Li Jiang

Ancient Naxi Town Beneath Snow-Capped Peaks

Lijiang's UNESCO-listed Old Town is a maze of cobbled canals, red-lanterned wooden guesthouses, and Naxi minority music played live every night in its squares. Backed by the 5,596-metre Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it serves as the base for exploring Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La, and some of Yunnan's most dramatic high-altitude scenery — making it a central hub for any Yunnan itinerary.

Flavour Profile

🌶️ Spicy🍋 Sour

Best time to visit

🗓 March-May, September-November

Province

📍 Yunnan

Tier

Hidden Gem

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What to Eat in Lijiang

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Naxi Pancake

纳西粑粑

Griddle-fried flatbread stuffed with walnuts, rose jam, and brown sugar

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Naxi Cheese

乳饼

Sliced fresh goat's milk cheese pan-fried until golden — Yunnan style

Explore Lijiang by theme

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Highlights

Baisha Old Town

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The original Naxi settlement and capital of the Mu kingdom, predating Lijiang's famous Old Town by centuries. Quiet cobbled lanes, Ming-dynasty murals, and far fewer visitors than the main tourist center 8km away.