lijiang sightseeing tour

How to Plan a Trip to Lijiang

Lijiang is an ideal destination for holidays owing to its relaxed atmosphere and wonderful scenery. We hope this article will give you some inspiration and helpful guidance if you are planning a trip to Lijiang. Alternatively, contact us if you have any questions or would like us to create a Lijiang trip based on your requirements.

What You Should Know before Going to Lijiang

• The altitude is about 2,400 meters or about 7,800 feet. Some people may get some altitude sickness. So, take it easy the first day or two.
• The English service in Lijiang is not as developed as in Beijing and Shanghai. Basic English service at most of Lijiang's attractions and hotels is available though.
• Lijiang is very popular among domestic tourists which means crowds are expected during China's public holidays.

What Are the Must-Sees?

It may be difficult for you to choose what to see in your coming Lijiang trip with over 20 great attractions in Lijiang, especially if you are first-time visitors.

Therefore, we have listed the most popular five attractions suitable for all kinds of visitors. These are the Lijiang "must-sees".

Find out more about them and more on our Top 10 Attractions in Lijiang or The Ultimate 10 Things to Do in Lijiang .

How Many Days for a Lijiang Trip?

Usually, it takes 3 days for an "essence of Lijiang" trip. Here is our suggested itinerary:

• Day 1: Lijiang arrival + Lijiang Old Town sightseeing
• Day 2: Naxi culture experience in Baisha Village + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (by cable car)
• Day 3: Departure

If that looks good to you, check out more details of our 3-Day Essence of Ancient Lijiang Tour .

Lijiang is known as "the backpackers' paradise". Leisurely and carefree, backpacks are more at home in Lijiang than suitcases, not least because it has China's best hikes. If you are fond of hiking, you could refer to our 5-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour — in brief:

• Day 1: Lijiang arrival + Lijiang Old Town
• Day 2: Baisha Village + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (by cable car)
• Day 3: 7-hour Tiger Leaping Gorge hike
• Day 4: Continue the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike (4–5 hours' hiking)
• Day 5: Departure

All our itineraries are flexible. If you have any ideas or requirements, contact us . We will make any adjustments you need based on your group size, time, budgets, interests, preferences, and other requirements.

Extending Your Lijiang Tour

Most travelers connect Lijiang with Kunming and Dali . You will need 6 days to visit the essential attractions in these three most famous cities of Yunnan.

• Day 1: Kunming arrival
• Day 2: See the Stone Forest and Stone Village, then transfer to Dali by bullet train.
• Day 3: Enjoy Dali Ancient Town, and bike around Erhai Lake.
• Day 4: Transfer to Lijiang, and explore Lijiang Old Town.
• Day 5: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Day 6: Lijiang departure

See more details of our 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour if you are interested in this itinerary.

Many travelers will also put Shangri-La in their list. If you have the same idea, look at our 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour to meet the highest amazing beauty of Yunnan.

Best Times to Go

Lijiang's average daily temperature range is 8–19°C (46–66°F), which happens to be the middle seasons' too, when it is best to travel.

Although Lijiang is suitable for traveling all year round, the best times to visit Lijiang are from late March to May and mid-October to November .

The high altitude and low latitude results in cooler summers and milder winters in Lijiang. Thus, Lijiang is often a top destination for summer and winter vacations in China too.

Top Weather Tips :

• Due to its high altitude, sun protection is necessary.
• Temperatures differ greatly between day and night. Convenient and comfortable layers are practical for taking on and off.
• Rainy season is from June to September. Cloud is more likely to spoil views and raingear is recommended, especially on hikes.

Check out Lijiang Weather to discover the best places to go in each season in Lijiang and more top tips.

How to Get to Lijiang

Lijiang has an airport and a railway station to connect with other cities in China and Yunnan.

Domestic cities such as Beijing (4 hours), Shanghai (4 hours), Hangzhou (4 hours), Nanjing (3½ hours), Guangzhou (3 hours), Shenzhen (3 hours), Kunming (1 hour), Guilin (2 hours), Chengdu (2 hours), and Chongqing (2 hours) have direct flights to Lijiang.

Driving and taking a bullet train are the two main ways to get to Lijiang from other cities in Yunnan.

From Kunming to Lijiang , it's a 3½ hours' journey by a bullet train.

From Dali to Lijiang , driving is recommended (2½ hours) or a 2 or 2½ hours' journey by normal train.

From Shangri-La to Lijiang , driving is the only way (3 or 4 hours).

Where to Stay in Lijiang

Hotels in the best places to stay with a convenient location, regional features, and good reviews are recommended here for your reference:

Lijiang Old Town Area — Top Choice

• Luxury and special : Indigo® Lijiang Ancient Town
• Boutique : Blossom Hill Inn Lijiang, Ivy Garden Resort Hotel
• Economical : Manxin Lijiang Holiday Hotel

Shuhe Old Town — Quieter Relaxation

• Luxury and special : Banyan Tree Lijiang
• Boutique and economical : The Bivou Lijiang

Tiger Leaping Gorge — Hikers' Stopovers

The hotel facilities and services in Tiger Leaping Gorge are relatively lower than those in the city areas.

• Inns : Halfway Guesthouse, Tina's Guesthouse

Recommended tour: 5-Day Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

Lugu Lake — Scenic Accommodation

• Luxury and special : Lugu Lake Shui Mo Lake View Hotel
• Boutique and economical : Shilily Hotel

Find Your Ideal Lijiang Tour Here

All our tours can be customized. Feel free to contact us and we will create a trip based on your requirements, or see our popular Lijiang tours for inspiration:

• 1-Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour — Pilgrimage to Joseph Rock's favorite mountain
• 3-Day Essence of Ancient Lijiang Tour — including ancient towns, minority cultures, snow-capped mountains, and mysterious murals
• 7-Day Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour — A Feast of Landscapes and Ethnic Minority Culture
• 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Private Tour
• 11-Day China Classic Tour
• 14-Day China Natural Wonders Discovery
• 3-Week Must-See Places China Tour Including Holy Tibet
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• China Weather in April 2024: Where to Go (Smart Pre-Season Pick)
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• China Weather in June 2024: How to Benefit from the Rainy Season
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• Travel guide

The forgotten kingdom

What is lijiang.

Lijiang was originally ‘discovered’ by backpackers well before domestic tourism developed. While massively popular now among Chinese tourists, the greater area still offers rarely visited gems of natural beauty, and boasts a cultural history different from any other place in China.

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Lijiang (丽江) travel guide: discover the top things to do

• April 10, 2024

Lijiang (丽江) is one of the most popular destinations in Yunnan. In this guide, you’ll find all the info you need to organize a trip to this ancient Chinese city and the nearby attractions.

If you read my blog, it’s quite clear that Yunnan is my favorite province in China : it’s an incredibly diverse place ( here is my travel guide to Yunnan ).

In this article, I talk about one of the most famous places in Yunnan: Lijiang. It is a city with a millenary history, historically busy with traders and tourists. Maybe you have never heard of it, but Lijiang is one of the most visited cities throughout China.

As you can imagine, it is a place that is incredibly crowded at certain times of the year. Despite what many say, Lijiang has not become touristic in recent times; it has always been very busy! Due to its position on the Tea Horse Road Lijiang has been very popular over the last few centuries.

How to get to Lijiang

Since Lijiang is a very popular destination, getting there is not difficult.

• You can fly to Lijiang from most of the main cities in China.
• You can take a train (fast or regular) from Kunming ( you can book it on Trip.com )
• Finally, you can take a bus from Kunming.

The best way to get to Lijiang from Kunming (here is my travel guide) is by fast train. Once you get to Lijiang, don’t take the taxis waiting for tourists outside the train station. They are overpriced. Take one of the buses outside the train station instead: you’ll get to Old Town for only 3 RMB.

Top things to do and to see in Lijiang and the surroundings

One thing to remember is that Lijian is divided into the modern part and the Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Fortunately, you no longer need to pay 80RMB per person to visit the Old Town . But you still do if you also want to visit the Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭).

Lijiang is famous for the architecture of the buildings designed following the Naxi (one of the Chinese ethnic minorities) traditions, as you can see in the picture above.

In this picture, you can see a Mosuo woman. This ethnic group is famous because it’s a matriarchal society, meaning that women often head the house, inheritance is through the female line, and women make business decisions. Read more info here.

The best time to photograph Lijiang is before sunrise. The city is empty, and it will be all for you.

The old town is not very big and a few days is enough to visit it. Ideally, use Lijiang to make some excursions nearby, including the other three old towns in the area: Baisha, Shuhe, and Yuhu.

If you plan to stay a bit longer in Lijiang, these are some places you can visit that are not too far away.

Yulong or Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山

This national park is one of the highlights of the area, and if it’s a sunny day, you’ll probably notice the iconic peak of the mountain while visiting Lijiang.

I wrote a detailed guide with all the info you need to visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Don’t miss it.

Blue Moon Valley 蓝月谷

The Blue Moon Valley is one area you can visit inside the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Park. It’s famous for the pristine crystal-clear water that comes directly from the glacier.

The area is very popular, so if possible, head there early in the morning before the tourists from Lijiang arrive.

Here, you can find my complete guide on how to visit the Blue Moon Valley.

Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡

Another nice trip from Lijiang is to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. At a maximum depth of approximately 3,790 meters (12,434 feet) from the river to the mountain peak, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world’s deepest and most spectacular river canyons. The people living in the area are mainly Naxi.

A short interesting day trip from Lijiang is to Shigu, just a couple of hours away, and a good place for hiking with a majestic view of the Yangtze River.

Check my article for a detailed guide on how to visit Shigu.

The old town of Shuhe 束河

When you hear people talking about Lijiang and its Old Town, they generally refer to Gǔchéng (古城), but that’s not the only Old Town in Lijiang.

There is another Old Town called Shuhe (束河). This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fewer tourists and smaller than Lijiang Old Town. Shuhe is very beautiful, as you can see in the picture above, and, though similar to Lijiang, it has more canals, and the water is crystal clear.

Baisha Old Town 白沙

Probably the last hidden gem in the area, Baisha is becoming increasingly popular among people who visit Lijiang but try to avoid the crowds.

Baisha is a lovely small ancient town, just a 20-minute ride from Lijiang, filled with cute coffee shops. It’s definitely worth a trip before it becomes too crowded.

Check out my travel guide to Baisha.

Yuhu Village 玉湖村

Yuhu is a beautiful village in the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park. Unlike in Lijiang, people are actually living there, and you won’t find many tourists. This was the home of the Austrian explorer Joseph Rock , the first Western to write extensive literature about the Naxi people. In Yuhu, you can explore a small museum built inside his former residence.

A visit to Shangri-La 香格里拉

Lijiang is the ideal starting point to visit Shangri-La, a Tibetan town easily reached by bus or high-speed train. The original old town completely destroyed in a fire in 2014, but it has since been rebuilt. If you don’t have the chance to visit Tibet , this is a cheaper option to witness some Tibetan culture.

Here you can find my travel guide to Shangri-La.

Lugu Lake is now conveniently connected to Lijiang via a new road, and it takes about 3 hours to get there. The lake is truly beautiful, but what makes this place so unique is the local Mosuo minority, one of the last matriarchal societies in the world. I definitely recommend it.

After your trip to Lijiang, you might want to continue exploring this part of Yunnan by visiting Dali Old Town and Shaxi Old Town.

Where to stay in Lijiang

Although Lijiang is so popular, it is possible to spend very little money on accommodation. Hostels start from 5€ per night, but there are hotels and guest houses for all tastes and budgets. When organizing your trip to China, I recommend using Trip.com because it has more options than Booking.com.

If you don’t want to book a room in a fancy hotel, remember that the beds in regular hotels and guest houses are all very hard, and the rooms don’t have any heating system, even if Lijiang can be relatively cold at night. All rooms have electric blankets, though.

The funny thing is that in China, those who design the rooms think separating the bathroom and the bedroom is not that important, so you’ll often find a glass.

One last tip: you can ask for a discount on the room price if you are in a guest house. If they ask you for 150RMB, try to get the price down to 120/130RMB.

In addition to the information I have written, remember this:

• Lijiang is on a plateau at an altitude of 2400 meters, so the sun is very strong. Remember to bring sunscreen lotion.
• Don’t forget to visit the Black Dragon Pool outside the Old Town.
• Don’t forget to visit the other Old Town: Shuhe.
• Before visiting China, get a VPN. If you don’t have one, you won’t be able to use Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc…
• The weather is quite pleasant year-round and never too cold or hot. However, it is better to avoid the months from May to October because it’s the rainy season and all holidays, such as Chinese New Year.
• On Momondo , you can find some discounted flights to China.
• Here’s the complete travel guide to China .

If you have other questions, please feel free to ask. Here you can find some more pictures I took in China. Here is an article about a place that is not very popular among tourists: the beautiful Jiuxiang caves.

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6 thoughts on “lijiang (丽江) travel guide: discover the top things to do”.

Great post! I’m excited to explore Lijiang now. This post has helped me plan my itineraries. Thanks!

Glad it helped!

Great post! I don’t see a date for the posting though. Is Shangri-la still basically just a construction site? I was hoping to travel there this summer, flying into Lijiang and then also visit and fly out of Shangri-la.Thx!

Hi. It should be completed now. I visited the city about 2 years ago. Next year there is also a new fast train connecting Lijiang to Shangri-La.

Oh, I love your photos. They look authentic but still charming, completely different from other travel bloggers. Thanks so much for your sharing!

Thanks a lot!

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THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Lijiang

Day trips from lijiang.

• Lijiang to Shangri-La County
• Lijiang to Jianchuan County
• Lijiang to Ninglang County
• Lijiang to Heqing County
• Lijiang to Kunming
• Private Day Trips
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights

2. 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La

3. Private City Tour of Lijiang Including Lunch

4. Private Full Day Lijiang Naxi Culture Tour

5. All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang

6. All inclusive to Lijiang Jade dragon snow Mountain baisha village from Lijiang

7. 1 day Lijiang Highlights Mini Group Tour

8. Private Day Trip to Yangtze River First Bend, Shigu Ancient Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge from Lijiang

9. Lijiang Private Day Tour to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impressions Show and More

10. Lijiang Highlight Trip of Snow Mountain And Local Village With Family Visit

11. Private Day Tour to Shangri-la from Lijiang by Car

12. Private Day Tour to Tiger Leaping Gorge from Lijiang

13. 1-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang

14. Private Tour: Jade Dragon Village and Baisha Village via Bicycle

15. Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang

16. 1-Day Old Town Tour in Lijiang

17. Private Lijiang Tour to Baisha Village and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with Show

18. Lijiang Sanyi airport (LJG) Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour

19. Private Day Tour to Lugu Lake from Lijiang

20. 15-Day Private Tour from Lijiang to Guizhou and Zhangjiajie

21. Marvelous Gorge Sightseeing and Photo-Taking From Lijiang

22. 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali

23. Private Day Tour Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Village from Lijiang

24. Lijiang Private Day Tour:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha and Shuhe Villages

25. Private Day Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge and Black Dragon Pond from Lijiang

26. Private Day Tour of Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Black Dragon Pond Park

27. Lijiang Private Tour: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha and Longquan Village

What travelers are saying.

• 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La
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• 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights
• Private City Tour of Lijiang Including Lunch
• All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang
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Lijiang Travel Guide

Lijiang is located in the northwest of Yunnan Province , at an altitude of 2418m. It is in a region where the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau coverage. Lijiang as the hottest destination in Yunnan, is about 517 kilometers from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Lied between Dali and Shangri-La, Lijiang is the must-visit city that you can put either Shangri-La or Dali into your travel list or cover three of them. Why not stepping onto the amazing paradise on plateau to relax your body and release your spirits? Just go!

Why Visit Lijiang in Yunnan?

• Old Town of Lijiang. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Old Town of Lijiang is comprised of three towns - Dayan Old Town, Shuhe Ancient Town and Baisha Ancient Town. Lose yourselves to explore in the romantic streets.
• Time-locked Destination in Naxi Style. Lijiang has been the base of the 286,000-strong Naxi minority for about the last 1400 years. You can find Naxi architecture everywhere, hear local Naxi people speaking Naxi language, enjoy singing and dance held by the Naxi minority, and Naxi script and Dongba writings shown everywhere in the time-locked ancient towns.
• Trade City on Ancient Tea-Horse Road. Southwest China linked with India via Tibet. It headed north through Lijiang and into the thin air of the Himalayan mountains on the way to the Tibetan capital Lhasa, before turning south to India and Burma. Travelers can trace back the Tea-horse road by visiting Shuhe Ancient Town, Lashi Lake, etc.
• Breathtaking Natural Views Everywhere. No matter you stroll in the maze of cobbled streets of the old towns or travel out of time-honored towns, you can see the high and continuous mountains before you. Feel intoxicated by the amazing wonders - The First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Top Attractions in Lijiang

In Lijiang, there are a lot of things to see and do. Once you are stepping on the dreamland, you’ll visit Lijiang Old Town, including Mu’s Residence, Wangu Tower, Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Museum; out of Lijiang Old Town, you can explore Baisha Mural Paintings and Former Residence of Joseph Rock, etc. To go a little further, transfer to see First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge. In Lijiang, leisure stroll and tight exploration are for you! For more attractions info, please see All Attractions in Lijiang | Top 10 Lijiang Attractions Rated by TripAdvisor.com .

Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lijiang Old Town is ancient town for Naxi ethnic group. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world, making it a world-famous hiking destination. It consists of Upper, Middle and Lower Gorge.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost mountain in China and famous for its chaming sightseeing, excellent Impression Lijiang show, Dongba culture, etc.

Lugu Lake, located between Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province, is the mysterious land for Mosuo people. Diverse experience and fun are waiting for you in the “Kingdom of Women”.

Blue Moon Valley is the must-visit part of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The valley is in crescent shape, looking like a blue moon at the foot of the mountain.

Black Dragon Pool is just 1 km north of Lijiang Old Town. You can overlook and shoot the beautiful Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in a distance.

Dongba Culture Museum

Dongba Culture Museum is a small museum presenting Naxi group’s graphic characters, living tools and religious musical instruments, paintings...

Shuhe Ancient Town

As a part of Old Towns in Lijiang listed as the UNESCO World Heritage, Shuhe Ancient Town is less crowded than Dayan Old Town, where you can fully relax.

First Bend of Yangtze River

Yangtze River makes a giant turn of a “V” shape and then flows toward the northeast, which is the famous view of First Bend of Yangtze River. 

Baisha Village & Murals

Baisha Mural Painting is a part of the UNESCO heritage. A visit to Baisha Village, the original gathering place of Naxi group, allows you enjoy the precious murals.

Yuhu Village

Located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yuhu Village is the place where Joseph Rock lived for 27 years since 1922. Visit stone houses and his former residence.

About 13km in the west of Lijiang Old Town, Lashi Lake is a natural wonderland to trace the Ancient Tea and Horse Road with exciting horse riding experience.

If you want to do something different and memorable in Lijiang, you can seize the precious chance to fully experience the local Naxi ethnic culture by visiting one of their families around Lijiang Old Town. You can know Naxi people’s daily life and special customs, even try Naxi traditional costumes on your own to take photos with the families and if you like, you can join them and have dinner with them. Baisha Village is the original Naxi village with many Naxi people really living there that you can have the chance to learn how to make embroidery. For more stunning experience in Lijiang, you can turn to Top 15 Things to Do in Lijiang for more ideas and inspirations.

Lijiang Weather & Best Time to Go

What’s your picture of Lijiang? The white cloud under the blue sky, continuous mountains stood afar, smiling Naxi people and tourists sitting leisurely to enjoy the gentle sunshine, yes, this is a normal scene in Lijiang. Lijiang has a mild subtropical highland climate with an average temperature of 12.7°C. Summer is warm and wet and winter is mild, dry and sunny. The rainy months are from June to September and the weather during these days changes a lot. The best times to visit Lijiang are Spring and Autumn.

If you want to visit during the Naxi ethnic festivals, come during Sanduo Festival on the 8th day of the second month by lunar calendar, and Torch Festival on the 24th at the six month of lunar calendar. See details about Lijiang climate, weather & season to go >>

How to Get to Lijiang & Getting around

Transfer to Lijiang

Lijiang Sanyi Airport is located 29 km from Lijiang downtown, with 40-45 minutes’ transfer. It has flights from/to Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Lhasa, Chongqing, Guiyang, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Hangzhou and more cities in China. International flights can connect Lijiang with Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul and more regions.

Lijiang Railway Station is about 8 km from Lijiang downtown area. Travelers can take high speed trains to Kunming and Guilin. There are about 6 high speed trains running from Kunming Railway Station to Lijiang Railway Station. The earliest one starts at 07:14 and the last one departs at 17:22. The whole train riding takes about 3-3.5 hours.

At present, long-distance buses are available between Lijiang and many other destinations, like Shangri-La (about 3.5-4 hours), Dali (about 3 hours), Jianchuan, Baoshan, Lugu Lake (5-6 hours), Tiger Leaping Gorge (about 2 hours), Kunming (about 8-9 hours), and more destinations.

Transfer within Lijiang

In Lijiang city, travelers can travel around by taxi or bus. To go further, it is suggested to hire a private car (China Discovery offers private service with experienced guide and driver to take you to all the attractions in Lijiang). To check more transfer info, please see how to get to and around Lijiang | How to Get to Lijiang Old Town .

Where to Stay in Lijiang & Recommended Hotels

You never need to worry about your accommodation in Lijiang. Hundreds of hotels and hostels are located in Lijiang Old Town. Hotels range from luxury 5 star to budget 3 star, including Crowne Plaza Lijiang Ancient Town, Pullman, Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town, etc. Many local hotels are also good choice for comfortable stay. Living in Lijiang Old Town, it is easily access to Mu’s Residence, Wangu Tower, Black Dragon Pool Park, Dongba Culture Museum, bars and shops. If you want to stay in Shuhe Ancient Town, there are some nice hotels for you which offer you different experience in Lijiang Old Town. For detailed accommodation info, please feel free to contact our professional travel consultants who will try their best to satisfy your likes and needs.

▶ Learn more about: Where to Stay in Lijiang - 5 Best Accommodation Areas | Lijiang Luxury 5 Star Hotel List | Lijiang 4 Star Hotel List | Lijiang 3 Star Hotel List

Lijiang Maps - Useful Maps for Your Lijiang Travel

We have collected some very useful Lijiang maps including Lijiang City maps, Lijiang Old Town Map and Tiger Leaping Gorge Map to help you have a better understanding about Lijiang and its attractions. For more maps, please check 2024 Overall and Detailed Lijiang Maps .

Lijiang City Map

Lijiang Old Town Sketch Map

Lijiang Tourist Map

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tourist Map

Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Map

Lugu Lake Panorama Map

Other Hot Destinations in Yunnan

Besides Lijiang, there are some other hot destinations in Yunnan, like Dali, Shangri-la, Kunming, Yuanyang and Jianshui, etc. Check the travel guide of each destination and discover now!

Other Popular Destinations in China

China is vast and diverse. You can choose your favorite destination among more than 70 tourist destination and regions. Following are 4 popular destinations you may get interested in. Check all destinations in China

Chinese Name: 丽江

Chinese Pinyin: Lì jiāng

English IPA: /'lijiang/

Population: 1.24 million

Language: Mandarin & Naxi Language

Tel Code: 0888

Zip Code: 674100

Time Zone: (UTC+8)

Plan Your Lijiang Tour

Usually, travelers can spend 2~3 days in Lijiang , one day for exploring in Lijiang Old Town area, one day for traveling to see Baisha Mural Paintings, Shuhe Ancient Town, Former Residence of Joseph Rock, and one day to First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Besides, if you are fond of the emerald alpine lake and mysterious matriarchal society culture of Mosuo ethnic culture, you can plan another  2-3 days to Lugu Lake  to enjoy more peaceful holiday time!

It is highly recommended to combine Dali with Lijiang , Lijiang with Shangri-La in Yunnan. The classic route Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La tour is chosen by many travelers which takes 8 days for four destinations.

For an overall trip in Yunnan, you can extend from Kunming to Yuanyang to marvel at the unbelievable magnificent Yuanyang Rice Terraces, to Puzhehei to relax at the pleasant wonderland of lotus blossoms, to Luoping to be fond of the golden sea of rapeseed flowers, to Xishuangbanna to feel the enthusiastic Dai ethnic people and the lush tropical forest, etc. For a tailor-made tour, please feel free to contact our travel consultants who are ready to help customize your own trip .

Learn more about How to Plan a Lijiang Tour | Ultimate Lijiang Itinerary & Trip Planning Guide >>

Travel with China Discovery

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable trips to Yunnan for the past few years. Among them Mr. Elie & his wife from Belgium had 15 great days in Yunnan during their 69 days China trip customized with us and shared us their special travel story . Travel with China Discovery to create your wonderful Yunnan trip memories!

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4 Days Lijiang City Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tour Overview

Lijiang, one of China’s most popular destinations and home to an amazing array of sights, activities and events. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern...

Code of Tour : YET0000003572

Length of Travel : 4 Day

Destinations of Tour : Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang

Departure City : Lijiang

Price of Tour : Request

Type of Tour :

Features of Tour : Nature Minorities Landscape Mountains Ancient towns

Lijiang , one of China’s most popular destinations and home to an amazing array of sights, activities and events. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Stroll around in the Lijiang Ancient Town and visit other natural attractions like Tiger Leaping Gorge and cultural highlighted attractions like  Baisha Murals of Dongba culture.

Highlights:

• Explore old towns of Lijiang – Shuhe Old Town, Baisha Old Town, Yuhu Village and Baisha Village to fully appreciate the Naxi culture in various ways.
• Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.
• Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
• Day 2: Lijiang
• Day 3: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang
• Day 4: Lijiang Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 arrive at lijiang.

Sightseeing and Activities : Arrive at Lijiang Accommodation : Lijiang Meals : Lunch

Arrive at Lijiang airport, meet your tour guide and transfer to your hotel in Lijiang City.

Day 2 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities : Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baishuihe River, Yak Meadow, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Mural, Shuhe Old Town Accommodation : Lijiang Meals : Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you will drive to   Ja de Dragon Snow Mountain , take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River , then take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in   Yak   Meadow (3700 meters).

Stroll through  Baisha Old Town , which is an enchanting traditional Naxi style old town. Visit the  Baisha Mural   about 600 years old, which is a part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Later visit   Shuhe Old Town .  Nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 6 km northwest of Lijiang old town. Shuhe was once a staging post at ancient Tea & Horse Road. With an altitude of 2440 meters above sea level, it is a tranquil town with a population of about 3000 people. Along with its sister town Lijiang, it is also part of the UNESCO Heritage site. Shuhe is the earliest settlement of Naxi people in Lijiang when their ancestors first moved to this region.

Day 3 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities : First Bend on the Yangtze River, the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument, Tiger Leaping Gorge Accommodation : Lijiang Meals : Breakfast and Lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60km to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge , the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks.

Continue to visit the   Tiger Leaping Gorge (Shangri-la section) ,  the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.

After the tour , drive back to your hotel in Lijiang.

Day 4 Lijiang Departure

Sightseeing and Activities : Lijiang Departure Accommodation : None Meals : Breakfast

Enjoy the free time before going to Lijiang airport for your departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Service included:.

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

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One thought on “4 days lijiang city tour with jade dragon snow mountain and tiger leaping gorge”.

I would like take this course May 5th or 6th. But. Onething is I prefer to stay one night in Tiger Leaping Gorge inn.

Is it possible?

1. ‘Lijiang City Tour 2. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. 3. Tiger Leaping Gorge tracking two days.

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Yunnan Travel Guide

Things to do.

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Don't assume you're restricted to the main hubs of Beijing and Shanghai, our tours can start from any city.

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Exchange some local currency for your trip

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