Lijiang travel guide

Jade Dragon's shadow on ancient Naxi lanes

Plan your visit

Recommended stay3–4 days

Getting thereAbout 1 hour by flight from Kunming to Lijiang airport, or 3–4 hours by train.

Good to knowElevation is about 2,400 m; bring warm layers and oxygen for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Lijiang is the Naxi kingdom's old town — a UNESCO lattice of canals and wooden Naxi houses under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Dawn and midnight are when the Old Town's magic survives the day crowds; the real escapes are the villages and gorges beyond town.

Top sights

Lijiang Old Town — The canal-and-cobble UNESCO core — walk Sifang Street at 7am or after 11pm when day-trippers are gone.
Black Dragon Pool — The postcard reflection of the snow mountain over the pool — go early for still water.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain — Cableway to 4,506m meadow/summit views plus the Blue Moon valley lakes — a full acclimatized day.
Tiger Leaping Gorge — The classic two-day high-trail trek above the Jinsha river — China's best short hike, guesthouse-to-guesthouse.
Baisha village — The quiet pre-Lijiang Naxi capital with frescoes and cobbled lanes — the anti-crowd Old Town.

Suggested itinerary

Old Town Magic. Dawn walk through UNESCO lanes, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba pictograph museum
Jade Dragon Mountain. Cable car to 4,506m, glacier views, Impression Lijiang show
Shuhe & Serenity. Shuhe Ancient Town, Naxi family lunch, Yi River sunset

Budget reference

LodgingOld-town Naxi courtyards ¥200–500 (book ahead in peak); gorge guesthouses ¥80–180 with meals.

FoodNaxi hotpot, chickpea jelly, yak cheese ¥40–90 per meal.

Local transportGorge buses ¥20–40; mountain shuttle with ticket; taxis to Baisha ¥30.

TicketsOld-town maintenance fee ¥50 (checked sporadically), Jade Dragon scenic entry ¥100 plus cableway ¥120–180, gorge trail ¥45.

Where to stay

Inside the Old Town for atmosphere (expect bar noise near Sifang), or Shuhe for a calmer UNESCO satellite town.

Good to know

Altitude: Lijiang sits 2,400m — take the mountain cableway on day two or three, not day one.
Gorge hike: start early, carry cash for guesthouses, and confirm trail status in rain season.
Book the Big Ropeway (summit) online at dawn slots — the meadow-only options sell out last.

Explore

Lijiang travel guide