# Lijiang travel guide (丽江) Yunnan Province · Southwest, China · 18 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/yunnan/lijiang ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Lijiang Old Town → Wanku Tower → Mufu Mansion → Sifang Square - **Day 2:** Lijiang Old Town → Shuhe Ancient Town → Baisha Mural Village → Dongba Pantheon Park → Yuhu Village → Li - **Day 3:** Lijiang Old Town → Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - **Day 4:** Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri-La ## The feel of the place - **Naxi Elders:** Wherever elderly people go about their daily lives, a town carries a palpable sense of history, the passage of time and the weathering of years. Lijiang is such a town. Yet the elders who once sat in small groups in front of their doors, wearing Naxi dress and chatting in the sun, are becoming fewer and fewer on Sifang Square, as many of them have now embraced modern life. - **An Unfortified Town:** “Unfortified” refers not only to the fact that Lijiang has no city walls, but also to a state of mind. Standing among an ancient town, towering snow peaks and gently flowing clear streams, visitors instinctively slow their pace and let down their guard. - **Shops Everywhere:** Following the layout of Sifang Square, the residences were built along the water, and today they have become shops, restaurants and bars, run by owners with accents from all over China. The number of shops keeps growing, selling a dizzying array of crafts: some are local specialties, others are wholesale goods from around the world, all of which will help you remember Lijiang long after you leave. ## The feel of the place ### Preparation and Information ### Language Lijiang's common languages are Mandarin and Naxi, but Lijiang locals and visitors from elsewhere alike use Mandarin. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Lijiang's annual average temperature is 12.6–19.8℃. Winters are mild and summers cool, and temperatures change little over the year, though morning and evening temperatures can feel like a blend of spring and summer. July and August are the rainy season, when landslides can disrupt travel plans. April–May and September–October are the best times to visit, both for the weather and for the state of the plants. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There The railway from Kunming to Lijiang is now complete, making train travel the most convenient way to reach Lijiang, with the route passing through Dali. The railway linking Lijiang with Shangri-La is under active construction. ### By Air Lijiang Sanyi Airport is about 30 km from the city centre. A civil aviation shuttle bus runs between the airport and the urban area, with the terminus at the courtyard of the Lijiang Civil Aviation Blue Sky Hotel in New Town. The journey takes about 50 minutes and the fare is ¥20. ### By Train ### By Road Lijiang has two main long-distance bus stations: Lijiang Passenger Station (New Station) and Lijiang Express Bus Station. ### Long-Distance Bus Stations and Destinations ### Getting Around ### Buses Buses within Lijiang mainly serve the major sights, and the fare is usually ¥1. ### Taxis Lijiang's main taxi stands are near Yulong Bridge, at the junction of the Old Town and New Town, and around the Dongba Cultural International Exchange Center. Some taxis also offer charter services to sights such as Yunshanping and Yufeng Temple. ### Lijiang Silverware The Old Town now has more silver shops than anything else, but nine or ten out of ten of the sellers are from Heqing in Dali, because Lijiang's traditional craft is copperware, not silverware. Copperware can be bought at Zhongyi Market in the Old Town. ### Tea-Horse Ancient Road In ancient Tibet, the local population relied mainly on farming and herding, eating plenty of meat and dairy but few vegetables, so tea, rich in vitamins, became a necessity for highland residents. On the steep mountain roads of northwest Yunnan, horses were the only means of transport, and they carved out the Tea-Horse Ancient Road, which crosses the Hengduan, Gangdise and Himalayan mountain ranges and fords the Jinsha, Nu, Lancang and Yarlung Tsangpo rivers. It is the longest-distance ancient trade route in the world, with a total length of over 10,000 li (about 5,000 km). The Tea-Horse Road has two main routes. One starts from the Pu'er tea-producing areas of Yunnan and runs through Xiaguan (Dali), Lijiang, Diqing and Deqen to Mangkang, Qamdo, Bomi and Lhasa in Tibet, then branches out to Zedang, Gyantse and Yadong in southern Tibet, and on to Myanmar and India. The other starts from Dajianlu (Ya'an) in Sichuan and runs through Luding, Kangding, Batang and Qamdo to Lhasa, then to Shigatse in southern Tibet, and on to Nepal and India. Lijiang was the most important market town on the Yunnan–Tibet Tea-Horse Road. ### Old Town Maintenance Fee On 4 December 1997, Lijiang Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Old Town charges visitors a maintenance fee. Within the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area, there are checkpoints where tickets are checked and top-ups sold, and tickets can also be bought at the Old Town scenic area, Black Dragon Pool and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. - **Lijiang Railway Station** — (L2-2, Yushuifang Commercial Street, Minzhu Road, Old Town District) ## Eat & drink “Lijiang baba and butter tea” are widely enjoyed across Yunnan, while pipa pork and chicken-bean jelly are also signature Lijiang dishes. “Three-layer water” is the Naxi people's answer to the Manchu-Han Feast. ### Specialty Food Streets Rong Po Restaurant on Shuangshi Duan, Xinhua Street, Old Town, is famous for its “three-layer water.” A small shop near Mufu Mansion specialises in Lijiang baba and is well known locally. Near Baisui Archway there is a small shop that wins repeat customers with its chicken-bean jelly. Xinyi Street is a short street that people call the “Snack Street,” with a concentration of many kinds of snacks. “Mama Fu” and “97” are large restaurants with many Chinese and foreign regulars. - **Jianghu Bar** — Hidden away from the “jianghu” outside, this fire-pit bar uses thick soundproof walls to shut out the folk-style atmosphere within, where singers belt out folk songs about faraway places. (41 Wangjiazhuang Lane, Wuyi Street, Old Town District, 15126096262) - **Amayi Naxi Eatery** — A long-established restaurant in Lijiang where you can try many local snacks, such as chicken-bean jelly and grilled fish. (18 Xingren Xiaduan, Wuyi Street, Old Town District (next to Xiao Shiqiao), 0888-5309588) - **No. 88 Snacks** — Arguably Lijiang's most popular street stall, it has become diners' first choice thanks to its low prices and consistent flavour. (88 Xingren Shangduan, Wuyi Street, Old Town District, 0888-8888676) - **Dianchu Restaurant** — Xiao guoba Naxi cuisine. Highly rated in Lijiang rankings, with delicious dishes and excellent service. (Inside Shipotian, 18 Zhenxing Lane, Wuyi Street, Old Town (middle section of Zhenxing Lane), 15608880033) ## Nightlife Naxi ancient music concerts and bars are the main components of Lijiang's nightlife. Sifang Square has many Naxi ancient music ensembles (Naxi ancient music concerts: A-grade ticket ¥160, B-grade ¥140, C-grade ¥120). You can also enjoy the large-scale ethnic song-and-dance evening show “Lishui Jinsha” (Golden Sands of Lijiang) at the International Ethnic Culture Exchange Center (adult ticket ¥280, child ticket ¥200). - **Bars** — Wooden House Story, Cherry Blossom House and Camel Bar are the best known, while Yuanyin is also a distinctive bar. ## Shopping Many visitors like to buy the carved wooden plates sold by street-side shops as gifts. In fact, spirulina is a plant unique to Chenghai Lake near Lijiang, and Dongba tie-dyeing and handwoven cloth are also truly homegrown, so they are worth a try. ### Shawls Lijiang's large day-night temperature gaps make shawls a favourite among young women. Shops often claim their shawls are handwoven, but most are machine-woven, and few people can tell the difference, so there is no need to overspend chasing a handwoven one. You can usually bargain the price down to ¥20–40. Shawls are also a little cheaper at the visitor centre in Shuhe. ### Old Town Bells The Old Town has many shops selling bells, and two are the most famous. One is the “Bunong bell” sold at the shop beside the large stone. It is said to have been inspired by the author's hiking along the Tea-Horse Ancient Road. Because it conveys the loneliness, drifting and solitude of the modern wanderer's dream, it has become a famous Lijiang souvenir. The other uses wooden bells to express Dongba culture. The antique-looking wooden bell has been named the “muyu bell” (wooden fish bell) by its owner. ## Where to stay In this small town, hotels, guesthouses, inns and residences are all available, from the five-star Lijiang Guanfang Hotel to guesthouses at ¥20 a night. Many visitors choose to stay on Sifang Square in order to experience the daily life of Naxi families in the Old Town's residences. - **Guiye Folk Ideal Homestay** — A small courtyard with a tranquil setting and abundant floral decoration. Sunbathing and drinking tea in the courtyard is very relaxing. (36 Chongren Lane, 18869027242) ## Things to see - **Lijiang Old Town** (★★★★★): Admission Free admission, but a ¥50 Old Town maintenance fee applies; Time needed 2–3 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lijiang-old-town - **Sifang Street and Wangu Tower** (★★★): Admission Sifang Street is free; Wangu Tower ¥35; Time needed Sifang Street 1–2 hours; Wangu Tower 0.5–1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/sifang-street-and-wangu-tower - **Mu Residence** (★★★★★): Admission ¥40 (buying the map lets you stamp a commemorative seal); Opening hours 8：30—17：30 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mu-residence - **Black Dragon Pool** (★★★): Admission Free (entry requires a receipt for the Old Town maintenance fee); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/black-dragon-pool - **Lijiang Romance Show Scenic Area** (★★★): Admission Ticket to the *Lijiang Romance* show: ¥280; Opening hours 13：00—21：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lijiang-romance-show-scenic-area - **Dongba Pantheon Park** (★★★): Admission ¥15; Opening hours 8：30—16：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongba-pantheon-park - **Baisha Village Murals** (★★★): Admission ¥20; Opening hours 8：30—18：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/baisha-village-murals - **Shuhe Ancient Town** (★★★★★): Admission Shuhe Ancient Town charges an entrance fee, depending on group type: ¥40 per person for tour groups and self-drive travellers; free for independent travellers; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shuhe-ancient-town - **Lashihai Wetland Park** (★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours 8：00—19：30; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lashihai-wetland-park - **Wenhai Village** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wenhai-village - **Lion Hill** (★★★★): Admission Wangu Tower ¥35; Opening hours 8：30—18：30; Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lion-hill ## Day trips & beyond - **Jade Dragon Snow Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥100 (excludes Impression Lijiang, the eco-shuttle and the cable car); round-trip cable car ¥200; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jade-dragon-snow-mountain - **Tiger Leaping Gorge** (★★★★): Admission ¥45; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tiger-leaping-gorge - **Baoshan Stone Town** (★★★★): Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/baoshan-stone-town - **Laojunshan Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥70; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/laojunshan-mountain - **Yuhu Village** (★★★): Admission Yuzhu Qingtian (Jade Pillar Reaching the Sky) ¥25; Joseph Rock Former Residence ¥25; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuhu-village - **Shigu Town (First Bend of the Yangtze River)** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shigu-town-first-bend-of-the-yangtze-river - **Blue Moon Valley** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：00—16：00; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/blue-moon-valley --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 229–245. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.