Best things to do in Lijiang: Ancient Town & Beyond! 2025 Travel Tips

If you’re looking to explore an authentic part of China, far from the crowds of international tourists, then look no further than Yunnan Province! And more specifically, Lijiang and its surroundings.

Lijiang is known as one of the most beautiful ancient towns in China, but there is more to it than that. From Lijiang you can easily adventure out to explore the natural beauty of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, as well as other unique ancient towns.

In this article I have outlined everything you need to know about visiting Lijiang and its surroundings. Including how to get there, the best things to do, where to stay and more.

So what are you waiting for? If you want to step back in time in these gorgeous Chinese ancient towns, or get lost amongst the snowy peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, this is the article for you!

Best things to do in Lijiang

Explore Lijiang Ancient Town

Without a doubt, the first place you should visit in Lijiang is Lijiang Ancient Town. 

The origins of the town date back to the Southern Song Dynasty (over 800 years ago), but unfortunately most of the town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1996, meaning most of what you see today has been modernly rebuilt.

That said, you won’t be able to tell while walking around, as the original architecture style has been preserved, and you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time. It was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

I was amazed at how big the town is. We started at the top of the nearby hill, and made our way down into the main square. There are countless picturesque side streets and corners to explore, and the atmosphere is simply magical!

The town is also full of cute shops, bars and restaurants. Besides taking in the ancient atmosphere, you can enjoy some modern shopping, purchasing unique souvenirs like the blue and white tie-die clothes of the local ethnic groups.

Make sure to stay until the evening, because once the sun goes down the town lights up with red lanterns and beautiful lights. Most of the bars also became party spots which I wasn’t expecting!

Wear the traditional outfits of the local people

This isn’t an activity that I thought I’d be doing in China, but after seeing just how popular it is amongst local tourists, I couldn’t help but joining in on the fun!

In all Chinese tourist destinations you will often see lots of people doing photoshoots while wearing traditional outfits. It’s one of the things to do while travelling in China.

As it’s so common, you will find stores at every corner that will rent you the traditional outfits of local ethnic groups. In Lijiang I wore the traditional dress of the Dongba people. 

It might seem touristy, but personally I think it’s a really fun way to honour the local people, and maintain their traditions and customs alive.

Visit Lijiang Museum

If visiting the historical streets of Lijiang Ancient Town, or wearing the traditional outfits of the Donga People, has made you want to learn more about Lijiang’s history, then make sure to head to Lijiang Museum.

Here you will find various displays spread out across different rooms, all showcasing bits of local history, culture and even geology. You can see photos, artefacts and even traditional outfits from old times.

It’s a great museum to learn more about the history and culture of this part of China.

Walk around Jade Spring Park

From the Lijiang Museum it’s just a short walk over to Jade Spring Park. It’s a fairly big park with a number of temples and pavilions inside, amongst which the Lengthen Temple, the Moon-Embracing Pavilion and the Five-Phoenix Tower.

But the most famous feature of the park is without a doubt the Black Dragon Pool, with its beautiful reflections of the snowy peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and its white marble bridge.

The park itself is lovely, even on a rainy day like when we visited, it’s a very scenic and picturesque place to walk around for a few hours. And at the various temples and pavilions you can learn more about the local culture and history.

Learn to make paper the traditional Dongba way

Traditional Dongba paper is different from the normal every day paper we’re used to. It’s much thicker and more durable, with a distinctive texture, which can last for hundreds of years.

Dongba paper is traditionally used by the Naxi people for religious scriptures, and the paper making process is preserved as an intangible cultural heritage.

We did a workshop in Lijiang to learn about the traditional techniques for making Dongba paper, and experiencing it first hand is simply incredible.

Best day trips from Lijiang

While Lijiang itself is magical, one of the great things about it is how many cool spots there are to explore also in its surrounding area. 

Admire the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a mountain massif (or a small mountain range) in Yunnan, close to Lijiang. It’s highest peak is at 5,596m above sea level, and is visible from both Lijiang and many surrounding towns.

Besides admiring the beauty of this snowy mountain peak, you can also explore the gorgeous mountain scenery that surrounds it. For example you can take a cable car up to an observation platform at 4,500m, or go hiking in the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Another popular spot to explore around Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the Blue Moon Valley. 

Explore the Blue Moon Valley

Located above 2,800m, Blue Moon Valley takes its name from the crescent shape of the valley, as well as the incredibly blue colour of the water.

We were there on a cloudy day, and the water was still pretty bright, I can only imagine how blue it becomes on a sunny day.

Located at the base of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Blue Moon Valley is composed by four large turquoise lakes, dozens of small waterfalls, and various wooden walkways you can walk along to enjoy its beauty.

It’s a very popular spot for wedding photoshoots, and with its vibrant colours and impressive mountain scenery, it’s easy to see why. It’s a great spot to just walk around and enjoy the natural landscape.

See the Lijiang Impression show

Located a short drive away from Blue Moon Valley, Impression Lijiang is one of the most impressive shows I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately it was cloudy when we visited, but if you visit on a sunny day, you’ll get to see the show against the backdrop of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

It’s a massive open air theatre and there are hundreds of performers all together on a multi-level stage. The show was created by Zhang Yimou, the director who choreographed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The performers wear the traditional outfits of the local ethnic people, amongst which the Naxi, Yi and Bai ethnic groups. The performance showcases their traditional dances, songs and lifestyles, with impressive visual performances.

At one point there were horses riding all around the spectator area! It’s a really cool show, and a great way to honour the traditions of the local people.

Step back in time at Baisha Ancient Town

Lijiang Ancient Town is without a doubt the most impressive ancient town you’ll see in Yunnan, but I have to say I personally found Baisha even more captivating. It feels a bit less polished than Lijiang, with a more authentic feel.

Once again, it was unfortunately cloudy when we visited, but Baisha is famous for the mountain peaks that surround it, which you’d normally be able to admire from the town streets.

Baisha was the first settlement of the Naxi people, and the town dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE). AS you walk down the cobbled streets, with their traditional ancient architecture, you will feel like you’re stepping back in time.

There are lots of cute shops and foodie corners, selling unique souvenirs and serving tasty local snacks and delicious tea. You could even join a copper making workshop, and learn about traditional techniques from the last coppersmith.

Admire the Baisha Murals

At the entrance of Baisha Ancient Town, you will find the Baisha Murals Institute. This is a complex of buildings amongst which Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Hall and other buildings of historical importance.

Here you can admire the famous Baisha Murals. The Baisha Murals are a rare example of cultural and religious integration, as they combine elements from Buddhism, Taoism, Tibetan Lamaism and Naxi Dongba culture.

They’re also some of the oldest surviving artworks of the Naxi ethnic group. They’re a unique and stunning work of art, which offer a small window into the history and culture of this region. 

Explore Yuhu Village

Another ancient town we visited just outside Lijiang is Yuhu Village. This is much smaller than Lijiang and Baisha, and while it’s just as picturesque, it didn’t feel quite as ancient.

All the houses and streets are built in their distinctive architecture style with exposed bricks. There’s only one main road with souvenir shops and foodie spots, and it felt more touristy than the others, despite there being less people.

It might not feel as lived in as Baisha, but I still enjoyed exploring it. It’s a very relaxing place to wander around for a few hours, taking in the unique architecture, and enjoying a bit of shopping without crowds.

Join a Dongba calligraphy class in Yushui Village

During our time in Lijiang we also joined a Dongba calligraphy class, and it was amongst my favourite activities we did. Learning about the traditional Dongba pictograms was fascinating.

An expert drew for us different examples of pictograms, and showed us how pictograms are put together to create words and full sentences. We had lots of fun trying to guess what each symbol stood for.

We then had a good at painting our own Dongba pictograms, on traditional Dongba paper. I decided to write out all three blessings they’d given us as examples, because you can never have too many blessings right?

Logistical tips for visiting Lijiang

About Yunnan Province 

Located in Southwest China, Yunnan is a province of incredible diversity, both in terms of natural landscape and culture. It’s home to over 25 ethnic minorities, whose unique culture and traditions you can still see to this day.

It’s a very beautiful Province and is famous amongst local tourists, but it’s still fairly unknown amongst international travellers. That’s part of the reason why I was so excited to visit it.

About Lijiang

Within Yunnan, Lijiang is amongst the most known destinations (or at least in my case, it’s the only part of Yunnan I already knew about before visiting), and it’s easy to see why.

The ancient town in Lijiang is amongst the most beautiful and well maintained in China, but it’s not just limited to that. The surroundings of Lijiang are also incredible, both from a natural and cultural point of view.

Lijiang is the starting point for anyone wishing to explore Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Blue Moon Valley. If you want to admire those snowy peaks and incredibly blue water, you’ll have to go via Lijiang.

So definitely add Lijiang to your Yunnan itinerary, you won’t regret it!

How to get to Lijiang

Getting to Lijiang is very easy. Lijiang has a big airport with lots of national flights to major Chinese cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi’An, as well as international flights to cities like Bangkok and Seoul.

Lijiang also has a train station, which connects it to nearby Kunming, as well as other Chinese cities. Once you arrive in Lijiang it’s then easy to get around with taxis or public transport.

Where to stay in Lijiang

During our trip to Lijiang we stayed at Howard Johnson Jinlin Plaza Lijiang. It’s located not far from Lijiang Ancient Town, and in a convenient position to then explore the beautiful spots surrounding Lijiang.

From the hotel you could also walk to a nearby local night market, which was a pretty cool spot to explore in evenings, to get a feel for authentic Chinese markets.

They also had a massive breakfast buffer, with both Asian and Western specialities, as well as spacious rooms with all the amenities you might need. 

Final thoughts on exploring Lijiang in Yunnan

There you have it, the ultimate guide to exploring Lijiang in Yunnan! Have you been to China before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

Lijiang is actually the only place in Yunnan that I had previously seen on social media, and it lived up to the hype. The combination of ancient towns and stunning nature make it a really incredible destination.

History lovers will appreciate the incredibly well kept ancient towns, which will make you feel like you’re stepping back in time, and nature lovers will find themselves in awe of the turquoise water and mountain views of Blue Moon Valley. 

It’s a truly authentic Chinese experience, and while it’s popular with national tourists, it’s still relatively unknown amongst international travellers. Personally, I loved exploring this part of China.

I hope you find this useful in planning your trip to Lijiang and Yunnan, if you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

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