang

The Old Town is the main tourist area in Lijiang, where you can get around on foot. The town is pedestrian-friendly, with narrow streets, stone pathways, and canals. Walking allows you to fully immerse yourself in the charming atmosphere, discover hidden alleys, and explore the local shops, cafes, and attractions at your own pace.

Taxis are available in Lijiang and can be easily hailed on the streets or found at designated taxi stands. It’s advisable to have your destination written down in Chinese characters or use a translation app to communicate because most drivers in China can’t speak English. Taxis in Lijiang generally run on a metered fare basis, but it’s always a good idea to confirm the fare or negotiate before starting the ride.

Lijiang has a network of local buses that connect different parts of the city. Buses are a cost-effective way to travel longer distances or reach specific attractions. Bus routes and schedules are usually displayed in Chinese characters at bus stops, so it may be helpful to have the names of your destinations written in Chinese to ensure you get on the right bus.

Lijiang Bus

This is an interesting way to explore this city, especially the scenic countryside and nearby attractions. You can rent bicycles from various rental shops in Lijiang or through your accommodation. Riding a bicycle allows you to enjoy the beautiful landscapes at your own pace and gives you the flexibility to stop and explore places of interest along the way.

Bicycle – A popular transport to get around Lijiang

By private car

If you prefer more convenience and flexibility, you can hire a private car for a specific duration or for a full day. This option allows you to customize your itinerary, visit attractions at your own pace, and have the convenience of a dedicated vehicle and driver. Besides, the drivers are usually knowledgeable people about Lijiang, so they are always happy to become your guide to help you know more useful information about the Old Town such as history, culture, people and traditional food, etc. However, you should negotiate the price and terms in advance before hiring a private car.

Accommodation in Lijiang

Lijiang offers a wide range of accommodations to suit different budgets and preferences. Whether you prefer luxury hotels, boutique guesthouses, or budget-friendly options, you’ll find various choices in the city. However, when you choose Lijiang for your tourist destination, you should consider factors such as location (whether you prefer to stay in the Old Town or in other parts of the city), budget, amenities, and the overall atmosphere you’re seeking. It’s recommended to book in advance, especially during peak travel seasons, to secure your preferred choice of accommodation. Here are some hotels to reference:

InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort

• LijiangAncient City Kasion Hotel
• Jinmao Hotel Lijiang
• Guanfang Hotel
• Baisuifang Boutique Hotel
• See Above The Clouds Inn
• Qinhuxuan Lake View Garden Inn

Best Places to Visit in Lijiang

Old town of lijiang.

Lijiang Old Town is the main attraction of this rustic city. The town is located at an elevation of 2400 meters above sea level. It was first built during Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) and became the ancient trading center between Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet. It was also the economic, cultural, and communication exchange route between Naxi, Tibetan, Bai, and Han ethnic groups. The religious architecture which is a combination of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism is the highlight of this old town.

Lijiang Old Town

This town is divided into three parts: Dayan Old Town, Baisha Quarter, and Shuhe Ancient Town. Dayan Old Town is well-known for its unique architecture which combines northern and southern styles. Shuhe Ancient Town is the birthplace of the Naxi ethnic group.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Located 100 kilometers away from Lijiang Old Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon on the Yangtze River, the most famous place for cruising in China. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world with a vertical elevation of 3790 meters. Tiger Leaping Gorge is surrounded by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the east and Haba Snow Mountain to the west. This place can be divided into three sections: Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge, and Lower Gorge. It offers breathtaking views of the Jinsha River winding through the steep cliffs. Hiking trails are available for visitors who want to explore the imposing landscapes and discover ethnic life.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain)

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain of the Naxi people. Containing 13 peaks, this mountain is 35 kilometers long and covers an area of more than 520 kilometers square. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is home to about 6,000 species of plants and 30 species of animals, including rare species like the snow leopard and the Yunnan golden monkey. This mountain is a popular destination for winter activities such as hiking, mountaineering, and scenic cable car rides. If you are not into hiking and trekking, you can get a panoramic view from a cable car here. The best time to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is from November to April when the peaks are covered with fog and snow.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

About 200 kilometers from the center of Lijiang, Lugu Lake is an alpine lake with romantic scenery. Lugu Lake is atmospheric with green hills, clean water, and rustic stilted houses. The lake is the home to Mosuo society, which is the last matriarchal society in the world. In this lake, there are five islands among which Heiwawu Island, Liwubi Island, and Lige Island are the most frequently visited ones. Taking a boat ride along Lugu Lake is the best way to appreciate its beauty.

Lugu Lake in Lijiang

Jade Spring Park

Built-in 1737, Jade Spring Park, also known as Heilongtan Park (which means ‘Black Dragon Pool Park’ in English), is famous for its large crystal pool. In summer and autumn, the pool is really romantic with milky flowers on the water. Jade Spring Park is only 1 kilometer from Lijiang Old Town, you can walk there or take a bus.

Shuhe Ancient Town

Located a short distance from Lijiang’s Town, Shuhe Ancient Town is another well-preserved historic site. It features traditional architecture, narrow streets, and ancient canals. Shuhe offers a quieter and less crowded alternative to the bustling streets of Lijiang’s Old Town.

Must-Try Activities in Lijiang

Explore the daily life of naxi ethnic minority.

Lijiang is predominantly inhabited by the Naxi ethnic minority, who have a unique culture and history. The Naxi people have their own Dongba script, which is one of the few remaining pictographic scripts in the world. Visitors to Lijiang can learn about the Naxi culture through various cultural shows, museums, and interactions with the friendly local community like attending a Naxi music performance, learning about the Dongba culture at the Dongba Culture Museum, or simply participating in a Naxi traditional tea ceremony.

Enjoy Impression Lijiang Show

Impression Lijiang, exactly what the name suggests, is a superb outdoor art performance with the imposing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the backdrop. The performance includes singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and horse riding, which represents the daily life of the Naxi people. The show times are 9 am, 11 am, 2 pm during the peak season and 11 am, 2 pm during the low season.

Admire Lijiang Murals

Lijiang is famous for its intricate and colorful murals, which can be found in various temples and cultural sites around the city. These murals depict scenes from Naxi folklore, mythology, and daily life, offering insights into the region’s history and culture.

Lijiang Monastery Mural

What to Eat in Lijiang

Lijiang food is the perfect fusion of Han culture and Tibetan cuisine. With abundant sources of agricultural products, the Naxi people in Lijiang have developed their own local cuisine. Sanwen Fish, Chickpeas Bean Jelly, Lijiang Stuffed Bun, and Naxi Hot Pot are must-try dishes on your Lijiang trip.

Naxi Hotpot

Hotpot is the favorite dish of local people in winter. It is spicy and spicy yet highly nutritious. Naxi hot pot is rich in calories, protein, and vitamins which will keep you warm all day long. You can have a variety of options for meat in this dish: mutton, goat meat, pork, or beef. Moreover, a lot of fresh green vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, and tofu are featured in the hot pot. Besides, ginger is a must-have ingredient.

Black Goat Hot Pot and Salted Pork Ribs Hot Pot are the two most popular hot pot dishes in Lijiang. Black Goat Hot Pot used local black goats which are raised in the mountains, thus the meat is lean, juicy, and contains less fat. The broth of this food features many kinds of herbs and spices, which will feast on your taste buds.

Sanwen fish

Raised in the glacial meltwater from snow-capped mountain ranges, Sanwen fish is the local specialty of Yunnan. The fish is cooked with three different flavors, hence the name “Sanwen,” which translates to “three flavors” in English. The three flavors are usually spicy, sour, and sweet. The contrasting flavors of spicy, sour, and sweet create a harmonious balance in the dish, making it a popular choice among locals and visitors alike. It is usually served with steamed rice or other side dishes.

Lijiang Stuffed Bun (Ba Ba)

Lijiang Stuffed Bun is a famous local traditional snack. There are two kinds of Stuffed Bun: the salty and sweet bun. This food has an appealing golden color, crispy taste, and fragrant smell. It is a perfect gift for your friends and relatives as Lijiang Stuffed Bun can be preserved for a long time. You just have to steam or fry it slightly when returning home. This food is widely available in local stores around Lijiang.

Local wheat is the main ingredient in this food. The wheat flour is mixed with water, added some plant oil, and rolled into cylinder-shaped pieces. Sesame, walnut kernel, and other seasonings are added, and then the buns are baked to create a golden-yellow color.

Chickpeas Bean Jelly   (Ji Dou Liang Fen)

Chickpea is the local special kind of soybean. It looks like the eyes of the chicken, hence the name. Chickpeas are ground into powder, boiled until it turns white, and then poured into different containers. Chickpeas Bean Jelly   is served either hot or cold. It can be mixed with mustard, red pepper, vinegar, green onions, and other seasonings to create a cold dish. If you prefer something hot, the fried jelly will satisfy you.

Chickpeas Bean Jelly (Ji Dou Liang Fen)

Lijiang attracts visitors from around the world who are drawn to its unique blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and charming old-town atmosphere. It offers a memorable experience for those seeking to immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture and explore the stunning landscapes of Yunnan Province. If you are planning a trip to Lijiang, don’t hesitate to contact us for more details.

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Lijiang Travel Guide Including Pictures from Baisha Village

One of the classic travel route in China is traveling along Yunnan Province. Lijiang Old Town is one of the important stop on the way. Set in the vast plateau with elevation of 2,400 meters above sea level, Lijiang Old Town is the major hub to do some hiking even go up north to the infamous Shangri La. This Lijiang travel guide will include pictures from Baisha Village as well.

Getting to Lijiang from Chengdu

The easiest way to reach Lijiang is of course by flying. Taking flight is not that expensive either, sometimes you can get as cheap as RMB 400 or less than USD 100 from Chengdu one way. I’m not that keen of flying. I don’t know why but I prefer to travel overland as much as I can, you know it’s just a whole different experience.

I had booked my train ticket a couple months ago. In China, it’s better to book train ticket as early as possible as it tends to get sold out. There are two options to get to Lijiang by train from Chengdu. First is taking the high speed train to Kunming then transfer to Lijiang. It takes about 9 hours for overall however if you sum up the train fare, it’s almost the same with flying.

The cheaper option that I did, is to take the train from Chengdu to Panzihua by slow train. The train journey to Panzihua is about 13 hours (RMB 102 for hard seat, RMB 178 for hard sleeper). From Panzihua to Lijiang you can take bus for another 5 hours (RMB 95). It’s a good and cheaper option and I suggest you to take night train. The train station is about thirty to forty minutes away from the bus station so you gotta take the city bus to the intercity bus station in Panzihua, pretty easy to do it.

In my case, it was really a long journey because I left Chengdu at 1 p.m., reached Panzihua at 1 a.m. Then I gotta wait till 5 a.m. for the city busy, headed to the bus station, left Panzihua around 7 a.m. and reached Lijiang around noon time. All because I didn’t get the night train, haha!

What to do in Lijiang Old Town

Going back to the history, Lijiang Old Town was built in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty. You can see many bridges and waterways in the old town. Similar to Langzhong Ancient Town , Lijiang Old Town is also one of the top four ancient town in China I would say the best thing to do is just walking around the old town. it’s massive. Shops, restaurants, guesthouses, even bars, you can easily find them. Lijiang Old Town is more beautiful in the night because the warm light just brighten up the place, plus it’s less busy during night time. Remember to wear warm clothes as it can get cold in the night.

For me, I just walked around the old town and did not do much activities or sightseeing but I found this piece of information board a bit late actually so I didn’t have time to do them all. But if you visit Lijiang Old Town make sure you check the information board, I don’t really remember the exact location but it’s near one of the gate. You can find more information about this

• Black Dragon Pool (RMB 80)
• Snow Mountain Academy
• The Naxi Folk House Museum
• Wangjiazhuan Christ Church
• Fang Guoyu’s Old House
• Mu’s Mansion (RMB 60)
• Dongba wedding ceremony from Yuyuan Bridge
• Performance in the square street

Other things you can do is doing a day trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Yulong Xueshan. The mountain is 15 km away from Lijiang Old Town, popular with visitors who’d like to go up to a snow mountain without any difficulties. Expect to pay a bit extra for this, maybe more than RMB 200. Unfortunately I didn’t do this, it’s enough for me to look Yulong Xueshan from the old town 🙂

Visit Baisha Village while in Lijiang

I love Baisha Village right at the first sight! It’s really quite compared to Lijiang Old Town. Getting to Baisha Village from Lijiang Old Town is pretty easy, just hop to bus no.6 and it takes only less than 30 minutes. Once I arrived in Baisha Village, I walked to the opposite direction not towards the old town and eventually ended up in a quiet residency area where local lives. I hardly saw people walking around.

I kept walking until I found an open area where I could see clear view of Yulong Xueshan. It was amazing, nobody except me. After taking a couple of pictures, I headed back to the bus stop and walked to where the old town was. I saw shops running normally, except it was pretty empty inside. It felt authentic to me.

Once, I followed a group of elderly people to a small field where they played some kind of sport. They took turn throwing a small round ball and measured the distance. I also saw some people painting murals on the wall, which is a part of their culture. Baisha Village is home to an ethnic minority named Naxi, so you can still also see them hanging around in the village.

Another village nearby is called Shuhe . You can take the same bus and stop before Baisha Village, they are not far from each other. Unfortunately I did not have time to visit Shuhe Village but from what I heard it’s quite interesting as well.

More pictures

Traveled in 18 – 19 January 2019

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Top 15 Things to Do in Lijiang 2024

What to do in Lijiang? As the national famous travel destination with irreplaceable historic culture, ethnic minority spirits, and beautiful landscape, Lijiang has a lot for your discovery, including the old towns, snow mountains, impressive gorge, peaceful lakes, mysterious Dongba pictographs, wonderful shows, rare existing matriarchal society, and so on, no matter when you visit Lijiang. Here are the top 15 things to do in Lijiang to help you plan your coming Lijiang trip with more great memories! Check them at below!

No.1: Stroll at Dayan Old Town (Lijiang Old Town)

Take a stroll at Dayan Old Town (or Lijang Old Town) is the no.1 must-do for anyone traveling to Lijiang. Listed as a proud UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, Lijiang Old Town is the icon to get close to local history and ethnic culture, with more than 800 years’ long history since late Song Dynasty. Enjoy your leisure walk in this ancient maze to admire those particular old wooden house clusters linking one by one, with chanting stream floating by the stone paved paths. With merchants keeping their shops selling local specials and other interesting items, the history is well extended in vitality by the harmonious combination with local people’s modern life. During your stroll, do not miss the top iconic sites, including Mu’s Palace that is a large-scaled palace group, Sifang Street that is very jubilant as the heart of the whole old town with ethnic people’s dance gathering, Wangu Tower that is the symbolic landmark to overlook Lijiang Old Town with the background of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, etc. Learn more about Lijiang Old Town >>

Types: UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, old town, old streets, architectures

Location: Gucheng District, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 24 hours every day for old town entrance

Visiting Time: 1 day

Best Time to Visit: all year round (better avoid Labors Day Holiday in early May and National Holiday during Oct. 1st-7th)

Ticket Price: Free for entrance; Maintenance Fee is CNY 50/person; some tourist spots in Lijiang Old Town needs extra charges.

Recommended Tour Package: 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

No.2: Embrace Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Landscape

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the holy mountain for local Naxi ethnic minority people, regarded as the embodiment of the god “Sanduo”, protecting locals for centuries. This amazing snow mountain is the southernmost snow mountain in the northern hemisphere, and the 13 peaks together just form the shape like a jade dragon. Though you can appreciate Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from your window in the old town from afar, taking the cableway up to closer embrace the natural sceneries is more memorable. There you will not only take a really fresh breath at the alpine emerald meows above 3000 meters high, please your eyes with the emerald waterscape at Blue Moon Valley loved by Joseph Rock, but also have a close look at the real ice glacier, and also catch the closest appearance of the holy snow mountain. Learn more about Jade Dragon Snow Mountain >>

Types: Snow Mountain, Nature & Parks, Sights & Landmarks

Location: Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang

Altitude: 3,100-5,596 meters

Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00 every day

Visiting Time: half to 1 day

Best Time to Visit: all year round, Nov. to May is best with beautiful snow scenery.

Ticket Price: CNY 130/person (including Ganhaizi and Blue Moon Valley)

Fitness Needed: **

Recommended Tour Package: 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

No.3: Trek at Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the most famous gorges in the world for its precipitous terrain. Taking a hike at the core part including the upper, middle and lower sections is really exciting with Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain standing on both sides, which clamp Jinsha River running roaring with flying water blooms. The Upper Tiger Leaping is commonly planned by tourists with the view of rural cultivating fields and the landmark of the leaping tiger statue. The Middle Tiger Leaping is the essence of the route with narrower river and rapid flow, where you will hear the more powerful roar and more charming landscape. While the way at Lower Tiger Leaping is flatter and village sceneries can be seen for relaxation. Learn more about Tiger Leaping Gorge >>

Types: Gorges & Canyons, Nature

Location: Hutiaoxia Town, Shangri-La County

Opening Hours: 07:30-16:30 during April - October; 08:00-16:00 during November - March

Visiting Time: half to 2 days

Best Time to Visit: spring to autumn, especially April to June and September to October

Ticket Price: CNY 65/person (Upper Tiger Leaping & Middle Tiger Leaping)

Fitness Needed: ***

Recommended Tour Package: 4 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Lijiang Highlights 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

No.4: Enjoy Relaxing Peace at Shuhe Old Town

As part of Old Towns in Lijiang listed as the UNESCO World Heritage, Shuhe Old Town is another favored ancient town in Lijiang. Boasting the quieter atmosphere throughout the wooden-structured town, with pleasant countryside view embracing, Shuhe Old Town is quite ideal for relaxation without anything thinking in your mind. Every things going in a slower pace and the nice surrounding snow mountain and landscapes will easily help you enjoy releasing.

Location: Shuhe Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 24 hours every day

Visiting Time: 2-3 hours

Ticket Price: CNY 40/person

Recommended Tour Package: 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

No.5: Appreciate Baisha Mural Painting at Baisha Village

Baisha Mural Painting is one of the most important cultural gems of Lijiang. Arrange some hours to appreciate Baisha mural paintings during your Lijiang trip, which will make your go really meaningful. No matter those religious paintings of Buddhism, Taoism, etc. or those life scenes’ paintings about hunting, rural villages, cultivating, etc., or other ethnic featured works are all excellent with high skills kept from Ming and Qing dynasties, which is more than 500 years old and is a vital part of the world cultural heritage listed by UNESCO. Baisha Village (Baisha Old Town) is the best place to admire those outstanding mural paintings.

Types: Historical Sites, old painting, cultural sites

Location: Shubai Road, Yulong Naxi Minority Autonomous County, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30

Visiting Time: 1-3 hours

Best Time to Visit: all year round

Ticket Price: free for Baisha Old Town; CNY 30/person for Baisha Mural Painting

No.6: Seek Living Pictographs at Dongba Culture Museum

Naxi ethnic minority is a mysterious group in Lijiang with the world only living pictograph system. Visit Dongba Culture Museum to have a personal look of those graphic characters on books and buildings, living tools and religious musical instruments, paintings, and more in the traditional Naxi styled quadrangle courtyard to seek the mysterious and interesting culture of Naxi group in Lijiang.

Types: Museum, Cultural Site

Location: Black Dragon Pool Park, Jiaoyu Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00

Visiting Time: 1 hour

Ticket Price: free; Old Town Maintenance Fee of CNY 50/person is needed

No.7: Sightseeing at Black Dragon Pool Park

Black Dragon Pool or called Yuquan Park is a popular part of Lijiang Old Town. This large scenic park with some peculiar pagodas and pavilions with flying eaves and stone bridge and some lovely ponds is great for some leisure and fresh walk. More importantly, the best sightseeing position there enables you to take the famous photo of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with the traditional styled building together. Learn more about Black Dragon Pool >>

Types: Park, Natural Site, Cultural Site

Location: No.1 Minzhu Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 07:00-19:00 every day

Best Time to Visit: morning and dusk hours are best to admire Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and its reflection.

Recommended Tour Package: 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

No.8: Watch Impression Lijiang Show

Impression Lijiang, an outdoor performance taking place in a natural theatre at 3200 meters above sea level, uses Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the background and showing the local folk customs, the form of song and dance drama.

Directed by the famous Chinese director Yimou Zhang, the show is divided into six parts, composing of "Tea Horse Road And Caravan", "Snow-capped Mountains Of The Wine", "Immeasurably Vast", "Playing Jump Group Song", "Drum Dance Worship Heaven", and "Blessing Ceremony". More than 500 locals of 10 ethnic groups, and about 100 horses, aim to provide an insight into the lives of the region’s ethnic groups.

Types: Performance, Concert, live show

Location: Blue Moon Valley Theater, Dry Sea of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Area

Performance Time: 11:00-12:10; 14:00-15:10 (The show time is only for reference, the time may be changed sometimes)

Ticket Price: CNY 245/person for a Normal Seat; CNY 305/person for a VIP Seat

Altitude: 3,050 meters

No.9: Step into the Matriarchal Society at Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is popular for the beautiful diamond-like lake, besides, the Mosuo people and their unique marriage culture are very attractive. Today, the Mosuo people still live in a matriarchal society. Men stay in the women's home as mates called “Axia” and the intimate relationship lasts as long as they like for there is no marriage safety belt. Children are brought up by women, and use the surname of their mothers. Families are composed of the members of the matrilineal kin. Women operate production and management, and hold the principal position in the society, forming a modern day “woman's kingdom”. Extend from Lijiang to discover the special culture around the charming getaway. Learn more about Lugu Lake >>

Types: Lake, Body of Water

Location: Ninglang Yi Minority Autonomous County, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00

Visiting Time: 1-2 days

Best Time to Visit: all year round; March to October is particularly beautiful

Ticket Price: CNY 70/person

Recommended Tour Package: 7 Days Yunnan Paradise Tour to Lijiang, Shangri-La & Lugu Lake

No.10: Admire the First Bend of Yangtze River

At the foot of Shigu Town west from Lijiang City, Yangtze River makes a giant turn of a “V” shape and then flow toward the northeast, which is the famous view of First Bend of Yangtze River. Visitors usually drop by to see the scenery there on their way from Lijiang to Shangri-La, where to admire the wide river running fast but looking peaceful with the surrounding lush countryside landscape with grassland, villages, willows, mountains, and more to treat eyes well.

Types: Nature, River, Body of Water

Location: G353, Shigu Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing, Yunnan

Visiting Time: less than half an hour

Ticket Price: free

Recommended Tour Package: 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming) 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

No.11: Explore Local Daily Life at Zhongyi Market

What to go deep into local Naxi people’s daily life? Go to Zhongyi Market! This market is the core of life for local people in Lijiang Old Town, where you can see lots of local ethnic minority people dressing in their traditional Naxi costumes buying fruits, vegetables, daily necessities, etc. and chatting in Naxi language. Besides look at their life scenes, you can hang to find some local special snacks to treat your curious tongue.

Types: Wet Market, Streets, Open Fair

Location: Guyou Lane, Gucheng District, Lijiang

Opening Hours: 6:00-18:00 every day

Visiting Time: half to 1 hour

Best Time to Visit: all day, especially morning hours

No.12: Play Golf at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Imagine playing golf in a snow mountain! That is rightly accessible and popular in Lijiang. Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Course located at Ganhaizi of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is designed by the world famous golf course designer - Neil Haworth. With 3,100 meters above sea level, it is the only snow mountain golf course in whole north hemisphere and is praised as one of the top best courses at high altitude in the world. Every swing in the green alpine grassland surrounded by pure white snow peaks is superb for visual and spiritual enjoyment. Besides, the traditional buildings at the foot of the mountain give you a quite particular playing experience during your holiday!

Types: Entertainment, Sports, Activity

Location: Ganhaizi, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang City

Opening Hours: 8:30-18:00

No.13: Appreciate Naxi Ancient Orchestral Music

When walking on the ancient street of Lijiang Old Town, you will undoubtedly hear the amazing Naxi Ancient Music, the traditional Naxi classical music that is regarded as a “living fossil of Chinese music”.

According to research, this ancient music originated in the 14th century. It originally included three parts, 'Baisha Fine Music' (Baisha Xiyue), 'Dongjing Music' (Dongjing Yinyue), and 'Huangjing Music' (Huangjing Yinyue), however, the last one has long been lost in the river of time. Played on venerable Chinese musical instruments such as flute, shawm, Chinese lute, plectrum, and zither, the special music has the power to cleanse the heart and relax the mind. The performances of the "Naxi Concert Hall" (every night) have attracted a lot of audiences from around the world.

Types: Concerts, Musical Performances

Location: No.86 Mishi Lane, Xinyi Street, Lijiang Old Town, Gucheng District, Lijiang

Performance Time: 20:00-21:30 every day

Ticket Price: CNY 120-160/person based on types of tickets

No.14: Hit the Bars in Lijiang Ancient Town

In Lijiang Ancient Town, a large number of bars which are decorated in different styles will be another highlight in Lijiang. No matter what you like, there is one for you. Different from noisy bars in modern cities, these bars have an atmosphere of tranquil and tender, which can be found only in beautiful places like Lijiang. Listening to soft music in the hazy light, tasting plateful wine, murmuring with your girlfriend and appreciating the night scene of Lijiang, you will find an eternal peace and beauty in your heart.

Types: Entertainment, Nightlife

Location: along streets of Lijiang Old Town

Opening Hours: morning till late night

Best Time to Visit: afternoon to night

Consumption: CNY 50 per capita and above

No.15: Ride a Horse in Lijiang

In Lijiang, it is a great enjoyment to do the horse riding adventure. You could ride a horse leisurely around Lashihai Lake or Wenhai Lake. The most popular route is the Horse Tea Trail. This is the classic path which tourists could take. The steep, weathered path still is luring with the dense forest, lake and waterfalls, serene temple as well as the local Naxi farming life in the little village. The groups of horse riders, tinkle of horse bells and the wild singing of the horse man may give you an illusion of the ancient traders' horsing journey.

Types: Entertainment, Activity

Location: Lashihai Lake; Wenhai Lake

Visiting Time: 1-5 hours

Price: CNY 100-500/person according to different routes and horses (for your reference)

Recommended Tour Package: 3 Days Lijiang Tour with Horse Riding Experience

• How to Plan a Lijiang Tour

Travelers usually enjoy 2-3 days in Lijiang to discover Lijiang Old Town (Mufu Palace), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Old Town, Dongba mural paintings, Black Dragon Pool, etc. for a classic savory of this romantic ancient city. Besides, if you are fond of the emerald alpine lake and mysterious matriarchal society culture of Mosuo ethnic culture, you can plan another 2-3 days at Lugu Lake to enjoy more peaceful holiday time!

▶ 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

▶ 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Besides, quite a lot of visitors prefer travel Lijiang with Shangri-La where to seek the pure holy sceneries and Tibetan belief to catch the best essence of Yunnan province, which usually needs 5-6 days with best visits to Tiger Leaping Gorge with a memorable trekking experience, Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo National Forest Park, and more.

Recommended Lijiang Shangri-La Tour Packages:

▶ 5 Days Lijiang & Shangri-La Highlights Tour

Furthermore, actually most travelers arrange Lijiang city as a part of their Yunnan travel to visit more top destinations in one go, such as Kunming famous as Spring City and convenient province capital, Dali with profound Dali Old Town and splendid Erhai Lake, Yuanyang with terrific rice terraces, Xishuangbanna with exciting tropical flavor and Dai ethnic dances, etc., which usually needs 6-15 days based on your exploration depth! Moreover, if you have any idea of more interested destinations in China to travel with Dali together, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Lhasa, etc., please feel free to contact us and our experienced travel expert will help you to plan you coming tour with sincerity!

Recommended Lijiang Yunnan Tour Packages:

▶ 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

▶ 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

▶ 11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

Travel Lijiang Yunnan with China Discovery

To help you enjoy a worry-free Lijiang trip in Yunnan, we highly recommend you travel with us China Discovery. Our local experienced drivers will escort you to the attractions with comfortable car directly with speed and safety. And our English-speaking tour guide will accompany you all the way, showing you the best travelling route, share interesting stories and introduce all highlights, so you can focus all your attention on the highlights. Our experienced travel expert will help arrange your accommodation and plan your trip sincerely. The tour can be tailor-made according to your group size, time, physical condition, plan, interest, budget and every special need. Please feel free to contact us if you need any help!

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Traveling to Lijiang: The Complete Guide

Wrapped in the mountains on its high plateau, protected by the imposing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang (丽江) is an ancient city whose original nucleus goes back over 1000 years, when the Ancient Tea Road (or Southern Silk Road) transited here, attracting merchants from all over Asia.

The Naxi were firmly established here at the time , shaping a center that today is a renowned tourist destination. The ancient heart is surrounded by a modern city that today flaunts luxury hotels, a capacious theater and wide streets to allow the numerous crowds of tourists to appreciate the tiled ways of the historic center, curled roofs and products typical of the area.

Lijiang is an unmissable stop on a classic Yunnan itinerary ; while with a little more effort you can get to Shangri-la , for sure Lijiang isn’t missed by the Chinese visiting this region. As a result it’s a very popular city filled with bodies.

The Naxi themselves, who once lived in these alleys and ran their businesses there, now have almost completely abandoned the place, leaving the business to the Han. What was a precious architectural and social jewel, is now in their eyes an open mall, where the streets are packed with colored lights and there’s too much noise.

If you can, have a Naxi take you around the city: he’ll tell you how things once were a few decades ago, before the earthquake devastated the city and the homes were in their original forms; when from the boxy square you could freely romp through the local alleys; when the locals all knew each other and each street had a specific commercial interest.

When to go to Lijiang

Embraced by the mountains and protected by the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain , Lijiang on its plateau is moderately cold in winter and just as moderately hot in summer.

Lush due to the frequent rains of the hot season, it’s a sunny place during the rest of the year at 2.400 mt. of altitude. So, there’s no specific time to visit here, but rather a time to avoid: that’s a hard no to the Chinese national holidays. It’s best to go in the “anytime” periods, which will allow you to peacefully enjoy the historic center and its maze of alleys.

If you can choose, the shoulder seasons are always the most pleasant. Only, as a general rule, at night it gets much colder than during the day, so it’s best to sleep all bundled up.

How to get to and get around Lijiang

Aside from a few Asian cities like Taipei or Kuala Lumpur, there are no direct flights that fly to Lijiang from abroad, so you’ll usually have to stop in one the various Chinese cities that offer this route. Besides the big cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou), on the list there’s: Xi’An, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Nanning, Lasha, Guilin, Chengdu and Chongqing and others.

For domestic flights within Yunnan you can count on, those from Kunming , Xishuangbanna and Pu’er . There aren’t any flights between nearby Shangri-la and Dali (which are served by trains and other wheeled means).

Lijiang’s airport is called Sanyi International Airport and is 30 km from the historic center. There’s a shuttle bus service (机场巴士市区线) which leaves outside of departures (exit 2) and, without making any stops, goes as far as the Lantian hotel (蓝天宾馆), where you’ll need to take a taxi to get to the old city.

The shuttle bus costs 20 Yuan while a taxi from the hotel to Lijiang Old Town about 15 Yuan. A taxi ride from the airport to the old city varies between 100 and 120 Yuan (180 Yuan at night).

It will take a little more than an hour if you use the bus, 45 minutes if you use the taxi. The shuttle bus runs from 6.30 to 22.00; its frequency is every half hour going to the airport, while the opposite way the service begins and ends according to the flight times. Tickets are bought on board.

If you’re traveling to or from Dali (大理) , you can take one of the seven daily K (express) trains for a two hour ride. For Shangri-la, there are only cars or long distance buses – from the Lijiang bus station, every day between 7.30 and 17.00 a bus leaves every 40 minutes for a 4 hour direct ride to Shangri-la; a ticket costs less than 60 Yuan.

The old city of Lijiang is easily visited on foot, even if it is a nice walk that, counting stops and photos will take a whole day. You can rent bicycles, various hotels have them. The city’s layout is made up of a network of alleys that are centered toward the main square Si Fang Jie (四方街). To the north of the old city is the Black Dragon Pool Park.

Where to stay in Lijiang

There are various types of buildings within the small Naxi houses in the center. Its pointless to say that you can live like a king in five star lodging for moderate prices: Yunnan is still a rather cheap area. Staying in the new city is another practical option, since the two centers are adjacent and each are well-served.

Click here for the best lodging options in Lijiang.

What to see in Lijiang

Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城): the historic center is called by this name to distinguish it from the modern agglomeration that surrounds the old castrum . According to UNESCO there are three centers, all equally inscribed on the World Heritage List, that make up Lijiang: the most famous is Dayan Old Town (大研古城). The second center is Shuhe (束河古城), 4 km from Dayan. This too is popular with tourists. For a more genuine visit it’s best to go to Baisha (白纱古城) – see the following -. Or, as a rule that goes for all three of these pearls of Yunnan, built by ethnic minorities , get up early and visit the city when the majority of tourists are still asleep.

The Lijiang Old Town that you see has been rebuilt after the earthquake of 1996 , although they’ve faithfully kept to the Naxi style: the ground floor is reserved for business while the family lives on the upper floor. The homes are largely of wood, the roofs covered by tiles with curved points; the largest are built around an interior courtyard and marked by imposing, beautifully decorated entrances.

• Mu family residence (木府) and Pagoda Wanggu (望古楼): among the various Naxi residences , Mu Mansion is known for its size and its faithful reconstruction. The Mu family governed Lijiang for about four centuries on behalf of the Ming , so what remains of their home is an example of the richness of the time. It’s worth a visit along with Wanggu Pagoda, connected to it : from the top of the tower you can get a wonderful view.

• Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭): this is an easy stroll where you can seek out a view of the lake that is perfectly set at the foot of Elephant Hill; obviously its better on sunny days. Black Dragon Pool Park, north of the old city, is well-maintained but a bit overrated…

Dongba Museum (东巴博物馆): the museum is adjacent to the Black Dragon Pool. The term Dongba refers to an animist type religion of many of the Naxi. Several of the Dongba traditions are still practiced and the museum illustrates not only the rites of the Dongba priests, but also a reliable photographic record on the entire Naxi culture. In particular, I suggest you spend some time looking at the writing system: an extraordinary pictographic system that’s incredibly similar to other more well-known hieroglyphics!

Note: don’t be taken in by the Naxi village near the museum, because this is not at all an original village but a tourist reconstruction (or “money making machine”). A few Naxi work onsite, recounting their culture, but usually these mega theme parks in China are full of scams…

Just outside of old Lijiang, reachable by a short car or public transportation ride, there are a few other points of interest in the area.

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙山): a monster that goes well over 4.000 mt. with views from the “roof of the world”. Entrance to the park isn’t cheap (120 Yuan) and the cable cars have a separate fee (180 Yuan for the most expensive). The highest peak, Sanzidou, is covered by snow all year long, so excursions to the top are for fans of mountaineering and glaciers. Actually, you get close to the peak via zip line, the highest in the world, and up top there are various stairs to help with the climb. Moreover, other cable cars connect the valleys to the “smaller” peaks, under 4.000 mt. The park can be reached from Lijiang via bus number 7 (15 Yuan, an hour’s time), but its more convenient to rent a car that will allow you to reach the site entrances and cable car departures inside the park. These mountains form one of the slopes of the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Baisha Old Town (白纱古城): this Naxi center is an adorable village a little less overwhelmed than Lijiang, but just as interesting. It can also be reached by bicycle because it’s only 7 km away, but there are various cars that shuttle between them and wait for tourists at the end of the visit. What you should absolutely not miss in Baisha is the mural , the only one still intact, which survived all attempts to annihilate the Naxi heritage over the course of history by the various Chinese governments. The mural is a testament to multiculturalism, tolerance, coexistence and peace without equal in our day: the picture gathers Han, Tibetan and Naxi characters, celebrating the harmony. It isn’t a “beautiful” creature as much as a symbol of how the ethnic groups lived together harmoniously. There’s an entrance fee to the village (30 Yuan).

In Baisha there lives, and I wish him luck and many more years, a Chinese doctor in his nineties, Doctor Ho . A human archive of national historic memory that has met and cared for celebrities from around the world, and proudly keeps testimonies of his encounters: magazine and newspaper clippings, thank you letters, photographs, in his hovel next to a canal in Baisha where for decades he personally prepares the medications he offers to his patients. Together with his son, you can visit for free for advice on buying their offerings. Ask anyone, they’ll easily give you directions.

Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡): 80 km north of Lijiang, is one of the most famous places in Yunnan, Tiger Leaping Gorge . There the Yangze is bottled into a canyon that is among the deepest on Earth, watched over by the imposing heights of Jade Snow Mountain that holds it at its smallest point, in thirty meters of fast and thunderous rapids. The name comes from the legendary tiger that used the rock that marked the narrowest point of the gorge to jump unscathed to the other side. This is certainly not the best way to enjoy the gorge and its impressive 18 rapids, but today there’s a convenient platform built for tourists just a step away from the frothing water. Or, opt to trek for a few days, which from above offers a spectacular experience of the force of water and the height of the canyon.

There is frequent public transportation to get there from Lijiang. If you plan to do some trekking, Qiaotou is definitely the most used departure point since it’s on the road between Lijiang and Shangri-la. If instead you’d rather look out from the artificially built balconies built in the gorge, then you only need to reach the tourist site(虎跳峡景区). This limited glimpse is recommended for those with small children or who have difficulty walking for long stretches, although to get to the last scenic overlook there are several flights of stairs and altitude that could cause respiratory problems. So it’s not something to take lightly.

The ethnic Naxi

The Naxi are an ethnicity of Sino-Tibetan origin. They come from the west of the country and settled here when the commercial routes made this area famous for trading and as a stopping point. The Naxi are typically remembered for their religion, architectural style, writing and music. Some experts say that the Bai and Mosuo are ethnic groups original derived from the Naxi . But there are multiple differences between the Bai and Naxi, to the point that the Chinese government recognizes them as two separate ethnic groups. On the other hand, the Mosuo , who in recent years have become more famous for their matriarchal system that’s still in use, are considered a branch of the Naxi. The largest concentration of the Mosuo lives on the banks of Lake Lugu.

The Naxi are also a people of matriarchal lineage, but one that is much more integrated and assimilated to the Han customs. Nevertheless the Naxi women are still known for their vigor and stubbornness: they are tireless workers because they have always been raised to support the family, and to this day maintain a certain influence over family decisions.

The religion of the Naxi is called Dongba; today it battles for survival and the traditional rites practiced by Dongba shamans are often portrayed as local folklore. Many of the Naxi converted to Tibetan Buddhism, which has the same moderate and respectful style that is the nature of the Dongba religion.

The extraordinary Dongba writing is the only pictography still in use, though it’s slowly slipping into oblivion. It has many strokes in common with the Egyptian and Mayan systems. Together with the phonetic alphabet called Geba, it was the writing system historically used by the Naxi.

When it comes to Naxi architecture which has been spoken about above, it has actually integrated Han characteristics, far more then the Bai of Dali. What has truly remained one of a kind and is something you absolutely should not miss, is Naxi music (see below).

Not to miss

Whenever you find yourself in Lijiang, even if it’s just for a night, you can’t miss the Naxi music show held at the Naxi Concert Hall (the small theater on Dong Da Jie, not the large modern concert hall outside the historic center!). For several years and thanks to the brilliant intuition of Xuan Ke , the old Naxi musicians keep alive and spread the tradition of their music and typical instruments. At the Naxi Concert Hall you can attend, every evening at 20, an orchestral concert with some twenty elements, of which at least 90% are white-haired and shriveled, but perfectly capable of entertaining an audience for more than an hour. And all this presented in two languages!

Naxi music tells stories of everyday life and produces shrill sounds quite different than what we are used to. A ticket costs 150 Yuan, but it all goes to keep the theater, its musicians and the whole initiative going, which has to compete with the more commercial modern theater, the one I mentioned before. There you’ll find dances in fake traditional costumes and music blasting at full volume from technological amplifiers.

My experience attending the show was unique: besides saving us from a torrential downpour, the Naxi music even won over my sixteen month old daughter, who stood in her little chair, enchanted by the percussive beats and the trills of the bells.

If there’s something else you’d like to know, leave me a comment below!

Happy travels to the magic of Lijiang!

About The Author

Rita Andreetti

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Lijiang Travel Guide

Lijiang is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Yunnan Province situated on the Jinsha River, one of the two principal headwaters of the Yangtze (the other principal headwater of the Yangtze being the Min River). The name Lijiang in the Nahki (alternatively, Naxi) language - the Nahki being the largest ethnic minority in Lijiang, though several other ethnic minorities are represented in the city - means in fact 'bend in the Jinsha River. The Jinsha and the Min are fed by large tributaries (farther upstream, the Jinsha is called the Tongtian, which itself has three principal headwaters, each large river in its own right, so one begins to get an idea of just how mighty the "Mighty Yangtze River " really is), which in turn are fed by even smaller tributaries, etc., ending in the usual feeder streams that run off mountain ranges - in this case, in Tibet - which is how rivers typically are born, though some rivers, even large ones, originate from lakes, such as the White Nile, the longest principal headwater of the Nile proper, which originates in Lake Victoria, on the Ugandan side.

Lijiang History

Lijiang was a tiny settlement before it found itself in the midst of a battle during the Yuan (CE 1279-1368) Dynasty, after which the village grew into a city. Emperor Shizu - aka Kublai Khan, grandson of Ghengis Khan - stationed troops in Lijiang on his southward march to do battle with the State of Dali, and after the successful completion of that campaign, Nahki tribesmen of the Mu clan who were loyal to the Mongol chieftain were relocated to Lijiang, and thus the old village was built and came to be inhabited by the Mu clan of the Nahki culture.

Lijiang was later part of the Ancient Tea & Horse Caravan Road, aka the " Silk Road " of Southwest China. Though less well known than the famous Silk Road of the silk trade, the ancient route that transported tea and horses (tea from China to points southward, and horses from Tibet, especially, to points northward, i.e., into the rest of China) across treacherous mountain terrain was much more daunting a challenge to those whose livelihoods depended on it than the more accessible, and more heavily trafficked Silk Road routes (to learn more about Lijiang Old Town, its Nakhi Ethnic Minority (with their Dongba Culture) and its ingenious system of manmade waterways that provide each and every Nahki household with all its water needs, click here).

Sites Worth a Visit in Lijiang

There are a number of interesting sights to take in around Lijiang besides Lijiang Old Town, which was placed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1997. For example, majestic, snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lies only 35 kilometers north of Lijiang, and has become so emblematic of the area that it appears on almost every postcard. The First Bend of the Yangtze River as well as nearby Tiger Leaping Gorge make excellent all-day excursions. Lijiang is also a practical hub for making longer jaunts to pristine areas of the surrounding region, such as trips to Laojun Mountain and Lake Lugu.

The crystal-clear waters of Lake Lugu, about an 8-hour drive from Lijiang, is home to the unique Mosuo folk, a matriarchal clan that is considered by the Chinese government as a sub-group of the Nahki Ethnic Minority (based on scholarly evidence of course), though the Mosuo insist that they are separate from the Nahki, who, in contrast to the Mosuo, are patriarchal, as are most mainstream ethnic minorities of China - and indeed, as are most cultures the world over. What makes the Mosuo so unique as a cultural group is that they not only are not patriarchal, they also do not form the usual conjugal relationship, but instead live together in casual cohabitation.

With a population of 1,015,000, greater Lijiang comprises, besides the newer city itself as well as the old town, four rural counties, where 22 ethnic minority groups live. Roughly 57% of the population of greater Lijiang thus consists of ethnic minorities, the rest being Han Chinese. The ethnic minorities of greater Lijiang include, beside Nahki, the Bai, the Dai, the Tibetan Hui, the Lisu, the Miao, the Pumi, the Yi and the Zhuang.

The city of Lijiang dubbed the Venice of the Orient due to the many canals which tap their waters from the local Jinsha River tributary, the Yuquanshui River, will spoil you with its cobblestone streets, its willow-lined canals, its hurly-burly markets and waterside cafés, and its ethnic diversity. Lijiang's harmonious blend of ethnic cultures is in fact one of the chief reasons why UNESCO placed the city on the World Cultural Heritage List. It's an enchanting place to just "drop out" for a few days, or even for a few hours, though, once there, you will probably not be able to tear yourself away anytime soon.

Continue to read: Top Things to Do in Lijiang

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Lijiang travel guide

Lijiang tourism | lijiang guide, you're going to love lijiang.

Located in the north-west of Yunnan Province in south-west China, Lijiang is the perfect blend of magnificent scenery, historical sites and cultural diversity. The Old Town of Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from around the globe.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Lijiang

1. the old town.

The Old Town dates back to over 800 years and it's the main tourist attraction in Lijiang. It's made up of three separate areas: Dayan Old Town, the Baisha housing cluster and the Shuhe housing clusters. It's noted for its traditional-style buildings, narrow cobbled streets, beautiful bridges and canals and landmarks like Black Dragon Pond.

2. The Scenery

Snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and dramatic gorges, Lijiang is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Climb or take a cable car to the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Northern Hemisphere's most southerly snow-capped peak outside of the Andes. Or, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge east of the Tibetan Plateau, it's one of China's most famous hiking routes.

3. Its Cultural Diversity

Lijiang was an important stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road - a trade route between Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and Tibet from the 6th to the early 20th century - and a cultural melting pot. Baisha district is the Naxi people's oldest settlement, and Bai, Han, Yi and Tibetan influences can also be seen all over the city today.

4. It's a Great Place to Enjoy a Drink

Enjoy a cocktail in one of the Old Town's many bars such as Sakura Bar, A Meter of Sunshine or Riding Alone for a Thousand Miles. Alternatively, visit one of the city's teahouses or coffee shops such as the Yuncha Gong Teahouse or Two Cats Coffee.

5. It's a Good Base for Explorers

Rent a car and see some of south-western China's most amazing sights. Make the 124-mile drive to Lugu Lake on the border of Sichuan Province for clear, calm waters, scenic islands and peninsulas. It's home to the Mosuo people, a matriarchal settlement that's often called the "Kingdom of Women".

What to do in Lijiang

1. an extraordinary step back in time.

A gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lijiang's Old Town draws millions of visitors every year thanks to its stunning, hardly touched architecture that reaches back a thousand years. Cross-hatched by canals which served as the old city's water supply, it's focused around Market Square, and a series of pools where the water collected, allowing locals to wash food, clothes, and generally cool off. Expect regular Dongjing music performances featuring traditional Yunnanese instruments, and plenty of chances to pick up copperware souvenirs.

2. The Height Of Beauty

Soaring 5,500 meters above the city, Yùlóng Xuěshān doesn't look very accessible from the valley below and it's true that for some people it's just an awe-inspiring sight and photo opportunity. However, you can join tour buses in the center of Linjiang that ascend the mountain's slopes, while chairlifts take visitors even further into the clouds. At 4,500 meters, you'll come face to face with a sizable glacier, while further down the slopes, Blue Moon Lake and White Water River are notable beauty spots, but it's all extremely picturesque. Dress up warm if you're heading for the glacier, though.

3. An Exciting Exotic Emporium

The commercial center of Lijiang, Zhongye can be found in the Old Town, where it's been a livestock and copper mart for over 1,000 years. When you head there, you really get a sense that the kind of transactions you see have been ongoing for generations, although nothing's to stop you joining in with a spot of haggling. The complex is vast, but you won't be able to miss the forest of street food sellers, offering everything from tofu curries to pig's heads, freshly picked mandarin oranges and noodle bowls. And if you want high-quality wool, it's definitely the place to be.

4. Views To Make You Long For Yulong

In English "Jade Spring Park", Yu Quan Gong Yuan is most famous for one sight: the sublimely beautiful Black Dragon Pool. While the pool itself is elegantly shaped and complemented by the obligatory stone bridge and pagoda, it's the setting which makes the biggest impression. Behind the park, Yulong rises in all of its glory, creating one of the world's greatest photo opportunities. However, try to tear yourself away from the view and duck into the Dongba Culture Museum, which has some engaging ancient documents made by the distinctive local culture.

5. A Palace Of Imperial Power Projection

This mansion can be found in the southwestern part of the Old Town, and is a must-see during your tour of the city center. Mu wasn't just any old guy. In fact, the name refers to the Mu family, who ruled the local Naxi people on behalf of Beijing for centuries, from around 1270 to 1850. As with many Chinese palaces, the building has undergone extensive reconstruction, but it's been skillfully done based on period images, presenting an interesting window onto the distant Imperial past.

Where to Eat in Lijiang

Head to Rice Slurp on Qiyi Street for delicious Asian fusion food made from organic ingredients, or dine on Italian and European dishes at Stream Cafe on Huama Street. A simple meal with a drink costs ¥30.

When to visit Lijiang

Lijiang enjoys mild winters and warm summers, so it's a great choice at almost any time. However, you can experience all four seasons in a day in terms of the weather. Dress in layers, particularly for early morning or late evening outings.

How to Get to Lijiang

International travelers can get ongoing flights to Kunming Airport from Beijing, Guangzhou or Shanghai. There are regular flights to Lijiang Airport from Kunming. Take a shuttle bus to local hotels for ¥20 or a taxi for ¥80-¥100.

The city has two train stations: Lijiang Railway Station and Lijiang East Railway Station. Both are well served by trains from Kunming or Dali. Travelers can then take local buses to the city center.

Roads in Yunnan Province are good but only Chinese license holders are able to drive in the country.

Buses from Kunming stop at either Lijiang Passenger Transport Service Center Bus Station in the north-west of the ancient city or at Lijiang Express Bus Station in Shangri-La Avenue.

Airports near Lijiang

Airlines serving lijiang, where to stay in lijiang.

Splash out on a luxury stay at the Pullman Lijiang Resort And Spa or the Grand Hyatt Lijiang. The Lijiang Emerald Boutique Hotel is a good mid-range option, while Lijiang Baisha Holiday Resort is ideal if you're on a budget.

Popular Neighborhoods in Lijiang

Dayan Old Town - established as a commercial center during the Ming dynasty, the neighborhood's highlights include the Black Pond, the Yizi Pavilion and Guabi Tower.

Baisha Housing Cluster - Located 4.9 miles north of the Old Town, the Baisha Housing Cluster area was created during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Be sure to visit the religious complex where over 40 paintings from the start of the 13th century can be seen.

Shuhe Housing Cluster - The district is 2.4 miles north-west of the Old Town and known for beautiful traditional-style buildings that incorporate elements of Naxi, Bai, Han and Tibetan culture.

Where to stay in popular areas of Lijiang

Most booked hotels in lijiang, how to get around lijiang, public transportation.

Lijiang and the surrounding countryside is covered by 10 bus lines. However, the only way to explore Lijiang Old Town is on foot as motorized transport is forbidden.

Although Lijiang is a small city, taxis are abundant and readily available. They're also reasonably cheap with fares starting at ¥6-¥7 for the first 1.9 miles and ¥1.6 for each additional 0.62 miles. It's possible to negotiate prices for longer trips.

Most of Lijiang can be reached easily on foot. However, for outings to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Lugu Lake it's worth renting a car with a local driver. Prices range from ¥100-300 per day.

The Cost of Living in Lijiang

Shopping streets.

Visit Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute for hand-made embroidered shawls and scarves or shop for traditional Dongba carvings made from Dujuan wood at the Dongba Shop next to the Naxi Ancient Museum.

Groceries and Other

Get food and basics from local shops like Likelong Supermarket or Lijiang Wanhe Orchid Supermarket. Expect to pay ¥19 for a quart of milk or ¥9 for 12 eggs.

Tel: (86) 18977321572 (24hrs available)

E-mail: [email protected]

Fax: 86-773-5817771

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Lijiang travel guide

Lijiang in brief Lijiang is a famous historical city located in the Northwest of the Yunnan Province. Replacing the former administrative region called in the same way, the city of Lijiang is famous for being the place where the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau and the Guizhou-Yunnan Plateau converge, a reason explaining its grandiose landscapes. The city is made up of one district and four counties and is particularly filled with large-scale natural sites, mountains and rivers. Lijiang is renowned for being the most visited site in the Province for its rich sceneries, cultural and historical sites of deep interests. Hiking, meeting Naxi minority people, ancient towns and districts, worldly famous sitesLijiang has so many places of interests that every traveler passing by this city is just charmed by the scenery displaying in front of him. See Yunnan's most popular area, a worth-visiting tour in your travel to China! History of Lijiang A UNESCO protected typical old Chinese town Lijiang has a rich history tracing back to more than 800 years ago. Originally, the ancient city was built at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty near to the place where the famous Jade River divides into thre... More information about Lijiang »

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Top Attractions in Lijiang

Lijiang Ancient Town

Yulong Snow Mountain

First Bend of the Yangtze River

Popular lijiang tours.

4 Days Lijiang Exploration Tour

3 Days Lijiang City Tour with Yulong Snow Mountain

3 Day Lijiang Leisure Tour

Lijiang photos.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Dongba Culture Museum

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