Lijiang Old Town

Where to go

Start at dawn in the empty square, then head to Black Dragon Pool for the mountain reflection. Spend the middle of the day in the northern lanes and the Wangu Tower on Lion Hill. In the evening, the old town's bars and lanterns come alive.

Day trips

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (glacier cable car, book early) and the Baisha frescoes are both close. The Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking trail starts two hours north for those with time.

What to See — Aug 2026 Picks

A UNESCO World Heritage old town of canals, cobblestones and Naxi courtyards, Lijiang rewards those who leave the main tourist drag. Its charm is water: streams run alongside every street, and the town's layout follows the canals rather than the roads.

Most visitors arrive at the north gate and stay near the square — the mistake is never walking uphill to Lion Hill for the panorama, or staying for the evening when the town turns on its night market and bonfire dances.

The Big Waterwheel

The town's most recognised landmark, spinning in the square at the north entrance. It is the classic 'I was in Lijiang' photo, and the best time is dawn, before the tour groups arrive and the square fills.

Just behind it, the black 'Long Live China' plaque and the painted panel of Mao are part of the same entrance ensemble most people photograph without realising it.

Mu Mansion (Mufu)

The former residence of the Naxi chieftains who ruled Lijiang for centuries, rebuilt in the 1990s after a fire. Chinese travel guides call it the 'Southern Forbidden City', and it is the closest thing the town has to a grand palace.

At about 40 yuan it is the only major paid site inside the old town, and worth it for the gardens and the view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the back terrace. Night visits are now offered, when the halls are lantern-lit and far calmer.

Wangu Tower on Lion Hill (Shizishan)

A five-storey wooden tower on the hill above the town centre — the highest viewpoint in the old town. From the top you see the grey-tiled roofs of Lijiang stretching away, with the 5,596-metre Jade Dragon Snow Mountain behind them.

It costs about 35 yuan. On a budget? Walk up to Wenchang Palace on the same hill, which is free and offers a similar view over the rooftops.

Xianwen Lane — the Umbrella Street

A short lane near the centre where hundreds of colourful oil-paper umbrellas hang overhead, turning a narrow alley into one of China's most photographed streets. It is the current top Xiaohongshu check-in in Lijiang.

Go early morning or after dark — at night the umbrellas are lit and the lane empties out, which makes for the best shots.

Sifang Street & the Bonfire Dance

The old town's central square, the meeting point of its four ancient roads. In the evening, Naxi locals light a bonfire and invite visitors into a circle dance — the most accessible slice of Naxi culture in the town.

Join in rather than photograph from outside; the dance is simple to follow and is how Chinese visitors end a Lijiang evening.

Zhongyi Market (Zhongyi Shichang)

Lijiang's real local produce market, where Naxi farmers sell mushrooms, herbs, fruit and (famously) fresh flowers by the bunch. It runs all day, but after dark the market edge fills with food stalls cooking grilled mushrooms, bbq skewers and milk tea.

It is the best budget dinner spot in town and a much more authentic night scene than the tourist restaurants on the main streets.

August is Lijiang's rainy season — expect heavy afternoon showers, so carry a light raincoat and wear non-slip shoes (the stone lanes get dangerously slick). The fully upgraded Lion Hill Tea-Horse Night Market reopened in mid-July 2026 with around 95 stalls, folk music and Naxi hand-drum performances, making the old town's nightlife stronger than ever. Note that many of the most crowded lanes are also the most commercialised — buy souvenirs on the side streets, not on Sifang Street.

Getting there

• Airport shuttle or taxi, ~40 min from Lijiang Sanyi Airport