Lijiang Old Town
丽江古城 · Lijiang, Yunnan, China
A 'Suzhou of the plateau' without city walls, a living museum of Naxi Dongba culture.
Know before you go
- Ask the owner before entering a Naxi home, and don't step on the threshold
- don't leaf through Dongba scriptures.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Lijiang Old Town dates from the late Song and early Yuan; following the hills and water, Naxi houses of 'three wings and a screen wall' line its streams, and it was once a trading hub on the Tea Horse Road. Dongba pictographic script is often called the only pictographic writing still in use in the world, and Naxi ancient music is called a 'living fossil of music'. The old town became a World Heritage Site in 1997.
Local customs
- Naxi festivals include the Sanduo Festival and the Torch Festival
- locals like to dance and drink rice wine in Sifang Square. Cured-rib hotpot, chickpea jelly and rice sausage are common in the old town.
Religion & beliefs
- The Naxi widely follow the Dongba religion (an indigenous faith) alongside Tibetan Buddhism
- be respectful at Dongba displays and ritual sites, and don't touch scriptures or ritual objects.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
China: don't get physical in a dispute
- Walk away from an argument and call the police if needed
- Pushing, shoving or fighting
Whoever starts it, taking part in a fight can bring a fine or detention, and the injured party usually demands compensation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
China: carry your original passport
- Foreign visitors should carry their original passport
- Carrying only a copy or photo of your passport
Police make random ID checks and do not accept printouts; if you cannot show your passport, you may be fined or detained.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Ask the owner before entering a Naxi home, and don't step on the threshold
- don't leaf through Dongba scriptures.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals love teahouses and sunshine and live at an unhurried pace
- many older Naxi women still wear the traditional sheepskin cape embroidered with 'stars and moon'.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- At about 2,400 m, altitude sickness usually isn't a worry, but avoid strenuous exercise
- the core of the old town is free
- the bar street is noisy at night, so if you prefer quiet, visit early in the morning or go to Shuhe old town
- combine with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lashi Lake.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Cured-rib hotpot
- Chickpea jelly (jidou liangfen)
- Lijiang baba (flatbread)
Cured-rib hotpot (Naxi cured spare ribs with vegetables), jidou liangfen (black-chickpea jelly), Lijiang baba (pan-fried flatbread), Naxi grilled fish, rice sausage
| Where to eat | Zhongyi Market (the local market), the cluster of cured-rib restaurants on Huama Street outside the old town |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Keep quiet at Naxi Dongba cultural sites |
| Typical price per person | CNY 50–90 |
| Tips | Food on the bar street in the old town is pricey, so eat at Zhongyi Market or outside the old town; cured ribs are salty — balance them with vegetables. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Alpha · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photos
Photos
chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0
chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0
BrokenSphere · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources & verification notes
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