Lijiang

About Lijiang

Lijiang lies in northwestern Yunnan at about 2,400 metres, a Naxi homeland and an important stop on the Tea Horse Road, with snow on Jade Dragon Mountain visible year-round. Lijiang Old Town is a World Heritage site and the only ancient Chinese city without walls — snowmelt splits into three channels that run through the streets, giving every household running water. Sleeping in a guesthouse there, listening to the water at night, is most people’s first memory of Lijiang. Jade Dragon Mountain and Blue Moon Valley, Shuhe and Baisha, and Lashi Lake each fill a day; the cable car needs booking ahead, and an early night beforehand helps. Sanyi Airport flies direct to major cities and high-speed rail reaches Kunming in three hours. Pace yourself and drink plenty of water. Allow three to four days.