Lijiang
China · Greater China
A Naxi town of canals and timber houses at 2,400 metres, below Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with the villages of Baisha and Shuhe and the way into north-west Yunnan.
Why visit
Why visit Lijiang
Go for the setting. Lijiang's old town, a World Heritage site since 1997, sits on a plateau with a snow mountain behind it, and its plan of canals, bridges and timber courtyard houses is still readable. It is also very busy, and the main lanes are a commercial district. The better part of a visit is the quieter villages of Baisha and Shuhe, which were listed with it, and a night on the hill above the town.
Go also because Lijiang is the gateway to the rest of north-west Yunnan. The trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge lies roughly midway between Lijiang and Shangri-La, and since the railway opened in November 2023 Shangri-La is little more than an hour by train.
Explore
What to see
The old town (Dayan). Walk it early in the morning, before the shops open, when the lanes are empty and the water in the channels is clear. The Mu Mansion, the residence of the hereditary rulers of Lijiang, stands at its centre.
Baisha and Shuhe. Two villages a few kilometres to the north, listed with the old town. Shuhe was a staging post on the Tea Horse Road; Baisha is the quietest of the three, with the snow mountain directly behind it.
Tiger Leaping Gorge. A 23-kilometre gorge on the upper Yangtze, walked in two days between guesthouses; see our trekking guide.
Shangri-La. Reached by the railway opened in 2023.
Hotels
Where to stay in Lijiang
For a quiet night close to the town, Amandayan, Aman's resort on Lion Hill, stands directly above the old town. Staying inside the old town puts you in the busiest lanes; staying on the hill or in one of the villages gives a calmer evening.
Before you go
Practical information
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable seasons, with clear light and fewer extremes. The altitude is about 2,400 metres, the sun is strong and evenings are cool. Chinese national holidays in early May and early October are the busiest periods.
Getting around
Lijiang Sanyi Airport is about 30 kilometres from the old town, roughly 50 minutes by road. Since 26 November 2023 a 139-kilometre railway links Lijiang with Shangri-La, in about an hour and twenty minutes, and through trains run from Kunming. The old town itself is walkable; the villages and the gorge are reached by car or bus.
Practical notes
The altitude is real: a night or two in Lijiang before going on to Shangri-La, which is some 900 metres higher, helps. The old town charges a maintenance fee and rules on entry change, so check before visiting. Rail tickets are booked with a passport and sell out in the holiday weeks of May and October.
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