Lijiang Ancient City

If Dali is indispensable when talking about Yunnan, then Lijiang is the place that you must visit when visiting Yunnan, no doubt about it.

The ancient town of Lijiang has a long-standing reputation and is well-known beyond measure. It has become a business card for tourism in Yunnan. When I was in college, I decided to come to Lijiang just to see it when its commercial atmosphere was not so strong. Although there were still a lot of people at that time, there were really far fewer than there are now. Today's Lijiang has long lost its original charm and is filled with a strong smell of money.

Furthermore, Lijiang is very close to Dali. Many people visit Dali as their first stop, and Lijiang as their second stop (and vice versa). It was the same for us. The first time we came to Lijiang, we took a bus from Dali’s Xiaguan. I have long forgotten the ticket price, but I just remember that it took about 3 hours from Dali to Lijiang. I remember that when we approached Lijiang, we could see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance. That was also the first time I saw a snow-capped mountain. From afar, I felt its endless majestic toweringness. At that time, I felt like a pilgrim seeing a sacred mountain for the first time. I was extremely excited.



Talk about your feelings about Lijiang Ancient Town:

First of all, the location of Lijiang Ancient Town is unique, and its layout makes full use of the mountains and terrain and the surrounding natural environment. It is backed by Elephant Mountain and Jinhong Mountain in the north, and Monkey Mountain in the west. The east and south are naturally connected to the open plains. It avoids the northwest cold wind and faces the southeast light source, forming an overall pattern of sitting in the northwest and facing the southeast.

Secondly, the first impression of Lijiang Ancient Town is that it is full of spiritual energy. The river meanders down, and the ancient town is built between such rivers. The feeling of being blessed with natural beauty is vividly displayed on the ancient town.

Another thing is that when you first arrive at the ancient town, you will feel a slow pace. People basically start to work and open shops at 10-11 am, and people walk half a beat slower than others. This is in line with the slow-paced and slow-life concept advocated by Lijiang. In the lazy time, here, it seems particularly comfortable and casual.

The ancient city is quite big, with only a few main streets. You can visit shops during the day and the bar street at night. There is a market in the southwest corner of the ancient city where you can buy some fruits. The flower cakes made by Jiahua are delicious. The cured pork ribs hotpot is quite edible. But I always get lost. The streets are not well-regulated, so navigation is very important. There are many places to stay in the ancient city. April may be the off-season. It is easy to find a place to stay. You can take a walk to see the environment before staying.

When you first arrive in Lijiang, I guess many people will be moved by the beautiful scenery of small bridges and flowing water. In Lijiang, you can be a willful child, put aside the troubles of life, fantasize, play, and enjoy the warm sunshine here; or take a hike to feel the beauty of natural mountains and rivers; you can also look forward to an unexpected love on an intoxicating night. Healing, affair, crossing, searching, pure, daze... These words may be good to describe Lijiang, but it still has many unknown charms waiting for people to come here to discover. However, Lijiang now feels more and more commercialized and has lost its original tranquility and simplicity.

Lijiang's iconic windmill, it seems like every tourist will take pictures here, but I think the relief wall next to it is more distinctive. The whole wall is red and carved with various patterns, haha.

There are many Naxi elders performing ethnic dances in Sifang Street Square. Later, when we had nothing to do in the evening and were strolling around, we would occasionally come here, follow them and learn to dance, trying to blend into this scenery.

The ancient town is really beautiful, and I hope it won’t become more commercialized in the future.

Walking along the river at night, I drank a pot of plum wine and felt a little tipsy. The sound of wind chimes and music also made me intoxicated. It is really a place with a very literary atmosphere. There are many people playing guitar and singing in bars and restaurants, and the clothing shops also have unique designs.

In addition to the charcoal grilled durian I bought, it was super unpalatable and felt bad...30 yuan for only a small bite, not recommended...

I just walked around on the first night.

Today is a day off, so I'll go shopping in the ancient city.



The majority of people in Lijiang are Naxi people.

They speak Naxi language, believe in Dongba religion, and use Dongba script, which is a rare primitive pictographic script still in use in the world.

Dongba characters can be seen everywhere in Lijiang Old Town, including on the signboards of many shops. It is quite common.

This time I was on a business trip to Yunnan, and I deliberately reserved 2 days to visit Lijiang. Objectively speaking, when there were few tourists, the Old Town of Lijiang seemed very lonely, and the scenery and architecture were average, so I just wandered around Dayan Ancient Town and Shuhe Ancient Town. On the second day, I arranged a day to go to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The scenery of the snow mountain exceeded my expectations. The scenic area is very large. In order to save trouble, I booked a package in advance, including transfers and lunch. The cable car fee, Taobao found a free travel customization, and the route and guide map introduction strategy were very practical and detailed. I have to give myself a thumbs up. This trip to Lijiang was not in vain. I squeezed out 2 days to come here. For free travel customization, you can search for the store light housekeeper on Taobao, which is more cost-effective.

The ancient city at noon seemed to have not yet fully awakened, with only the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks wafting in the air. The winding paths instantly made me feel its unique temperament. Stepping onto the cobblestone road made of natural large stones (the cobblestone roads in Lijiang Ancient City are very primitive, with uneven surfaces, which are very unsuitable for shoes. When we first entered the ancient city, we actually saw a girl wearing nearly 20-centimeter high heels easily crossing a small bridge.), the flowing water passing through the city, the clusters of bougainvillea on the walls of each household, and the slightly cool temperature... no amount of commercialization can change its soul.

The large waterwheel entrance in the north is usually considered the main entrance to the ancient city. Tourists from all over the world gather here to see the first side of the ancient city. The huge waterwheel is turned by water, as if time has never stopped, connecting the past and present of the ancient city.

The most beautiful scenery in the ancient city is the countless homestays, which are located next to each other in the streets and alleys. Each one has its own unique style, which is dazzling.

At this moment, I realized that you were right beside me. I went to Lijiang for the first time just because I listened to this song. It gave me the feeling of blue sky and white clouds, and the endless sky. It felt like a paradise on earth.

But when I arrived in Lijiang, I found a problem. Why was there a song playing everywhere on the street... For a moment (laughing and crying)(laughing and crying), but it was still very nice. When I played it again, For a moment was gone and it was replaced by Little Baby (laughing and crying)(laughing and crying)

But the second time I went to Lijiang, I felt it was a bit too commercialized... Why is there a fee to enter the ancient city... There was no fee before (laughing and crying)(laughing and crying)(laughing and crying)

I feel that there is really nothing fun to do in Lijiang Ancient Town. I just find a good inn in the ancient town and sit on the road to the guest station to bask in the sun, drink tea, go to the ancient town in the afternoon, eat some snacks. At night, sit in a bar for a while...

There are many snacks on Sifang Street, all of which are pretty good. I think you can try them all. Friends who don’t smoke should not try the bamboo-tube water pipe... that feels... very sour... (covering face with bee) (covering face with bee) (covering face with bee)

The big waterwheel, Sifang Street, Black Dragon Pond, Dayan Flower Alley... wooden buildings with green tiles, ancient streets and stone alleys, small bridges and flowing water, a scene at every step, I love Lijiang Ancient Town so much. As night fell, we also walked to the bar street, and it felt like there were more people all of a sudden, and the atmosphere suddenly became noisy.

There is a Dongba Paper Shop on every street and alley in Lijiang Ancient Town. I bought a notebook at the main store and my friend bought a photo frame. They were a bit expensive, but they are still unique as souvenirs.

In January, the slightly cold weather and the gentleness of Lijiang complement each other. There are not many tourists in Lijiang in January. They like the quietness of the deserted paths. Water is the difference between Dali Ancient Town and Lijiang Ancient Town. Dali Ancient Town is more like a soldier defending his country, with a kind of iron-willed general style, while Lijiang Ancient Town is like a gentle Jiangnan woman, with paths, flowing water, and the gentle and jade-like temperament of some boudoir women. But I always think that the lights and wine are a bit abrupt. This ancient city seems to be hastily pushed into the trend of the times and cannot break free.

Lijiang Old Town now requires a 50 yuan maintenance fee, but it seems that no one pays it, and the staff in the old town do not check tickets. There are no access control at the exits, so you don't have to pay the maintenance fee. There are a lot of people in Lijiang Old Town, so you have to plan your route to avoid getting lost or not having enough fun. If you want to take beautiful photos in Lijiang, you must arrive at the old town before 9:00, or take photos in other remote places in the old town. Otherwise, it will be difficult to take beautiful photos.

The cultural atmosphere of Lijiang Ancient Town is much deeper. The long bluestone road and the quaint buildings alone are enough to make people hold their breath and feel the influence of history. I live in a youth hostel with a courtyard in the ancient town. It is called a youth hostel, but it is more like a place for backpackers. The accommodation environment is much worse than that of Mufu, but it is full of human touch. The longer you live, the happier you are. How can there be so many lovely people in the world? There are no locks on the doors and no cabinets for storing objects. Everyone puts them in easy reach. It is a chance meeting. How much kindness and trust built this small home, so that I, out of great trust in the world, caused a tragedy that was not big or small but made me extremely heartbroken.

On the day I arrived in Lijiang, I was still wandering around the ancient city. Since I couldn't understand the map and couldn't tell the directions, I just wandered around based on my mood. Everywhere I went was fate. Of course, I couldn't avoid walking the same road again. I really didn't have the energy to figure out which way to go. As night fell, the city became more and more lively. The singers in the bars started to get restless. Every house was brightly lit and the sound was loud, which made people unconsciously get excited. The shopkeeper said that the afternoon to nine o'clock in the evening was probably the busiest time. After nine o'clock, there were fewer people. Unfortunately, I got lost again. Baidu Maps couldn't take me home. The location was always running around and was completely unreliable. I made up my mind and could only rely on my intuition. I slowly groped my way back. By then, my waist couldn't straighten up at all. That night, perhaps because I was excited to punch the card at the highest point tomorrow, I was half asleep and half awake the whole night.

The streets in Lijiang Old Town are built along the mountains and rivers and paved with red breccia. There are attractions such as Sifang Street, Mu Mansion, Wufeng Tower, Black Dragon Pool, Wenchang Palace, Wang Pizhen Memorial Hall, Xueshan Academy, Wangjiazhuang Christian Church, Fang Guoyu's Former Residence, Baima Longtan Temple, Gu Peter's Former Residence, Jinglian Temple, Puxian Temple, etc. Lijiang is one of the second batch of approved Chinese historical and cultural cities, and one of the two ancient cities in China that have successfully applied for World Cultural Heritage as a whole ancient city.

Walking in the long alleys of Lijiang in the early morning, there are few people. The stone slabs on the road have been worn very smooth by the footsteps of people coming and going for hundreds of years, and the surface looks like it has been waxed. There is no noise around at all.

If the ancient buildings of the Naxi people are the soul of the ancient city of Lijiang, then the streams flowing along the roads and in front of and behind the houses bring vitality to the ancient city. Alai's essay "A Drop of Water Flowing Through Lijiang" vividly describes the water of Lijiang. You can find it and read it.

Coming out of the Mu Mansion, we passed Sifang Street and passed by the famous bar street. One Meter of Sunshine, A Thousand Miles Alone and Fanhua, these bars that appeared in countless travel notes about Lijiang are now quietly closed. They belong only to the night and to those travelers who are melancholy and homesick.

There are many vendors selling African hand drums in the ancient city, all singing the classic "Little Darling"

To see the whole picture of the ancient city, one is to go to Mu's Mansion and the other is to go to Wenchang Palace. Mu's Mansion is closed too early. If you want to take pictures of the whole picture of the ancient city, you can also go to the gate of Wenchang Palace to take pictures, the effect is also good.

If you come to Yunnan and don't go to Lijiang Ancient Town, it's like going to Wuhan and not visiting the Yellow Crane Tower. But in the end, I feel that it is too commercialized and boring. It's also annoying to pay 80 yuan for the maintenance of the ancient town. What is there to maintain? Fewer bars, fewer inns, and fewer shops. The ecological environment of the ancient town is naturally good, and there is no need to worry about the heavy burden on the circuit and accidents.

Lijiang Ancient Town is much better than I thought. If this is what everyone calls serious commercialization, then I like this kind of commercialization. Each homestay is definitely carefully decorated. Unlike Dali, being close to Erhai Lake is enough. In the ancient town, the stream runs through the city. It is the snow water from Yulong Snow Mountain, which feels cold to the touch. The stone pavement in the ancient town is smooth and shiny, with an ancient flavor.

Dayan Ancient Town is also known as Lijiang Ancient Town. In fact, Lijiang is the name of a city. Lijiang City includes three ancient towns, namely Dayan Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Baixi Ancient Town. Dayan Ancient Town is the most famous, so Dayan Ancient Town is called Lijiang Ancient Town. Don't get the wrong concept. Dayan is a small town trodden out by horse hooves, without traditional city walls and moats surrounded by flowers.

TIPS: It seems more convenient to choose the north gate of the ancient city for accommodation; the airport and the train station are quite a long distance from the ancient city, more than half an hour each, so it is recommended to charter a car; there are buses near the ancient city that can go to Shuhe Ancient Town and Baisha Ancient Town, although we did not go there; Lijiang has a large temperature difference between day and night, and it is really dry, so be prepared with clothes and moisturizing lotion; the ultraviolet rays are also very strong, so do a good job of sun protection.

Recommended play time: half day (afternoon + evening)

Recommendation index: 3 stars

I don’t have a big obsession with ancient cities and towns, probably because in my impression, most of them are the same in form and there is nothing special that can attract me. So at the beginning, I just used Lijiang Ancient Town as a foothold and didn’t have much expectation.

But the sunshine in Lijiang is really fascinating. It seems different from other places, it is always timely and leisurely.

The sky in Lijiang is always like this, blue, gentle, and without any dust. It was not until later that I discovered that the sky in every place in Yunnan is almost like this, the only difference is probably the degree of blue.

Most of the buildings in the ancient city are made of wood, and the decoration style is the same. They look very bright and clean.

It was already 3pm when we entered the ancient city. We looked for several restaurants but they were all closed. Fortunately, the snow mountain fish that filled our stomachs did not disappoint our taste buds. The light and night of Lijiang come very late, but it seems that as long as it is light, you can see the sun.

I wore a big down jacket when I came from Guizhou, and I never thought that I would have to change into a thin coat in the ancient city. But the ancient city started to get colder after nightfall, which was a headache for the temperature difference between day and night.

When we were in the ancient city, we didn’t go to Lion Rock, Mu Mansion, or the waterwheel. We didn’t go to almost all the popular check-in spots, but we just wandered around without any purpose (although we got lost occasionally), and it felt pretty good.

We went into the ancient city every night. Now that the ancient city no longer charges maintenance fees (at least we didn't encounter any during our four-day stay), more and more people may come here. But in fact, it has fewer tourists than many ancient cities I have visited before, which is a relief.

Of course, there are a lot of bars here. The innkeeper kept asking us to go to the bar, but we were so tired that we fell asleep every day and never went.

The bright lights and feasting may not be suitable for me,

I still prefer sleeping.

On this day, I strolled quietly in the ancient city.

Looking from the observation deck, that winter cherry tree is just right.

The food court was still empty in the morning and all shops were closed.

I really like this kind of shop atmosphere, and I didn't expect that the prices in Lijiang are actually lower than those in Dali, so, eat all the fruit platters in Lijiang. I met an old lady selling strawberries on the roadside before. A basket was 30 yuan, and there were about 5 or 6 kilograms. My mother and I discussed buying half a basket for fear that we couldn’t finish them, but the old lady refused to sell it to us. However, the taste was really great. I feel that I have never eaten such delicious strawberries since I was a child. After I finished eating them, I felt that one basket was not too much!

The alley full of oil-paper umbrellas is only missing a lilac-like girl.

Walking along the ancient city, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is looming behind, and here the willows are dark and the flowers are in full bloom. Nature is magical~

The final frame of the ancient city is the landmark building of the ancient city - the waterwheel. See you again if fate permits!

To be honest, the ancient town is just like that. It has the same bluestone slabs as other ancient towns all over the country, but there are more tourists and more business here. I think it is suitable for strolling around. Go to the mountain at night to see the night view. The lights are dim, and it is quiet and lively. My thoughts will be much calmer, and the past will come back to me.

I went there once in 2013 and once in 2015, and my mood was completely different...

First of all, I want to remind you that Lijiang Old Town no longer charges maintenance fees. Don't listen to the tour groups. I was quite disappointed when I came to Lijiang this time. It has become too commercialized compared to ten years ago. Ten years ago, there were still Naxi aboriginal residents. Now, Lijiang is full of inns and commercial shops. The rent of shops in more remote places is still 300,000 or 400,000 yuan a year. The inn we stayed in also rented about 500,000 yuan a year, and it was located on the edge of the old town. It seems that every city has a commercial street, so I didn't go to Dali directly, because Dali ten years ago was already very commercialized, which means there is nothing to see.

I always heard that Lijiang is a suitable place to live, like a paradise, showing the small bridges, flowing water and people vividly. It is a little more leisurely than Wuzhen and a little more charming than Suzhou. Many single men and women call it the "city of love encounters", but I think it is more like a healing city. People who are heartbroken, tired, confused, or want to rest, or wanderers away from home are shuttling in the jungle of steel and concrete with a dazzling heart hurt by the cruel reality, then you really have to come here for a walk. You can wander aimlessly on the streets of the ancient town, watching the gurgling water and the blue sky, feeling the breeze blowing across your face, watching the flowers bathing in the sun, watching the handsome and beautiful backs, and watching those handsome and beautiful faces. In the private courtyard, swinging on the swing in the sun; sitting on the chair under the tree, feeling the crowd and looking into the distance in a daze; going to the noisy bar to drink a little wine and feel the passion and unrestrainedness; going to the tavern in the small town to listen to the singer's dream, or you can do nothing, think nothing, be a body without memory and aspiration, like a newborn, accept baptism, and return to nature. You are not nothing at this moment, because in the last second, the snow-capped mountains, blue sky, earth, joy, comfort, sunshine, and light clouds all belong to you. The inns in Lijiang all have electric blankets and hot water, so it's very happy to take a hot bath and go out for a meal. There are barbecues near the south gate of the ancient city. In the end, I ate a bowl of this called Sanxian noodles, which costs ten yuan a bowl, a super large bowl, and it's super delicious! Having lived in the city for so many years, I have never eaten such cheap, delicious and substantial noodles, which taste like home! Although the ancient city looks very big on the map, I will forget the time while walking. I don’t remember how long I have walked. There are handsome men and beautiful women from all over the world on the road, young and old, most of whom are from the north. It seems that they are used to the ice and snow and prefer the comfortable life of the withered vines, old trees and crows in the south, and the small bridges and flowing water. Lijiang is the place with the smallest bridges and flowing water that I have visited. After seeing so much of the unique scenery of the south, I still feel that it is extraordinarily unique. Suddenly, I feel a little emotional. Life is always like this. Although the more you yearn for it, the more you have to go through wind and rain, I don’t particularly love the scenery of the south of the Yangtze River, but I have seen all the small bridges and flowing water. I like the endless deep blue sea and the endless and majestic snow-capped mountains. Perhaps my favorite is the cloudless beach and blue sky with the sea breeze blowing through the palm trees.

The ticket for the ancient city is actually the maintenance fee for the ancient city. Although no one checks tickets during the off-season, the ancient city maintenance fee is checked at all scenic spots in Lijiang. The inspection at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is particularly strict. If you still want to go to the snow mountain, you basically can't get away with this ticket. It is said that you can walk from the north gate to the south gate in the ancient city along the water flow without getting lost, of course it is just a rumor. Anyway, we walked around randomly, which was also very interesting.

As many people have said, commercialization is very serious. Specialty shops, silver jewelry shops, musical instrument shops, and bars are similar to other places, but walking around still makes me feel very happy. Don't miss the romantic atmosphere in the bar, and the beer that is unique to Yunnan.

It covers a vast area and does not require tickets. The ancient city is all bluestone roads. If you do not bring luggage, it is recommended to live outside the ancient city. There are four main gates in the east, south, west and north. The most convenient one is near the north gate, because the north gate is the road that all tourist spots around Lijiang depart from and pass through. The four gates in the east, west and south are relatively remote and a bit far from the lively area in Dayan Ancient City. The north gate is where the big waterwheel is located. After entering, walk along the bar street to Sifang Street. From Sifang Street, walk towards the south gate to Guanmenkou, and then down to Guanmenkou is Mufu; walk east from Sifang Street to Dashiqiao, and then to Wuyi Street;

Going west from Sifang Street is the direction of Lion Rock. In addition, the newly built internet-famous photo spot Dayan Flower Alley is also in the northeast. The lively places to visit the ancient city at night are also concentrated near the middle Sifang Street and the North Gate. The main road in Dayan Ancient City is densely packed with various small roads. If you don’t stay here for a few days, you can’t recognize the road at all. It’s easy to get lost if you walk around blindly for the first time. So the best comprehensive accommodation location is: North> South> East> West. The officially recommended route is a straight line passing through the main tourist spots: North Gate Waterwheel-Bar Street-Sifang Street-Guanmenkou-Mufu.

If you regard Lijiang as a journey of romantic encounter, I advise you to go to Lotus Street in Zhuhai instead. There are no beauties flaunting in the market, nor a wide range of foot massage shops. I don't know whether this rumor is local hype or self-indulgence in an ideal country, which belittles the original connotation of the ancient city. Lijiang is just a literary and artistic ancient city with green tiles, white walls, stone bridges and flowing water, accompanied by folk songs.

When I was ready to tour the ancient city with romance and sentiment, all kinds of noisy shops, crowds, and bars occupied the streets of the ancient city. You will find that the ideal Lijiang only exists in pictures on the Internet. Walking through those dazzling alleys, I was actually resisting in my heart, "This is not the Lijiang I want!" Those "singer-songwriters" who yelled and broke their voices destroyed the tranquility that the ancient city should have. Such an ancient city seemed so sad. I simply escaped from Sifang Street, avoided the crowd, and went into the alleys to find the Dayan Ancient City in my cached memory.

Some people may ask, is Lijiang good? Many people have mixed opinions about this ancient city. If you come to Lijiang and only know the outstanding "attractions" such as the big waterwheel, Sifang Street, Lion Rock, Bar Street, etc., then I want to tell you that you really failed the beauty that Lijiang should have. The ancient alleys of Lijiang are more like small flowers hiding deep in the grass. Those alley corners whose names you may not even remember will definitely surprise you with their fresh and ancient colors. The simple and quiet alleys are the natural appearance that the ancient city should have.

Some people say that the highest level of visiting an ancient city is not to find the place you want to visit by following the map, but to get lost with your heart. I agree with this.

At night, looking at the ancient building Fan Qiguang, does this ancient city that never sleeps feel like Hongyadong?

During the day, people in Lijiang enjoy a leisurely lifestyle. Compared with the ancient city of Dali, the city has less commercial atmosphere and retains a rustic feel.

The restaurant along the stream has a special atmosphere with hanging lanterns and chandeliers.

According to local residents, this stream, which is often seen in photos, flows around the ancient city. You can find the gates of the ancient city in different directions by walking along or against the stream. In ancient times, residents also relied on this stream to identify the direction to go home.

Lijiang is a place that thrives only at night. There are countless music bars, bars and bar streets along the way in the central area.

Everyone is familiar with Dayan Ancient Town, which is also the most lively. It is the core area of ​​Lijiang, with many people and relatively high prices.

Many people say that they don’t like this place, that they think it is too commercialized, that there is a lot of deception, and that they think this place is this and that.

In fact, this matter needs to be viewed from two perspectives. If no one really likes it, why are there so many people here? Those who think Dayan Ancient Town is impetuous are probably more impetuous themselves. I don't think it is that noisy.

The whole ancient town was so leisurely, probably because it was early in the morning. We gave up some recommended attractions such as the Mu Mansion, just wanting to slow down and follow our hearts, with beautiful scenery everywhere.

You don’t have to worry about getting lost when strolling around the ancient town, as there are signposts at every fork in the road. Maybe after getting lost, there will be a surprise at a corner.

The ancient town at night is very different from that during the day, exuding a charming atmosphere and unique style.

It is true that Lijiang has been commercialized, but it has also made it possible for distant travelers to travel thousands of miles to explore its beauty, and for everyone who comes here to eat, drink, have fun, sleep well, and devote themselves wholeheartedly to perceiving and enjoying it. I like Lijiang like this.

Take a walk in the ancient city. Unlike the ancient city during the peak season of summer vacation, there are not many people in the ancient city, so you can feel the beauty of the ancient city quietly.

What makes me happy is that there are so many flowers in Lijiang Ancient Town in winter. Seeing beautiful flowers makes me feel beautiful.

It seems that almost every inn in the ancient city has dogs and then... I accidentally stepped on dog poop

There is no need to have a destination when walking here, just wandering around the small streets and alleys is nice.

Lijiang Ancient Town belongs to the afternoon and evening. The later it gets, the more lively it is. After all, it was once the "city of romance". The sun rises late here, and it is not until 7 or 8 o'clock that everything gets bright. Many shops are open after 10:30. If the elderly you are with have the habit of getting up early, you can only take a stroll in the morning. When the weather is good, it is quite warm to bask in the sun. At a glance, you might think you are in Kyoto. There are snacks along the way. Their local peaches are particularly delicious, sweet, and full of water.

The guidebooks have all described the place in a bad light. Commercialization, various tourist chaos, romantic encounters and literary gimmicks are all bad impressions of it. But I think this scenic spot is very mature, and transportation, food and accommodation are very convenient. The routines of ancient towns in China are nothing more than bar streets + Internet celebrity shops + ethnic elements + inns, etc., but the ancient towns in Lijiang still have their own unique features and are very suitable for parents, grandparents and their generation as a tourist destination.

The altitude is not high, the temperature is suitable, and the sunshine is sufficient when it is not rainy season. It is also nice to have plenty of time to drink tea and look at the snow-capped mountains.

Lijiang Ancient Town is located in the center of Lijiang Dam, also known as Dayan Ancient Town. The ancient town is surrounded by mountains and rivers. The interior of the ancient town is full of Naxi-style buildings (formerly the residences of Dayan people), which are now transformed into inns, shops, bars, restaurants, etc. The area of ​​Lijiang Ancient Town is 7.279 square kilometers. There are many criss-crossing alleys in the ancient town (people without a sense of direction are easy to get lost, but fortunately there are many road signs in the ancient town). The paths in the ancient town are all paved with red breccia, and walking on the stone slabs has the effect of foot massage.

The busiest place is Sifang Street, which is the core area of ​​the ancient city. During the day, there are many Naxi girls in Naxi costumes dancing in the square of Sifang Street. If you are interested, you can join in. The most lively place at night is Bar Street, which has bars of different styles!

For my honeymoon last year, in order to relax a little, I signed up for a small tour group organized by Tuniu. The overall experience was good, and the tour guide was also very professional. However, I always felt that something was missing after the trip. I couldn't think of it at the time, but now I think back, it was mainly because of the feeling of freedom of traveling on my own. If I had traveled on my own, I would have chosen to "waste" another day in Lugu Lake; if I had traveled on my own, I would have taken my wife on an electric scooter for a whole day to travel around the entire Erhai Lake, instead of just riding the "highlights" of the lake; if I had traveled on my own, I would have waited another day in Lijiang Ancient Town to make up for the fact that I couldn't take the cable car to Yulong Lake on the last day due to strong winds.

Back to the point, Lijiang Ancient Town is the transit station of this trip. With this as the center, all the trips to Lugu Lake, Dali, Shangri-La, etc. are all in Lijiang Ancient Town. Lijiang Ancient Town is suitable for leisurely strolling, allowing you to freely shuttle through the streets and alleys, enjoy the breeze and warm sun during the day, and the bright lights and feasting at night are another scene, but there are more people.

I enjoy Wuyi Street the most. There are various folk music bars, including internet celebrities like Lijiang Xiaoqian, and many unknown but equally talented and sentimental people. People come here from all over the world for the beauty of Lijiang and the life they yearn for. There are some small shops with musical instruments and people singing beautiful folk songs. The doors are open and there are two rows of small benches on both sides of the shop. When you walk here, sit down, rest your feet, and listen to two folk songs. Everyone around you is smiling... I like this feeling very much.

I'd like to recommend a very nice folk song "Yulong Third Kingdom". I went there in December last year, and this song became the one I played the most on repeat that year (because QQ Music has a year-end statistics).

Lijiang Ancient Town is one of the world's famous cities and the largest ancient town I have ever visited. Lijiang Ancient Town has no city walls or towers. It is surrounded by three mountains. The water flows around the city, so you won't get lost if you follow the water into the city or go against the water out of the city. The ancient streets and stone alleys in Lijiang Ancient Town are narrow, crisscrossed, and connected in all directions. Party member volunteers holding signs can be seen almost everywhere in the prosperous areas of the ancient city, showing you the way, introducing you to the customs of the ancient city, and patiently and enthusiastically answering all questions for tourists.

At night, this ancient city without walls is more charming and peaceful than during the day.

I went there in March the year before last. The weather was really good. There was a little temperature difference between morning and evening. It was warm during the day and not too cold at night. Dayan Ancient City is quite large. Even in the off-season, there are still many people. I walked through the streets and alleys every day and visited all the big and small attractions. It is nice to climb up and see the scenery from a distance in the Mu Mansion. There is a door to go to the Lion Mountain next to it, but you also need to buy a ticket. I can't get used to the cured pork ribs and cured chicken, which are too salty, but all kinds of rice noodles are delicious. They are very delicious. I will never get tired of eating them three times a day. Commercialization is quite serious, but it is normal for such a famous ancient city. Yunnan is a good place that makes people want to go again and again.

We walked around the ancient city the night before. The ancient city at night was full of lights, wine and women, and there was ambiguity and temptation everywhere. It was obvious that we didn't fit in, so we decided to go shopping during the day. The next day, in order to avoid the 80 yuan maintenance fee, we entered the ancient city early. At this time, the ancient city was quiet and peaceful, without the impetuousness and noise of the night. This is the ancient city in my heart.

Here, the least valuable thing is the sun, so if you have any questions, just come and bask in the sun, everything will become clear, and life will always get better. Almost all the inns in the ancient city have dogs as their signboards to attract business. The dog owners have their own tricks, and the dogs are also worried about earning a bite of dog food, and they also have various side jobs. Walking through the bustling Sifang Street, through the alleys with endless traffic, the music of the bar street sounded, and the night was full of neon lights. This should be the beginning of a day in Lijiang. My favorite food is Dai-style Sapi. A plate of rice noodles, cooked beef slices, cooked tripe slices, and a bowl of smoky green sauce. The thick sauce is made by boiling the water of the beef intestines in a pot, then adding the chopped raw beef, chopped leeks, Burmese coriander, fragrant willow, bud sprouts, and chili peppers, and then rinsing it in the sauce. The rice noodles, cooked beef slices, and cooked tripe slices can be eaten after being dipped in the thick sauce. It tastes very refreshing. You can also see the ancient city and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.

It is indeed a city of romance, even a ray of sunshine becomes so poetic.

In the early morning of Lijiang, the sun is bright and dazzling. Walking on the glowing bluestone road, strolling in Dayan Ancient Town, many shops are closed and there are very few pedestrians on the road. The empty ancient town is peaceful and lazy at this moment, perhaps this is its truest side.

The ancient city is extremely lively at night, with the brightly lit bar street, various shops full of hawking sounds, and the sound of "little baby" hand drums coming from every corner...all make you eagerly feel the casualness and unrestrainedness of this ancient city.

The ancient city is relatively quiet in the morning, with few people on the streets and chrysanthemums everywhere, making the ancient city look particularly pretty.

The ancient city is the largest and most beautiful of all the ancient cities and towns I have visited. Whether it is the overall layout built on the mountain, the Jiangnan style of small bridges and flowing water, or the various quaint buildings decorated with flowers, I am fascinated by them. There is no due south or due north in the ancient city of Lijiang. All the alleys are intertwined to form a large maze. Although the mobile phone map is not completely useless, it is also greatly discounted. Fortunately, there are signboards everywhere, but it is best not to find a certain place with a purpose. You can go wherever you want. At most, you can look at the signboard at an intersection and choose the direction. The tour guide also introduced two simple ways to identify the direction. One is to look at the flowing water. Going upstream can get to the big waterwheel; the other is to look at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The snow mountain is due north of the ancient city. Walking towards the snow mountain can also get to the big waterwheel.

I particularly like the lazy atmosphere in Lijiang Old Town. It is said that the three must-do things in Lijiang are to daydream, sleep and sunbathe. It is absolutely true. I slept until I woke up naturally in the early morning, had breakfast, and strolled slowly in the old town. It was cozy and comfortable. The climate in the plateau is changeable, cloudy and sunny, and a rain comes and goes quickly. Climbing Lion Mountain, you can see a huge rainbow bridge arching over the old town, which is particularly romantic.

Walking through this ancient city, I forgot the troubles of the world (that is impossible), and immersed myself in the combination of movement and stillness in the ancient city of Lijiang. Rumor has it that Lijiang is a place for romantic encounters, and there is some basis for this. Walking on the stone bridge with small bridges and flowing water, there will really be inexplicable chats. I was timid and did not dare to have a romantic encounter. Going up the road from Wangulou, there is a bar observation deck, which is free to visit. From there, you can see the bird's-eye view of the entire ancient city and the night view of the ancient city. If you have a drink there, it would be great. The ancient city is a more commercial place, with shops everywhere. It is indeed a good place to buy specialties. Pu'er tea, flower cakes, silver and jade are the characteristics of Lijiang. Things in the ancient city are just for fun, and don't take them too seriously.

Lijiang Ancient Town is more charming than Dali Ancient Town. You can only walk in the ancient town. No cars or electric vehicles are allowed. The ancient town is full of bluestone roads, gurgling water everywhere, and flowers blooming in all colors. All the buildings are very distinctive. The ancient town is rich in content and large in area. You can spend a whole day strolling around. There are many flower cake shops in the ancient town. I believe it is the first choice for most people as a souvenir. Jiahua Flower Cake, Pan Xiangji Flower Cake, and Yami Flower Cake are the most famous. You can choose.

The ancient town of Lijiang is still very charming, and the water in the ancient town is very clear, with small ditches and streams everywhere.

Except for small shops and inns, everything in Lijiang is for commercial purposes. It is also very beautiful, but lacks a bit of the atmosphere of fireworks. I actually like,

I spent the whole day walking around the ancient city, and walked many of the roads I've walked before, back and forth, and finally ended up at Wuyi Street. I sat in Sifang Street and was in a daze. For a moment, I was so reluctant that I cried. I thought I was leaving tonight.

Lijiang Ancient Town is indeed big, but it is also very beautiful. In the ancient town, as long as you grasp the direction of the main street from the waterwheel to Sifang Street, you can walk out no matter how you turn or which alley you go. A viewing platform in the ancient town. We live on the west side of the ancient town. From the platform, we can only see the houses in the west corner, which shows how big the ancient town is. Each store has carefully decorated its own store, which is very literary and fresh. When night falls, the lights in the ancient town are lit up one after another, and it is the most lively and beautiful time in the ancient town. When you arrive in Lijiang Ancient Town, the topic is inseparable from bars. There are too many bars here. As the lights of each household are lit up one after another, the songs of each bar will also be remembered one after another. Just walk into one, order a glass of wine, and listen. Remember not to meet the wine tout. When night falls, Lijiang is the most colorful, and it also pushes the bustle to a high point.

Lijiang has changed my impression of ancient cities. I didn't feel that the Fenghuang Ancient City and the ancient city streets in Qiandongnan were very good to visit. They all had the same things and the same goods. They were not distinctive and a bit cheap. They looked a bit like a one-yuan or two-yuan store. But Lijiang Ancient City is still very beautiful at night. The stone road is very clean, and the wooden shop beside the road is very distinctive. When you come to Lijiang, you really have to go to the bars, listen to the music, and feel the atmosphere of the bars.

On the first day, I wandered around the ancient city of Lijiang. People say that the ancient city of Lijiang is too commercialized and not as authentic as the ancient city of Dali. However, I prefer the ancient city of Lijiang. I feel that the shops in the ancient city of Lijiang are not deliberately stamped with the seal of literature and art. There is no car in the ancient city of Lijiang, and you have to walk everywhere. Therefore, it is best to stay in an inn near the entrance of the ancient city, unless you don't care about the wheels of the suitcase and are willing to pull it on the stone road, or carry the suitcase all the way to the inn. It is said that Lijiang is a place to enjoy time and be in a daze. When you are tired and tired of work, come to Lijiang to bask in the sun, sit on a bench by the river in the alley and be in a daze. In the afternoon, have a cup of warm tea and enjoy a pleasant time. In the ancient city of Lijiang, you will find that even puppies are strolling slowly in the alley. Yes, just lie down, lie down, and lie down like this. The ancient city is quite lively at night. There are many people in both the off-season and the peak season. However, the shops in the ancient city are open late, usually around 10 am, so the ancient city is very quiet in the morning and more suitable for taking pictures. Compared with the noise at night, I prefer the ancient city in the daytime. You can see "free daze" everywhere in Lijiang, but for those of us who are busy working every day, it has become the most luxurious thing to make a pot of warm tea in the sun and sit down and daze. The feeling of Lijiang Ancient City to me is an ancient town under the snow-capped mountains, with flowers and sunshine all year round. The most valuable thing in Lijiang is sunshine, and the least valuable thing is time. There are many shops in the ancient city that braid ethnic braids. Generally, they are 10 yuan for 6 braids, but they are not 6 braids, but 6 ropes for you. I didn't want to braid my hair because it was too short. When I was strolling, I met an old lady. When I saw the old lady, I said to me: "Girl, grandma will braid your hair", and my heart softened instantly. The main staple foods include cured pork ribs pot, native chicken pot, black goat hot pot, snow mountain salmon, and rice noodles (rice noodles are considered breakfast in the local area, but they are also sold all day long. They are mainly divided into cross-bridge rice noodles and ordinary rice noodles. Cross-bridge rice noodles are served in a casserole with boiling water, side dishes, and rice noodles. Then we pour the side dishes into the boiling water one by one, and finally pour the rice noodles and you can eat it). Snacks include tofu with batter, flower cakes, various insects, cold shrimps, and chicken bean jelly. The staple foods and snacks in Lijiang are really delicious, but because it is a plateau, the rice is not cooked well, a little undercooked, and it is not full if you eat it dry. My brother was still very hungry after eating two large bowls of rice, and he once doubted why his appetite was so large.

I went out at 10 o'clock and started to visit Lijiang Ancient Town. The streets and the entrances of each store in the ancient town were decorated beautifully, cleanly and neatly. There was also a river formed by the meltwater from the snow-capped mountains flowing through, making a gurgling sound of flowing water. It did not have the shyness and gentleness of the Jiangnan area, but it added a lot of vividness and unique charm. I really liked it.

Honestly speaking, I think that although the Lijiang Ancient Town is commercialized, it is very exquisite and better than Gulangyu Island! I especially don’t recommend eating in the ancient town or around the entrance of the ancient town. It is very expensive and not delicious. I have eaten at several so-called delicious restaurants, which are extremely expensive and not delicious at all! !

Lijiang Ancient Town is not suitable for self-driving. The ancient town is not big, it is a fenced building complex. You can only walk to visit the ancient town because all means of transportation are not applicable and you cannot enter the ancient town. In addition, the parking fee in the ancient town is very high. In fact, it is not high, 30 yuan a day, but I only rented a car for 80 yuan a day, so the parking fee of 30 seems particularly high.

It is recommended to take public transportation directly from the airport to the inn in the ancient city, and then stay in the ancient city for two days to stroll around. It is more reasonable to rent a car and drive to the next destination after you have strolled enough. The advantage of this is that you can stay in the ancient city with peace of mind, and you don’t have to give up the inn in the ancient city in order to find a hotel with a parking lot, saving a parking fee. Secondly, you can arrange 2-3 days for the ancient city to be a villager and stroll around quietly. This way you can get closer to the feelings that the ancient city brings to you. After eating, take a walk in the ancient city, climb to the observation deck to see the whole picture of the ancient city during the day, and then buy some flower cakes to eat.

The night view of Lijiang is the most unmissable. It is really beautiful. The night view of the ancient city is full of fireworks. In addition to climbing up to the observation deck to see the night view of the ancient city, it is recommended to choose some places where you can eat and watch the night view. It is very comfortable to fill your stomach while watching the night view of the ancient city. Lijiang Ancient City is the kind of place you can visit in one day, because most places are stereotyped and unified in style. You can also visit it for a week. After all, every shop still has a different place that the owner is selfish and waiting for you to discover.

When I was in Dali Ancient Town, I thought, is there a more difficult road to walk on? I didn't know until I arrived in Lijiang that there really is. Then my suitcase had the most painful experience in its life. Please note that the road here is not the smooth bluestone road in the small towns in the south of the Yangtze River. It is an ups and downs stone road. I really don't know where the road builders found the big stones. The road planning of the ancient city is very messy, with all kinds of small streets and alleys emerging one after another. Our navigation should have said enough "You have deviated from the route" in the past year. At first I thought we were the only ones who were stupid and couldn't find the way. Later, when I went to Mu's Mansion, I heard the tour guide say that because the ancient city is so old, the planning was not very clear when it was built, so sometimes locals would get lost, and I felt balanced all of a sudden.

The overall scenery of the ancient city is good, but the commercial atmosphere is too strong. Although there are many shops in the ancient city, the varieties are relatively single, monotonous, and lack of characteristics. The ancient city is more suitable for friends to get together, and you can also go alone, but it is not interesting to join a tour group. There are some literary shops, teahouses, and hotels in it. There are both active and quiet places. You can live in a quiet corner, find peace in the hustle and bustle, or find a place with people coming and going, which is also very interesting.

Wooden buildings with green tiles, ancient streets and stone alleys, small bridges and flowing water...

A book and a cup of tea can make you daze for a whole day in the ancient city of Lijiang. I am deeply intoxicated by it.

Lijiang Ancient Town is noisy, with bustling crowds and bars full of lights and wine. You can party all night long, but it is also quiet, with peaceful streets and bridges with gurgling water. You can sit in a corner and be in a daze, which is wonderful... This ancient town full of love and adventure is full of affection and sensibility. Every store has a unique literary name. Oh my god, I love it so much.

There are also many people releasing lanterns by the river, carrying full of love and blessings.

You can hear the folk song "Little Baby" after walking a few steps. There are many beautiful young ladies performing drums in the shops, which always attracts many tourists to stop and watch. It is also a beautiful landscape in Lijiang.

Lijiang Old Town is located in the Lijiang Old Town area, where ancient and modern buildings coexist.

The streets of Lijiang are sparsely populated in the morning. At around 8 o'clock, some businesses will start to open for business. If you want to take photos, it is better in the morning when there are few people.

There are many small bridges like this in the ancient city. It is natural to sit on the bridge and take beautiful photos.

When it was getting dark, I walked into the alleys of the ancient city. I was able to take some interesting pictures under the dim light.

South of the colorful clouds, a city full of mystery and beauty, Lijiang makes people yearn for and look forward to it. Many people have a dream of Lijiang in their hearts. This ancient city full of love and adventure carries a lot of affection and sensibility. Take a walk in this beautiful and gentle town and feel every flower and tree in the leisure time.

The streets along both sides of the river in the ancient city are also particularly suitable for photography. If you want to take portraits or wedding photos, you can choose to come out early.

In the ancient city, you can just stroll around, eat, drink and buy things. As for whether many people worry about being cheated or whether the things are expensive, now is the Internet age, prices are relatively transparent, and you can search before buying. If you think it is expensive, just don't buy it.

We bought some clothes for our children in the ancient city, all costing between 100-200 yuan. We also bought some for ourselves, and we liked them all, and the prices were not expensive.

At the entrance of the inn, I came across a shop that I really liked - Meet Journey to the West. It was filled with figurines and products related to Journey to the West, and there was also a second brother soliciting business at the entrance.

From the top of the ancient city, you can overlook the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Lijiang is still worth a visit. Now the old town maintenance fee is no longer charged. If you come in the off-season, the hotel is also very cheap. If you are short on time, it is recommended not to go to the surrounding areas, just walk around in the old town, just for leisure. The ticket to the Mu Mansion is 40 yuan, you can go there, there are teas for sale inside, so you don't have to buy them. The old town is well managed now, and there are many volunteers. Go to a bar or a larger restaurant to eat, remember to buy online in groups, there are many discounts. You can bargain when buying things, and you can also compare more, for example, some fruit shops are 6 yuan, and some are 9 yuan.

Arriving at the north gate of Lijiang Ancient Town, I dragged my suitcase into the stone pavement of the ancient town. The suitcase became very agitated, and the cloth shoes I wore could clearly feel the unevenness of the stone pavement. So if you want to walk more comfortably, I recommend wearing sports shoes, at least the soles are thicker and softer, and the shockproof effect is better.

Everyone says that the ancient city has become very commercialized, there is nothing to see, and there were a lot of negative news in the past, which may have made people have a bad impression of Lijiang. But for me personally, after the rectification, Lijiang is more photogenic, and everyone is very polite. It is like a colorful world, similar to the Jiangnan water town, with clear water flowing around and colorful flowers blooming brilliantly. The lively streets may turn into a quiet place after turning the corner.

Walking in the ancient city, it feels like being in a colorful world... Thanks to the "gardeners" of the ancient city. There is one place that I have to praise. The public toilets here are reasonably distributed, intelligent, clean and hygienic. They are among the best among the many tourist attractions I have visited. You welcome tourists from all over the world with your heart, and we can deeply appreciate it from the details.

The ancient city is actually quite large. If you walk through every alley in a day, you may not be able to finish it, so we walked along the main streets. Walk from the South Gate to the big waterwheel at the North Gate, and then walk back. Lijiang is really literary. In addition to the romantic encounters, it actually has a lot of history, culture and its heritage. Even if you party all night, you can still feel the delicateness of the small bridges and flowing water when you wake up. Every courtyard, every alley, and every stream has its own special scenery. The quaint wooden houses are well integrated with the modern music atmosphere. The art of the day and the intoxication of the night complement each other, making the ancient city of Lijiang crowded with tourists. When we went there, it was not long after the National Day, and the bouquets had not been removed yet. In addition, every courtyard of every household was blooming with bouquets, so it still felt like spring.

The ancient city is simple and quiet during the day, while it is brightly lit at night, two different styles.

"Ancient city, small bridges, flowing water, Naxi people." This is a place where you can encounter romance. The long history of the ancient city of more than 800 years was written by the Naxi people and starred by the Tusi of Mufu. The ancient city has no city walls because Zhu Yuanzhang gave the surname Mu. According to Feng Shui, if a wall is built where Mufu lives, it means "trapped", which means being besieged.

Staying in the ancient city scenic area, it is very convenient to tour the ancient city at night. Photos can't capture the magnificent scenery of the scene! Smooth and clean stone roads, hand-built civil structures, and small bridges and flowing water everywhere, this is a cultural town. Countless wishing cards, countless people's wishes!

The ancient city of Lijiang in Yunnan, also called Dayan Ancient City, is about 2,416 meters above sea level and is part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The ancient city of Lijiang is not only a famous historical and cultural city in China, but also a world cultural heritage, famous for its unique natural landscape and ethnic cultural characteristics.

The history of Lijiang Ancient Town can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, and it has a history of thousands of years. The formation and development of the ancient city are closely linked to the formation and development of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It is a pearl on the Southern Silk Road, especially the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. The architectural style of the ancient city reflects the tradition and wisdom of the Naxi people. The street layout is centered on water, forming a pattern of running water in every house and flowers and trees in every house.

The ancient city is protected by three mountains: Lion Mountain, Elephant Mountain and Jinhong Mountain. The streets are built along the mountainside. Unlike other ancient cities, Lijiang Ancient City has no city walls. It has rich cultural heritages such as the Mu Mansion, Wangugulou, Sifang Street, as well as intangible cultural heritages such as Naxi ancient music.

The broad definition of Lijiang Ancient Town includes Dayan Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Baisha Ancient Town. Dayan Ancient Town is what we now call Lijiang Ancient Town. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter the ancient town, and vehicles are parked on the road outside the ancient town. The roads inside are all stone slabs, which are difficult to walk with suitcases. Some tourists have broken the wheels of their suitcases. If you stay in a homestay in the ancient town, you should ask the owner if you can pick up or drop off, or you can directly choose to stay in a hotel or homestay outside the ancient town, which is more convenient for travel.

Lijiang Ancient Town is a living history museum. Walking through the well-arranged stone slabs, every step is a symphony of simplicity and modernity. The small bridges, flowing water and houses have a long ancient charm. The neon lights of the bar street under the night sky are flashing, telling the fusion of antiquity and fashion. Looking from a high place, the white snow of Yulong Snow Mountain is set against the red lanterns of the ancient town, which is so beautiful that it makes people intoxicated. Here, Naxi culture is vividly presented, and Dongba characters and ancient music are inherited. Every place exudes a charming cultural atmosphere. Lijiang Ancient Town is a dream water town that slows down time and allows the soul to rest.

To be honest, the Lijiang Ancient Town has been commercialized in recent years. The ancient town is full of tenants. The original inhabitants of the ancient town, the Naxi people (locals call them the second generation of the ancient town), have all become financially independent and moved out to live in big houses and become landlords. The ancient town without its original inhabitants can only be described as a commercial street, lacking some flavor. But if you go to the Dali Ancient Town, you can still see many local Bai people.

Lijiang Ancient Town is located in the Old Town District of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, also known as Dayan Town. It is one of the two ancient towns in China that have successfully applied for World Cultural Heritage as a whole.

Lijiang Ancient Town, also known as Dayan Town, is one of the famous towns on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Personally, I feel that it is more charming than Dali Ancient Town. The downside is that the commanding heights in the city are occupied by bars and other businesses. If you want to climb up to take a panoramic view, it seems impossible without spending money.

The streets in Lijiang Old Town are built along the mountains and rivers and paved with red breccia. There are Sifang Street, Mu Mansion, Wufeng Tower, Black Dragon Pond, Wenchang Palace, Xueshan Academy, Wangjiazhuang Christian Church, Fang Guoyu's Former Residence, Baima Longtan Temple, Gu Peter's Former Residence, Jinglian Temple, Puxian Temple and other attractions.

It's all the same and has no unique features. Young people may like it, but middle-aged and elderly people won't like it. The prices are very high and it's a rip-off. Compared with the ancient city of Dali, it's too petty.

With Sifang Street in Lijiang Ancient Town as its center, there are bars, riverside restaurants, and photography shops all over the street. Walking through it feels like you are on the commercial street of Beijing Road in Guangzhou.

From Lijiang Ancient Town, you will come in through the entrance of Lijiang Square. After dark, there is open-air rock and street singing in the quiet corner nearby. Then you will walk to the Mu Mansion, where you can sit quietly in a small shop and watch the tourists coming and going and the Bai aunties carrying agricultural products. Only then can you regain a little bit of the Lijiang of ten years ago.

However, the impact of the epidemic has made me wander around the ancient city and see many closed inns. I have never seen foreign tourists who used to sit around or sing along in the ancient city during the three days I wandered around the ancient city.

From the perspective of architectural planning, the buildings are built on the mountain with different heights, and the crisscrossing water system is very beautiful. Flowers are decorated in front of each business, which is very suitable for vacation and leisure. At the same time, these also make people feel very commercial and far away from the atmosphere of life.

There are three ancient towns in Lijiang, and Dayan Ancient Town is the largest and most popular one. It is a must-visit place when you come to Lijiang. It is inevitable that others say that this place is heavily commercialized, but strolling in the streets and alleys, feeling its bustle and tranquility, I believe it is full of surprises waiting for you to discover.



The central square of the ancient city is very lively and leads to various streets. There is a memorial archway. It is a very long pedestrian street with small specialty food and drink shops on both sides. Many young artists come here to check in.



There are many small alleys with Yunnan's unique cultural creations and culture. Dayan Ancient Town is like a maze. There are many unknown but very beautiful alleys. It is full of sunshine, flowers, folk customs, and music. It is suitable for wandering aimlessly and emptying yourself.

The overcrowded shops and bars make the whole ancient city look like a place of decadence and extravagance. After nightfall, the barbecue stalls at the entrance of Lijiang Ancient City are filled with smoke and fog, making it difficult to pass by. It feels like there is no real life there, but only illusions. Everyone there looks friendly and free and easy, but when you completely trust them, there is a chance that you will be fooled to some extent.

If someone recommends a "cloud" tour to Lashi Lake, be careful. If it's still early, riding a horse to Lashi Lake might be okay, but the other route (they claim it's the real Tea Horse Road) is lackluster, similar to the mountain road in your hometown, and there are no viewing points, but many celebrity photo spots and props. The ticket price is 260 yuan per person, including a clay pot chicken meal. The bonfire party and dance that were originally claimed were not there, and they were told that they were over. In fact, Lashi Lake (beautiful wetland scenery) and Baisha Ancient Town (not as commercial as Lijiang Ancient Town in terms of humanities) are more recommended around Lijiang. They are the attractions we didn't go to this time because of the short time and being fooled.

The streets in Lijiang Old Town are built along the mountains and rivers and paved with red breccia. There are attractions such as Sifang Street and Mu Mansion. Lijiang Old Town has colorful local ethnic customs and entertainment activities, such as Naxi ancient music, Dongba rituals, ancient town bars and Naxi Torch Festival. Lijiang Old Town reflects the achievements of ancient Chinese urban construction and is one of the types of Chinese dwellings with distinctive characteristics and styles.

The nightlife in the ancient city is rich and colorful. Only at night does the ancient city exude its true charm.

Look - the veteran teammate "Sanjie" and the new teammate "Xingchen" play the tambourine to perfection.

The ancient city is very fun. I went to Dali, Shangri-La and Lijiang in Yunnan with my partner. His favorite was Lijiang, which has a lot of cultural characteristics and is big enough for many days of fun!

It is an ancient city with a high level of commercialization, where people come together for eating, drinking, entertainment and shopping.

There are many inns and restaurants, and tickets are free. The consumption is relatively high compared to outside, but the cost-effectiveness of accommodation is still relatively high.

The Lijiang Ancient Town viewed from the mountain is particularly crowded. When you actually walk into the streets, it does feel very narrow. The buildings are all two-story and you can't see through them, so every corner is a surprise. In some alleys, every household is filled with flowers, some are filled with lanterns, and some are hung with umbrellas. It's very dreamy and perfectly interprets the ancient style.

What remains unchanged is the small bridges and flowing water beside the stone road, as well as the quietness of the early morning when there are few pedestrians. Hot home-cooked side dishes with porridge and a serving of Lijiang Baba are still the best breakfast here!

After arriving in Lijiang, it was raining heavily. We waited for the innkeeper to pick us up. We walked a long way around the ancient town, our shoes and clothes were all wet, before we checked in at the inn.

The housekeeper kept recommending us nearby itineraries, but we declined them one by one. Even in the off-season, there are still many tourists in Lijiang Old Town. Coming from Shaxi, it's like traveling from ancient times to modern times.

After washing up, I went out to find food and had Cantonese food at a nearby restaurant. Then I decided to go to the ancient city. Contrary to my high expectations for Dali, I was well prepared for the commercialization of Lijiang, so I actually thought that the ancient city of Lijiang was not bad. Although there were many tourists, there were also many uniformed staff. When I got lost, I would get answers when I asked them, and they were not impatient at all. There were also many display screens that announced the real-time number of tourists.

When I first arrived at Lijiang Ancient Town, I was shocked by its size. Although I had been to attractions such as Ciqikou, West Street, and Taiping Street before, I always thought that the ancient town was just an enlarged version. In fact, after entering, I really felt its complexity. Every alley and street has a different flavor. Some people say that it has been commercialized. With the current development of the tourism industry, I think it still retains a lot. No one wants to see an ancient town that is pitch black, deserted at night, and closed. Let's look at its architecture, sculptures, and historical heritage from a different perspective.

Why do people say that once you come to Lijiang, you don’t want to leave? Here you can temporarily forget your worries and the drudgery of life.