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丽江 · Travel Guide

Lijiang for foreigners

UNESCO Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the Naxi culture of Yunnan.

Lijiang sits in Yunnan province at 2,400 m elevation, where the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山, 5,596 m) towers over a UNESCO-listed Old Town built along canals and stone bridges by the Naxi minority. The Old Town is fully pedestrianized — 5 sq km of cobblestone lanes, wooden shop-houses, and over 350 bridges. Most travelers base themselves in the Old Town for 2-3 days. A day trip up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (cable car to 4,506 m) and another to Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡, one of the deepest gorges in the world) round out the trip. Lijiang is the gateway to the deeper Yunnan circuit — Shangri-La, Dali, and the Three Parallel Rivers — but the town itself deserves 3 days minimum.

Top things to do in Lijiang

The must-see places locals will tell you are unmissable, with photos and a direct link to the in-depth guide for each.

Where to stay in Lijiang

We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.

Trip.com

Hotels in Lijiang on Trip.com

From $30/night Naxi-courtyard boutique inns in the Old Town to $300+/night luxury at the Banyan Tree Lijiang and Amandayan — plus 1,500+ more across the Old Town, Shuhe, and the foothills of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Filter by district and tier on Trip.com.

$30 – $300+/night

Book your Lijiang trip

Plan your Lijiang trip on Trip.com — the only platform we've verified for mainland China. Prices update in real time; no hidden fees.

Trip.com — Recommended

Hotels, trains, flights & experiences

Lijiang on Trip.com — 1.4M mainland-China hotels (¥35/night and up), real-time English HSR booking, plus skip-the-line tickets and guided tours in one cart. Accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard. Filter by tier on Trip.com once you land.

Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7 · Tours from $5

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When to visit Lijiang

Year-round, but spring (March–May) for rhododendrons on Jade Dragon, autumn (October–November) for clear mountain views. Winter is dry and cold but crowds are smaller.

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A day-by-day plan, the metro lines you need, and the one restaurant locals love.