Lijiang Travel Guide

Lijiang is the ancient capital of the Naxi people, situated on a highland basin in the northwest of Yunnan province. Surrounded by mountains, it has long been nourished by waterways drawing on snowmelt. Because of its high elevation, the sunlight is strong and the air clear.

Dayan Old Town, at the heart of the historic area, is known for a townscape of interwoven cobbled lanes and waterways, and forms part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site known as the Old Town of Lijiang. Naxi wooden houses and bridges over the canals convey traces of former days, and Sifang Street at the center of the town has been a place of trade and exchange since ancient times.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain soaring to the north is a peak the Naxi people have revered as a sacred mountain. A cable car runs at its foot, bringing glacial and alpine scenery close at hand. Shuhe and Baisha nearby are also part of the World Heritage site, where traces of the Tea Horse Road remain.

Lijiang is connected to various places by air and rail, reachable from Kunming, Dali and Shangri-La. In recent years the rail network has been improved, making access more convenient. Many lodgings in the old town area are converted wooden traditional buildings, letting guests savor the atmosphere. It is a town of singular charm, where Naxi culture and highland nature overlap.