Highland Venice' Lijiang

» Yun Nan

Lijiang Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Today's Lijiang weather forcast

Lijiang Seasons

Situated in a valley surrounded by high mountains, Lijiang has the benefit of pleasant temperatures all year round.

Rainy season begins in late May and lasts until early November with occasional storms in May and June.

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Dry season with good weather occures around the rest of year. Normally, wild flowers start to blossom in late March.

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Some Tips for Travlers

When is the best time to visit Lijiang?

Winters are a little chilly while summers bring the most visitors, this means spring and autumn are the best times to visit.

How about clothing?

Bring something warm in case you climb the highlands or feel chilly at night.

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Top 4 Lijiang Attractions

Lijiang History

Long History

With a history of 800 years, it began to take shape in the Southern Song Dynasty. The Old Town was named "Dayanxian County" in Ming Dynasty. Since it is in the middle of the Lijiangba Dam and surrounded by the green mountains and a river that runs through the forest, and looks like a green ink stone, it was given the name.

An American scholar arrived at Lijiang in 1921 and the [Dongba culture] (/china-guides/chinese-culture/dongba-culture/) of Naxi Nationality began to attract the attention of the foreign scholars.

Disastrous Earthquake

With the founding of the People's Republic of China, Naxi Nationality experienced a huge unprecedented social change as China's other nationalities. A 7-degree earthquake took place in Lijiang on 24 February 1996, and more than 5,000 people died, Naxi Nationality suffered the unprecedented damage.

The earthquake caused many parts of the world to pay attention to Lijiang, and at the meantime, the unique landscape and culture of Lijiang began to catch the attention of the world.

World Cultural Heritage City

Approved by the World Legacy Committee of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization, Lijiang was put into the list of the world cultural legacy in 1997.

The tourist undertaking in Lijiang began to develop fast, and Lijiang has become one of the famous tourist spots in China.

Lijiang Food

Lijiang Dishes

Baba - Best eaten in mornings, this thick flatbread of wheat, served plain or stuffed with vegetables, meat, lard, ham cubes or condiments such as sugar mixed with pure maintain water, cooked on flat frying pan with slow fire is a Lijiang specialty.

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Zhubiao Meat - is a traditional Mosuo preserved pork. A whole pig is deboned then stuffed with salt and spices; it is then shaped into a pipa then air-dried. Because of its unique shape, it is also called pipa meat.

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Butter Tea - is a common drink in the area and a favorite of the ethnic Naxi Tibetans.

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Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tea - This kind of tea is made from tea plants grown high on the mountain, about 3,000 meters high.

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Snack Street

Cuiwen section of Xinhua Jie is a popular bar street. Wandering singers will serenade you for 10 RMB a song.

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The night market outside the old town on Xin Da Jie is great for barbeque and beer.

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Enjoy rice noodles, rice casseroles and fried rice with ham at the Square Street Snack Street.

Lijiang Entertainment

Shopping

Local crafts - Individually designed T-shirts can be created as locals have the capacity to paint on the Dongba hieroglyphics required. Knitted shawls of the Naxi Group have been popular with female travelers.

Dongba Batiks - They have its own unique design. This Batik design is taken from their own Dongba pictographic characters or paintings. Souvenirs made from this Batiks material are very popular amongst foreign tourists.

Tea - There are many varieties of Yunan teas available: white orchid, jasmine, smoked tea, Xuanchun, Hongbao and Yinzhen.

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Nightlife

The colorful nightlife will give you a profound understanding of the mysterious cultures practiced by the local ethnic groups.

Lijiang Map

Lijiang Attraction Map

Click to view larger map

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Lijiang Area Map

Click to view larger map

Lijiang Transportation

Get In

Air - Lijiang Airport has flights to [Kunming] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/kunming-yunnan/), Xishuangbanna, [Beijing] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/beijing/), [Shanghai] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/shanghai/), [Guangzhou] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/guangzhou-guangdong/), [Shenzhen] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/shenzhen-guangdong/), and [Guiyang] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/guiyang-guizhou/). It also offers chartered airplane service. By the way, there are flights from Kunming to Lijiang every day and the trip is about 40 minutes' flight.

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Bus - You can take a bus from [Kunming] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/kunming-yunnan/) to Lijiang but it takes eight hours to take a non-stop bus from [Kunming] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/kunming-yunnan/) to Lijiang, the ticket price is about RMB 186. While it takes three hours to take a bus from [Dali] (/china-guides/china-city-guides/dali-yunnan/) to Lijiang, the price is RMB 50.

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Get Around

Taxi - Flag-fall is about RMB 6, and rides within town should not go over that.

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Bicycles - It is one of the best ways to go sightseeing on the down town by bike. Bikes are usually RMB 4 per hour to rent.

Lijiang Old Town - Owing to its special characteristics of ethnic culture, urban layout and historical authenticity, Lijiang Old Town of China was enlisted to be one of the World Cultural Heritage Cities by UNESCO.

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Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - Granted as the North Holy Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the spiritual prop of the Naxi. The snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds.

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Lake Luguhu - Scattered with five islands of different sizes, like green boats floating on the water, Lake Luguhu is like a brilliant pearl shimmering among the mountains. The lake has been regarded as "the Oriental Female Kingdom" composed of the Mosuo people.

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Tiger Leaping Gorge - Here, the river twists, turns and vigorously surges forward creating high waves and a frothy spew as it collides with the mountainsides. This is a view that inspires a sense of adventure and satisfaction.

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Lijiang Highlights List

Natural Scene

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Lake Luguhu
• Yak Meadow
• The First Bend of the Yangtze
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Dongba Valley
• Yuquan Park

Historical Site

• Lijiang Old Town
• Shuhe Naxi Village
• Mural in Baisha Village
• Former Residence of Rock
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Stone Drum Town
• Mu Family Mansion

Cultural Site

• Former Residence of Rock
• Dongba Museum
• Yuquan Park

Nightlife

• Impression Lijiang

Shopping & Leisure

• Square Street

Lijiang Highlights

Lijiang FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?
2. When is the best time to go there?

  Shopping

1. Do bargain

  Travel

1. Cable car cautions

  Other Hints

1. Beware of the religious hooligans
2. Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?
3. Toilet Facilities
4. Altitude sickness
5. Avoid busy holidays
6. OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?
7. Useful Phone Numbers
8. Emergency Numbers

• Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?

  It rains a lot in July and August. That's important to know because heavy rains can trigger rock and mud slides, which can block roads. This can cause long travel delays or even cancelled plans (such as your trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge).

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• When is the best time to go there?

  April and October is two ideal months suitable to visit Lijiang. The temperature is pleasant and it doesn't rain as often.

  January and February are not superlative months either because of wintry temperatures.

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• Toilet Facilities

  A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

• Do bargain

  Souvenir prices tend to rise the closer you get to Sifang Square. And remember, always negotiate. You should be able to lower the initial price by 30%, sometimes more.

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• Cable car cautions

  Wear warm clothes. It's freezing where you'll be going (a lookout near the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). Winter parkas can be rented before you board the cable car gondolas. The same is true for oxygen bottles, for those who may need one.

  To avoid long, time-consuming lines waiting to board the gondolas, go early or late in the day. But before leaving Lijiang for the ride, find out if the high-elevation viewing platforms are expected to be shrouded in clouds when you'll be there. If so, you won't see much, including the stunning panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.

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• Beware of the religious hooligans

  Watch out the religious hooligans when you visit the Black Dragon Pool Park in Lijiang. It will be nighmare if you do. Specifically there was a so-called Dongba Culture Institution, you are right, the lexicon should think about giving a amendment to this word if they insist calling themselves an 'institution'.

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• Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?

  A number of public IC card telephones have been installed in the Old Town, and some stores in the Old Town provide public telephones with which visitors can make direct domestic and international calls. Mobile phones can also be used freely within the area of the Old Town.

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• Toilet Facilities

  A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

• Altitude sickness

  Before your respiratory and circulatory systems adjust to a high elevation, your body suffers to some degree from oxygen deprivation. That's altitude sickness. Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness and headaches - and difficulty in catching your breath when, for example, walking up steps.

  The best defense is not to go suddenly from one altitude to a much higher one. Do your upward journeys in stages so your lungs can more readily adapt to thinner air.

  We recommend that you do not travel from a low-altitude city (such as Beijing or Xian) to Lijiang on the same day. Instead, spend at least one full day in Kunming to acclimate your body to its relatively thin air (spend the time visiting the nearby Stone Forest, a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner). This will help prepare your body for the even thinner air in Lijiang. Stay there for at least a day or two before heading to Zhongdian or Deqin, where the air is even more rarified

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• Avoid busy holidays

  During some holidays, hot destinations are packed with tourists, bringing you inconvenience or even unpleasantness, and also unless you have firm hotel reservations, skip these ultra-popular Chinese holiday periods (or you may end up without a room):

  • Spring Festival (Lunar New Year celebration). Its start date varies from year to year, anywhere from mid-January to mid-February.
  • May Day - Occurs during the first two weeks in May.
  • National Day - Takes place in the first two weeks in October.

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• OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?

  Well, calm down first. It's easy to get lost in Lijiang Ancient Town because of its labyrinth of meandering passageways. But that's part of the enjoyment because you will discover picturesque alleys that you would not have seen otherwise.

  Before you leave your hotel, do write down the name of the hotel in both English and Chinese. Taxis can be easily found in the city so you can just grab a taxi and show your address. If you are at a far place where you cannot find a taxi, please call 110 and ask the police for help.

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• Useful Phone Numbers

  • Tourist Complaint: 5123432
    
  • Lijiang Airport Inquiry Telephone: 5173081
    
  • Scheduled Flights and Ticket Inquiries: 5161289 5161291 5173079
    
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• Emergency Numbers

  • Fire: 119
    
  • Ambulance: 120
    
  • Police: 110
    
  • Traffic: 122
    
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