CN · Yunnan · 26.86°N 100.23°E

lijiang

Cobbled old town with canals, Naxi culture and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain nearby.

Best time
March to May and September to November bring clear skies and mild days. The rainy season runs from about June to September, and winter nights are cold, though days are often sunny.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kunming, about 3.5 hours. From there, the high-speed train to Lijiang takes about 3–3.5 hours, or a domestic flight about an hour.
Save postcard
CN · Yunnanlijiang26.86°N 100.23°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Cobbled old town with canals, Naxi culture and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain nearby.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLijiangCN, Yunnan
KLlijiang
≈ 2,642 km from KL, as the crow flies
The Black Dragon pool (黑龙潭 Heilong Tan Gongyuan) with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山Yulong Xueshan) in the background, fronted by the Moon Embracing Pavillion (Deyue Lou) and the Five Arch bridge (Wu

Photo: Miltos Gikas from Lutsa, Attiki, Greece · CC BY 2.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A cobbled old town of canals, wooden houses and red lanterns in northwest Yunnan, home of the Naxi people and their old Dongba script. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rises over the town, and Tiger Leaping Gorge is close enough for a trek.

Makan

  1. Lijiang babaA layered Naxi flatbread, sweet or savoury, fried until crisp.Map ↗
  2. Jidou liangfenA jelly made from a local pea, eaten cold with chilli or fried in cubes.Map ↗
  3. Yak hotpotA warming pot for cold plateau nights, found all over the old town.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Lijiang Old TownWander the canal-side lanes early in the morning, before the crowds.Map ↗
  2. Black Dragon PoolA park with the classic view of the snow mountain reflected in the water on a clear day.Map ↗
  3. Jade Dragon Snow MountainCable cars climb to over 4,500 metres for glacier views. The turquoise pools of Blue Moon Valley are at its foot.Map ↗
  4. Shuhe Old TownA smaller, quieter old town a short ride from Lijiang.Map ↗
  5. Tiger Leaping GorgeA deep gorge on the upper Yangtze with a famous two-day high trail, about 2 hours' drive away.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Lijiang sits at about 2,400 metres and the snow mountain goes much higher. Take your first day easy. Oxygen canisters are sold for the cable car trip.
  • Book Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car tickets ahead, as daily numbers are limited.
  • Most places expect Alipay or WeChat Pay. Link your card to one before you fly and keep some cash as a backup.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.