Lijiang (丽江) is a city in north-west Yunnan whose Old Town, at 2,400 m, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. The listing has three parts: Dayan Old Town with Black Dragon Pool, and the villages of Shuhe and Baisha. The streets are open all day and have no gate ticket, but an official old town maintenance fee of RMB 50, valid for 365 days, applies to all three parts. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the main day trip. Two or three nights is the usual stay.
What is Lijiang Old Town?
Dayan was founded in the Ming dynasty as a trading town, and UNESCO lists it for a townscape that fits the uneven ground and for its water system. Meltwater and springs from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain fill Black Dragon Pool, and from there canals and channels carry it through the town; the system still works. The two-storey, tile-roofed timber houses mix Han and Tibetan elements and are, in UNESCO’s words, representative of Naxi culture. Sifang Street, once a market on the Tea Horse Road, is still the centre of the town.
Dayan, Shuhe and Baisha
| Part | What it is | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dayan Old Town | The main Old Town, with Sifang Street at its centre and three branches of the Yu River running through it | Mufu, the rebuilt residence of the Mu chieftains; Lion Hill and Wangu Tower for the view over the roofs; Black Dragon Pool at the north end |
| Shuhe | A smaller cluster of houses 4 km north-west of Dayan | A quieter base; see our Dayan-or-Shuhe guide |
| Baisha | The oldest of the three, from the Song and Yuan dynasties, 8 km north of Dayan | Temple halls with more than 40 murals on Buddhist, Taoist and Naxi subjects |
The old town maintenance fee
- The rule: under the city’s measure in force since 1 August 2025, each person pays RMB 50 once. The payment is valid for 365 days and covers Dayan with Black Dragon Pool, Baisha and Shuhe.
- Exempt: children under 12 or under 1.2 m, people aged 60 and over, and people with disabilities, among others.
- In practice: tour groups pay through their agency. A local operator told Chinese media in July 2025 that independent visitors were not being checked in the Old Town streets but were asked for the fee at Black Dragon Pool.
- If an agency adds the fee to a package, ask what it is for. In October 2025 a visitor complained of being charged it on a snow-mountain tour that never entered the Old Town.
- Mufu has its own ticket and hours: 09:00–17:30, with an evening session 19:30–23:00 and last check at 21:30.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
The snow mountain north of the city is a separate, full-day visit with its own booking. The 2026 prices published by the management are RMB 100 for entry, RMB 20 for the eco-bus, RMB 120 for the Glacier Park cable car and RMB 40 for the Spruce Meadow cable car, and entry is booked through the 玉龙雪山服务 channel up to seven days ahead. Our separate guide covers the two cable cars, their ticket releases and the weather rules.
How many days, and getting there
- Two nights: one day for Dayan and Black Dragon Pool, one for the snow mountain.
- Three nights: add Shuhe and Baisha, and leave room for weather on the mountain.
- Altitude: the Old Town is at 2,400 m. Keep the first day easy.
- By train: Lijiang is on the rail corridor from Kunming through Dali, and since 26 November 2023 the line continues to Shangri-La. Check 12306 for times.
- Our Yunnan route runs Kunming, Dali, then Lijiang, and returns to Kunming by train.
Lijiang questions
Where is Lijiang?
In north-west Yunnan Province, south-west China, on a plain at 2,400 m below Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Is there an entrance fee for Lijiang Old Town?
There is no gate ticket and the streets are open all day, but the city’s old town maintenance fee is RMB 50 per person, valid for 365 days. Tour groups pay it through the agency, and Black Dragon Pool asks for it.
How many days do I need in Lijiang?
Two nights for the Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Three if you want Shuhe, Baisha and a spare day for mountain weather.
Is Lijiang Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes, since 1997. The listing covers Dayan Old Town with Black Dragon Pool, and the Baisha and Shuhe housing clusters.
Dali or Lijiang, which should I choose?
They do different jobs. Dali is a lakeside town with villages around Erhai; Lijiang is a denser old town below the snow mountain. The railway links them, and our route takes Dali first, then Lijiang.
How do I get to Lijiang?
By train on the corridor from Kunming through Dali, or by air to Lijiang’s airport. Check 12306 for train times on your date.
Sources(9)
- Old Town of Lijiang (inscribed 1997)UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Lijiang’s old town maintenance fee measure, in force from 1 August 2025 (17 July 2025)Jiemian News
- Maintenance fee charged on a snow-mountain tour: complaint and replies (October 2025)Jiemian News
- Lijiang Old Town listing: layout, Sifang Street, Yu River and hoursTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- Mufu listing: hours and rebuildingTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 2026 pricesLijiang city media, from the scenic area management
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain entry booking statement (24 September 2026)Lijiang city media, from the scenic area management
- Lijiang–Shangri-La railway opensNational Railway Administration
- Hero photo: Lijiang Yunnan Old-town-03, CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0), resized by HomegroundWikimedia Commons
