Lijiang Old Town Travel Guide, China, Lijiang, China

Located in the picturesque province of Yunnan (云南), Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城) is one of China’s best-preserved ancient town. Home to the Naxi minority ethnic group, Lijiang has a history of more than 800 years. The old town is famed for its unique network of water system and ancient architecture styles. Such is its value, Lijiang Old Town was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. So join us, as we show you the sights of Lijiang Old Town and things that you should know while planning for your Lijiang trip. Do share this Lijiang Old Town Travel Guide with your travel buddies!

We were fortunate to be able to explore Lijiang Old Town twice, in Nov-2017 and Sep-2018. The following are what we’re gathered from our trips, plus some important travel tips.

Lijiang Old Town, also known as Dayan Old Town (大研镇), had its roots from the late Song (960 – 1279) and early Yuan (1271 – 1368) dynasties. The town rose to prominence in ancient China due to its strategic location along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. A major tea trading route linking China and South Asia. The region is home to the Naxi people, who practise the Dongba culture and religion. Sadly though, most of the Naxi people had moved out of the old town in recent years. Mainly due to its commercialization and high cost of living. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).