Strolling Through World Heritage Lijiang Old Town, Then a Cultural Encounter with Ethnic Minorities – Lishui Jinsha

I've been wanting to go to Lijiang for so long.

They say it's the perfect place to unwind, heal, and slow down.

After planning this trip with my best friend for ages, we finally made it happen. In June, we arrived at our long-dreamed destination—Lijiang.

Lijiang Old Town is steeped in history, elegantly rustic, with a distinctive charm, and famous far and wide.

On our first day, we went to Dayan Ancient Town. (Lijiang has three ancient towns: Dayan Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Baisha Ancient Town.)

Entering from the north gate of Dayan Ancient Town, we saw the most iconic landmark—the Big Waterwheel. Even during the day, it was crowded with visitors; many were taking photos here. Next to the waterwheel stands the Dongba Wishing Bell. It seems everyone who comes here must make a wish and hang a bell, as if that's what makes the visit complete. A gentle breeze blew, and the bells chimed softly and sweetly. A sliver of sunlight felt incredibly soothing.

Slowly walking along the bluestone-paved roads, we heard vendors hawking all the way, filled with the hustle and bustle of daily life. Every road, every lane, every alley in the old town is lined with a little stream of clear water. It's said the water flows down from the snow-capped mountains. Locals say that if you get lost in the old town, just follow the water and you'll find your way out—you'll never really lose your way.

Strolling through the streets and alleys of the old town, people walked slowly, never seeming rushed.

Here, you can sit down anywhere, find a shady spot under a tree, and feel the sunlight on you without it ever being too hot.

Strangely, no matter where we went, we could hear music—folk songs, pop tunes… It's perfect for sitting down, chatting, and watching the lively crowds go by.

Just sitting here, you can sense the colorful vibrancy of this city.

As evening fell, the real liveliness of Sifang Street began. Every night, there's a bonfire party at Sifang Street Square. It's a traditional ethnic dance unique to Yunnan called 'Datiao' (group dancing). The dance is simple: just a group of people holding hands in a circle around a bonfire, led by a Naxi auntie, dancing to the music of the 'Naxi Trilogy'.

At night, the old town's hustle and bustle truly came alive.

The old town at night is completely different from the daytime. The alley north of Sifang Street is the bar street. Lijiang Old Town's bar street can be divided into two types, commonly known as 'lively bars.' One type is exuberant and outgoing, noisy and energetic, represented by the main bar street; the other is low-key and hidden, with a unique character, represented by the various fire-pit bars and quiet bars scattered throughout Lijiang Old Town.

Since we're not fans of loud noise, we skipped the bars. But if you really want to experience the city's nightlife, you must check this out.

About 300 meters from the Big Waterwheel, you'll find Red Sun Square. There's a theater here (Lijiang International Ethnic Cultural Exchange Center) that hosts the Lishui Jinsha performance. The theater is huge and eye-catching from the outside. We came on the recommendation of our innkeeper; it's right in the city center, very easy to find.

Lishui Jinsha is a grand performance combining ethnic costumes and dance in a poetic and pictorial style, a long-standing show in Lijiang. It's divided into four parts: Prologue, Water, Mountains, and Love, lasting about an hour. Friendly theater staff guided us in, and inside there were performers greeting guests—we could take photos with them. A staff member inside kindly escorted us to our seats with great care.

Lishui Jinsha tells the story of the different lifestyles and cultural heritages of Yunnan's 22 ethnic groups. During the performance, we witnessed the graceful, water-like elegance of the Dai people, the spirited 'Bangbang Hui' (Stick-Carrying Fair) of the Naxi people, and the romantic 'walking marriage' tradition of the Mosuo people. It's truly a window into Yunnan's ethnic minority cultures!

The most memorable part of the show for me was 'Weeding Song' from the Mountains section, a dance adapted from a Wa ethnic group's scene of working in the fields. The costumes and props were incredibly realistic. Especially when the Wa girls and boys were working in the fields, and during a break, a girl sat on a boy's lap and smoked—the whole scene was vivid and lively, with uniquely distinctive music that lingered in my mind long after.

After the show, we were still longing for more. At the finale, the audience stood up, interacted with the performers on stage, and applauded.

In my opinion, if you come to Lijiang next time, you must see this show. It lets you learn so much about the cultures and traditions of Yunnan's ethnic minorities—truly fascinating!