Lijiang Ancient City

丽江古城

Year

2025

Views

Synopsis

The Old Town of Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Lijiang, Yunnan, with a history of over 800 years. The water system and Dongba culture created by the Naxi people make it one of China's most ethnically distinctive historical and cultural cities.

Overview

Lijiang Old Town is located in the Gucheng District of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China. It is one of the best-preserved ancient towns of ethnic minorities in China. In December 1997, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Lijiang Old Town was initially built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, boasting a history of over 800 years. The old town has no city walls. It is structured around a water system, forming a unique Naxi architectural style.

Town Features

Feature	Description
Water System	The Yu River system runs through the town, with flowing water accessible to every household.
Stone-paved Roads	Paved with colorful flagstones, smooth and mirror-like.
Naxi Dwellings	Earth-and-wood structures, typically featuring "three rooms and one screen wall" (San Fang Yi Zhao Bi).
No City Walls	The surname of the Naxi chieftain was "Mu" (木, meaning wood). Adding a frame (口, meaning enclosure) around "Mu" forms "Kun" (困, meaning trapped), which was considered inauspicious.

Main Attractions

Attraction	Feature
Sifang Street	The central square and commercial street of the old town.
Mu Residence	The mansion of the Naxi chieftains, known as the "Forbidden City of the Naxi."
Black Dragon Pool	Famous for reflections of the snow-capped mountains, a photography hotspot.
Wangu Tower	The highest point in the old town, offering panoramic views.
Big Stone Bridge	An iconic bridge of the old town.

Dongba Culture

The Naxi people possess a unique Dongba culture.

Cultural Element	Description
Dongba Script	The world's only pictographic script still in use.
Naxi Ancient Music	Hailed as a "living fossil of music."
Dongba Scriptures	Religious classics of the Naxi people.
Torch Festival	A traditional festival of the Naxi people.

Practical Information

Item	Information
Old Town Maintenance Fee	50 CNY
Opening Hours	24 hours
Best Seasons	March-May, September-November
Recommended Duration	2-3 days
Altitude	2400 meters

Nearby Attractions

Attraction	Distance	Feature
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain	15 km	Sacred mountain of the Naxi people.
Shuhe Old Town	4 km	Important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
Tiger Leaping Gorge	60 km	One of the world's deepest gorges.
Lugu Lake	200 km	Home to the Mosuo people's "walking marriage" culture.