Lijiang: Essential Guide + Best Things To Do Beyond The Old Town [2026]

Yes! Especially if it's your first trip to Yunnan.

Lijiang brings together a lot of what makes the Yunnan special: beautiful old towns, Naxi ethnic minority culture, dramatic mountain scenery and easy access to some of Yunnan's best-known sights (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge).

It's a good mix of culture, food, nature and adventure.

April–May and September–October are our favourite months, with daytime temperatures around 17–21°C, clear skies and just the right weather for exploring the mountains.

Summer (June–August) is warmer and wetter, so if you're planning to hike, expect some rainy days.

Winter (December–February) is dry, sunny and cold at around 10°C, with temperatures dropping close to freezing at night. Pack plenty of warm layers if you're heading into the mountains — but the upside is fewer crowds!

Definitely avoid Chinese New Year, May Day and Golden Week (1–7 October).

Kunming Changshui International Airport is the main gateway to Yunnan for international travellers.

From Kunming, you can take the high-speed train directly to Lijiang (around 3–4 hours), or make a stop in Dali first (around 2 hours), spending a day there, and then continuing to Lijiang (another ~2 hours).

We'd stay in one of Lijiang's old towns. They're the most vibey places to base yourself, with beautiful Naxi architecture and winding cobbled lanes.

Lijiang has three old towns, but most visitors stay in the main Lijiang Old Town. It's beautiful, but it's super crowded, and we personally find it a little overwhelming as a place to stay.

Our pick is Shuhe Old Town. It's smaller, quieter and still has that old-town charm. We recommend Bivou, an intimate 16-room boutique hotel that blends local rustic architecture with modern design.

Most people find Lijiang manageable. We took the high-speed train straight from Kunming to Lijiang on the same day we flew in, and apart from noticing that the air felt thinner, we didn't experience any noticeable effects from the altitude.

That said, everyone's body reacts differently. Take your first day slowly, drink more water and save the hikes for day two.

One of the top things to do in Lijiang is explore its Old Town - but most travellers only see the surface and leave without understanding why this UNESCO town is so special.

This experience takes you deeper. Walk the old streets with a local guide and uncover the stories behind Lijiang: how it became an important stop along the ancient Tea Horse Road, what do the fish symbols on rooftops mean, and how Dongba, one of the world's last living pictographic writing systems comes from Lijiang and is still in use today.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the must-sees of Lijiang, but most travellers only experience it by visiting the famous and extremely crowded viewpoint, snap a photo, and leave.

We much prefer spending two days hiking the quieter high trail of the Tiger Leaping Gorge — with sweeping mountain views, and spending the night in a family-run guesthouse.

The dramatic mountains look like Patagonia, but what makes this hike truly memorable is your local Naxi guide who shares stories about the landscape that you'd never discover on your own — from wild medicinal plants and ancient walnut trees. It’s a more meaningful way to experience the gorge without the crowds. 

The most popular way to see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is by taking a cable car to the viewing platforms. But it's also the most crowded.

If you'd rather skip the crowds and go for a real adventure on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can hike to the mountain's first peak instead! You'll be hiking with a local Naxi guide, following quiet trails through ancient forests filled with wild mushrooms.

It's a serious hike, but if you're up for the challenge, it's a unique way to experience one of Yunnan's most iconic mountains.

China probably isn't the first place you'd think of for great coffee. But Yunnan has quietly become one of the world's emerging specialty coffee regions, producing most of China’s coffee today. So if you love coffee, this cosy coffee omakase is a must!

Meet Phoebe, whose family were the first few who started Yunnan’s movement from commercial to specialty coffee. You'll taste coffees from across the province and roast your own bag of beans over a traditional coil heater.

Set in a rustic café with a beautiful garden full of cute cats, this slow and intimate experience will change how you think about Chinese coffee.

One of our favourite ways to understand a city is through its food! This food hunt takes you through the quieter, more local corners of Zhongyi Market and Huama Food Street and family-run stalls serving recipes passed down for generations.

You'll get a taste of regional specialities like cured pork rib hotpot, Lijiang baba, and grilled milk fan, while learning about Naxi food traditions, local ingredients and how to order like a local.

Yunnan's cuisine is unlike anywhere else in China, and one of the best ways to understand it is to cook it yourself. Raised in a family of home cooks, chef Fancy now shares the recipes, techniques and stories passed down through generations in this intimate cooking class.

Together, you'll prepare three classic Yunnan dishes while learning about the flavours and traditions that make Yunnan cuisine so distinct and enjoy your meal in her garden.

If you're looking to go beyond the busy tourist spots of Lijiang, this full-day private trek to hidden villages is one of the best ways to do it.

You'll hike across Wenhai's highland meadows, visit a hidden Tibetan monastery, wander through traditional Yi and Naxi villages, and meet local families.

It's one of the best nature escapes from the city!

If you only stay in Lijiang Ancient Town, you'll miss one of the most memorable parts of the Yunnan: village life.

Spend a night with Lily's family near Lashi Lake and experience a slower side of Yunnan. Visit local homes, share lunch around a traditional wood-fired stove over homemade buckwheat pancakes and smoked pork, hear Lily's stories about growing up in the village, and learn about Dongba — the Naxi people's written language and the world's only living pictographic writing system.

It's a chance to slow down, share meals, and experience a side of rural Yunnan that most travellers never see.

At least 3-4 days. You'll want to take it slow on your first day and acclimatise while exploring the Old Town. Then set aside 1–2 days for hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge or Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Make sure you leave time for the things that make Lijiang special too — a coffee omakase, a local food hunt or a Naxi family homestay.

Day 1: Train to Lijiang + food hunt

Take the train into Lijiang, check into your hotel and keep the day easy. In the evening, join a local food hunt to get your first taste of Yunnan cuisine

Day 2: Coffee omakase + Old Town walk

Start with a coffee omakase and hand-roasting session to learn about Yunnan's specialty coffee story. In the afternoon, explore Lijiang Old Town with a local guide and uncover hidden stories.

Day 3-4: Tiger Leaping Gorge or Naxi family homestay

Choose between a 2D1N lesser-known Tiger Leaping Gorge trek for big mountain views, or a 2D1N Naxi family homestay with Lily for a slower, countryside experience.