Lijiang City boasts rich tourism resources, including the Lijiang Ancient Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is the only prefecture-level city in China that has three World Heritage sites. Today, we will learn about Lijiang Ancient Town.

Lijiang Ancient Town is one of the most famous towns on the Tea Horse Road and has a history of eight to nine hundred years. The town features wooden buildings with green tiles, ancient stone streets, and small bridges over flowing water. Standing on East Street in the ancient town, you can look up and see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Lijiang Ancient Town is a World Cultural Heritage site and one of the two ancient towns in China that successfully applied for World Cultural Heritage status for an entire town. It is also one of the most representative attractions in Lijiang. The town began to take shape during the Southern Song Dynasty and was called "Dayan Township" in the Ming Dynasty. Located at the center of Lijiang Ba, it is surrounded by green mountains and rivers, resembling a piece of jade, hence the name.

Entering Lijiang Ancient Town and strolling along the winding stone paths feels like traveling back in time to the glorious era of caravans. The town’s wooden buildings, courtyards, and unique architectural styles tell the story of its ancient past.

In the ancient town, you can climb Wangu Tower for a distant view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit Mu's Residence to learn about Naxi history and culture, feel the enthusiasm and vitality of the Naxi people at Sifang Street, or listen to the heartbeat of the ancient town by the large waterwheel. The ancient town has a unique charm at night with red lanterns and bustling bar streets, making it an excellent place to experience Lijiang’s nightlife.

Wangu Tower is located on the top of Lion Hill in the ancient town. From the tower, you can see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the north, overlook the gray-tiled Lijiang Ancient Town to the east, the colorful new city of Lijiang to the west, and picturesque rural villages to the south. The tower itself is a masterpiece of wooden architecture, with five floors supported by 16 wooden pillars, each 22 meters high, making it highly valuable for viewing.

Mu's Residence was the mansion of the Mu clan chieftains, blending Ming Dynasty Chinese architecture with local Bai and Naxi characteristics. It is a landmark of Lijiang Ancient Town and worth a visit. The residence was built facing west to show respect to the Ming Dynasty capital, Nanjing. The mansion incorporates Central Plains architectural styles and the craftsmanship of the Bai and Naxi people. Although much of it was destroyed by war and the 1996 earthquake, most of it has been reconstructed.

Sifang Street is the core of the ancient town, with four main streets extending outwards. The streets are lined with various small shops, making it the busiest part of the town. Here, you can buy Lijiang's special souvenirs and taste Naxi cuisine. The large waterwheel is another iconic spot in Lijiang Ancient Town. The huge wheel slowly turns with the flow of water, capturing the slow pace of life in Lijiang. Located at the entrance of the ancient town, the two large waterwheels and the adjacent wall depicting local residential architecture are distinctive and easily recognizable.

Transportation:

By Plane:

Lijiang has Sanyi Airport, with direct flights from many cities in China. If touring multiple destinations in Yunnan, it is recommended to fly to Shangri-La first, then travel to Lijiang and Dali, or fly to Kunming first and then head towards Lijiang and Shangri-La.

By Train:

Lijiang Railway Station has direct trains to Dali, Kunming, and Shangri-La, which are convenient. Many people choose to take the Y761 train from Dali to Lijiang as it passes by Erhai Lake, offering scenic views for only 23.5 yuan. However, the journey takes nearly four hours, so consider the time if you are on a tight schedule. Upon arriving at Lijiang Railway Station, there are multiple bus routes to various attractions: Route 103 goes directly to Shuhe Ancient Town, while Routes 104 and 105 lead to the north and south gates of Lijiang Ancient Town, respectively.

By Bus:

Take Routes 4 or 18 to Zhongyi Market and walk about 1 kilometer; or take Routes 2 or 13 to the Ancient Town Parking Lot and enter through the north gate; or take Route 7 to the Department Store and enter through the north gate; or take Routes 2, 3, or 12 to Nanmen Street and enter through the south gate.

By Taxi:

Taxis are also a convenient option for traveling in Lijiang.