lijiang travel guide

• Lijiang Overview

Chinese Name : 丽江 English IPA : /'lijiang/ Location : Northwest of Yunnan Population (city) : 1,244,769 Language : Mandarin & Naxi Language Zip code : 674100 Tel code : 0888 Time zone : UTC+8

Lijiang has a history of at least 800 years and may date as far back as the Song Dynasty. It is located in the northwestern portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan . Lijiang is one of the most famous tourist destinations in  Yunnan Travel . Lijiang is considered as a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by Naxi Ethnic Minority . What’s more, Lijiang is the transfer station of Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Route.

Highlights of Lijiang:

• Lijiang Ancient Towns:  As one of important heritage sites,  the ancient towns of Lijiang, including Lijiang Ancient Town , Baisha Ancient Town and Shuhe Ancient Town (those retain a special character of ancient Naxi and Han construction and Naxi customs, arts and culture), are rare well-preserved ancient city of ethnic minority in China, which concentrates the essence of Naxi culture and remains the historical type formed since Song and Yuan Dynasty.
• Colorful Minority Culture:  As a multi-ethnic place, Lijiang is the base camp of 22 ethnic minorities. In addition to the Han people, Naxi and  Yi minorities are the main ethnic groups in Lijiang. When you come to the mysterious Lijiang, it is easy to find Naxi architecture everywhere and listen to the Naxi language said by Naxi people and feel the Dongba culture. What’s more, tourists can not only enjoy beautiful landscape in Lugu Lake but also explore mysterious matriarchal system of Mosuo people.
• An important Station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road: Lijiang is the transfer station of the Ancient Tea Horse Road. It was a center for the economic and cultural communication between various ethnic groups   such as the Naxi, Han, Tibetans, and Bai. For those people who want to track back the Ancient Tea Horse Road, Shuhe Ancient Town and Lashi Lake will be the best places for you to feel the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
•  S pectacular Natural Sceneries : Lijiang is a paradise for the natural attractions, such as the grand  Jade Dragon Snow Mountain , wonderful  Tiger Leaping Gorge , mysterious  Lugu Lake.  What’s more, Lijiang is a good place to go hiking or cycling due to the good natural environment, including Tiger Leaping Gorge , Wenhai Lake and Lashi Lake .

Hot Destinations in Lijiang

• Baisha Ancient Town
• Tiger Leaping Gorge

Other Destinations in Lijiang

• Lijiang Ancient Town
• 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 Attractions

When you come to Lijiang, do not worry what to do in Lijiang. Lijiang Attractions are abundant and are full of all kinds, including natural sceneries, human sceneries and villages where you can experience the rich ethnic culture. As the capital of Naxi Kingdom, Lijiang is one of important UNESCO Heritage Sites. The beautifully preserved Lijiang Ancient Town is abundant in natural and cultural resources. Lijiang is a paradise for the natural attractions, such as the grand Jade [...]

More Lijiang Attractions >>

• Lijiang Tours

As one of the most important destinations on the Yunnan classic tour routes, Lijiang Tours are connected with other top destinations in Yunnan, like Kunming, Dali and Shangri-La, etc. Lijiang City Tour is the recommended one for people who come to Lijiang for the first time. Lijiang is a place where has profound history, numerous attractions. In Lijiang, you can visit the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge, lucid Lugu Lake,  gorgeous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, attractive Lijiang Ancient Town, paradise for [...]

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

Climate & When to Go

Lijiang Weather & Climate describes information with temperature & precipitation. Find out the best time to visit Lijiang and see the season highlights in Lijiang Yunnan. It also tells you what to wear in different seasons and clothes packing for your trip to Lijiang Yunnan. With an altitude of 2,400 meters above sea level, Lijiang Climate belongs to the highland climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons. The average annual temperature is 12.6℃ without drastic changes. It has three different climatic [...]

More Lijiang Climate & When to Go >>

Transportation

This part mainly introduces Lijiang Transportation in detail, which help you choose the best way to get to Lijiang. Lijiang City is located in the junction of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the northwest of Yunnan Province. It is connected to Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the north and Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in the south. It is adjacent to the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in the west, bordering Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and [...]

More Lijiang Transportation >>

• Festivals and Activities

Lijiang is always regarded as one of the important destinations in the classical Yunnan Travel. Lijiang Festivals and Activities include a brief introduction of festivals and activities, and tell travelers what to do in Lijiang, such as including San Duo Festival, Impression Lijiang Show and more events. There are 22 ethnic groups in Lijiang City, including,  Bai, Yi, Lisu, Naxi, Tibetan, Dai and other ethnic groups. Festivals in Lijiang As the prominent ethnic minority inhabited in [...]

More Lijiang Festivals and Activities >>

Travel Tips

When you go to a new place, you should know some useful information to make your journey more convenient and save your time. Lijiang is always regarded as one of the important destinations in the classical Yunnan Travel. Yunnan Exploration provides the detailed information about Lijiang Travel Tips, which make your Lijiang Travel more convenient and interesting. Useful Numbers Fire: 119 Police: 110 Traffic: 122 Ambulance: 120 Area Code: 0888 [...]

More Lijiang Travel Tips >>

Useful Maps

Lijiang is always regarded as one of the important destinations in the classical Yunnan Travel. Lijiang Maps in English includes Maps List of Lijiang Tourist Attractions, Maps of Lijiang Tours, Maps of Transportation. It shows the specific location maps of main roads, transportation, railway, stations, bus stations, expressway, administrative division, famous tourist attractions, travel & tours, banks and hospitals. If we go to somewhere new, maps are good facilitators for us. Yunnan Exploration provides the complete maps related to Lijiang, refer to [...]

More Lijiang Useful Maps >>

• Lijiang Accommodation

Lijiang Accommodation will solve the problem-where to stay in Lijiang. Lijiang Accommodation and Hotels Booking introduces the recommended 5-star luxury hotels, comfortable, economic and cheap hostels in Lijiang. As a top tourist resort, there are a lot of inns and hotels in Lijiang with different standards. You may have enjoyed the 5-star modern hotels, however, it will be special to stay at hotels with traditional style and standard hygiene like Inter Continental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort which presents beautiful Nakhi [...]

More Lijiang 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

Blogs About Lijiang

More blogs about Lijiang >>

You Might Like

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lijiang Travel Guide

Things to do.

• Lijiang Shopping
• Lijiang Culture

Travel Information

• Lijiang Travel Tips
• Lijiang Climate
• Lijiang Transportation
• Lijiang Maps
• Lijiang Photos
• Lijiang Dining
• Lijiang Education
• Lijiang Travel blog
• Lijiang Travel News
• Administrative Divisions

Tips Before Travel

Bring copies of your passport.

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

For your safety, please register with the Embassy.

Always have local cash

Exchange some local currency for your trip

Customize a Trip

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.

Latest Articles

Bamboo Tube Tea

Changning Black Tea (Changninghong)

Jinggu Da Bai Cha Tea-Jinggu White Tea

Huilong Tea in Lianghe County, Dehong

Bai Zhushan Tea in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong

Contact info.

Address: Hongxing Building, Lujia Road, Xishan Area, Kunming, Yunnan, China Wechat/QQ: 908400838 Office Call: 86-871-63560579 Email: [email protected] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/YasoTrip

Tel/Wechat/WhatsApp: +8618088243690 [email protected]

Daily: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Copyright © 2008 Yunnan Exploration. All rights reserved

Terms and Conditions Visit Yaso Travel Yunnan Travel Guide Yunnan Ethnic Culture 0Yunnan Festivals 0Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan About Us Feedback Blogs

Address: Hongxing Building, Lujia Road, Xishan Area, Kunming, Yunnan, China Wechat/QQ: 908400838 Office Call: 86-871-63560579 Email: [email protected] Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/YasoTrip Tel/Wechat/WhatsApp: +8618088243690 [email protected]

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.

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.

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Lijiang

• 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.

Top Destinations

Zhongyi Market

Zhongyi Market is the largest food and vegetable …

Red Sun Square

There is a tall sculpture of Mao Zedong …

Ninety-nine Dragon Lakes

Ninety-nine Dragon Lakes is located at the plateau …

Qingshui Old Town

Qingshui Old Town has rich cultural deposits. The …

Recent articles

Off the beaten trek: Tiger Leaping Gorge Part 2 – the Luke-Haba route

Hiking in Lijiang: Dry River Valley

Club Med Lijiang: The ultimate family getaway at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Off the beaten trek: Tiger Leaping Gorge part 1- Bamboo forest path

Restaurants.

Prague Café (Lijiang)

Australia House

Papillon Rouge Restaurant

K2 Hostelling International

Dianjunwang Hotel

Ancient Stone Bridge Inn

East River Hotel

Trips & activities.

The Tea Horse Trail of rural Lijiang

Lijiang Minority Villages Ecotour

Trek on the High Trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge

Trek along the Ancient Stone Village of Baoshan

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

• August 1, 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 buildings designed following the traditions of the Naxi (one of the Chinese ethnic minorities), 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 area’s highlights, 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 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. It is a good place for hiking and has 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 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 for visiting 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 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.
• 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.

Related articles

Kingdom of the Little People: Finding Happiness in a Miniature World

Xijiang (西江): a visit to the Thousand Household Miao Village in Guizhou

Quick Travel Guide to Fenghuang Old Town

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!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Our Travel Map
• Philippines
• Search for:

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)

  Advertisements

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) .

Advertisements

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

Find this article (free) in GPSmyCity app

Download this article to your mobile device for FREE . This article is available within the GPSmyCity travel app . Once the app is installed, search for the article name and save it for your offline usage! You could also upgrade (small fee) the article to get a map with GPS navigation to the sights. The map + GPS navigation can be used offline. Thus saving you money from mobile data!

Disclosure: We do receive a small royalty fee whenever someone upgrades our travel article. This fee goes a long way in helping us to maintain this travel blog. So that we can continue to do what we do best; inspiring the traveler in YOU!

Subscribe to us

Like what you've just read? Subscribe to our blog via registering your email below! You will receive email notification when there are any new posts.

Email Address

I want to subscribe!

Like it? Share it!

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Similar Posts

Lijiang (丽江) is a stunningly picturesque ancient city located in the northwest region of Yunnan... Read More

Places to see in Hanoi, Vietnam

In this blog, we’ll help you to understand more about the Vietnamese capital and what... Read More

Kuching Waterfront (Adventure in Sarawak,Malaysia Part 3/3)

This blog on Kuching Waterfront is Part 3/3 (last) of our series of blog on... Read More

Central Taiwan Itinerary (7 Days Self-Drive)

Planning a Central Taiwan trip and want to know the top things to do? Look... Read More

Pulau Ubin Cycling | Singapore

Pulau Ubin is one of the favourite cycling destination for many Singaporeans. With its largely... Read More

Taroko Gorge Blog (Hualien, Taiwan)

Taroko Gorge (太魯閣) is regularly featured as one of the top tourist destination in Taiwan.... Read More

How to drive to Resorts World Sentosa

This video shows how to drive from Singapore main island to Resorts World Sentosa. (Recorded:... Read More

Nha Trang VLOG

Top things to do in Nha Trang, Vietnam Located on the south-central coast of Vietnam,... Read More

Have something to tell us? Leave a comment! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• +86 28 85223672
• +86 28 85227275
• +86 191 3897 0032

• Beijing Xian Tours
• Shanghai Beijing Tours
• Hong Kong Guilin Tours
• Hangzhou Suzhou Tours
• Kunming Lijiang Tours
• Shanghai Yangtze Cruise Tours
• Chengdu Tibet Tours
• More Short Stay Tours
• China Tours in January
• China Tours in February
• China Tours in March
• China Tours in April
• China Tours in May
• China Tours in June
• China Tours in July
• China Tours in August
• China Tours in September
• China Tours in October
• China Tours in November
• China Tours in December

• High Speed Trains
• China Yangtze Cruise Tour
• Photography
• Desert Adventure
• Ethnic Villages
• Biking Tours
• Kung Fu Tours
• Heritage Sites Exploration
• China Spring Tours
• China Summer Tours
• China Autumn Tours
• China Winter Tours

Notice! 2024 available cruise routes include 4~5 days Chongqing-Yichang(most classic) and 11~12 days Chongqing-Yichang-Shanghai(limited).

• Best-value Yangtze Cruises
• Top Family-friendly Cruise Ships
• Top 3 Luxury Yangtze River Cruises
• Yangtze River Highlights
• Yangtze River Cruise Routes
• Upstream or Downstream?
• Dining & Drinking
• Accommodations
• On-board Activities
• Yangtze Cruise Booking Steps

• Inner Mongolia

• Fanjingshan
• How to Plan Your First China Tour
• How to Plan Beijing Tour
• How to Plan Xian Tour
• How to Plan Shanghai Tour
• How to Plan Guilin Tour
• How to Plan Sichuan Tour
• How to Plan Family Tour
• 2024 China Travel Ideas
• Best Time to Visit China
• What to Pack for Your China Journey
• Make Payment in China
• Updated China Travel News
• Ultimate Chinese Visa Guide
• Chinese Visa Types
• Chinese Visa Requirements
• Do I Need a Visa for China
• Chinese Visa Application
• Chinese Visa Exemptions
• 144-hour Visa Free
• Shenzhen Visa on Arrival
• Hainan 30-day Visa Free
• Embassies & Consulates
• Invitation Letter
• Useful Visa FAQs & Tips
• Entry Regulations
• Baggage Allowance
• Customs Declaration
• Exit Regulation
• How to Book Train Tickets
• How to Collect Train Tickets
• How to Cancel & Alter Train Tickets
• How to Read Train Tickets
• China High Speed Train Types
• Seats Class & How to Choose
• Friendly Facilities on the Train
• The Train Station Departure Process
• Available Food and Drinks on the Train
• Western Toilets on the Train
• Luggage Racks & Baggage Allowance
• Beijing Train Stations
• Shanghai Train Stations
• Guilin Train Stations
• Xian Train Stations
• Chengdu Train Stations
• Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station
• Beijing - Xian
• Beijing - Shanghai
• Guangzhou - Shanghai
• Shenzhen - Shanghai
• Chengdu - Xian
• Shanghai - Hangzhou
• Shanghai - Xian
• Chengdu - Chongqing
• Kunming - Lijiang
• Beijing Capital International
• Beijing Daxing International
• Shanghai Pudong International
• Shanghai Hongqiao International
• Guangzhou Baiyun International
• Hangzhou Xiaoshan International
• Chengdu Tianfu International
• Chengdu Shuangliu International
• Xian Xianyang International
• Shanghai - Beijing
• Hong Kong - Shanghai
• Guangzhou - Beijing
• Chengdu - Lhasa
• Shanghai - Guilin
• Shanghai - Sanya
• Travel in Spring Season
• Travel in Summer Season
• Travel in Autumn Season
• Travel in Winter Season
• Weather in January
• Weather in February
• Weather in March
• Weather in April
• Weather in May
• Weather in June
• Weather in July
• Weather in August
• Weather in September
• Weather in October
• Weather in November
• Weather in December
• Top 10 China Destinations
• Top 15 Things to Do
• China World Heritage Sites
• Top 10 Best Natural Beauties
• Top 10 Museums in China
• Top 10 Old Towns & Villages
• Five Great Mountains in China
• Top 10 Monasteries & Temples
• Top 10 Ski Resorts
• Top 10 Beautiful Lakes in China
• 7 Best Beaches in Sanya
• Top 6 Beautiful Waterfalls
• Panda Volunteering
• Having fun on Ice and Snow Festival
• About Us Who We Are Our Team Why Travel with Us Feedback & Reviews Travel Stories Travelers' Gallery Payment Guide Customer Support Contact Us
• Tour Experiences

Destinations

• Travel Guide

How to Plan a Lijiang Tour | Ultimate Lijiang Trip Planning Guide

Lijiang , the hottest destination in Yunnan Province in its northwest, is so famous in China and even all over the world. Someone said there is no thing to see in Lijiang for it is so commercialized. However, thousands of travelers surge into this amazing paradise on plateau to relax both their body and release their spirits. With a history over 800 years, the UNESCO World Heritage Lijiang Old Town is core place in Lijiang City. Its winding and complicated old streets become its main and collateral channels, clear flowing water through the ancient town is its blood, the Naxi exotic flavor and vivid cultures are its soul, the lively bars everywhere are its temperament, and of course, the surrounding magnificent 13 peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is its faithful guardian god. Yes, only its relaxing and romantic atmosphere attracts numerous travelers heading to Lijiang, needless to say the breathtaking natural beauty and its Naxi ethnic culture...Why not come?

So,  how to plan a tour to Lijiang (Yunnan)? Doing detailed research before your Lijiang Yunnan tour will make you travel smoothly and in a well-organized way. In our latest Lijiang trip planning guide, we have listed some essential travel information, like best time to visit, how to get to Lijiang, best attractions to see and top things to do, how long to spend and itineraries suggestions, where to stay and more for your Lijiang trip. Just take some time to read and make a perfect Lijiang travel plan for yourselves in 2024/2025!

Recommended Best Lijiang Tours:

> 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain" href="yunnan-tours/lijiang-cultural-natural-tour.html" target="_blank">>> 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

> 4 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Lijiang Highlights" href="lijiang-tours/tiger-leaping-gorge-hike-tour.html" target="_blank">>> 4 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Lijiang Highlights

Is It Possible to Choose Lijiang as the First Destination to Start a Yunnan Tour?

Lijiang is located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, about 517 kilometers from Kunming , the capital city of Yunnan. Usually, most travelers choose Kunming as the gateway city to start a week-long or even over 10 days Yunnan trip. Lijiang with very high popularity is served as the second gateway city in Yunnan. It has many flights well connecting with other destinations in China, and you can fly to Lijiang directly. It is possible to land in Lijiang first to start your amazing Yunnan tour. If your time is limited, you can only do Lijiang tour or Lijiang Shangri-La tour , Lijiang Dali tour .

Lijiang Weather & Best Time to Visit Lijiang

With an altitude of 2400 meters, Lijiang is situated at the transition zone of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It belongs to low latitude plateau monsoon climate characterized by cooler summers and warm winters. Winters are the sunniest and driest. Spring is a transitional season between the dry winter and the wet summer. Summers are warm and wet causing a muggy feel. Form September it gets drier and colder. The average annual temperature is around 13 °C. The rainy season is from June to September, with the heaviest and most recurrent rainfall periods occurring during July and August.

For the comfortable weather in four seasons, Lijiang is suitable for sightseeing all year around and the most recommended periods are in spring and autumn. In the most enjoyable spring and autumn season, no matter you want to have a relaxing wandering in Lijiang Old Town and overlook the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in distance, or extend to Tiger Leaping Gorge for some light hiking, it will definitively give you unforgettable experience. ( Useful Tip: Sunblock Stream, sunglasses, hat are highly recommended to bring to prevent the ultraviolet ray and heat.)

▶ Learn more about: Lijiang Climate, Weather, Temperature & Best Time to Visit

How to Get to Lijiang? Flights & Trains to Lijiang

Lijiang is on the most important position of Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La classic tourist route. Most travelers would like to put Lijiang into a long Yunnan tour and make it a middle stop. Some travelers also choose Lijiang as the first destination to start their Yunnan trip. Lijiang itself has an airport and a railway station to well connect with other cities in Yunnan and China. Travelers can take flights or high speed trains to Lijiang.

Flights to Lijiang

The airport in Lijiang is called Lijiang Sanyi Airport (IATA：LJG), which is the second largest airport in Yunnan after Kunming Changshui International Airport. Travelers can take flights to Lijiang from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Kunming, Xian, Chongqing, Changsha, Guiyang, Lhasa, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Xishuangbanna and more cities. International flights can connect Lijiang with Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul and more regions.

Lijiang Sanyi Airport is about 29 kilometers south of Lijiang Old Town. To get to the airport to Lijiang Old Town (Dayan Old Town), it needs about 40 minutes by driving.

High Speed Trains to Lijiang

Taking a high speed train to Lijiang is also a popular choice for most travelers. At present, high speed trains are limited, linking Lijiang with Kunming (about 3-3.5 hours) and  Guilin  (about 10.5 hours). Normal trains are served Lijiang with Dali (about 2 hours).

▶ Learn more about:   Lijiang Kunming High Speed Train Real-time Schedules

▶  5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour (Kunming / Lijiang)

All high speed trains arrives at Lijiang Railway Station now, which is about 8 kilometers south of Lijiang Old Town. To get to Lijiang Old Town from Lijiang Railway Station, you can go with our private car (about 0.5 hour), or by taxi (about 0.5 hour), bus (about 1 hour).

▶ Learn more about:   How to Get to & around Lijiang | How to Get to Lijiang Old Town

Top Attractions & Must-sees in Lijiang

To travel in Lijiang, it means you can have a classic discovery in Lijiang City for brilliant Naxi ethnic culture and it will be a good idea to travel out of Lijiang downtown area to explore more sites such as Tiger Leaping Gorge, the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Lugu Lake.

• Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang Old Town, also called Dayan Old Town, is a 800-year-old town listed into World Heritage Site in 1997. Besides, Lijiang Old Town with the highest reputation, is one of the four best-preserved ancient towns in China. When visiting Lijiang Old Town, it will be very relaxing to stroll along the flagstone-paved alleys and wander among the old wooden architecture clusters. You can catch the sight of Naxi people and have a little experience about their culture and customs. Must-see Attractions Inside: Mu’s Residence (木府), Wangu Tower (万古楼), Sifang Square (四方街) Recommended Visiting Time: about half day

• Black Dragon Pool

Black Dragon Pool, about 1km north of Lijiang Old Town, is a must-visit site when visiting Lijiang. It is the best place to catch the gorgeous appearance of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and view its reflection in the emerald and peaceful pool. Black Dragon Pool is the water source of Lijiang Old Town. When weather is fine, you can appreciate the beautiful sight integrating pure water, snow mountain and azure sky. It will be comfortable to take a walk in the park in the late afternoon. Naxi Dongba Culture Museum is just close to the park which can be visited in one go. Recommended Visiting Time: about 1-2 hours Distance from Lijiang Old Town: 1km, within 10 minutes’ walking

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Yulong Snow Mountain, with an altitude of 2296 meters, is the closest snow mountain to the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. The massif’s 13 peaks dominating the skyline of the surrounding regions like a dragon, hence got the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain . There are three kinds of cableway taking you up to the mountain - tramway to Glacier Park, tramway to Spruce Meadow and tramway to Yak Meadow. For most travelers, they would take tramway to Spruce Meadow, a natural paradise for sightseeing and hiking around. Tramway to Glacier Park is peak season and needs long time to queue up. Recommended Visiting Time: about half to 1 day Distance from Lijiang Old Town: 33km, about 1 hour’s driving

• Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge, is well located at the border of Lijiang and Shangri-La. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world, making it one of the 10 best hiking trails in China. Tiger Leaping Gorge is composed of three sections - upper gorge, middle gorge and lower gorge, situated between 5596 meters Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the south and 5396 meters Haba Snow Mountain to the north. Most travelers will spend about 2 to 2.5 hours hiking to Upper Gorge to view the rapid water flowing through the deep gorge. Recommended Visiting Time: about 2-2.5 hours Distance from Lijiang: 78km, about 1.5-2 hour’s driving Distance from Shangri-La: 103km, about 2-2.5 hours’ driving

Lugu Lake is located on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan. Many travelers who want to visit Lugu Lake usually go from Lijiang, with a distance of 205 kilometers. Lugu Lake is the “mother lake” by Mosuo people and it becomes “The Kingdom of Women” and “Home of the Matriarchal Tribe”. Traveling to Lugu Lake not only takes you step into a mysterious land to explore the matriarchal society and know its “visiting marriage”, but also feast your eyes with beautiful scenery of the Pearl of Plateau. Recommended Visiting Time: about 2 days Distance from Lijiang: 205km, about 4.5-5.5 hours’ driving

▶ Learn more about: Top Attractions in Lijiang | Top 10 Lijiang Attractions Rated by TripAdvisor.com

Best Things to Do in Lijiang

Overlook gorgeous appearance of jade dragon snow mountain.

The 13 peaks rising magnificently on the plateau from north to south gives more charm and mystery of Lijiang. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the holy mountain of Naxi people, with the highest altitude of 5596 meters. You must catch the chance to catch the snow-capped holy mountain in distance. When weather is clear, you are suggested to climb up the Lion Hill to Wangu Tower in Lijiang Old Town where you can both have a panoramic view of the whole Lijiang Old Town and see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in distance with peaks rising above the clouds. Another best spot to shoot amazing photos of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is at Black Dragon Pool - you can shoot the reflections in the clear pool.

Watch Impression Lijiang Show

Enjoying Impression Lijiang show after Jade Dragon Snow Mountain visiting will be a perfect ending of your trip. Impression Lijiang, an outdoor performance taking place in a natural theatre at 3200 meters above sea level, uses majestic 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". At noon, about 2 or 3 performances are displayed in Outdoor Theater at Ganhaizi.

Hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge in Classic or in-depth Way

No matter you have tight time or have about 2 or 3 days when planing a Tiger Leaping Gorge tour, you can have the amazing hiking experience you want.

Classic Short Hiking to Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge: Spend about 2-2.5 hours hiking along the trails leading down to the viewing platform of Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and you can have a close visit to the “angry river” and the “howling tiger”. This hiking tour is suitable for everyone even the elders.

In-depth Upper Trekking Route from Qiaotou to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge: This in-depth route includes about 9~11 hours wild hiking in full, so it usually be split to be finished in 2~3 days, with about 1~2 nights staying at the inns and guest houses in between.

Day 1: Qiaotou - Naxi Family Guesthouse - 28 Bends - Tea Horse Guesthouse/Halfway Guesthouse. Day 2: Tea Horse Guesthouse/Halfway Guesthouse - Tina's Youth Hostel - Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge - Tina's Youth Hostel - Get Out from Qiaotou.

▶ Learn more about: Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking: Map, Trekking Route & Tips

>> 3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

Local Life Feeling & Naxi Ethnic Cultural Experience

Lijiang is reputed as the capital of ethnic Naxi Kingdom. The local Naxi people are living in and around Lijiang Old Town. To observe their vivid daily life, you can have a morning visit to Zhongyi Market where you can see lots of local ethnic minority people dressing in their traditional Naxi costumes buying fruits, vegetables, daily necessities, etc.

To experience Naxi people’s ethnic culture, you can pay a visit to one of Naxi families’ home to closely know their daily life, learn Naxi Dongba language and their characters. If you like, you can try Naxi costumes and take photos with the local families. In Baisha Village, you can view the beautiful embroidery and if you want to learn how to make, you can learn from the locals.

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.

▶ Learn more about: Top 15 Things to Do in Lijiang

How Many Days to Spend in Lijiang? Recommended Lijiang Itineraries

Travelers usually enjoy 2-3 days in Lijiang to discover Lijiang Old Town (Mufu Palace, Wangu Tower and Sifang Square), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Old Town, Dongba mural paintings, Black Dragon Pool, etc. for a classic savory of this romantic ancient city.

In the northwest of Lijiang City with 1.5 hours’ driving, there is a famous deep gorge called Tiger Leaping Gorge lying between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, where you can enjoy classic short hiking in Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, also in-depth hiking experience from Qiaotou to Middle Tiger Gorge via upper trekking route.

If you have 3 days, you can go as following:

It is highly recommended to spend another 1 or 2 days exploring in Shangri-La where to seek the pure holy sceneries and Tibetan belief to catch the best essence of Yunnan province. You won’t miss Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo National Forest Park, and more.

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 to Lugu Lake  to enjoy more peaceful holiday time!

If you have 5 days, you can go as following:

If you have your own ideas, interests and requirements about your Lijiang trip, you can feel free to contact us to customize a trip on your own.

▶ Learn more about: All Itineraries & Recommended Tours in Lijiang

Where to Stay in Lijiang? Best Areas & Recommended Hotels for Accommodation

In a classic Lijiang trip, travelers usually would spend about 2 nights in Lijiang . For first timers in Lijiang, staying in Lijiang Old Town is usually the top choice. Even famous nationally for diverse types of delicate inns and hostels with beautiful decoration and almost all great comfortable equipment and bedding articles, you can find comfortable accommodation there. Also, prices of most hotels and hostels in Lijiang Old Town are relatively good. Besides, rightly within the No.1 attraction in Lijiang, staying there in the old town is best to enjoy the life style of Naxi ethnic people against the modern jubilant night bars. However, some hostels may be a little lack of sound insulation and way finding is a little hard for independent travelers by themselves.

For travelers who have in-depth trip in Tiger Leaping Gorge , it is recommended spend about 2 nights in the guesthouses and inns in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Therefore, environment and services are relatively lower than those in the city areas, however, hot water, Wi-Fi, bathroom, etc. are usually available at all inns.

If you have an extension exploration to Lugu Lake , you’ll also spend 2 night there. Villages around Lugu Lake offer some accommodation choices, however, the facilities and services usually cannot match those in Lijiang City and Kunming City.

▶ Learn more about: Where to Stay in Lijiang - 5 Best Accommodation Areas | Lijiang Luxury 5 Star Hotel List | Lijiang 4 Star Hotel List | Lijiang 3 Star Hotel List

Extend Your Lijiang Tour

To more destinations in yunnan.

Most travelers put Lijiang in the first place of their Yunnan trip. They would like to arrange it as the first destination or as the middle stop between Dali and Shangri-La. Yes, Yunnan Province is so vast and colorful with many stunning places connecting with convenient transportation. To enrich your travel experience, you are highly recommended to do as the others to enjoy a classic week long vacation in Yunnan. Since most travelers would land in Kunming first and it is a good idea to spend one or two days there visiting the incredible Stone Forest, overlooking Dian Lake from Dragon Gate of Western Hill, viewing local people’s daily life at Green Lake Park...then with a high speed train to Dali for about 1.5 days’ exploration to catch all the essences of Dali , including Dali Ancient City, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas and Xizhou Village to enjoy Bai people’s culture.. Transfer to  Lijiang  to meet the famous Lijiang Old Town and learn the mysterious Dongba culture within 2 days. Following the exciting Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking, enjoy another 2 days in  Shangri-La  to immerse into the earthly paradise with nice visiting of the holy monasteries and lovely landscapes.

Besides, you can extend from Kunming to Yuanyang to marvel at the unbelievable magnificent Yuanyang Rice Terraces , to Puzhehei to relax at the pleasant wonderland of lotus blossoms, to Luoping to be fond of the golden sea of rapeseed flowers, to Xishuangbanna to feel the enthusiastic Dai ethnic people and the lush tropical forest, etc.

Most Popular Dali Yunnan Tour Packages:

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

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

6 Days Kunming, Dali & Lijiang Essence Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang)

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

To More Destinations in China

Only a Yunnan tour is not complete for your visiting in China. It is a great idea to cover Yunnan with more places around China to savor more amazing landscape, culture, history, ethnic minority customs, food, etc. in one go, such as Guilin with Karst landform wonders, Guizhou with wonderful ethnic beauties, Chengdu with adorable giant pandas, Beijing with profound ancient royal Forbidden City, Shanghai with modern cityscape, Xian with impressing Terracotta Warriors, Zhangjiajie with incredible Avatar Mountains, and more like Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Yangtze River, Lhasa, etc. If you have any idea about planning your Dali China trip, please feel free to contact us for help!

Most Popular Lijiang China Tour Packages:

10 Days Classic Sichuan & Yunnan Highlights Tour (Chengdu / Leshan / Mount Emei / Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

9 Days Meet Yunnan Nature & Culture from Hong Kong by Bullet Train (Hong Kong / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

10 Days Yunnan & Guizhou Amazing Minorities Tour (Shanghai / Zhangjiajie / Kaili / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri-la / Kunming)

Travel with China Discovery

China Discovery has been the leading online travel agency for over 10 years and we are specialized in offering different tours in diverse Yunnan, including Kunming tours , Lijiang tours , Dali tours , Shangri-La tours , Yuanyang Rice Terraces tours , Dongchuan Red Land tours, Xishuangbanna tours...

No matter you want to put one simple destination into your trip or cover several destinations together or even extend your Yunnan tour all over China, China Discovery can provide you best tour guides and experienced drivers with comfortable private cars in any of the destinations. Our English-speaking tour guide will accompany you all the way, showing you the best traveling route and telling beautiful stories of the colorful Yunnan. The tour can be tailor-made according to your group size, time, physical condition, plan, interests, budget and other special need . Please feel free to  contact us  if you need any help or customize the tour with free quotation!

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable trips to Yunnan for the past few years. Among them Mr. Elie & his wife from Belgium had 15 great days in Yunnan during their 69 days China trip customized with us and shared us their special travel story . Travel with China Discovery to create your wonderful Yunnan trip memories!

Keep Reading on Lijiang

• Blue Moon Valley
• Lijiang 15 Best Things to Do
• Lijiang Top Attractions on TripAdvisor
• Lijiang Attractions
• Lijiang Transportation
• Lijiang Weather
• Lijiang Where to Stay
• Lijiang Hotels
• Lijiang Maps
• Lijiang Travel Guide
• Lijiang Tours

Useful Yunnan Travel Articles

• Yunnan Travel Guide
• How to Plan a Yunnan Tour
• Yunnan Tours
• Kunming Tours
• Shangri-La Tours
• Yuanyang Tours
• 10 Best Places to Visit in Yunnan
• Yunnan Attractions
• Yunnan Transportation
• Yunnan Weather & Seasons
• Yunnan Minorities
• Yunnan Ethnic Festivals
• Yunnan Ethnic Markets
• Yunnan Maps

Recommended Lijiang Yunnan Tours

Top 3 Lijiang Yunnan tours chosen by most customers to explore Lijiang Yunnan in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour

Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La

10 Days Beautiful Yunnan Tour with Dongchuan Red Land

Kunming / Dongchuan / Kunming / Stone Forest / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La

11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour

Kunming / Stone Forest / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La

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

Have a question? Get answers from our travel experts or guests

• Your Question:
• Your Email:
• Affordable and valuable price
• 100% tailor-made packages
• Highly rated customers reviews
• Efficient customer support

China Tours

• Top 10 China Tours
• Classic China Tours
• China Tours from Beijing
• China Tours from Shanghai
• China Tours from Hong Kong
• China Tours from Chengdu
• Short China Trips
• Customize China Tour
• China Panda Tours
• Family Tour with Kids
• High-Speed Train Tour
• Silk Road Travel
• Yangtze River Cruise
• Hiking & Trekking Tours
• Photography Tours
• China Minority Travel
• Beijing Shanghai Tours
• Shanghai Yangtze Tours
• Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Tours
• Chengdu Lhasa Tours
• Suzhou Hangzhou Tours
• Guilin & Yangshuo
• Zhangjiajie

“Very good experience”

“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”

“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”

Any questions, please email us at: [email protected] or call us at: +86-28-85223672 / +86-28-85227275 / +86-19138970032 (Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. GMT+8)

• Terms & Condition
• Privacy Policy
• Customer Support

Copyright © 2011-2024. All rights reserved.

Cookie policy

We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Continue using our website means you agree with our cookie policy. For more info, please read here .

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.

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

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

Related posts.

The Stone Forest and the legend of Ashima

From Lijiang to Lugu Lake: Chronicle of a Hectic Trip

Gubeikou: Hiking on the Wild Great Wall

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Overview

Get 3 Months FREE with EXPRESS VPN

+ Best VPN For China + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee + 24/7 Live China Customer Support + 3 Months Free on 12 Months Package

• 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

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.

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.

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.

• 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.)

• 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).

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.

Gucheng District

• 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

• 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

• 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.  
• 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.  

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.

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.

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

• 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 .  

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 .  

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 ( 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

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.

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.

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• UNESCO tag to be fixed
• Has custom banner
• Has map markers
• Airport listing
• Has mapframe
• Do listing with no coordinates
• Buy listing with no coordinates
• Eat listing with no coordinates
• Drink listing with no coordinates
• Sleep listing with no coordinates
• Articles with dead external links
• Listing with multiple email addresses
• Northwestern Yunnan
• All destination articles
• Guide cities
• Guide articles
• City articles
• Has Geo parameter
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

Top 10 Lijiang Attractions

Lijiang attractions are dominated by the awesome scenery of places like Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but the ancient town of Lijiang itself is a window into China's past. With museums, temples, and ethnic minorities the tourist spots will certainly give you a cultural experience.

Lijiang is a great area for trekking , with mountains, lakes (like Lugu Lake), and the Yangtze in its thunderously gushing upper course. Our Lijiang tours take you to the ancient town surrounded by towering mountains and ensure you see the highlights.

1. Old Town of Lijiang

The most famous attraction in Lijiang is the Old Town of Lijiang. Unlike other ancient cities, the Old Town of Lijiang has no surrounding walls. Small bridges, flowing water, white walls, blue tiles, shops, and visitors are the elements that make it come alive. To know more, see Old Town of Lijiang .

2. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon (Yulong) Snow Mountain is in the closest snow-capped mountain range to the equator outside the Andes. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is sacred in the hearts of Naxi people .

Glaciers, canyons, waterfalls, and colorful azaleas blooming at different elevations, not to mention its snowy summits, make up the most beautiful scenery of the mountain. Its main peak, Shanzidou, 5,596 meters (18,359 feet) above sea level, has not yet been conquered.

Check out more information on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain .

• Recommended tour: 1-Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour

3. Impression Lijiang

Impression Lijiang is a magnificent outdoor singing and dancing performance demonstrating the traditions and lifestyle of the local ethnic people. The show is staged at 3,100 meters (10,100 feet) above sea level with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the breathtaking backdrop. To know more, see Impression Lijiang .

4. Tiger Leaping Gorge

After turning a corner (its "first bend") in Stone Drum (Shigu) Town, the Jinsha River is still, wide, and gentle. Then it encounters the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain ranges looming in front of it. However, it does not retreat, but breaks through a narrow channel and continues running north, thus forming the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge.

April, September, and October are the best times to hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge. See more on Tiger Leaping Gorge — One of China's Best Hikes .

• Recommended tour: Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

5. Lugu Lake

Enjoying stunning scenery, Lugu Lake is known as " the mysterious oriental Kingdom of Women " for its unique Mosuo culture — Mosuo people have sometimes been described as the last matriarchal society in the world.

Check out more information on Lugu Lake .

6. The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area refers to the area where the Jinsha River (the Yangtze), Lancang River (the Mekong), and Nu River (the Salween) flow in parallel from north to south for more than 170 kilometers in Yunnan Province spanning 9 nature reserves and 10 scenic spots in Lijiang, Diqing, and Nujiang. To know more, see Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area .

• Recommended tour: 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong

7. Baisha Village

Baisha Village is the most primitive Naxi village . It is the earliest settlement of the Naxi people and the birthplace of Tusi, chief of the Mu clan.

The 55 Baisha fresco pieces, drawn in the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, are the highlight. See more on Baisha Village .

• Recommended tour: 3-Day Essence of Lijiang Tour

8. Shuhe Ancient Town

Shuhe Ancient Town is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ancestors in Lijiang and also an important, well-preserved town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, showing the Naxi's transition from agricultural civilization to commercial civilization. It is similar to Lijiang Ancient Town, but quieter.

Check out more information on Shuhe Ancient Town .

9. First Bend of the Yangtze River

The Yangtze River surges down from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, enters Yunnan from Deqin County through Tibet, and then turned to the northeast due to the obstruction of the cliff in Stone Drum (Shigu) Town , forming a huge V-shaped turn for dozens of kilometers long. This is the "First Bend of the Yangtze River".

Check more information for the First Bend of the Yangtze River .

10. The Mufu (The Mu Clan's Mansion)

The Mu clan of the Naxi ruled Lijiang as vassals of the Ming Empire (1368–1644) and then as vassals of the Manchus of the Qing Empire (1644–1912). The Mufu was their "Forbidden City" in Lijiang Ancient Town . Today's Mufu Palace is rebuilt on the original site. See more on Mufu Mansion .

More Lijiang Attractions

• Dongba Museum is the best place to learn about Dongba ('wise man') culture, the ancient culture of the Naxi.
• Jade Spring Park , also known as Black Dragon Pool Park, is beautiful with a large crystal pool, luxuriant trees, a tall mountain, and historic buildings.
• Lashi Lake is the largest alpine lake in Lijiang and the best for flowers and birds watching.
• Baoshan Stone Village: Houses in the village are all made of natural stones by its Naxi inhabitants. Hike there for quaint architecture, rice terraces, and a remote ethnic village on a rock by the Yangtze.
• Baishui River: It is a river formed by the melting ice of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. See its elegant cascades on white stone terraces.

Get Your Ideal Lijiang Tour Here

All our Lijiang tours are fully-customizable. You could contact us with what you'd like us to do, including creating your own personalized tour from scratch.

• 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour — Meet the Amazing Beauty of Yunnan
• 7-Day Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, and Lijiang Tour — A Memorable Winter Trip in Yunnan
• See more Lijiang tours or Yunnan Tours for inspiration

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

More travel ideas and inspiration, sign up to our newsletter.

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Why China Highlights

Where can we take you today.

• Southeast Asia
• Japan, South Korea
• India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri lanka
• Central Asia
• Middle East
• African Safari
• Travel Agents
• Loyalty & Referral Program
• Privacy Policy

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

• 1 Day to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• 1 Day to Tiger Leaping Gorge
• 2 Days to Lugu Lake
• 3 Days Private Tour
• 5 Days with Shangri-la
• 8 Days Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La
• Baisha Village
• Blue Moon Valley

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade spring park.

• Lijiang Old Town
• Mu's Residence

Shuhe Ancient Town

• Three Parallel Rivers
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Impression Lijiang
• Lijiang Mural
• Naxi Ancient Music

Top 10 Things to Do in Lijiang

Lijiang ancient town.

Hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge

See Murals at Baisha Village

Watch the Ethnic Performance – Impression Lijiang

Guanyin canyon.

• [email protected]
• 86-773-286-5632 (Intl rates apply)

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

Request a custom itinerary today and get one step closer to your personalized trip

Create Your Trip

• China Tours
• Tailor-made

+86 015977325784 [email protected] Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm China Time

• Destinations
• Seniors Pace
• World Heritage
• Zhangjiajie
• Inner Mongolia
• Plan My Asia Trip
• Travel Guide

Lijiang travel guide: attractions, weather, food, hotels, local culture, itinerary, etc.

• 01. Step 1: Where to go in China
• 02. Step 2: When to go in China
• 03. Step 3: How to Visit Tibet in 2021 — Suggestions and

Lijiang City, a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Province, is located at the southeastern edge of the Qinghai - Tibet Plateau, at the junction of the Yunnan- Guizhou Plateau and the Tibetan Plateau,the highest point is the main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain . Lijiang borders Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Panzhihua City in Sichuan to the east, covering a total area of 20,600 square kilometers. With a permanent population of 1.25 million,It was once a transit station on the Silk Road and the Ancient Tea Horse Road , boasting a rich history. Lijiang is the only prefecture-level city in China that boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites simultaneously. it has become an extremely popular travel destination in China.

Culture of Lijiang

The origin of the name "Lijiang" has two main theories: One is that it comes from the Jinsha River, which originally had the name "Lishui" (meaning "plow water") due to its source being near the Tibetan border. Over time, "Li" was mistakenly replaced with "Li," thus naming the river "Lijiang." The second theory is that the river was historically known for producing gold, and "Jin" (meaning "gold") combined with "beautiful water" led to the ancient name "Lishui," which evolved into " Lijiang ."

Lijiang is an internationally renowned tourist city and a national historical and cultural city, serving as an important passage on the ancient " Southern Silk Road " and the " Tea Horse Road ". It is a multi-ethnic region where, in addition to the Han, there are 12 indigenous ethnic minorities and 22 minority groups in total. Each ethnic group has its own unique festivals, dance, folk songs and culture. Such as Nakhi,The Nakhi people are renowned for their splendid Dongba Culture which is characterized with a mixture of Tibet culture and Han culture. In Lijiang you’ll be able to access various souvenirs of Dongba culture.

More Culture of Lijiang  »

Must-visit Attractions

It is rich in tourism resources, featuring 104 tourist attractions including the Ancient City of Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Laojun Mountain, and Shuhe Ancient Town etc.

Old Town of Lijiang: Lijiang Old Town is a national-level historical and cultural city, first established in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty (late 13th century), it is the most well-preserved ancient town with distinctive Naxi ethnic characteristics in China. In December 1997, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: In the Nakhi language, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is called "Olu," meaning "Heavenly Mountain." Its thirteen snow-capped peaks stretch continuously, resembling a "giant dragon" soaring and dancing, which is why it is named "Jade Dragon." It is considered a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people. It remains covered in snow year-round, with the snow line ranging between 4,800 and 5,000 meters.

Tiger Leaping Gorge: Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in China. It is renowned for its dramatic and rugged scenery. After the river flows into the gorge, it narrows to just over 50 meters at its narrowest point, where a tiger or leopard could leap across, hence the name Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Shuhe Ancient Town: Shuhe Ancient Town is renowned not only for its rich cultural landscapes but also for its well-preserved ancient buildings, wells, and pathways. It has become a tourist destination that combines natural scenery, cultural heritage, and ethnic customs. This small town with 1,000 years history.

Lugu Lake: Lugu Lake, situated at an altitude of 2,680 meters, with the deepest point reaching 93 meters. The water is clear and blue, with a visibility of 12 to 14 meters, making it one of the deepest freshwater lakes in China. Mosuo people live here and still maintain a matriarchal family structure and are known as the "Mystical Kingdom of Women."

Mu's Residence: It is the Tusi Mu's Yamen of the Nakhi Ethnic Group in Yunnan.The Mu's Residence fully reflects the elegance and grandeur of Ming Dynasty architecture, while also preserving the simple and bold style reminiscent of Tang and Song Dynasty architecture from the Central Plains. This residence has even been compared to the Forbidden City in Beijing, earning the nickname "Northern Forbidden City, Southern Mu's Residence."

Read More Attractions in Lijiang  »

Local Food and Snacks

Lijiang's cuisine is a delightful blend of Nakhi, Tibetan, and Yunnan flavors, offering unique dishes such as Nakhi Pickled sour fish,Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles,and baba, a type of local flatbread. The vibrant food markets and traditional restaurants provide a rich culinary experience that reflects the region's diverse cultural heritage.

Lijiang Baba: comes in both sweet and savory flavors. It is a unique Nakhi-style pastry. The main ingredients are fine wheat flour mixed with clear spring water to form dough. and filled with sesame seeds, walnuts, and other ingredients. Finally, they are cooked in a flat-bottomed pan over low heat until golden brown.

Butter tea : is made with butter, eggs, salt, hemp seeds, peanuts, walnuts, and brewed tea leaves. These ingredients are placed in a long, slender wooden tube and stirred repeatedly with a wooden stick. Locals also call this process "making butter tea." It is a primary way of drinking tea for many ethnic groups in Lijiang.

Steam Pot Chicken: This is a traditional Yunnan dish made with chicken that is cooked in a steaming pot with local mushrooms, herbs, and spices. The dish is flavorful and aromatic. It has the effects of nourishing and tonifying the body, replenishing blood, and strengthening the spleen and appetite. In September 2018, it was recognized as one of the "Top Ten Classic Dishes of Yunnan" in the "China Cuisine" awards.

Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles: This is a famous dish made with rice noodles, vegetables, meat, and a rich broth. The dish is served with a separate bowl of hot broth, and diners add the ingredients to the broth to cook them.

Read More Food-Restaurants in Lijiang  »

Best Things to Do in Lijiang

In the beautiful and ancient city of Lijiang, there are many intriguing experiences waiting for you. You can stroll through the ancient town of Lijiang to immerse yourself in the charm of this millennia-old city. Explore the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain , Trek at Tiger Leaping Gorge which is one of the most famous gorges in the world for its precipitous terrain. Admire Historic Murals in Baisha Village,visit Lugu lake and know the culture of Mosuo people, who still maintain matriarchal society known as "the Kingdom of Women". Look for Joseph Rock's Former Residence in Yuhu village. Ride a Horse in Lijiang. The most classic horseback riding experience is along the Ancient Tea Horse Road route in Lijiang. Besides that, Lijiang Old Town has a bar street with various bars of different styles. At night, you may can find one that suits your taste and enjoy the wonderful moments in the music.

Tips: Avoid going to bars if you have just arrived in Lijiang. Since Lijiang is located on a plateau, drinking a lot of alcohol immediately upon arrival can cause altitude sickness.

Read More Best things to do in Lijiang  »

Activities to Experience in Lijiang

Lijiang offers a wide range of activities and programs, encompassing culture, art, and tourism, all aimed at showcasing Lijiang's cultural charm and tourism resources. For example, you can experience Lijiang Naxi copper craft, enjoy Dongba Papermaking,explore Nakhi embroidery in Baisha ancient town etc.As for the local lifestyle various festivals expose you to a world of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Wherever you go, you will find a harmonious combination of tradition and fashion in Lijiang.

Bangbang Festival: (Jan 15th) This is an important cultural activity of the Nakhi people. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, in addition to customs similar to the Han people, such as eating yuanxiao (glutinous rice dumplings) and viewing lanterns, there are also activities with distinct local ethnic characteristics.

Sanduo Festival: (Feb 8th) On the eighth day of the second lunar month, a festival with over 1,200 years of history is celebrated, which has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. It is one of the most important traditional festivals for the Naxi people. They dress in their finest attire and participate in activities such as traditional dancing, showcasing the ancient and rich Nakhi culture.

Torch Festival: (June 24th) It is celebrated on the 24th or 25th day of the sixth month of the Yi calendar, the Yi people celebrate the festival to eradicate insect swarms and celebrate a good harvest, they wear festival suits, play Yu-kin musical instruments and the great three-stringed instrument to participate in Torch Festival.

Spring Festival: (Feb 10th) During the Spring Festival, known in Lijiang as "You Ben Ji Zheng" or "Ku Shi," which means New Year, the Nakhi people celebrate with various customs. They place camellia flowers in vases, put up spring couplets and door gods, and prepare a variety of dishes, fruits, and offerings. They also worship the "Kitchen God" and welcome their ancestor’s "home" to celebrate the New Year.

Read More Activities in Lijiang  »

Best Time and Season to Visit Lijiang

The best time to visit Lijiang normally is during the spring and autumn seasons, from March to May and September to November. During this period, you can enjoy pleasant weather and beautiful scenery, making it an ideal time for travel when temperatures are around 21°C to 23°C.

Spring - (March to May) the climate in Lijiang is warm and flowers are in full bloom, providing the perfect opportunity to experience Nakhi culture.

Summer - (Jun to August) Although Lijiang is described as a summer retreat, it is often rainy and crowded with tourists. It's advisable to prepare for rain and plan your itinerary in advance.

Autumn - (September to November) is the peak season for traveling in Lijiang, Autumn are considered the best times to visit Lijiang as the weather is more pleasant, blue sky, beautiful sceneries. and temperatures that are not as hot as in the summer.

Winter - (December to February) it is a bit cold. can feel damp and rainy, requiring thicker long-sleeved clothing to stay warm.

Peak Season: May to October,generally runs from May to National Day in October , especially during holidays and festival.

Read more Lijiang weather  »

Luxury Hotel in Lijiang

The Lijiang hotel seamlessly blends modern elements with ethnic characteristics, and natural landscapes, offering guests a unique cultural experience.

InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort - is architecture and interiors are heavily influenced by the local Naxi and Dongba cultures, with contemporary design elements seamlessly incorporated into the public spaces. you will enjoy your time with high true hospitality.

Jinmao Hotel Lijiang,the Unbound Collection by Hyatt - is adjacent to Shuhe Ancient Town and seamlessly blends modern fashion elements with ethnic characteristics, allowing you to experience the beauty and cultural richness of Lijiang. Each room features a private balcony where you can sit and enjoy the stunning views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa - is located adjacent to ShuHe Ancient Town with uninterrupted views to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the hotel covers 150 acres, with design inspiration drawn from the traditional architecture of the local Nakhi people. The private villas are scattered throughout the serene garden, creating a tranquil retreat.

Hylla Vintage Hotel - the Nakhi-style courtyard hotel features five courtyards, each with 5 to 7 guest rooms. Each room, ranging from 60 to 65 square meters, offers stunning views of snow-capped mountains, forests, meadows, and traditional residences.

Read More Luxury Hotel in Lijiang  »

How to Plan an Itinerary in Lijiang

Visiting the top classic attractions in Lijiang takes about 2 full days. Adding arrival and departure time, you'll need approximately 3-4 days.

Here some suggestion for 3days sightseeing in Lijiang

• Day1: Areval, Lijiang old Town sightseeing
• Day2: Explore Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit Baisha Village and have a nice experience of Nakhi culture.
• Day3: Go to Tiger Leaping Gorge for hike .
• All the itinerary are flexible.Just contact us ,please.We would be honored to customize a perfect, personalized itinerary specifically for you.

Read More Itinerary of Lijiang  »

Customize Your Unique Lijiang Tour

If you are interested in one of the Lijiang itineraries mentioned above, please contact us , and we will be happy to customize it and provide a quote tailored to your preferences.

Alternatively, if you would like to customize your Lijiang Tour , please visit our Lijiang Tour Customized Center . We assure you that you will receive a reply within 24 working hours.

Informative Articles for Your Lijiang Trip

• Travel Guide : attractions, seasons, hotels, food, itineraries, etc.
• Top destinations : places to visit in Lijaing
• Travel itineraries : best itineraries for your reference
• Weather : the best time and seasons to visit Lijaing
• Top attractions :well-selected top attractions in Lijaing
• Cultural immersions : hands-on activities to spotlight your trip
• Unique perspective : top different things to do
• Local food : what to eat while traveling in Lijaing
• Luxury hotels : where to stay in Lijaing
• Lijiang Tours : tailor-made Lijiang Tours for your reference

Hi, I’m Helen Tang, if you like my article, please share it with your friends. Any sugguestions on this article, please contact me . Thanks!

Want to plan a private Lijiang tour? CREATE NOW

CONTENT DIRECTORY

South of the Clouds Yunnan : 10 Days Yunnan Tour to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri La

CREATE MY TRIP

FABULOUS TOUR COMPANY

CHINA OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019 We researched several companies and studied reviews on Trip Adviser before contacting who did a very China Culture Tour with an initial query. Right from the outset Grace who owns the company was excellent. She emailed detailed with pictures information and a suggested… read more details

Karen from US

Ready to Create a Unique Dream Travel?

Create My Vacation

• CHINA CULTURE TOUR: OUR CULTURE, YOUR TOUR!
• Best Tailor-made Classic China Tours
• Cultural Experiences for a China Tour
• WOW Seasonal China Tours
• Our Best Tour Ideas for You