May you be warm through three winters, may you not feel cold in spring, may you have a light on your path, may you have an umbrella on your travels, and may Lijiang accompany you all your life

Every journey needs a reason, whether to rediscover your true self or to meet a kindred spirit. Often, a simple initial reason lets you see more scenery along the way. Trust that every step you take is leading you toward maturity.

Is there a place that, no matter how many times you've visited, you still long to return to? For me, Lijiang is that place—no number of visits ever feels like enough. Planning Yunnan trips with my bestie has become a routine; what starts as a week-long itinerary always stretches to over ten days. This is already my third time in Lijiang—what exactly makes it so captivating? Everyone holds a unique Lijiang in their heart, each with its own meaning. I adore Lijiang's slow pace. Once, I dreamed of opening an inn here, a dream that has gradually faded, yet every visit I still find myself seeking a favorite courtyard to daydream and bask in the sun. We are utterly enchanted. They say you must have a boyfriend who's good at taking photos on a trip, but I have a bestie with a great eye, ready to wander with me, be crazy together, and capture moments—this might be the luckiest thing about traveling.

【Lashihai】 Lashihai is located in the middle of Lashi Dam, 10 kilometers west of Lijiang city. It is Yunnan's first nature reserve named after a "wetland."

On a fine day, the lake is as clear as the blue sky. A small boat glides by, and together with the aquatic plants, it forms a richly colored landscape painting.

Lashihai is truly stunning, the photos come out in such gentle hues.

The early morning in Lijiang Ancient Town is definitely not what you might expect. The spacious streets are clean and tidy, sunlight spreads over the flagstones, and without the crowds of tourists, this is a Lijiang I had never seen before.

Every morning, a group of elderly locals dressed in ethnic minority attire dance together at Sifang Street—a special scenic highlight.

The Naxi wind chimes are beautiful, and their sound, carried by the breeze, is very moving.

There are so many wishes hanging above; this wishing forest bears countless blessings, carrying a heavy load of hopes.

【Qiangqing】 Opening hours: weekdays 13:00–20:30, adjusted during holidays according to circumstances. "Lijiang Qiangqing"

The scenic area is crowded, but Wenwen helped us pre-book VIP seats.

I hadn't looked into Songcheng Qiangqing before, assuming it was mainly for group tours, but once inside, my friend and I found the area quite fun.

What left the deepest impression on me was the "Mabang" (caravan) section. Mor beside me kept wiping away tears. The Ancient Tea Horse Road is a southwestern hiking route with the world's most spectacular natural scenery and most mysterious culture, loved by many outdoor trekkers.

Stepping out of the performance hall, I felt like I had entered a grand festival. Actors led visitors in dancing around a bonfire—a truly spectacular scene. My friend and I were enthusiastically pulled in by the warm staff as well.

【Jade Dragon Snow Mountain】 In Naxi language, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is called "Oulu," meaning silver-hued rocky mountain. Its thirteen snow-capped peaks stretch endlessly, like a giant "jade dragon" soaring, hence the name "Jade Dragon." Because its rocks are mainly limestone and basalt, starkly black and white, it is also known as "Black-and-White Snow Mountain." I've been to Lijiang several times, but this is the first visit here.

Last October, I climbed to Milk Lake in Yading, which felt like pushing my limits. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has a cable car straight to the summit—absolutely wonderful.

From the cable car's summit arrival point, there are still several hundred meters to the very top, from where you need to walk uphill. At first glance, the distance seems almost gentle.

The weather is crucial for visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and today we have blue skies and white clouds—I feel our luck is shining. The snowy wind is strong, stinging my face, and the clouds on the snowy peak are blown racing by.

As we passed by, we didn't see shopkeepers aggressively soliciting; it felt nice that diners could choose on their own.

"Little Pot Rice" – a signature must-order, fragrant rice with mixed grains sweet, plus added Yunnan ham, satisfying your wish to try many dishes at once.

"Steam Pot Chicken" – a Yunnan specialty, a dish I've long been looking forward to. It comes with a pack of Panax notoginseng powder on the side; you can add it yourself, but not for pregnant women or during menstruation. The soup is tasty, though I personally prefer Cantonese soups.

"Stir-fried Black Goat with Onions" – very aromatic, with a mild gamy flavor that's barely noticeable to most, recommended.

"Boletus" – highly recommend, my first time trying it was a revelation. The texture is fragrant, smooth, and tender; we cleaned the plate!

Ambience: Two floors, personally I feel street-side seats are best, where you can enjoy views of the scenery, passersby, and the live singers.

【Baisha Ancient Town】 There's another place in Lijiang I utterly adore: Baisha Ancient Town. Baisha lies about ten li north of Lijiang Ancient City, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the north, Longquan to the south, and Zhishan to the west. The Lijiang described by Joseph Rock back then was exactly Baisha and Yuhu Village. My first time in Baisha, there were few tourists but glimpses of many foreign friends here and there. For photos in Lijiang, I suggest early morning and late afternoon—early meaning 9–10 am, late meaning 4–6 pm, because the light is softer then, not too harsh, and the pictures turn out beautifully. The ancient town isn't big, half an hour is enough to stroll through—old archways and square streets. Most shops here are run by local Naxi people, free from the commercialization of Lijiang Ancient City. White walls and grey tiles, without the crowds of Lijiang Old Town, Baisha feels so tranquil. I imagine this is what Dayan Ancient City looked like many years ago.

Travelogue Contents: 1. Lashihai 2. Lijiang Ancient Town 3. Lijiang Qiangqing 4. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 5. Shuhe Ancient Town 6. Baisha Ancient Town Travel Information Hotel Index Guide Index Flight Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index Join Cooperation Distribution Alliance Friend Links Enterprise Gift Card Purchase Insurance Agent Agent Cooperation Hotel Join Destination & Scenic Area Cooperation More Join Cooperation About Ctrip About Ctrip Ctrip Hot Topics Contact Us Careers User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Security Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Publicity