Lijiang (丽江)

Attractions in Lijiang

Visit Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Black Dragon Pool, and Shuhe Ancient Town.

Popular Routes

Day 1: Lijiang Old Town and Black Dragon Pool.
Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Day 3: Tiger Leaping Gorge day trip.

Food & Dining

Try Naxi-style grilled fish, crossing-the-bridge noodles, yak meat hot pot, Lijiang baba (flatbread), and rose candy.

Shopping

Buy Naxi embroidery, silver jewelry, Pu'er tea, yak wool products, and Dongba art. Lijiang Old Town has many craft shops.

Local Vibe & Fun Facts

Local Vibe: Lijiang is an ancient Naxi town of cobblestones, canals, and red lanterns. Locals are proud of their Dongba culture, love singing and dancing in the square, and keep the old town alive with live music and yak butter tea. It feels like stepping into a storybook.

Fun Facts:

• Lijiang Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved ancient towns in China.

• The Naxi people have a unique pictographic writing system called Dongba script, one of the last living pictographic scripts in the world.

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain looms over Lijiang and is considered sacred by the Naxi people.

Speak Like a Local

Lijiang locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:

Hello (Naxi) — Naxi people often greet with a smile and 'Nashi' — a warm, simple hello.

九 (jiǔ) — Cheers — as in most of China, but Lijiang toasts often include local rice wine.

慢慢走 (màn man zǒu) — Walk slowly — a gentle Lijiang farewell, matching the town's pace.

Famous People

• Joseph Rock — An Austrian-American explorer and botanist lived in Lijiang for decades and introduced Naxi culture to the world.

• Xuan Ke — A Naxi musician who helped preserve and popularize traditional Naxi ancient music.

• He Wuming — A modern Lijiang-born writer who wrote about Naxi traditions and the old town.