Lijiang (丽江; Lìjiāng) is a small city in Yunnan Province, China; it was once the capital of a small kingdom. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a busy tourist town.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Lijiang is the main center of the Naxi or Nakhi people, though it is by no means a Naxi-only town: at least half a dozen other ethnic groups are represented. The Naxi number under a million and are perhaps best known for their embroidery; they also have their own language with its own hieroglyphic-style writing system, and their own religion, clothing, art, architecture, music and dance.
Walking is the only option in the old town, while taxis are often the easiest way around the rest of town, meter starts from ¥9 (as of Mar 2019). Make sure you have the exact location info or address for the cab driver. Some of them do not know a whole lot more than you do. Fracture alert: watch where you are walking. It is easy to trip on the cobblestones or fall into the canals from the walkways or bridges, many of which do not have handrails. The cobblestones can be very slippery when wet. To see the sights outside the old town, the options are walking, biking, public bus, private mini-bus, or taxi. The public bus mainly stays within the city and stops.
1 Old Town of Lijiang (丽江古城, 大研古城 Dayan Ancient Town), Gucheng District (古城区), ☏ +86 888 5111118. Open 24 hours. Walk around, watch people, shop, drink and eat. There is a bonfire at around 19:00 at the Si Fang Jie (四方街), the central plaza. Many local folks dance there, apparently entertain themselves. Tourists are welcomed to join. And if you get there early in the morning, you can avoid the crowds. Entry to the old town is free. The Old Town Maintenance Fee was abolished in 2017. However, some attractions within the old town still charge a fee. 2 Mu Palace (木府; Mùfǔ), 49 Guanyuan Lane, Guangyi Street, Gucheng District (古城区光义街官院巷49号), ☏ +86 888 5181468, +86 888 5122572. 08:30-17:30.
1 Naxi Concert Hall (纳西古乐会), 86 Mishi Lane, Xinyi Street, Gucheng District (古城区新义街密士巷86号), ☏ +86 888 5127971. 20:00-21:30. Enjoy the traditional Naxi music Culture Show performed by the Naxi Orchestra, which includes some 70-90 year old men. The music itself is a combination of traditional Chinese music dating back to the Tang dynasty and local instruments and flavours. The music is well performed, however be prepared for long explanations of its musical history in Mandarin between each piece and the sometimes self-serving comments of Xuan Ke the Director.
There are three primary types of restaurants in Lijiang: Naxi, Tibetan, and Sichuan. Some restaurants offer more than one type of food. Much Western food is also available, but more expensive. A bowl of noodle costs from ¥12-15 (slightly more pricier than Dali) (as of Jul 2019). Lots of local snack-type foods available from street vendors, including: Baba - a flat wheatbread available; a savory version sometimes served with chili sauce and a sweeter version that tastes honey-flavored. Naxi style fried white cheese - A soft white cheese cut into slices then fried in a non-greasy batter.
There are a couple of local drinks worthy of special mention. Lijiang Yinjiu and Sulima (both commonly available in Lijiang) are modern renditions of ancient beer types of the Naxi and Mosuo people and far more enjoyable than the typical bland Chinese lager. Yunnan is famous for tea, as well (though Pu'er, Yunnan's best-known tea town, is way down south on the road to Xishuangbanna) and every fourth shop is a tea shop specializing in the length and breadth of Chinese tea, the likes of which you will not find in your average Western Chinatown. See Chinese cuisine#Tea for details. Unlike the rest of China, Lijiang's cafés and restaurants shut down around 11PM.
The smaller streets in the old town are reported not to be safe at night. Do not walk alone. As the city lies at the foot of the Himalayas, you may be susceptible to altitude sickness, especially if you go visit the 4,000 m-high mountains in the area.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Lijiang typically sees ~24°C daytime highs and 21 rainy days.
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