Lijiang Travel Guide

Overview

Lijiang is a small town of Romance. Differ from other cities and towns; it is a culture mix of Han-naxi style Houses cabins in old styles make people went back to hundreds years ago. In 1990s Liang was listed as World Cultural Heri-ge by UNSECO.

Lijiang was originally ‘discovered’ by backpackers well before domestic tourism developed. While massively popular now among Chinese tourists, the greater area still offers rarely visited gems of natural beauty, and boasts a cultural history different from any other place in China.

Lijiang has a history of at least 800 years and may date as far back as the Song Dynasty. It guards the division of the Jade River into three streams, among which canals and waterways were cut to flow along the old town streets. A book by an American commissioner brought the town some fame in the 19th century and foreign tourists began to return soon after China liberalized its visa policy in the 1980s. Local people began restaurants and cafes and then came to domestic and international attention following a 1996 earthquake. Amid the destruction, China's people were drawn to the lifestyle and excellent environment around Lijiang and began pouring in. Domestic movies and TV shows have made it as popular as Yunnan's reigning vacation destination Dali, although Xishuangbanna is rising as well as the other two become more commercial and expensive.

When to go

Lijiang enjoys mild winters and warm summers, so it's a great choice at almost any time. However, you can experience all four seasons in a day in terms of the weather. Dress in layers, particularly for early morning or late evening outings.

How to Get to Lijiang

Plane

International travelers can get ongoing flights to Kunming Airport from Beijing, Guangzhou or Shanghai. There are regular flights to Lijiang Airport from Kunming. Take a shuttle bus to local hotels for ¥20 or a taxi for ¥80-¥100.

Train

The city has two train stations: Lijiang Railway Station and Lijiang East Railway Station. Both are well served by trains from Kunming or Dali. Travelers can then take local buses to the city center.

Car

Roads in Yunnan Province are good but only Chinese license holders are able to drive in the country.

Bus

Buses from Kunming stop at either Lijiang Passenger Transport Service Center Bus Station in the north-west of the ancient city or at Lijiang Express Bus Station in Shangri-La Avenue.