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Wenchang Palace is the second place in Lijiang Old Town, besides Wangu Tower, where panoramic views of Lijiang are offered. The temple primarily enshrines Wenchang Emperor, who is said to govern the fortunes of the world, and his incarnations, Kuixing and Wenzu. Although the interior of Wenchang Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, many people still come for the stunning views. Along the way, there are numerous inns and teahouses offering scenic views. You can approach the temple from the alleys of Bar Street or from Sifang Street towards Lion Rock.
Attractions Location: No. 29, Shishan Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
Tickets:
Free admission
Opening hours:
10:00-17:30 (Monday-Sunday, January 1st-December 31st)
Official phone number: Ticketing Inquiry
0888-5112463
Transportation:
Take the No. 16 tourist bus to Qixing Street Station and walk 1000 meters to the destination
Time reference: 1-3 hours
This itinerary is designed for travelers who want to visit the historic Wenchang Palace and enjoy Lijiang Old Town in a single day.
Accommodation & Food: Stay in boutique guesthouses in Lijiang Old Town; try Naxi-style baba (flatbread), grilled yak meat, and local rice wine.
Souvenirs: Naxi embroidery, wood carvings, traditional musical instruments, and local teas available at Wenchang Palace gift shops and Old Town markets.
Explore Wenchang Palace combined with other cultural and natural sites around Lijiang.
Accommodation & Food: Boutique hotels in Lijiang Old Town; sample yak hot pot, Naxi-style rice noodles, and mushroom dishes.
Souvenirs: Thangka paintings, embroidered textiles, wood crafts, and local herbal products.
Combine visits to Wenchang Palace, Lijiang Old Town, and nearby natural and cultural spots.
Accommodation & Food: Stay in boutique guesthouses; try local specialties such as yak meat dishes and Naxi-style cold noodles.
Souvenirs: Local embroidery, wooden masks, herbal teas, and Naxi jewelry.
This itinerary offers a balanced mix of cultural, historical, and natural attractions around Lijiang and Wenchang Palace.
Accommodation & Food: Boutique hotels or guesthouses in Lijiang Old Town; sample Naxi and Tibetan fusion dishes.
Souvenirs: Naxi embroidery, local woodcraft, herbal medicines, and traditional musical instruments.
Spend five days exploring the rich culture and stunning nature around Lijiang and Wenchang Palace.
Accommodation & Food: Boutique inns in Old Town; enjoy yak hot pot, Naxi barbecue, and local herbal teas.
Souvenirs: Thangka art, embroidered fabrics, wooden masks, and local teas.
A six-day itinerary for travelers who want to deeply explore cultural, historical, and natural attractions around Lijiang and Wenchang Palace.
Accommodation & Food: Boutique guesthouses; try local rice noodles, yak dishes, and mushroom hot pot.
Souvenirs: Naxi embroidery, Tibetan jewelry, woodcraft, and herbal teas.
A full week to fully immerse in the cultural heritage, nature, and local lifestyle surrounding Lijiang Wenchang Palace.
Accommodation & Food: Boutique hotels or inns; sample Naxi, Tibetan, and Yunnan fusion cuisine including yak meat dishes and local teas.
Souvenirs: Handcrafted Naxi embroidery, Tibetan silver jewelry, wooden masks, local teas, and herbal products.
Wenchang Palace is the second place in the ancient city, besides Wangu Tower, where you can see the panoramic view of Lijiang. Walking along Sifang Street and passing a narrow path, you will arrive at it breathlessly.
The buildings from the Qing Dynasty are indeed quaint and ancient, and the Naxi characters on both sides of the road add some ethnic characteristics. Along the way, you will be greeted by the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is said that this is also the main filming location of "One Meter of Sunshine".
The small square at the entrance is a commanding height from which one can have a panoramic view. The neatly arranged roofs, the morning light, and the panoramic view of the ancient city are as beautiful as when one first saw it.
I passed by it while visiting the ancient city. It was not very big. I wondered from the name if it was the local Confucian temple.
We went up Lion Rock from the back door of the Mu Mansion and walked to Wenchang Palace.
Wenchang Palace, besides Wangu Tower, offers panoramic views of Lijiang Old Town. Originally built in 1723, the first year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, it combines Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism in one hall. Destroyed by war, the main hall and other structures were rebuilt in 1878, marking the end of its 280-year history. The entire complex is magnificent, shaded by ancient trees, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and boasts breathtaking scenery. It offers a stunning view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the ancient city.
Wenchang Palace is located at the foot of Lion Mountain. It was built in the first year of the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. It is an ancient temple that integrates Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. The TV series "One Meter of Sunshine" starring Sun Li and Peter Ho was filmed here.
The scenery is so beautiful, if you have the chance you must go and see it
The platform at the entrance is an excellent place to see the panoramic view of Dayan Ancient Town. The surrounding area is occupied by inns and bars, so you can't see it. When you reach the entrance of Wenchang Palace, you will suddenly see the open air. Wenchang Palace itself is not very large.
Wenchang Palace is the highest point in the ancient city (free).
There is a telescope on the observation deck, but you need to scan the code to see it. I spent five dollars to look at it for five minutes, but I didn’t see anything.
A place where you can see the whole picture of Lijiang Ancient Town, suitable for a stroll
From Wenchang Palace, I could see the whole view of Lijiang Ancient Town. It was a great experience to see the distant view from a high place, which made me feel more relaxed.
The observation deck is free! The view is wide! It's always open! It's better than the ones that charge admission.
You can see the panoramic view of the ancient city for free at Wenchang Palace. There is no need to go to the Wangugu Tower on Lion Rock or go to the bar on the mountain. The Wangugu Tower requires a ticket and the bar on the mountain requires a fee.
When night fell, we went to Wenchang Palace again to overlook the night view of Lijiang Ancient Town. Although the lights were not as bright, there was a more leisurely and quiet beauty.
In fact, Wenchang Palace is very small. There is a large platform in front of it where you can see the entire Lijiang Ancient Town. There is only one house inside, and further inside is someone else's hotel.
If you want to see the panoramic view of the entire ancient city, you can choose to go to Wenchang Palace in the ancient city. It is next to Wangugu Tower and can be found by mobile navigation. You can reach it by walking through the bustling bar street and various alleys.
Wenchang Palace has a large platform, and I think you can see the panoramic view of Lijiang.
There were not many tourists on the platform. However, we could not see the sunset from that position because the sun was behind us.
Next to the library is the "Wenchang Palace" built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. It is the cradle of Heshun culture and was the former site of Yiqun Middle School, which was founded in 1940 with donations from overseas Chinese.
Climb up to the Wenchang Palace Observation Deck and overlook the ancient city. The quietness here combined with the noise coming from the bar street is a unique experience!
Walking up the mountain from Sifang Street, Wenchang Palace is free. It is not big, with only three houses. There is an observation deck at the door. It is nice to have a bird's eye view of Dayan Ancient Town. There are many ways to go up, you will know when you walk up. I also met a SpongeBob SquarePants on the way, who accompanied me all the way and sent me down the mountain. He never left me until we reached Sifang Street, but finally left me because of a female dog 😆!
It’s completely free, and the whole view of the ancient city taken from the platform in front of Wenchang Palace is as good as that of Wangu Tower.
The quaint Wenchang Palace is the second place in Lijiang, besides Wangu Tower, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the ancient city. Located at the northern end of Lion Mountain, it was first built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty (1725 AD) and has been renovated throughout the dynasties to reach its current size. The alleys of Lion Mountain are interconnected, and you can walk through the winding alleys of Bar Street or climb up the mountain from Sifang Street. The old cypress tree on the platform is the entrance to the palace.
The location is relatively remote and on a higher ground, overlooking the ancient city. There is a towering ancient tree in front of the door.
I recommend going to Wenchang Palace mainly because the big stand in front of Wenchang Palace overlooks the panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town and it is quite pleasant to blow the breeze... The most important thing is that it is free!
It is a good place to see the panoramic view of the ancient city.
The Wenchang Palace Observation Deck offers a panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town.
The Wenchang Palace Observation Deck offers a panoramic view of Lijiang Old Town. The view is nice, but it was raining when I went there, so I didn't get to enjoy it for long. I guess the night view should be nice.
:2016-04: The gate to Wenchang Palace is locked, so you can't go in. However, there's a platform at the entrance, which is a great spot for a bird's-eye view of the ancient city. We arrived around noon, so if we had come in the morning, it would have been a great place to photograph the sunrise.
At the north end of Lion Rock Park is Wenchang Palace, built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1725). You can find it by walking straight ahead along the path to the right of the Inlaid Snow Tower.
I went to see it specifically on my first trip to Lijiang Old Town, but it was closed when I arrived. I think it has opening hours, so I recommend visiting before 4pm. It's near the Wangu Tower scenic area. If you think the Wangu Tower entrance fee is expensive, you can go to the free viewing platform in front of Wenchang Palace. You can see the whole view of Lijiang Old Town from there. Of course, Wangu Tower can see all four sides of the old town, while the free viewing platform only shows one side. It's a great place to eat Lijiang Baba and drink yak milk while looking at the old town.
Wenchang Palace offers a free panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town.
There is a viewing platform on Lion Rock where you can see the whole view of the ancient city. However, it was not open twice and I was not sure what was going on inside.
The panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town from Wenchang Palace is quite good.
Wenchang Palace offers a fantastic panoramic view of Lijiang, with nothing obstructing and not many people around. The trail is easy to find, with signs along the way. Follow the hiking path and you'll find a fork in the road, with Wangu Tower on one side and Wenchang Palace on the other. Best of all, it's free!
I recommend that friends who go to Lijiang Ancient Town must go there. When I went there in September, the ancient city was charging a maintenance fee at that time. The only free attraction with a panoramic view of the ancient city was Wenchang Palace.
I strolled around the ancient city and there was a Wenchang Palace along the road. There was also an observation deck there, from which you could overlook the entire ancient city.
The view from the top is excellent. The sky seems very low and clear at high altitude. It happened to be the end of the school day at a primary school near Wenchang Palace. The primary school students walked in groups of three or two. There were almost no parents to pick them up. The simple folk customs made the ancient town very safe.
It's a peaceful place overlooking the entire Lijiang Old Town. Best of all, it's free!
It is free to watch the sunset here and the scenery is no worse than that of Wangu Tower. It is highly recommended.
There are many people watching the night view here, especially couples. There are also many inns with views and places to drink tea. You can go through the alleys of Bar Street or go from Sifang Street towards Lion Mountain.
Wenchang Palace is located in Lijiang Old Town. Climb up the mountain from the path to the right of the red murals in the old town, all the way to the top of Lion Mountain. Continue along the path to the right of the Inlaid Snow Tower until you reach Wenchang Palace. This is the largest temple park in the old town. When I went up, the gates were closed. Looking through the crack, I saw weeds growing inside, suggesting it's been abandoned for a long time. The TV series "One Meter of Sunshine" used to be filmed here, but things have changed so quickly.
There is a row of long corridors at the entrance of Wenchang Palace, which is a good place to take pictures of the whole ancient city. However, the wind is very strong and it is freezing.
The owner highly recommended Wenchang Palace, not far from the inn. It's also located on a higher ground, offering panoramic views of the ancient city. It's free. Standing at Wenchang Palace, you can indeed see the entire city, taking in the city's winding brick and tile houses.
If you want to take a panoramic photo of the ancient city, you can go to Wenchang Palace. It is easy to find by walking up from Sifang Street.
Our inn owner suggested going to Wenchang Palace to see the panoramic view of the ancient town, saying that the view is of the same scope and it is free, which is good.
I didn't actually visit Wenchang Palace. I wanted to find a free spot to take panoramic photos of the ancient city. There are some inns and cafes on Lion Hill that charge a fee for panoramic views. An online search revealed that walking toward Wenchang Palace would offer panoramic views. So we followed a small path. It got increasingly quiet, with no shops, just a few inns and a primary school. The main entrance to the Huajiantang Inn offered panoramic views. Further along, opposite the Wenchang Palace entrance, there's a platform offering the best views, but there's also a tea stall there, which requires a fee. Next to the stall is a small open space with panoramic views of the ancient city.
When you reach the viewing platform of Wenchang Palace, which faces east, you can overlook half of the ancient city. You can come here to watch the sunrise in the morning.
I didn't go inside Wenchang Palace, but the entrance is one of the best places to take photos of Dayan Ancient City. It's free and worth a visit.
The waterwheel is not far from Wenchang Palace. This is where I found a place to take free photos of the panoramic view of the ancient city. It is so comfortable to enjoy the panoramic view of the ancient city under the sunset.
Afterwards, we planned to head to Wenchang Palace, our sole purpose for going there was to take a free panoramic photo of the ancient city. Just to be clear, there's an open space in front of Wenchang Palace in the ancient city. Not only is there no entrance fee, but you can also get a panoramic view of the ancient city. It's a secret!
Qiong told us to take the path behind the ancient city gate up the mountain to Wenchang Pavilion. There is a free viewing platform there with a panoramic view of Lijiang. There are many unique inns along the way, and the scenery is particularly beautiful.
Wenchang Palace overlooks the entire city and is the best place to take photos. You can sit down and take photos slowly.
This morning I planned to go to Wenchang Palace in the northwest of Dayan Ancient Town to watch the sunrise. It is said that the view from the top is excellent.
Looking down at the entire Dayan, I wish I could travel back hundreds of years to experience the Naxi culture.
Wenchang Palace is the best spot for taking panoramic photos in Lijiang. The entire ancient city can be seen at a glance, and the key is that there are few people.
Wenchang Palace is the second place to enjoy a panoramic view of Lijiang. The other is Wangu Tower. Wenchang Pavilion was recommended by Ah Hao, the innkeeper. There's no entrance fee. It's also the filming location for the panoramic views of Lijiang in the TV series "One Meter of Sunshine." Just up the alley southwest of Sifang Street, you'll find signs pointing to the view. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the staff at the gate informed us that the building was under renovation, so we could only view the entire Lijiang from the platform in front of Wenchang Palace.
There is an open space in front of Wenchang Palace. Many people come here to take panoramic photos. Although it is not very high, it can meet the needs of ordinary tourists to take panoramic photos.
We climbed up to the viewing platform near Wenchang Palace and looked down. It felt golden. Is the theme of Lijiang Ancient Town the "Tai Hao Jin"? It seems that many ancient towns are using this theme now. The viewing platform next to Wenchang Palace may not have the best view, but it is free. However, the entrance fee to the overlooking places like the Mu Mansion and Wangu Tower mentioned in the guide seems to be dozens of yuan.
Because it is relatively high, you can see the panoramic view of the ancient city, but the price of drinks here is relatively high, and I personally feel it is not worth it
When I went there, I went for a walk after dinner, and Wenchang Palace was closed. So I'm not sure if it's open during the day! However, there's a viewpoint at the entrance to Wenchang Palace, which offers a panoramic view of Lijiang's ancient architecture.
When I saw the sign for Wenchang Palace, I was just going to visit, but I didn't know there was a surprise waiting for me. In front of the palace gate is a small observation deck. At first glance, it is all rooftops, but it is also very unique.
It was night when I went there, on Lion Rock. I was out of breath after climbing, and had a bit of altitude sickness. The door was closed at the time, and the master said it was under construction and repair. There was a 514-year-old ancient tree at the door.
It is very quiet halfway up Lion Rock, where you can sit down and rest while overlooking the ancient town.
There are many people watching the night view here, especially couples. There are also many inns with views and places to drink tea. You can go through the alleys of Bar Street or go from Sifang Street towards Lion Mountain.
Wenchang Palace itself is dilapidated and unattractive. However, thanks to a TV series, it has become a popular spot in Lijiang for sightseeing and romance. A row of seats are set up high, allowing visitors to enjoy the surroundings, chat, and discuss romance. Of course, if you enjoy taking photos, this is a free place to take in the entire view. It's especially popular at night.
One meter of sunshine was filming here. I happened to pass by without much thought. I think Shuhe is not as comfortable as Lijiang Ancient Town.
Wenchang Palace is located in a remote area and is not very eye-catching. There is an open space in front of it where you can see the whole picture of the ancient city.
Order a pot of tea made with snow water from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, sit inside and look at the beautiful scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.
Wenchang Palace is a place in the ancient city where you can climb up and see far into the distance. When the weather is good, it is very suitable for viewing the panoramic view of the ancient city.
The filming location of One Meter of Sunshine is good and there are photos to take. If you like it, you can go and have a look.
There is a strong sense of historical accumulation. Walking in to learn about the history and listening to the tour guide's explanation, it feels like traveling back in time.
Personally, I think it's not interesting. If you want to overlook the ancient city of Lijiang, the view from Wangu Tower is better.
It's a very simple place. In fact, I think Lugu Lake is more worth visiting than Lijiang. It's still beautiful.
I just watched from afar, not understanding anything about it. Perhaps I have never been interested in these things.
Located in the Lijiang Ancient Town, it is on a high ground and overlooks the city. There is a big tree behind the building.
Located on Lion Mountain in the west of the ancient town of Dayan, the Tianzun Hall, at the highest point within the complex, boasts a magnificent structure. The temple is also known as a "museum of ancient architecture." The temple primarily enshrines Wenchang Emperor, who is said to control the fortunes of humankind, along with his incarnations, Kuixing and Wenzu.
Inside one room, the walls are covered with treasured photos depicting Lijiang's history, depicting its development. We took a photo on the stone steps beneath the eaves of this ancient house steeped in history. The sun was dazzling, blinding my eyes. I took a beautiful panoramic photo of the ancient city from under a tree, especially the courtyard gate. My baby and I sat on the steps, gazing at the countless mansions below.