Lijiang is a famous tourist destination, known for its ancient towns, spectacular natural scenery, and leisurely lifestyle. Below is our list of the top attractions in and around Lijiang.
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- 1. Lijiang Old Town
- 2. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- 3. Tiger Leaping Gorge
- 4. Impression Lijiang Show
- 5. Lugu Lake
- 6. Yuhu Village
- 7. Black Dragon Pool Park
- 8. Baisha Village
- 9. Shuhe Ancient Town
- 10. Lashihai Lake
- 11. Baoshan Stone Village
- 12. Laojun Mountain
1. Lijiang Old Town
Lijiang Old TownLijiang Old Town is one of the most famous landmarks in Lijiang, especially for first-time visitors. During the day, it's great for sightseeing and at night, it's perfect for trying local food, shopping, or visiting bars.
The ancient town was once the royal residence of the Mu clan of the Naxi people. You could visit Mu Mansion to learn more about this history.
Take a stroll along the narrow, cobbled pedestrian streets to admire traditional Lijiang-style architecture and unique waterways.
If you get tired, relax at a rooftop café in the old town, where you could enjoy coffee, cookies, and fruit while taking in panoramic views of the town and distant snowcapped mountains.
In a quiet courtyard within the town, you could also watch traditional Naxi performances, including ancient Naxi music, which is almost lost to time. If you're interested, we can arrange this for you.
For food lovers, head to Sifang Street, the most bustling area, packed with many food stalls and restaurants.
2. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow MountainAs a spiritual symbol of the Naxi people and an iconic landmark of Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is another must-see for first-timers.
You could take a cable car to Glacier Park and reach the summit to experience the magnificent glaciers and snowcapped peaks. (Although some may experience altitude sickness.)
If you're traveling with children or the elderly, we recommend visiting the lower-altitude areas of Blue Moon Valley and Spruce Meadow, which are perfect for photography and offer stunning views of meadows and the snow mountain.
If you like hiking, then we recommend our 1-Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour. You could hike through the brush, wade across a small stream, lie down in an alpine meadow, and take in the exclusive views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that only hikers get to experience.
3. Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping GorgeIf you are a nature lover or an outdoor enthusiast, then you must not miss Tiger Leaping Gorge — the deepest easily-accessible gorge.
If you want an easy sightseeing trip, you could get to the Upper Gorge Scenic Spot and go to the narrowest area of the whole gorge to listen to the roar of the Jinsha River.
However, we recommend a hiking trip because you could better appreciate the grandeur of the canyon by traversing narrow trails that only fit one person. Along the way, you would also enjoy a variety of landscapes, including distant snowcapped mountains and waterfalls.
The difficulty of hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge varies. There is a 2-day challenging route as well as a 1-day easier one. See more on our Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Itinerary Suggestions.
Or you could check out our 4-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge and Baoshan Stone Village Hiking Tour.
4. Impression Lijiang Show
Impression Lijiang ShowIf you want to experience an authentic, rustic show, Impression Lijiang is a great choice.
This large-scale outdoor performance is set against the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and lasts about an hour. The performers are selected from nearby towns and villages.
Watching this show, you would feel a profound sense of awe. Amid the majestic mountain scenery, the simple yet heartfelt songs and dances of the local people, and the powerful drumbeats, you would sense the deep connection the Naxi people have with nature and the snowcapped mountains.
Insider tips:
If you plan to watch the show, we recommend checking the weather forecast 1 to 2 days in advance and choosing a sunny day. Since the show goes on regardless of wind or rain, a clear day would provide a better viewing experience.
For a superior viewing position, we suggest booking VIP tickets.
5. Lugu Lake
Lugu LakeIf you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and find a peaceful place to relax and enjoy natural beauty, Lugu Lake is an ideal destination. It is approximately a 4-hour drive from Lijiang.
There, you could explore the enchanting "grass sea" from a wooden boat, uncover the secrets of the floating meadow, and admire the sunset by the lakeside.
At Lugu Lake, you could also learn about the world's last remaining matriarchal society — the Mosuo. Visit a Mosuo family to understand their daily lives and learn about the local folk culture.
6. Yuhu Village
Yuhu VillageIf you enjoy exploring local culture and architecture and wish to experience a place that is less commercialized, we recommend visiting Yuhu Village.
Yuhu Village, located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, is a small, unspoiled village with simple folk customs and distinctive stone houses that reflect the local architectural style.
If you enjoy photography, you could dress in traditional ethnic costumes for a unique photo experience. The village also features a few charming cafés with terraces and rooftops offering stunning views of the snowcapped mountains, where you could sip coffee while taking in the scenery.
For those interested in cultural experiences, especially if you're traveling with children, you could try making Dongba paper, learn about Dongba pictographs, and even practice writing a few Dongba characters.
Yuhu Village is also home to the former residence of Joseph Rock, an American explorer who lived in the village for 27 years while studying Naxi culture.
Today, Joseph Rock's Former Residence has been preserved as it was when he lived there, showcasing photos and other relics from his life. If you're interested, it's worth a visit.
7. Black Dragon Pool Park
Black Dragon Pool ParkBlack Dragon Pool Park is an excellent spot for capturing panoramic views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
There, you could photograph the majestic scenery of the sun illuminating the snowy peaks and the stunning reflection of the mountain in the clear waters of the pond.
Away from the bustling streets of Lijiang's ancient town, the park provides a more serene setting to appreciate its garden architecture. It was the former imperial garden of the Mu clan.
If you visit in the morning, you could observe locals doing their morning exercises and even join in to experience a bit of the local Chinese lifestyle.
8. Baisha Village
Baisha VillageBaisha Village is the earliest settlement of the Naxi people and the birthplace of Tusi, chief of the Mu clan.
The 55 Baisha fresco pieces, drawn in the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, are the highlight.
The murals are intriguing, representing a mixture of several religions (local beliefs, Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Taoism).
Additionally, there are various traditional craft experiences available to help you better understand Naxi culture, such as learning Naxi handmade embroidery techniques.
9. Shuhe Ancient Town
Shuhe Ancient TownShuhe Ancient Town is an important, well-preserved town on the ancient Tea Horse Road, showing the Naxi's transition from agricultural civilization to commercial civilization.
It developed from a rural village, with relatively wide streets where you could see farmland and livestock raised by local farmers. It is similar to Lijiang Old Town but Shuhe is quieter and retains a more rustic charm.
10. Lashihai Lake
Lashihai LakeIf you are looking for a place that is suitable for family-friendly outdoor activities or a quiet, scenic spot to relax, you could consider visiting Lashihai Lake, which is about a 30-minute drive from Lijiang Old Town.
Lashihai is the largest alpine lake in Lijiang. There, you could cycle along the lakeside road or go horseback riding.
With the sky, clouds, sunsets, and cattle and sheep grazing on the grasslands, Lashihai is also a great spot for photography. Especially in spring, you would see peach blossoms covering the lakeshore and even village houses.
11. Baoshan Stone Village
Baoshan Stone VillageIf you're looking to experience a Naxi village that hasn't been commercialized, we recommend visiting Baoshan Stone Village.
This ancient village is built on a naturally elevated, mushroom-shaped rock formation, and it's a place even many locals don't know.
The village has only 108 households and is surrounded by cliffs on three sides and Jinsha River on the east. All the buildings retain the traditional Naxi style, featuring wooden structures and black-tiled roofs.
You could explore the village and chat with the villagers, and if you receive permission, you might even get to visit their homes.
If you visit between November and March, you would see the Jinsha River turning an incredibly deep blue, like a sapphire belt flowing by the village.
About 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Baoshan, there's a classic hiking route with stunning views. If you have time, it's worth trying. See our 4-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge and Baoshan Stone Village Hiking Tour.
12. Laojun Mountain
If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path mountain to experience more untouched scenery and hike through pristine forests, then Laojun Mountain is a great option. It's about a 2-hour drive from Lijiang.
If you're more interested in simply enjoying the scenery, you could visit the Ninety-Nine Dragon Pools Scenic Area — a hundred glacial lakes of various sizes and shapes nestled among the mountains.
The lakes are surrounded by green trees and rhododendrons bloom in the shade of the ancient forest. From April to July each year, rhododendrons bloom gradually from lower to higher altitudes.
If you enjoy exploration and a challenge, you could try hiking through Laojun Mountain's old-growth forest. The trek takes you from towering old trees to valleys to alpine meadows, with the highest altitude reaching 3,700 meters (12,140 ft).
Top Lijiang Tours
- 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour
- 8-Day Yunnan Family Tour
- 9-Day Yunnan Highlights with Spring Blossoms
All of our tours can be customized to suit your travel needs in regard to dates/times and what you want to do. Contact us to create your own personalized tour from scratch.
