Lijiang in 7 days

Cobbled Naxi old town beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Best time to visit: April to June and September to October. Average daily budget: $45 to $85.

Day 1, Land & wander

Base: Dayan Old Town, The main UNESCO quarter with Sifang Square, canals, guesthouses and nightlife; atmospheric but busiest.

Morning: Relax at Black Dragon Pool. The classic reflection pond with the snow mountain framed by the Deyue Pavilion, best before 9am for clear water and light.

Afternoon: Explore Dayan Old Town, The main UNESCO quarter with Sifang Square, canals, guesthouses and nightlife; atmospheric but busiest.

Evening: Wander Dayan's canals and Sifang Square at dusk. Follow the water from the Black Dragon Pool park through lantern lit lanes as the evening music starts.

Eat: Naxi grilled cheese (rubabing) with rose syrup from street griddles

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Shuhe Old Town, A quieter satellite old town 4 kilometres north, with artisan shops, courtyards and a mellower bar scene.

Morning: Ride the Glacier Park cable car on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable car climbs to 4,506 metres beside the glacier, with oxygen canisters and timed tickets; book a day ahead in peak season.

Afternoon: Explore Shuhe Old Town, A quieter satellite old town 4 kilometres north, with artisan shops, courtyards and a mellower bar scene.

Evening: Watch the Impression Lijiang outdoor show. Zhang Yimou's 500 performer spectacle staged at 3,100 metres on the mountain meadow, with real Naxi villagers and the peak as backdrop.

Eat: Lijiang baba, a thick flaky flatbread, sweet or savory

Day 3, Food & markets

Base: Baisha Village, The original Naxi settlement with Ming era murals, embroidery workshops and mountain views without the crowds.

Morning: See the Baisha murals and village lanes. A 15 minute ride away, the 600 year old murals blend Buddhist, Taoist and Naxi art, and the village is the calmest of the three old towns.

Afternoon: Explore Baisha Village, The original Naxi settlement with Ming era murals, embroidery workshops and mountain views without the crowds.

Evening: Day trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge. One of the world's deepest river gorges, 2 hours away; walk the upper gorge boardwalk to the tiger rock or start the famous two day high trail.

Eat: Chicken in a clay pot with steam pot mushrooms, the mountain specialty

Day 4, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Dayan Old Town, The main UNESCO quarter with Sifang Square, canals, guesthouses and nightlife; atmospheric but busiest.

Morning: Wangu Tower's panoramic view over the grey tiled roofs of Dayan. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Dayan Old Town, The main UNESCO quarter with Sifang Square, canals, guesthouses and nightlife; atmospheric but busiest.

Evening: The Dongba Culture Museum's pictographic script exhibits. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Yak meat hotpot, best on cold mountain evenings

Day 5, Day trip

Base: Shuhe Old Town, A quieter satellite old town 4 kilometres north, with artisan shops, courtyards and a mellower bar scene.

Morning: Yuhu village and Joseph Rock's former residence below the mountain. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Shuhe Old Town, A quieter satellite old town 4 kilometres north, with artisan shops, courtyards and a mellower bar scene.

Evening: Shuhe's Nine Cauldron Dragon pond, a quiet morning reflection spot. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Naxi grilled cheese (rubabing) with rose syrup from street griddles

Day 6, Hidden gems

Base: Baisha Village, The original Naxi settlement with Ming era murals, embroidery workshops and mountain views without the crowds.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Baisha Village, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Baisha Village, The original Naxi settlement with Ming era murals, embroidery workshops and mountain views without the crowds.

Evening: Dinner at Lijiang baba, a thick flaky flatbread, sweet or savory, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Baisha Village.

Eat: Lijiang baba, a thick flaky flatbread, sweet or savory

Day 7, Slow finish

Base: Dayan Old Town, The main UNESCO quarter with Sifang Square, canals, guesthouses and nightlife; atmospheric but busiest.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Dayan Old Town, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Dayan Old Town, The main UNESCO quarter with Sifang Square, canals, guesthouses and nightlife; atmospheric but busiest.

Evening: Dinner at Chicken in a clay pot with steam pot mushrooms, the mountain specialty, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Dayan Old Town.

Eat: Chicken in a clay pot with steam pot mushrooms, the mountain specialty

Hidden gems

Wangu Tower's panoramic view over the grey tiled roofs of Dayan
The Dongba Culture Museum's pictographic script exhibits
Yuhu village and Joseph Rock's former residence below the mountain
Shuhe's Nine Cauldron Dragon pond, a quiet morning reflection spot

Getting around

Lijiang Sanyi Airport is 30 minutes from the old town; high speed trains reach Kunming in about 3 hours and Dali in 2. Old towns are car free, so hotels meet you at gates with carts; taxis and Didi cover the 4 to 10 kilometre hops between Dayan, Shuhe and Baisha. Tours or buses run to Tiger Leaping Gorge and the snow mountain.

Safety

Lijiang is safe but sits at 2,400 metres with day trips to 4,500 metres: pace your first day, and take the provided oxygen on the Glacier Park cable car if needed. Cobbles and canal edges need care after rain and at night. Book mountain cable cars ahead in holidays, and confirm your guesthouse can register foreign passports.

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