1. What Is Lijiang Famous For?
1.1 Tour Overview
The Old Town of Lijiang, also known as Dayan Old Town, is located in the ancient urban area of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China. It is situated in the middle of Lijiang dam and perched on Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It is composed of three parts: Dayan Old Town (including Black Dragon Pool), Baisha residential building complex, and Shuhe residential building complex, covering an area of 7.279 square kilometers. It is the only city which owns the honor of "three world heritages" in China. It includes the world cultural heritage “the Old Town of Lijiang”, the world memory heritage Dongba ancient relics, and the world natural relics “Three Parallel Rivers”. There are 104 well-known scenic spots in Lijiang. Among which the most famous historical and cultural city, it named “the Old Town of Lijiang”. The following is the introduction of its tourist attractions.
2. See Our Famous Attractions In Lijiang Old Town
2.1 Sifang Street
Sifang Street is a snack street in the ancient city. There are dozens of small restaurants on both sides of the street, each of them is characterized by Yunnan's unique rice noodles. Therefore, this street is also called "Lijiang Rice Noodle Street". Sifang Street is the center of the Old Town of Lijiang. It was also built by the Mu chieftains in the Ming Dynasty based on the shape of their seals. Actually, it is the most important hub station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a lot of merchants have gathered here and conducted business activities since Ming and Qing dynasties, all sorts of cultures and various ethnic groups thrive here. Therefore, it is no doubt that this place can become the center of economic and cultural communication in Lijiang.
2.2 Mu Fu Mansion
In the Old Town of Lijiang, Mu Fu Mansion was originally the government office in feudal China,which was Mu Fu family in Lijiang. It is located at the eastern foot of Lion Mountain in the ancient city. It was first built in Yuan Dynasty (from 1271 to 1368 AD). After reconstruction in 1998, it was changed into the Ancient City Museum. Mu Fu Mansion covers an area of 46 acres with a total of 162 rooms of various sizes. The central axis is 369 meters long and there exist Sanqing Hall, Yuyin Tower, Guangbi Tower, Hufa Hall, Wanjuan Tower, Council hall and Zhongyi Archway, they are neatly arranged from west to east. There are eleven plaques bestowed by emperors of past dynasties hanging in the Mu Fu Mansion, reflecting the rise and fall history of Mu Fu family. Therefore, it is the place full of historical and cultural atmosphere.
The Architectural Style In Mu Fu Mansion
2.2.1 Integration Of Multi-ethnic Cultures: It combines the elegance of Central Plains architecture in Ming Dynasty and the craftsmanship of Naxi and Bai ethnic groups, which is an embodiment of the integration and exchange of multi-ethnic cultures.
2.2.2 Retaining The Legacy Of Tang and Song Dynasties: On the basis of retaining the simple and rugged architectural style of Tang and Song dynasties, Mu Fu Mansion not only shows the features of Central Plains architecture,but also it presents the taste of royal palace.
2.2.3 Majestic Features: The main buildings of Mu Fu Mansion adopt the traditional Chinese architectural style like upturned eaves and carved beams, highlighting the unique charm of Chinese architecture.
2.3 Wangu Tower
In the southwest corner of Dayan Old Town , there is a mountain which looks like a lion guarding the ancient town, so it is also named Lion Mountain. It was opened as a park in 1998. Wangu Tower is a classical-style, all-wooden structure observation tower built on the top of Lion Mountain. Here stands the tower with 32.8 meters high. It is composed of 16 wooden pillars with 24 meters, which are connected together to reach the top of the tower. There are 12,600 Naxi-style dragon heads of various sizes upstairs, thus setting the world record for the largest number and it is very worth seeing. If you are photography fans, the scenery of Wangu Tower will refresh you and add a very colorful stroke to your journey.
2.4 Five Phoenix Tower
Five Phoenix Tower located in Fuguo Temple of Lijiang was built in 1601, the 29th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty. It is 20 meters high. Because its architectural form is exactly like five colorful phoenixes, it is named “Five Phoenix Tower”. There are various exquisite patterns painted on the ceiling inside the tower. Five Phoenix Tower in the Old Town of Lijiang integrates the architectural art styles of Han, Tibetan, Naxi and other ethnic groups. It is a treasure and a typical example in ancient Chinese. If you are lucky enough to visit Lijiang, be sure to carefully appreciate this unique Five Phoenix Tower here, I bet you will never be disappointed.
2.5 Black Dragon Pool
Black Dragon Pool, commonly known as Dragon King Temple and Yuquan Park, is located at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain at the northern end of the Old Town of Lijiang. The diligent Naxi people have established Yuquan Dragon King Temple here. Emperor Qianlong inscribed the plaque as "Yuquan Dragon God". It is the place for Lijiang Dongba Culture Research Institute, and it preserves very complete scriptures of Naxi Dongba religion, it is worth for your exploration.
2.6 Wenchang Palace
Wenchang Palace is located at No. 29, Lion Road, Old Town of Lijiang. It is a key cultural relic protection place in this ancient urban area. It was originally built in the first year of Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty (1723) and then renovated in 2013,finally opened on January 1, 2017. After that, Wenchang Palace has become a place for discussing scriptures and playing Dongjing music. If you are lucky enough to come here, you must not miss the wonderful cultural scenery here.
2.7 Ancient Bridges
There are 354 bridges built in the Yuhe river system in the Old Town of Lijiang, with a density of an average of 93 bridges per square kilometer. The bridges come in various forms, including Suocui Bridge, Dashiqiao Bridge, Wanqian Bridge, Nanmen Bridge, Maan Bridge, and Renshou Bridge etc, all of them were built during Ming and Qing dynasties (from the 14th to 19th centuries). Among them, the Dashi Bridge is the most distinctive, it is located in 100 meters east of Sifang Street. Most importantly, you can see the inverted reflection in water about Jade Dragon Snow Mountain under the bridge, thus it is also known as Snow Bridge.
2.8 Kegongfang
Kegongfang is located on the west side of Sifang Street and is a three-story building. According to legend, Kegongfang was built in the Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty for the "three successful candidates in one family" ,which was Yang family. In the first year of Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty (1723 AD), Lijiang implemented the "replacement of native chieftains with appointed officials", changing from the hereditary rule of chieftains to the rule of appointed officials dispatched by the central government with a certain term of office. During Jiaqing period of Qing Dynasty, Yang Zhaolan and Yang Zhaorong, two brothers living in Kegong Lane, both passed the imperial examinations. During Daoguang period, Yang Shuochen, the son of Yang Zhaorong, also passed the imperial examination again. So the government and people donated funds to build the two-story Kegongfang at the entrance of the lane. On the third day of the first month in 1944, Kegongfang was destroyed by fire. Three years later, it was rebuilt and upgraded to three stories, that is the building you can see now.
2.9 Xueshan Academy
Xueshan Academy is located at No. 37, Wangjiazhuang Lane, Wuyi Street. It was an important place for Naxi civilians in Qing Dynasty to receive Han cultural education. This academy has cultivated countless talents within 180 years, thus greatly promoting the development of culture and education in Naxi areas. Currently, Xueshan Academy has established Lijiang Lecture Forum, which is held on Saturday afternoons. The lecture forum covers humanities and history, folk customs, astronomy and geography, social sciences, etc. It has been developed into an important window for spreading Lijiang's history and culture.
2.10 Famous Temples
Puxian Temple is located at No. 76, Chongren Lane, Qiyi Street. It is the most completely preserved Buddhist temple in the ancient city. It was built during Daoguang period in Qing Dynasty. Puxian Bodhisattva is enshrined in the temple. If you want to bring blessings to yourself and your family, you can visit and pray at Puxian Temple, it may give you unexpected surprises.
Puji Temple is located in Puji Mountain, 6 kilometers northwest of the Old Town of Lijiang. It was first built in 1771, the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty. It is one of the five major lamaseries in the suburbs of Lijiang and widely known for the copper-tiled roof of the main hall. The courtyard of the main hall is a quadrangle courtyard composed of the mountain gate, the protector hall (gate tower), the main hall together with the north and south wing rooms.
Jinglian Temple is located at No. 128, Shuangshi Section, Xinhua Street, at the northern foot of Lion Mountain. Also known as Qianxue Tower, it was built by the poet monk Master Miaoming in accordance with the architectural style of Naxi ethnic group during Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty. It is one of the Buddhist temples in the ancient city. Jinglian Temple has always been a good place to appreciate sightseeing, compose poems and paintings, play the musical instruments and compose tunes. Meanwhile, Jinglian Temple is also a place for modern and contemporary literati in Lijiang to gather and compose poems. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, "Guixiang Poetry Society" and "Xue Society" organized by the reformist poets of Naxi ethnic group were all set up in the temple. If you are interested in Chinese poetry and literature, this will be a good place to display your talents.
3. How To Plan A Lijiang Tour?
There are various transportation options to reach the Old Town of Lijiang, including taking a taxi, public transportation, riding a bike, and hotel shuttle services.
3.1 Taking Taxi
From Lijiang Railway Station to the Old Town of Lijiang, it takes about 30 minutes and costs between 30 and 50 yuan. Taxi drivers usually drives on the expressway, and you can enjoy beautiful scenery along the path.
3.2 Public Transportation
There are direct buses from Lijiang Railway Station to the Old Town of Lijiang, such as Bus No. 4 and Bus No. 18. Taking a bus takes about an hour and the fare is 10 yuan. You should be noted that buses travel at a slower speed which can be affected by traffic congestion. In addition, there is Bus No. 6, providing convenient public transportation services near the Lijiang Old Town Station,
3.3 Bicycles Or Electrocar
For tourists who like outdoor activities, you can choose to rent a bicycle or an electric bike to go to the Old Town of Lijiang, which takes about 40 minutes. This way is not only environmentally friendly but also allows you to enjoy beautiful scenery along the routes.
3.4 Hotel Shuttle Service
If you have already booked a hotel, you can ask the hotel to arrange a vehicle to pick you up at Lijiang Railway Station. This is a convenient service, but you need to communicate with the hotel in advance.
4. Lijiang Characteristic Food Recommendation
4.1 Chickpea Jelly
Chickpea jelly is a special snack in Lijiang with a long history of several hundred years. It is mainly made of chickpeas and is accompanied by ingredients such as Chinese prickly ash, green leeks, scallions, red peppers, mustard, and sour vinegar. Although it is grayish-green in appearance, it has a delicate and smooth texture and can be served cold or hot. After adding red peppers and Chinese prickly ash, it tastes even more delicious. This kind of jelly is similar to cold rice noodles, but it tastes better, you can imagine a bowl full of chickpea jelly with chili powder,which tastes excellent. What’s more, it is very cheap, so you can afford it.
4.2 Lijiang Baba
Lijiang baba is a traditional special snack of the Naxi ethnic group and is widely popular in western Yunnan with its unique taste and flavor. This delicacy is mainly divided into sweet and salty flavors. The sweet baba is wrapped with ingredients such as brown sugar, while the salty one is wrapped with scallions and ham. During the making process, local wheat flour and clear spring water are used, and ingredients such as vegetable oil, white sugar, and ham are added. After frying, it presents a golden color and layered flaky crust. Taking a bite, it is very soft, glutinous, sweet, and crispy. Paired with hot buttered tea, it is even more delicious.Don’t miss the chance to come here enjoying it.
4.3 Rice Sausage
Rice sausage is a unique local dish in Lijiang. It is made by stuffing soaked glutinous rice or cooked rice, pig blood, salt and a little Chinese prickly ash into washed pig intestines, and then steaming them. This delicacy has a unique flavor and can be eaten either steamed or fried. It has a glutinous and smooth taste and a rich fragrance. In addition to this, it is also nutritious, which is regarded as the popular snack in Lijiang area.
4.4 Naxi Barbecue
Naxi barbecue is a local special cuisine in Lijiang and is deeply loved by Naxi people and tourists. The characteristics of this dish lie in its unique grilling method and seasonings. First, fresh streaky pork is selected and marinated with spices to make it more flavorful. When grilling, a special oven and wire hooks are used to make the meat crispy. The most striking thing is the combination of mint and special chili powder. Although it looks greasy, when you eat it, you may find the fat is not greasy. The more you eat, the more flavorful it becomes. Apart from this, Naxi barbecue can also be rolled into lotus leaves and deep-fried to increase its taste.
4.5 Cured Pork Ribs
The cured pork ribs in Lijiang are a top-notch local culinary specialty. This dish is mainly made of pork ribs that are cured. During the curing process, a large amount of salt is a must, and sometimes wine, white sugar and spices are also added. After being cured in a wooden barrel for about 15 days, the saltiness penetrates deep into the bones, making the flavors of it and meat perfectly blend. Subsequently, it is dried in a shady and ventilated place. The drying time is between one month and three months. After completing this process, the cured pork ribs become extremely "cured-flavored". Paired with tomatoes and leek roots, and then dipped in small ingredients to rinse rice cakes, the taste is indeed excellent.
Cured Pork Ribs Hot Pot
The cured pork ribs hot pot is a traditional delicacy of the Naxi ethnic group in Lijiang. It is featured by using cured pork ribs that have been salted and air-dried to make soup and cook with vegetables such as beans, bean sprouts, leek roots, and tomatoes. This kind of hot pot adopts Naxi pork which tastes much better. After about 15 days of curing, the saltiness penetrates deep into the bones, making the flavors of the bones and meat perfectly blend. When the hot pot is served on the table, the soup color is pure white. The pork ribs are soft and glutinous without falling off the bones. They are salty, fresh and delicious, rich and mellow. The more you eat, the more fragrant it becomes. Many famous cured pork ribs hot pot restaurants are gathered in Xiangshan Market of Lijiang,making it a delicacy that cannot be missed.
4.6 Black Goat Hot Pot
Black goat hot pot is another special delicacy in Lijiang. It is loved by diners for its good quality ingredients. The mutton is not greasy when eaten and it is no muttony smell, which is different from ordinary mutton. When most of the meat is eaten, vegetables can be added for rinsing and cooking. Finally, you can enjoy the delicious mutton soup. There is a unique landscape of "a street of black goat restaurants" in Changshui Road of Lijiang.
4.7 Naxi Grilled Fish
Naxi grilled fish, which can be featured by its unique taste. First, the fish is cut and then added with Chinese prickly ash and five-spice powder for marinating. Then, the fish is put into an iron pan and grilled over low heat. After that, it can be put into an oil pan for frying. The fish produced in this way is with a delicious taste and crispy skin. Although the fish is not large, the fish meat is very tender and smooth. Especially the fish grown in unpolluted wild water conditions is even more delicious. In addition, the potatoes that come with it are also particularly delicious. It is a must-try dish in Lijiang.
4.8 Buttered Tea
Buttered tea is a traditional local snacks in Lijiang. It is made from multiple ingredients such as tea leaves, cream, and salt. It has two types of flavors, sweet and salty. It is recommended to choose the sweet one because its taste is relatively light and there is also a milky fragrance when it enters the mouth. Buttered tea is not only the drinking habits for many ethnic minorities in Lijiang, but also it is often used to entertain guests. At first taste, you may find it a bit unaccustomed, but after taking a few more sips, you will feel its unique mellow flavor, which is really unforgettable.
4.9 Steamed Pot Chicken
Steamed Pot Chicken is a famous dish in Lijiang, with profound cultural history and unique cooking techniques. This cooking method uses the unique pottery steamer from Jianshui. The chicken is steamed by steam, thus maximizing the preservation of the original flavor of the chicken. This type of Chicken not only has a wonderful taste, but also has certain nourishing effects. In Lijiang, locals will also add precious medicinal materials such as Panax notoginseng and Cordyceps sinensis to the steamer to increase nutritional value and curative effect. This unique cooking method and selection of ingredients make Steamed Pot Chicken more delicious.
4.10 Wild Mushroom Hot Pot
Wild mushroom hot pot is a wonderful local dish in Lijiang and is especially loved by tourists. There are many kinds of wild mushrooms growing on the Lijiang plateau. Especially in summer from June to July, it is the best time to taste wild mushrooms. These wild mushrooms not only taste delicious but also have very high nutritional value. Local restaurants usually boil various dried wild mushroom slices with bone stock to make a rich and fragrant old soup. When various ingredients are cooked in the pot, its unique mushroom fragrance and taste are irresistible. Whether it is used to make soup with black-bone chicken or made into a hot pot, the wild mushrooms in Lijiang can leave people with an unforgettable memory.
4.11 Coated Tofu
Coated tofu is a special snack in Lijiang. It looks similar to ordinary tofu, but after being fried and bitten, a milky white slurry will flow out. This dish is fried or roasted. The surface is crispy and fragrant, while the inside is rich in juice, the fragrance is mouthwatering. Locals in Lijiang like to sprinkle seasonings such as chili peppers, sesame seeds, and scallions on the roasted tofu, and then eat it with dipping sauce. The taste is fresh, fragrant, tender and smooth with a rich and proper flavor. It is a delicacy suitable for all ages.
4.12 Tai'an Potato Chicken
Tai'an potato chicken is a local specialty cuisine in Lijiang and is deeply loved by locals and tourists. This dish uses the unique potatoes from Tai'an area and the native chickens from local farmers as raw materials. After cooking, the chicken is tender and the potatoes are flavorful. In particular, this kind of potato has a soft texture. Combined with the deliciousness of chicken and potatoes, it become the main character of this dish. In addition, Lijiang's potato and chicken hot pot is usually enjoyed in the sidewalk snack booth, giving people a kind and down-to-earth feeling.
4.13 Water Primrose
Water primrose is a kind of plant in the lakes of Lijiang. It is named for its characteristic of drifting with the wind in the lake. The flower is flawless white, and the plant is hidden in the water. When the flower floats with the water waves, it is not only a beautiful scenery but also a highly respected famous dish in the ancient city of Lijiang. When stir-frying, the restaurants usually use garlic cloves, minced ginger and shredded red peppers, adding only a small amount of oil to maintain its original flavor. When eating, water primrose has a silky and mellow taste, giving people a feeling of eating water lotus or shallot. It is a characteristic local food that cannot be missed in Lijiang.
5. The Best Time To Visit Lijiang
Although Lijiang has its unique charm throughout the year, choosing to visit in spring or autumn allows you to experience different seasonal characteristics and enjoy a more comfortable tourism environment.
5.1 Spring (From March To May)
It is a period when the climate in Lijiang is pleasant. At this time, it is the season when everything recovers. The warm climate and blooming flowers make scenic spots such as the Old Town of Lijiang and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain picturesque. It is the best season to view plateau flowers such as rhododendrons. In addition, in this season, you can also experience traditional festivals of the Naxi ethnic group such as the Torch Festival and feel the local cultural atmosphere.
5.2 Autumn (From September To November)
It is the most comfortable season in Lijiang. The climate is cool and the sun is shining, making it more suitable for leisurely sightseeing and hiking.
6. Lijiang Old Town Travel Precautions
6.1 Climatic Conditions
it belongs to a plateau-style monsoon climate with low temperatures and an obvious temperature difference between day and night. According to Yunnan's climatic characteristic of "four seasons in a day", it is recommended to bring clothes suitable for all seasons, including summer skirts, T-shirts, long tops and coats, as well as trousers, thick coats and down jackets for spring, autumn and winter.
6.2 Ultraviolet Protection
It has strong sunlight and high ultraviolet radiation in Lijiang. When you have outdoor activities for a long time, please remember to wear a sunhat and apply sunscreen to protect your skin.
6.3 Altitude Sickness
Lijiang has a relatively high altitude (2400 meters). Do not engage in strenuous exercise or drink alcohol. You should eat more vegetables and fruits to prevent altitude sickness. You can also prepare some medicines such as Rhodiola rosea, Yunnan Baiyao, cold medicines, gastrointestinal medicines, etc., as well as prevent discomfort due to different climates.
6.4 Transportation And Communication
Transportation in Lijiang is relatively convenient, and you can flexibly arrange your itinerary according to your own time. The mobile phone signal is good in the Old Town of Lijiang,so you don’ t need to worry about that.
6.5 Respect Local Culture
During the tourism, please respect the lives and beliefs of local ethnic minorities and avoid conflicts with local residents.
6.6 Fire Safety
During your trip to Lijiang, please pay attention to fire safety and it is strictly forbidden to use fire casually in the ancient city.
