How to Plan a Lijiang Tour | Ultimate Lijiang Trip Planning Guide

For the comfortable weather in four seasons, Lijiang is suitable for sightseeing all year around and the most recommended periods are in spring and autumn. In the most enjoyable spring and autumn season, no matter you want to have a relaxing wandering in Lijiang Old Town and overlook the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in distance, or extend to Tiger Leaping Gorge for some light hiking, it will definitively give you unforgettable experience. (Useful Tip: Sunblock Stream, sunglasses, hat are highly recommended to bring to prevent the ultraviolet ray and heat.)

▶ Learn more about: Lijiang Climate, Weather, Temperature & Best Time to Visit

Lijiang is on the most important position of Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La classic tourist route. Most travelers would like to put Lijiang into a long Yunnan tour and make it a middle stop. Some travelers also choose Lijiang as the first destination to start their Yunnan trip. Lijiang itself has an airport and a railway station to well connect with other cities in Yunnan and China. Travelers can take flights or high speed trains to Lijiang.

Flights to Lijiang

The airport in Lijiang is called Lijiang Sanyi Airport (IATA：LJG), which is the second largest airport in Yunnan after Kunming Changshui International Airport. Travelers can take flights to Lijiang from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Kunming, Xian, Chongqing, Changsha, Guiyang, Lhasa, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Xishuangbanna and more cities. International flights can connect Lijiang with Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul and more regions.

Lijiang Sanyi Airport is about 29 kilometers south of Lijiang Old Town. To get to the airport to Lijiang Old Town (Dayan Old Town), it needs about 40 minutes by driving.

High Speed Trains to Lijiang

Taking a high speed train to Lijiang is also a popular choice for most travelers. At present, high speed trains are limited, linking Lijiang with Kunming (about 3-3.5 hours) and Guilin (about 10.5 hours). Normal trains are served Lijiang with Dali (about 2 hours).

▶ Learn more about: Lijiang Kunming High Speed Train Real-time Schedules

▶ 5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour (Kunming / Lijiang)

Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang Old Town, also called Dayan Old Town, is a 800-year-old town listed into World Heritage Site in 1997. Besides, Lijiang Old Town with the highest reputation, is one of the four best-preserved ancient towns in China. When visiting Lijiang Old Town, it will be very relaxing to stroll along the flagstone-paved alleys and wander among the old wooden architecture clusters. You can catch the sight of Naxi people and have a little experience about their culture and customs.
Must-see Attractions Inside: Mu’s Residence (木府), Wangu Tower (万古楼), Sifang Square (四方街)
Recommended Visiting Time: about half day

Black Dragon Pool

Black Dragon Pool, about 1km north of Lijiang Old Town, is a must-visit site when visiting Lijiang. It is the best place to catch the gorgeous appearance of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and view its reflection in the emerald and peaceful pool. Black Dragon Pool is the water source of Lijiang Old Town. When weather is fine, you can appreciate the beautiful sight integrating pure water, snow mountain and azure sky. It will be comfortable to take a walk in the park in the late afternoon. Naxi Dongba Culture Museum is just close to the park which can be visited in one go.
Recommended Visiting Time: about 1-2 hours
Distance from Lijiang Old Town: 1km, within 10 minutes’ walking

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Yulong Snow Mountain, with an altitude of 2296 meters, is the closest snow mountain to the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. The massif’s 13 peaks dominating the skyline of the surrounding regions like a dragon, hence got the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. There are three kinds of cableway taking you up to the mountain - tramway to Glacier Park, tramway to Spruce Meadow and tramway to Yak Meadow. For most travelers, they would take tramway to Spruce Meadow, a natural paradise for sightseeing and hiking around. Tramway to Glacier Park is peak season and needs long time to queue up.
Recommended Visiting Time: about half to 1 day
Distance from Lijiang Old Town: 33km, about 1 hour’s driving

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge, is well located at the border of Lijiang and Shangri-La. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world, making it one of the 10 best hiking trails in China. Tiger Leaping Gorge is composed of three sections - upper gorge, middle gorge and lower gorge, situated between 5596 meters Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the south and 5396 meters Haba Snow Mountain to the north. Most travelers will spend about 2 to 2.5 hours hiking to Upper Gorge to view the rapid water flowing through the deep gorge.
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2-2.5 hours
Distance from Lijiang: 78km, about 1.5-2 hour’s driving
Distance from Shangri-La: 103km, about 2-2.5 hours’ driving

Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is located on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan. Many travelers who want to visit Lugu Lake usually go from Lijiang, with a distance of 205 kilometers. Lugu Lake is the “mother lake” by Mosuo people and it becomes “The Kingdom of Women” and “Home of the Matriarchal Tribe”. Traveling to Lugu Lake not only takes you step into a mysterious land to explore the matriarchal society and know its “visiting marriage”, but also feast your eyes with beautiful scenery of the Pearl of Plateau.
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2 days
Distance from Lijiang: 205km, about 4.5-5.5 hours’ driving

▶ Learn more about: Top Attractions in Lijiang | Top 10 Lijiang Attractions Rated by TripAdvisor.com

Overlook Gorgeous Appearance of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

The 13 peaks rising magnificently on the plateau from north to south gives more charm and mystery of Lijiang. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the holy mountain of Naxi people, with the highest altitude of 5596 meters. You must catch the chance to catch the snow-capped holy mountain in distance. When weather is clear, you are suggested to climb up the Lion Hill to Wangu Tower in Lijiang Old Town where you can both have a panoramic view of the whole Lijiang Old Town and see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in distance with peaks rising above the clouds. Another best spot to shoot amazing photos of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is at Black Dragon Pool - you can shoot the reflections in the clear pool.

Watch Impression Lijiang Show

Enjoying Impression Lijiang show after Jade Dragon Snow Mountain visiting will be a perfect ending of your trip. Impression Lijiang, an outdoor performance taking place in a natural theatre at 3200 meters above sea level, uses majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the background and showing the local folk customs, the form of song and dance drama. Directed by the famous Chinese director Yimou Zhang, the show is divided into six parts, composing of "Tea Horse Road And Caravan", "Snow-capped Mountains Of The Wine", "Immeasurably Vast", "Playing Jump Group Song", "Drum Dance Worship Heaven", and "Blessing Ceremony". At noon, about 2 or 3 performances are displayed in Outdoor Theater at Ganhaizi.

Hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge in Classic or in-depth Way

No matter you have tight time or have about 2 or 3 days when planing a Tiger Leaping Gorge tour, you can have the amazing hiking experience you want.

Classic Short Hiking to Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge: Spend about 2-2.5 hours hiking along the trails leading down to the viewing platform of Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and you can have a close visit to the “angry river” and the “howling tiger”. This hiking tour is suitable for everyone even the elders.

In-depth Upper Trekking Route from Qiaotou to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge: This in-depth route includes about 9~11 hours wild hiking in full, so it usually be split to be finished in 2~3 days, with about 1~2 nights staying at the inns and guest houses in between.

Day 1: Qiaotou - Naxi Family Guesthouse - 28 Bends - Tea Horse Guesthouse/Halfway Guesthouse.
Day 2: Tea Horse Guesthouse/Halfway Guesthouse - Tina's Youth Hostel - Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge - Tina's Youth Hostel - Get Out from Qiaotou.

▶ Learn more about: Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking: Map, Trekking Route & Tips

>> 3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

Local Life Feeling & Naxi Ethnic Cultural Experience

Lijiang is reputed as the capital of ethnic Naxi Kingdom. The local Naxi people are living in and around Lijiang Old Town. To observe their vivid daily life, you can have a morning visit to Zhongyi Market where you can see lots of local ethnic minority people dressing in their traditional Naxi costumes buying fruits, vegetables, daily necessities, etc.

To experience Naxi people’s ethnic culture, you can pay a visit to one of Naxi families’ home to closely know their daily life, learn Naxi Dongba language and their characters. If you like, you can try Naxi costumes and take photos with the local families. In Baisha Village, you can view the beautiful embroidery and if you want to learn how to make, you can learn from the locals.

Admire the First Bend of Yangtze River

At the foot of Shigu Town west from Lijiang City, Yangtze River makes a giant turn of a “V” shape and then flow toward the northeast, which is the famous view of First Bend of Yangtze River. Visitors usually drop by to see the scenery there on their way from Lijiang to Shangri-La, where to admire the wide river running fast but looking peaceful with the surrounding lush countryside landscape with grassland, villages, willows, mountains, and more to treat eyes well.

▶ Learn more about: Top 15 Things to Do in Lijiang

In a classic Lijiang trip, travelers usually would spend about 2 nights in Lijiang. For first timers in Lijiang, staying in Lijiang Old Town is usually the top choice. Even famous nationally for diverse types of delicate inns and hostels with beautiful decoration and almost all great comfortable equipment and bedding articles, you can find comfortable accommodation there. Also, prices of most hotels and hostels in Lijiang Old Town are relatively good. Besides, rightly within the No.1 attraction in Lijiang, staying there in the old town is best to enjoy the life style of Naxi ethnic people against the modern jubilant night bars. However, some hostels may be a little lack of sound insulation and way finding is a little hard for independent travelers by themselves.

For travelers who have in-depth trip in Tiger Leaping Gorge, it is recommended spend about 2 nights in the guesthouses and inns in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Therefore, environment and services are relatively lower than those in the city areas, however, hot water, Wi-Fi, bathroom, etc. are usually available at all inns.

Most travelers put Lijiang in the first place of their Yunnan trip. They would like to arrange it as the first destination or as the middle stop between Dali and Shangri-La. Yes, Yunnan Province is so vast and colorful with many stunning places connecting with convenient transportation. To enrich your travel experience, you are highly recommended to do as the others to enjoy a classic week long vacation in Yunnan. Since most travelers would land in Kunming first and it is a good idea to spend one or two days there visiting the incredible Stone Forest, overlooking Dian Lake from Dragon Gate of Western Hill, viewing local people’s daily life at Green Lake Park...then with a high speed train to Dali for about 1.5 days’ exploration to catch all the essences of Dali, including Dali Ancient City, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas and Xizhou Village to enjoy Bai people’s culture.. Transfer to Lijiang to meet the famous Lijiang Old Town and learn the mysterious Dongba culture within 2 days. Following the exciting Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking, enjoy another 2 days in Shangri-La to immerse into the earthly paradise with nice visiting of the holy monasteries and lovely landscapes.

Besides, you can extend from Kunming to Yuanyang to marvel at the unbelievable magnificent Yuanyang Rice Terraces, to Puzhehei to relax at the pleasant wonderland of lotus blossoms, to Luoping to be fond of the golden sea of rapeseed flowers, to Xishuangbanna to feel the enthusiastic Dai ethnic people and the lush tropical forest, etc.

Most Popular Dali Yunnan Tour Packages:

8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

6 Days Kunming, Dali & Lijiang Essence Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang)

11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

Only a Yunnan tour is not complete for your visiting in China. It is a great idea to cover Yunnan with more places around China to savor more amazing landscape, culture, history, ethnic minority customs, food, etc. in one go, such as Guilin with Karst landform wonders, Guizhou with wonderful ethnic beauties, Chengdu with adorable giant pandas, Beijing with profound ancient royal Forbidden City, Shanghai with modern cityscape, Xian with impressing Terracotta Warriors, Zhangjiajie with incredible Avatar Mountains, and more like Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Yangtze River, Lhasa, etc. If you have any idea about planning your Dali China trip, please feel free to contact us for help!

Most Popular Lijiang China Tour Packages:

10 Days Classic Sichuan & Yunnan Highlights Tour (Chengdu / Leshan / Mount Emei / Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

9 Days Meet Yunnan Nature & Culture from Hong Kong by Bullet Train (Hong Kong / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

10 Days Yunnan & Guizhou Amazing Minorities Tour (Shanghai / Zhangjiajie / Kaili / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri-la / Kunming)