Lijiang丽江
A UNESCO-listed Naxi old town beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the base for Tiger Leaping Gorge and Shangri-La.
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
- Best time
- October–May
- Sights covered
- 4 must-sees
Why visit Lijiang
The Old Town of Lijiang was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1997 for its canals, stone bridges and wooden Naxi houses. The main town, Dayan, is very commercial now; the smaller settlements of Shuhe and Baisha nearby keep more of the old atmosphere.
Lijiang sits at around 2,400 m with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rising to the north. It is the jumping-off point for Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lugu Lake and the road north to Shangri-La.
Must-see in Lijiang
- Lijiang Old Town & Wangu Tower — Views over the rooftops.
- Black Dragon Pool — Classic reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
- Baisha murals — Ming-dynasty murals and a quiet Naxi village.
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain — Cable cars climb to over 4,500 m — tickets are capped.
Getting there, getting around, staying
- Best time to visit
- October–May. July–August is the rainy season and the busiest for domestic tourism.
- Getting there
- Lijiang Sanyi airport (LJG) has domestic flights. High-speed trains run from Kunming (around 3 hours) and Dali (about 1.5 hours). Lijiang is listed among the 240-hour transit ports.
- Getting around
- Walk in the old town; DiDi or a driver for Baisha, Shuhe and the mountain.
- Stay: Dayan Old Town (edges)
- Courtyard guesthouses; choose a quieter lane.
- Stay: Shuhe
- Smaller, calmer old town 4 km north.
What to eat in Lijiang
- Naxi baba flatbread.
- Yak meat hotpot.
- Chicken bean jelly (jidou liangfen).
Day trips
- Tiger Leaping Gorge (2 hours).
- Shuhe and Baisha villages.
Field notes
- Lijiang Old Town charges an ancient-town maintenance fee — budget for it.
- Take altitude seriously on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; oxygen canisters are sold at the base.
FAQ
Is Lijiang too touristy?
Dayan’s main streets are crowded and commercial. Stay in a side lane or in Shuhe, go out early, and spend time in Baisha and the countryside.
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