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Everything in Lijiang centres around its Naxi Old Town and the sublime Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park just a few miles outside of the city. It’s a wonderful mix of culture and nature. The Naxi have created one of China’s most charming and tidy towns, and they still follow their traditional lifestyle. Temples, murals and outlying villages offer plenty of diversion for visitors looking to absorb the unique ethnic culture of this region. The nearby mountains are a source of countless alpine excursions from the relaxing to the strenuous.

Baisha
Lijiang is well known for its amazing murals which date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The remaining pieces of the original mural have been broken up and distributed to 15 temples around Lijiang. The historic village of Baisha is one of the best places to check out the temple frescoes which blend Buddhism with Lamaism and Daoism. The huge mural on the front wall of the Dabaoji Palace portraying Buddha teaching a group of disciples is one of the most famous in Lijiang. The town of Baisha is also an interesting destination in its own right.
Black Dragon Pool Park (Heilong Tan Gongyuan)
The source of all the clear gurgling water which flows through Lijiang’s Old Town comes from the spring-fed Black Dragon Pool. Located less than a mile north of town, the lake provides some stunning photo opportunities of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain framed by the ancient Five Arch Bridge or looming behind the Moon Embracing Pavilion. Another beautiful piece of Ming Dynasty architecture is the three-storey Five Phoenix Hall and its soaring overhangs. Paths follow the canal around the park, offering some mild walking to go with the great scenery.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan)
The iconic snowy peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is visible from Lijiang, and is a major tourist attraction for this region. There are 13 peaks in the range, which is protected by a national park. Although the most easily accessible sections can get quite crowded during the high season, it isn’t hard to escape the tour groups and hike to relative isolation. The scenery in the park is some of the best in China, including glaciers, alpine valleys and jagged mountains. Cable cars provide a fun and convenient way to get around the park.
Lijiang Old Town
The single thing which makes Lijiang such a magical travel destination is its Naxi-influenced Old Town. This charming and wonderfully balanced village was founded more than 800 years ago. The cobblestone streets twist and turn, with traditional Naxi houses, shops and lovely streams bubbling beside every lane. Despite the throngs of tourists who flock to experience this unique cultural atmosphere, the Old Town retains much of its traditional Naxi lifestyle. At the heart is Market Square, a great place to witness daily life unfolding as women gather to trade by day and socialise by night. Plenty of great eating, shopping and photo opportunities await at every turn.
Mu Palace
Terraced on the side of Lion Hill is this interesting palace where the Naxi Mu Clan ruled over the town for over 400 years. A single family ruled Lijiang for 22 generations until 1723, and their residence testifies to their influence and wealth. Six main halls are separated by courtyards, mirroring the architectural layout of the Forbidden City. It’s an impressive palace, and worth exploration. At the top of Lion Hill, above the palace, is an old Daoist temple which frequently sees devotees praying and burning incense.
Shu He
If the Old Town of Lijiang starts to feel congested or touristy, grab a taxi and drive 15 minutes to the charming village of Shu He. This is also an ancient Naxi settlement, but it is nearly devoid of tourism, offering a more relaxed and authentic look at the local culture. Gurgling streams run past each tidy house, reminiscent of a miniature Lijiang. A small museum provides a historical look at the region and its people, and a handful of restaurants, bars and hotels mean you can linger as long as you like.
Yufeng Temple
This quaint monastery located at the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a great stopover on the way to the mountain park. Built in 1660, this lamasery is part of the Scarlet Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and a really interesting place to visit. Although it’s best known for its massive 550-year-old camellia tree which blooms 20 times between March and June, the temple grounds are also great to explore and offer a rare glimpse at Tibetan Buddhism.
Top Things to Do
 

Buy a wish and float it along the stream and all your dreams will come true. One of the quaint (although touristy) diversions in the Old Town is to buy a Styrofoam boat shaped like a flower and float it along the canal. Naxi girls sell these cute little boats with a candle in the middle. Visitors can buy one, light the candle, make a wish and send it downstream. At night the scene can be quite charming if enough people float boats. Don’t worry about the rubbish: there’s someone downstream waiting to collect and recycle your wish-laden flower boat.

Drop down into one of the world’s premier canyons with a trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge. One of the major highlights around Lijiang for outdoor enthusiasts is this amazing 18-mile (30km) long trekking path through Tiger Leaping Gorge. Most trekkers make a three-day adventure out of it, as there is a midway village with accommodation deep in the gorge. The path drops more than 3,000m into the earth, creating a surreal sense of being underground although a crack of daylight remains far above. There are three sections of the gorge, offering trekkers the choice of walking the full length or just a short hike.
Get to know the Mosuo people in their native environment at Lugu Lake. The home village of this fascinating ethnic group that lives to the north of Lijiang makes an excellent overnight excursion. Not only is the completely matriarchal Mosuo society a unique and interesting experience, but the setting at Lugu Lake is simply sublime. A trip to their village offers both cultural and natural highlights, especially if you visit during one of their many festivals.
Listen to some of the world’s oldest tunes played by some of the oldest men in Lijiang. Traditional Naxi music is famous in China, as it blends the sounds and instruments of the Tang Dynasty with the Naxi’s own influences. Only men perform music in Naxi culture, and the nightly performances are maintained by small bands of very old Naxi men. These concerts are a highlight of Lijiang, and can be found at several venues. The troupe that performs at the Naxi Concert Hall is generally considered the most skilled, and its nightly shows often sell out.
Spend the better part of a day lingering in Market Square, watching how the Naxi get on with their lives. The heart and soul of Lijiang’s Old Town is this essential plaza, located right in the centre of town. Interesting shops and tasty little restaurants line the square, which is always buzzing with activity. Naxi women come here during the day to trade at the market, but after dark men and women often gather in the square to hang out and (if you’re lucky) spark up one of their traditional circle dances. There’s a great map available at the tourist kiosk by the water wheel which can help you navigate the winding lanes of the Old Town.

Take the easy route and use a cable car to get into the heart of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park. Not only is the ride incredibly scenic and fun, but the cable cars which run from Lijiang up to the mountains offer one of the easiest ways to get right into the action. The nearest cable car to Lijiang transports you to a massive open space called Dry Sea Meadow at a height of 3,050m. Other excellent destinations accessible by cable car include Spruce Meadow, Yak Meadow and Glacier Park. Hiking trails, animals, glacial lakes and flower-carpeted alpine valleys are just some of the attractions in the park.

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