Lijiang is located at the hinterland of Hengduan Mountains in Northwest Yunnan. It is uniquely positioned at the juncture of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, where the winds of the three cultures meet and enrich the cultural atmosphere of Lijiang. Lijiang is the principal home of the Naxi (Nakhi) ethnic minority.
With high elevation and low latitude, Lijiang has a mild subtropical highland climate which is pleasant year round. The natural environment is characterized by crisp blue skies, bracing clean air and snowy mountains.
Summers are warm and rainy. In January, the coldest month, has a 24-hour average temperature of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F). Springs come early and are warm and dry. June, the warmest month, has 24-hour average temperature of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F). In late September, the rain lets up for a mild, sunny autumn.
Lijiang's history can be traced back to the Warring States Period (476 BC-221 BC). During the Tang Dynasty (618-907) it became a major center of trade and culture due to its place as an important stop along the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.
Lijiang's prehistory dates back 100,000 ago when the Lijiang people were present in the region during the late Paleolithic period. Cave paintings and ancient tools from that period have been discovered by paleontologists, as well as iron and bronze tools of later periods, which establish Lijiang as one of the most important areas of ancient history in southwest China.
The Baisha Old Town was the political, commercial and cultural center for the local Naxi people and other ethnic groups for 400 years from the year 658 AD to 1107 AD. It was the center of silk embroidery in southwest China and an important stopping place on the Ancient Southern Silk Road, or Ancient Tea Horse Road.
Lijiang Laojun Mountain Scenic Area is an important part of the Three Parallel Rivers region. Special scenic attractions near Lijiang include the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Lijiang Ancient Town, The Old Town of Lijiang, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It preserves the architecture and traditions that trace back to the city’s beginning a thousand years ago as an important trading post on ancient trade routes. Its historic main street today is lined with shops and restaurants. Its three ancient districts, with 800-year-old bridges and waterways, preserve the traditional way of life of the Naxi people. It is the perfect place to experience Nazi cuisine.
Nightlife in the Old Town is colorful and exciting, with music and dance performances in a number of theaters, as well as lively restaurants and bars where you can really take in the living culture among the people in the streets of the city.
