3-Day Lijiang Tour

Essence of Ancient Lijiang

Located at the foot of the sacred Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang is a magical town, attracting people with its ancient town atmosphere, mysterious minority cultures, and great views of the snowcapped mountains. Discover the best of Lijiang in our 3-day Lijiang Tour. Reward yourself with a relaxing and time-smart vacation. Lose yourself and find your soul.

Tour 'Wow' Points

Slow Down to Feel an 800-Year-Old Town's Leisurely Lifestyle

Visit the former residence of a Naxi chieftain —Mufu Mansion.

Stroll through Lijiang Ancient Town and bargain for trinkets.

Try the most famous Yunnan food — over-the-bridge rice noodles.

Climb to the roof of a well-placed restaurant and overlook Lijiang Old Town.

Talk with a Local Expert to Unveil the Mysterious Dongba Culture

Discover the mysterious Naxi culture by visiting a shaman's house.

Learn to make Naxi pancakes from a Naxi lady in Baisha village.

Walk Among Some of Yunnan's Most Magnificent Natural Scenery

Take a cable car up holy Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Capture a postcard-perfect photo at the Black Dragon Pool Park.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Una muy recomendable visita a Lijiang con Yong, un muy buen guia.ng en nuestra etapa en Lijiang hemos tenido en Yong un magnífico guia que nos ha organizado una excelente visita a la zona, adaptàndose a mis necesidades de ir en uns silla de ruedas. more Mar 2024, CARDONA TORRAS CELS

Excellent first trip to Lijiang Excellent first trip to Lijiang. Our guide Alice was very kind and patient and also very accommodating with last minute changes and itinerary change given one of the places we were supposed to go to was shut for maintenance work. She explained everything to us and also answered our many many random questions! more Jan 2024, Customer

Li Jiang is amazingly pretty Li Jiang is amazingly pretty. Very scenic and unforgettable. Our guide Alice has done wonderful job explaining the history and culture. She is also very service minded. We love our hotel that China Highlights arranged. The old town preserved well the Chinese culture and is a must place to visit. more Jan 2024, Khim Boo

Suggested Itinerary

Lunch

Your private tour guide, driver, and car will be waiting at the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel in the ancient town and start the tour.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lijiang Ancient Town's history dates back to over 800 years ago. Besides its unique architecture and local ethnic culture, it is also known for its orderly arrangement of bridges and waterways. Walk along the winding cobbled paths - it is said that you won't get lost as long as you follow the water.

Appreciate the Naxi people's brilliant skills in architecture and fine arts at Mufu Mansion, the 'Forbidden City' of Lijiang. You can also climb up to Lion Hill to have a bird's-eye view of the whole town.

Then pay a visit to Black Dragon Pool Park, where the view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is one the most famous postcard-perfect sceneries in southwest China. Stay overnight in Lijiang Ancient Town.

Hotel options:
Ivy Garden Resort Hotel (4-star)
Banyan Tree Lijiang (5-star)

Black Dragon Pool Park

breakfast and lunch

Find yourself in a real paradise far away from the hustle and bustle of cities, as you take a cable car up to the Spruce Meadow at over 3,000 meters altitude on the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the holy mountain for the Naxi people.

Enjoy lunch at a popular local restaurant in Baisha Village. You will have a chance to learn to make Naxi pancakes for the main dish of your lunch.

Baisha village is the original settlement and earliest political center of the Naxi people. Painted over 1,000 years ago, the murals combine the cultures of the Han, Tibetan, and Naxi people, and display stories of Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Have a relaxing walking int he Baisha Village and get to know about the local life and culture.

Understand more about the mysterious Naxi culture by visiting a shaman's house in the village. Learn some Naxi characters and enjoy a piece of old Naxi music. You will be impressed by the local people's passion for their culture and homeland.

After the tour, transfer back to Lijiang for another peaceful night.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Baisha Village

Trip Notes

1. Tailoring Your Tour

This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, and extend or shorten it to suit your price, interest, and schedule. Feel free to tell us your requirements, and we will be happy to help you arrange a tour using our professional knowledge and experience. We promise a "No Shopping Policy".

Lijiang Ancient Town attracts more tourists than the Forbidden City in Beijing during peak season. Here are some tips to escape the hordes of tourists:
1. Stay overnight in Lijiang Ancient Town and start early: 80% of the tourists will be in 20% of the places. Get up early and find the best spots with the help of your guide.
2. Stay overnight in Shuhe Ancient Town: 20-minutes away from Lijiang by car, Shuhe ancient town is less touristic and quieter.

2. Optional Extension:

Tiger Leaping Gorge
As one of the deepest and most marvelous gorges, Tiger Leaping Gorge is about two hours away from Lijiang by car. It is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. You can extend the tour by one day to visit the upper gorge, or extend it by 2–3 days to hike through the whole gorge.

Lugu Lake
The lake area is best known as home to the unique Mosuo culture. The Mosuo, a subgroup of the Naxi, is a matrilineal society whose members engage in traditional "walking marriages", in which the husband and wife remain in their respective maternal homes and often have more than one partner. The picturesque scenery there is also impressive. The drive from Lijiang takes over six hours and 3–5 days are required to extend the tour.

3. Getting There and Traveling Away

There are over 20 flights between Lijiang and Kunming every day. There are also flights connecting Lijiang with Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou,and Hong Kong, with a stopover in Kunming.

4. Hotel

Hotel with a convenient location, regional features and good reviews are recommended in the itinerary. If you prefer other hotel options (luxuty hotels, boutique hotels, or economical choices) or would like to book the hotels on your own, please feel free to inform us and we will be happy to adjust the details. Here are some alternatives for your reference:

Note: The boutique hostels in Yunnan offer good value for money: a decent environment, local-style decoration, and a convenient location, but most of them only have 10–20 rooms and there may not be any English-speaking staff. Early booking is highly recommended.