[Important] Breaking news! China has resumed the issuance of all types of visas(Including tourist visa) for foreigners since March 15, 2023. Read more »

Lijiang TripAdvisor: Top 10 Lijiang Attractions on TripAdvisor

Whether you are a culture aficionado, a die-hard hiking fan, a brew connoisseur or an adrenaline junkie, there are plenty attractions in Lijiang that will satisfy your appetite. Here, our Top 10 Lijiang Attractions on TripAdvisor will show you top 10 most visited Lijiang Attractions rated by REAL visitors of TripAdvisor, including Lijiang Old Town, Lugu Lake, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, etc. Let’s check them out and get inspired now!

Most Popular Lijiang Yunnan Tour Packages:

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

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

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

1. Lijiang Old Town

For over 800 years, Lijiang Old Town, also known as Dayan Ancient Town, has always been the most vibrant area in the Lijiang City and has championed the best of city culture. Besides its fame of the largest and best ancient town in Lijiang, it is also one of the four best well-preserved ancient towns in the whole China. It comes no surprise that it was added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as early as 1997.

When visiting Lijiang Old Town, stroll the flagstone-paved everywhere and wander among the old wooden architecture clusters are the must-dos. Mufu, the miniature Forbidden City, deserves your close visit. Besides, you are suggested to hike up to Wangu Temple to capture a panorama view of the whole town. The nightlife there is also buzzing. Forget your bed until you get exhausted.

Type: World Heritage Site, Historic Sites, Ancient Town

Open Hours: all day

Tickets: CNY 50/person

Best Time: all year around

Recommended Visiting Hours: half day or a whole day

Address: Gucheng District, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (丽江市古城区,大研古镇). Check more details of Lijiang Airport and Lijiang Train Station to Lijiang Old Town >>

>> 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Lijiang Old Town Lijiang Old Town Mufu at Lijiang Old Town Mufu at Lijiang Old Town

2. Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is located at where Sichuan meets Yunnan. It is about 204km away from Lijiang Old Town, which needs about 4~5 hours’ car ride. Considering the relatively long distance from Lijiang, tourists in hurry always put Lugu Lake off their travel list. However, if you have enough time and want a full culture system of Lijiang, we will recommend you a 2-day side trip to Lugu Lake. Here, you will be rewarded with not only crystal-clear lake view but also the mysterious culture of Mosuo - the Kingdom of Oriental Women.

Type: Nature, Minority Cultural Site

Open Hours: all day

Tickets: CNY 70/person

Best Time: Every March to November

Recommended Visiting Hours: 2~3 days

Address: Ninglang Yi Autonomous County, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (云南省丽江市宁蒗彝族自治县泸沽湖洛水三家村,泸沽湖)

>> 2 Days Magic Lugu Lake Tour with Mosuo Ethnic Culture

>> 5 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake with Mosuo Matriarchal Society Experience

Lugu Lake Lugu Lake

3. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Want to get up close and personal with peaks and epic hike in Lijiang, and then look no further than Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (or known as Yulong Snow Mountain). At the bottom of the mountain, you will be welcomed with beautiful alpine meadow at Ganhaizi and crystal-like river running over a beautiful set of terraces at Blue Moon Valley. Ride a cable car up to the mountain and you will be hugged by otherworldly splendid glaciers. It is such an amazing experience to be so close to these glorious glaciers, and it will obviously bring you something about the energy of nature and your life.

Type: Snow Mountain, Nature & Wildlife Areas

Open Hours: 6:00-18:00 (May 1st to Oct. 31st); 6:30-18:00 (Nov. 1st to Apr. 30)

Altitude: 3,100~5596m (tourists can reach a maximum altitude of 4,506m above the sea level)

Tickets: CNY 130/person

Best Time: November to March of next year

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1~2 days

Address: Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (云南省丽江市玉龙纳西族自治县,玉龙雪山)

>> 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Blue Moon Valley Blue Moon Valley Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

4. Shuhe Ancient Town

Shuhe Ancient Town 8km northwest of Lijiang Old Town is also vital member of the Lijiang old town clusters, a UNESCO World Heritage. It is said Shuhe Ancient Town is one of the earliest settlements of Naxi ancestors in Lijiang. And it once served as a former staging post to the Tea Horse Road. Compared with Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe is less known by tourists, and thus makes Shuhe a less-crowded easy place to relax and stroll around while really taking in the China of old.

Type: Old Town, Cultural Site

Open Hours: all day

Tickets: CNY 40/person

Best Time: all year around

Recommended Visiting Hours: half day or a whole day

Address: Shuhe Road, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (丽江束河路,束河古镇)

>> 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Shuhe Ancient Town Shuhe Ancient Town Shuhe Ancient Town Shuhe Ancient Town

5. Black Dragon Pond Park

Follow the river to get out of Lijiang Old Town from the West Gate and go further north, you will find Black Dragon Pool (Heilongtan Park) in only 15 minutes around by walk. If you go with a taxi or bike, the travel time will be cut into several minutes. Such a close distance to Lijiang Old Town makes Black Dragon Pond Park a popular tourist site to be visited, let alone the ticket is already included in the one you’ve paid for Lijiang Old Town. Besides, the pond, pavilion, bridge, forest, and more significantly, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in a distance s, will set a perfect postcard background for your selfie or group shot!

Type: Natural Park

Open Hours: 7:00~19:00

Tickets: included in the Lijiang Old Town ticket

Best Time: Early morning and twilight times

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1~3 hours

Address: Gucheng District, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (丽江市古城区,黑龙潭公园); about 2km north of Lijiang Old Town

>> 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Black Dragon Pond Park Black Dragon Pond Park David's group from British visited Lijiang Black Dragon Pool Park Our Customers at Lijiang Black Dragon Pool Park - David's group from British

6. Lijiang Impression Show

Lijiang Impression Show is an open-air performance demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of Naxi, Yi and Bai minorities in Lijiang, with the real sacred Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the backdrop. The large group of more than 500 actors with their unique and colorful costumes and the grand surroundings provide every audience an amazing visual feast. The show is one of the Top 7 Impression Shows directed by famous Yimou Zhang, the chief director of the opening and closing ceremony of 28th Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. However, unlike the other Impression Shows performed after night falls, Lijang Impression Show is presented during the day without using lights for effect, showing you more power of the actors and surrounding holy mountains.

Type: Outdoor Activity, Open-air Performance, Impression Show, Ethnic Performance

Open Hours: 11:00-12:10; 14:00-15:10 (The show time is only for reference, the time may be changed sometimes)

Altitude: 3,050m

Tickets: CNY 245 for a Normal Seat / CNY 305 for a VIP Seat

Best Time: all year around

Address: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (云南省丽江市玉龙纳西族自治县玉龙雪山景区内,印象丽江·雪山剧场)

>> 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Impression Lijiang Show Impression Lijiang Show Impression Lijiang Show Impression Lijiang Show

7. Lijiang Mural in Baisha Village

Baisha Old Town at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the birthplace of Naxi minority, and thus it remains somewhat the oldest cultural fragments of Naxi, including the Dongba pictograph, painting, scriptures, etc. The “Baisha Murals” here made in Ming and Qing Dynasty, which took more than 300 years to finish, is the highlight of the town and has attracted many tourists, especially foreigners. In Baisha Ancient Town, you can now find about 55 pieces of Baisha Murals, which give you a glimpse about what the ancient writing and life like. These murals are not very well preserved and too historic to understand, so you are not really suggested to visit it by yourself but with an experienced local guide.

Type: Cultural Site, Old Town

Open Hours: 8:00~17:30

Tickets: CNY 30/person

Best Time: all year around

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1~2 hours

Address: Baisha Old Town, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (丽江白沙古镇,白沙壁画) , about 12km northwest of Lijiang Old Town

>> 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Precious Baisha Murals of over 500 Years Precious Baisha Murals of over 500 Years Baisha Old Town Baisha Old Town

8. Museum of Nàxi Dongba Culture

The Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture is located near the entrance of Black Dragon Pond Park, about 2km north of Lijiang Old Town. It is a small but comprehensive museum that mainly introduces the culture and history of Nàxi Minority for visitors. The museum is free of charge. If you are a culture fan and have plans to visit Black Dragon Pond Park, it will be a great idea to take a short visit to the museum.

Type: Museum, Cultural Site

Open Hours: 8:00~18:00

Tickets: included in the Lijiang Old Town ticket

Best Time: all year around

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Address: Black Dragon Pond Park, Jiaoyu Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang, Yunnan, China (丽江市古城区教育路黑龙潭公园,丽江东巴文化博物馆)

>> 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Museum of Nàxi Dongba Culture Hieroglyphic of Ancient Naxi People

9. Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge, or called Hutiaoxia, is settled at where Lijiang meets Shangri-La. Since it is officially under the jurisdiction of Shangri-La, you cannot find it on the list of Things to Do in Lijiang on TripAdvisor. However, most of the tourist heading to Lijiang will pay a visit to Tiger Leaping Gorge too, no matter they will travel Shangri-La or not, so we will still treat Tiger Leaping Gorge one of the highlights of Lijiang.

With a sheer drop of 3,790m, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world. When hiking gingerly along the trails embedded on the cliff and looking up to see the grand snow-shrouded peaks, then down to see the lingering rays dancing on the rippling waters a thousand meters below, you will be moved about the power of nature. Plus the legends of Ancient Tea and Horse Road, and these may be the reasons why this trail is praised as one of the great hikes in southwest China!

Type: Natural Gorge and Canyons

Altitude: 1,800m ~ 5,596m

Open Hours: 09:00~16:30

Tickets: CNY 65/person

Best Time: April to June, September to October

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1~3 days

Address: Hutiaoxia Town, Shangri-La, Yunnan, China (香格里拉县虎跳峡镇,虎跳峡) ; 88 km north of Lijiang

>> 3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

>> 4 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Lijiang Highlights

Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

10. Yangtze River First Bend

Yangtze River First Bend is located on the north side of the highway leading from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge and Shangri-La. Tourists usually make a stop here on their way to or going back from Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Yangtze River surges down from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and makes a big rare V- shaped bend when it reaches the high mountains and deep valleys at Shigu Town in Yunnan, and this is so-called Yangtze River First Bend or First Bend of Yangtze River. Such a lovely view can be captured at the hill in front of the river. Besides the bend, the small traditional town and the field created by the locals add more colors for a nice shot.

Type: River, Nature

Altitude: about 2,000 meters above sea level

Open Hours: all day

Tickets: free

Best Time: March to April and October to September

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1~2 hours

Address: Shigu Town, Shangri-La, Diqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan (云南省迪庆藏族自治州香格里拉市石鼓镇,长江第一湾); 60km around southwest of Tiger Leaping Gorge and 54km west of Lijiang Old Town.

>> 5 Days Lijiang & Shangri-La Highlights Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La)

Get more Real Reviews of Top Lijiang Attractions on TripAdvisor >>

Yangtze River First Bend Yangtze River First Bend

How to Plan a Lijiang Tour

Tourists usually spend about 2~3 days in Lijiang to explore Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Old Town… If you are fond of the emerald alpine lake and mysterious matriarchal society culture of Mosuo ethnic culture, you can plan another 2-3 days at Lugu Lake to enjoy more peaceful holiday time!

>> 3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

>> 3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Besides, don’t miss Tiger Leaping Gorge, where you will follow the steps of the ancients on Tea and Horse Road for a lifelong hiking experience. Since once you are at Tiger Leaping Gorge, you are already on the land of Shangri-La, you are highly suggested to spend 2~3 days more to catch the monasteries, alpine lakes and meadows of Shangri-La.

Yunnan is a diverse province with more highlights to offer that far beyond you could imagine. And thus most tourists treat Lijiang as one of the stops for their Yunnan tour. Before or after your Lijiang Tour, you can leave yourself more days to visit Kunming, Dali, and Yuanyang… Have your personal ideas and interests of Yunnan? Please feel free to contact us to customize your Yunnan tour according to your group size, time, physical condition, plan, interest, budget and every special need!

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

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

Know more about How to Plan a Lijiang Tour

Lijiang Ancient Town Lijiang Old Town Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La

Travel Lijiang with China Discovery

Want a hassle-free Lijiang and Yunnan tour? Travel with China Discovery and let us take care of everything for you! And then you can focus on the great scenery, culture, story and history of Lijiang and Yunnan! Our English-speaking guide will accompany you all the way and introduce you the amazing history and story behind the attractions. And our local driver will escort you to the attractions you preferred from the airport or your hotel directly.

If you are interested about such a worry-free tour, please feel free to let us know!

Travel Lijiang with China Discovery Travel Lijiang with China Discovery

Recommended Tours

Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Lijiang Old Town Full View from Wangu Tower
6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang, Shangri-La, Kunming)

Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming

Old Naxi Woman in Lijiang Ancient Town
3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Lijiang

Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Monastery
8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour

Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

Customize a Trip

Have a question? Get answers from our travel experts or guests

  • Your Question:
  • Your Name:
  • Your Email:
  • Submit
Why Book with China Discovery