Lijiang

Lijiang, a city in China's Yunnan province, is known for its historic Old Town, the nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the unique culture of the Naxi people. In the Old Town, you can walk along cobblestone streets and cross stone bridges over canals. You can take a cable car up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for views of the surrounding area. The Dongba Culture Museum in the Old Town showcases the Naxi people's pictographic writing system. Beyond the city, you can hike in the Tiger Leaping Gorge or visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River.

Exploring Lijiang Old Town

The Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site, forms the historic center of the city. As you walk through its narrow lanes, you'll see wooden buildings with carvings and upturned eaves, typical of Naxi architecture. Canals run through the town, fed by the waters of the Black Dragon Pool. More than 300 stone bridges cross these waterways. The Old Town doesn't allow motorized vehicles, making it easy to explore on foot.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with its peak at 5,596 meters (18,360 feet), is visible from Lijiang. The mountain has 13 peaks that remain snow-covered throughout the year. You can take a cable car up to 4,506 meters to see the surrounding landscape. The mountain plays an important role in Naxi culture and appears in many local legends and religious beliefs.

Black Dragon Pool

You'll find Black Dragon Pool just north of the Old Town. On clear days, you can see the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected in the water. The park around the pool has several historic buildings, including the Moon Embracing Pavilion and the Five-Phoenix Tower. Many people visit early in the morning to watch the sunrise.

Naxi Culture

Lijiang is the cultural center for the Naxi people, one of China's 55 recognized ethnic minorities. The Naxi have their own language and use Dongba, the world's only living pictographic writing system. You can learn about Naxi culture at the Dongba Culture Museum in the Old Town. The museum displays examples of Dongba script and items related to Naxi shamanic practices.

Local Cuisine

The food in Lijiang combines Naxi, Tibetan, and Han Chinese influences. Some local dishes to try include:

• Naxi-style fried white cheese
• Lijiang baba (a flatbread with minced pork and spices)
• Crossing-the-bridge noodles (a hot soup with rice noodles and various toppings)
• Matsutake mushrooms (fungi that grow on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain)

You can find these dishes in many restaurants in the Old Town, some with seating along the canals.

Getting There and Around

You can fly to Lijiang Sanyi International Airport from major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Kunming. From the airport, you can take a taxi or shuttle bus to the city center. In Lijiang, you can walk around the Old Town. For trips to other attractions, you can hire a taxi or join a tour.

When to Visit

Lijiang has mild temperatures throughout the year because of its elevation. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) often have good weather for sightseeing. It sometimes rains in summer, and winter can be cold, especially at night. Keep in mind that Lijiang gets busy during Chinese national holidays, especially the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and the October National Day holiday.