Yunnan Free Travel | Lijiang Tourism Complete Guide: 8 Must-Visit Attractions, Characteristic Food, and Accommodation Recommendations

Planning a trip to Lijiang, Yunnan but don't know what to see, eat or where to stay? KINNSO has compiled the top 8 must-visit attractions in Lijiang, from the ancient city to Yulong Snow Mountain, as well as recommendations for local delicacies and characteristic inns. Let us help you plan your Lijiang trip with ease and enjoy it to the fullest!

Yulong Snow Mountain is located in the north of Lijiang and is a World Natural Heritage Site and China's first batch of 5A-level scenic spot. Here, the snow peaks are majestic, the forests are lush, the air is fresh, and taking the cable car to Yunsanping at an altitude of 4506 meters, you can enjoy a panoramic view of 13 snow-capped mountains stretching across the ice and snow wonderland. You can also visit Lan Yue Valley to feel the mirror-like lake or go to Baishui River to experience the clear and moving highland stream.

Located next to Lijiang Ancient City, the ancient town of Shu He is another place with a long history and charm in Lijiang. Compared to the bustling Lijiang Ancient City, it feels more quiet and leisurely. Stone paths, adobe houses and clear streams blend together, revealing the wisdom of the Naxi people's lives everywhere. Stroll along Xizhao Tutang and Dongzhatutang, experiencing the life of farmers from the past; climb Jiudinglongtan Waterfall to admire the magnificent sight of the gushing water cascading down the cliff; in the small tavern of the ancient town, have a few drinks with three or five friends and savor the leisurely time of Shu He.

Black Dragon Pond Park is located at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, centered around three ponds: Black Dragon Pond, Jade Spring, and Divine Spring. It is surrounded by lush forests. The park not only boasts beautiful scenery but also a rich history and culture. You can stroll across the Nine-Bend Bridge by the lake, admiring the reflection of Yulong Snow Mountain and verdant trees in the water, feeling the tranquility and vastness of its surroundings. The park also features ancient buildings like the White Pagoda and Wufeng Tower, which bear witness to Lijiang's long history. Every year during the third lunar month, a lively March Street Folk Custom activity is held here, making it an excellent place to experience the unique folk culture of Lijiang.

Lijiang Thousand Years of Love Scenic Area is a large-scale cultural tourism project integrating performing arts, entertainment, dining, and shopping. With the "Thousand Years of Affection" large-scale song and dance performance as its core, it showcases moving stories about the origin legend, glorious civilization, and Torch Festival of the Naxi people, allowing you to experience the charm of Naxi culture firsthand. Besides, the scenic area also features high-tech stage plays like "The Big Earthquake" and "Ghost Blowing Lamp", as well as a cultural theme street and a characteristic commodity shopping center. It offers both top-tier artistic performances and endless entertainment, dining, shopping, making it a must-visit destination for tourists in Lijiang.

Dongba Valley takes "Nature as the Ultimate Art" as its design concept, combining Dongba culture with modern aesthetics to create a scenic area full of mysterious charm. Passing through the primeval forest at an altitude of 3200 meters, you will see the towering Dongba Tower, the tallest Dongba cultural totem in the world. Along the circular boardwalk, you can visit the series of sculptures of the twelve gods of Dongba religion and learn about their mythical legends. In the Meditation Pavilion, you can meditate quietly and listen to the sounds of nature. Dongba Valley allows you to appreciate the profoundness of Dongba culture and experience the philosophy of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Laojun Mountain is a sacred site for Taoism, with an elevation of 4240 meters. It boasts magnificent scenery including pristine forests, alpine meadows, streams, and cascading waterfalls. Legend has it that Laozi, the founder of Taoism, once practiced cultivation on this mountain, hence its name "Laojun Mountain." Reaching the summit allows you to overlook the entire Yulong Snow Mountain, experiencing the grandeur of "standing at the pinnacle, overlooking all mountains as small." The mountain also features the centuries-old Yunfeng Temple and several ecological hiking trails. Along the way, lush greenery greets your eyes and fresh air invigorates your spirit. Every year on the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, local villagers hold a lively "Climbing Mountain Festival" here, creating a truly spectacular scene.

Nasu grilled fish is made with wild fish from local deep mountain streams. It has a crispy exterior and tender interior, with fresh and chewy fish meat. When grilling, chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns are applied to the surface, making it spicy and flavorful. With fresh ginger shreds and cilantro, appetite can be further stimulated. "A Ge's House" and "Jin Yu Tang," located near Sifang Street in the ancient city, are good places to try Nasu grilled fish.

Yunnan produces a variety of wild mushrooms, such as matsutake, porcini, and chicken-foot mushroom. Lijiang is particularly known as a hub for wild mushroom trading. These wild mushrooms have thick, tender meat, excellent taste, and are rich in nutrients. In Lijiang's wild mushroom museum or restaurants, you can savor delicacies like stir-fried chicken-foot mushroom, matsutake stewed chicken, and porcini scrambled eggs, experiencing the deliciousness of nature's finest cuisine.

Stone pot chicken is cooked with local free-range chickens and various medicinal herbs, then served in a sizzling hot stone pot. The chicken, marinated in the herbs, is tender and juicy, while the soup is rich and flavorful. This dish not only tastes delicious but also has health benefits. At "Fu Hua Stone Pot Chicken" in Shu He ancient town, you can savor the most authentic stone pot chicken.

Sour and Spicy Fish is another signature dish of Lijiang. It uses fresh fish meat, paired with pickled vegetables, marinated pork, chili peppers and other ingredients. The soup is sour, spicy and flavorful, appetizing and perfect for rice. You can't help but drink several bowls of the soup. "Tiantian Yufu" in the ancient city is renowned for its Sour and Spicy Fish, even attracting celebrities like Zhao Wei and Yang Mi to savor it here.

The Banyan Tree Lijiang is located in the Ancient City District of Lijiang. It takes a 4-minute drive to reach the Tea Horse Road Museum and 7 minutes to reach Black Dragon Pool. This luxurious hotel enjoys a prime location, with a 7.8 km (4.8 mile) drive to Lion Mountain and a 7.8 km (4.9 mile) drive to the Mu Clan chieftain's Residence.

After arriving at the airport, you can choose from the following options to travel to the ancient city: * Airport bus: You can take the airport express line at the terminal building to the ancient city, with a journey time of about 40 minutes. * Taxi: You can directly hail a taxi at the airport to the ancient city, with a fare of approximately 100 yuan. * Ride-hailing: You can also pre-book ride-hailing platforms such as Didi to take you directly to the ancient city. * Train: The Lijiang Railway Station is located on the north side of Lijiang City. Currently, only high-speed trains go directly from Kunming. It takes only 2 hours to travel from Kunming to Lijiang by high-speed train. If you depart from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc., you will need to arrive in Kunming first and then transfer to a train to Lijiang.