In Lijiang, Bask in the Most Beautiful Sliver of Lazy Sunshine

I have a love-hate relationship with the sunshine here. I love the warmth it brings, but hate how its UV rays mercilessly damage my skin. Yet time and again, I give in to its beauty.

As I get older, I’ve started to prefer photos where I appear small—probably to avoid facing the nasolabial lines on my face.

On the other side of the ancient town, the scenery unfolds like a scroll painting, instantly lifting my spirits.

We live in an age of ‘like-based friendships.’ Sometimes it’s truly necessary to put down our phones and return to nature—only then might we rediscover our original selves.

My friend Domi in Lijiang always manages to find some off-the-beaten-path photo spots. And I’m still the same tomboy who never tires of taking pictures, who dislikes outdoor jackets and prefers to hike with her in a skirt.

I really love this dead tree—its trunk has such a unique shape. Against the backdrop of the snow mountain and blue sky, the photos turn out incredibly cool.

Locals have planted a few dead trees here for wedding photography studios and tourists to use as props.

On the road toward the scenic area entrance of the snow mountain, you’ll pass a photo spot with a distant view of the snow mountain. It’s on the left side of the road—you can’t miss it if you see many wedding photography cars parked there.

Under the vast sky, wild grasslands stretch endlessly. The wind blows, though no cattle or sheep are in sight. Running freely at the foot of the snow mountain gives a long-lost sense of freedom.

Many tourists go horseback riding here—experiencing a gallop across the grassland at the foot of the snow mountain is quite nice.

Near the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area is Ganhaizi, and this photo spot features large pools of water. On a clear day, the lake clearly reflects the distant Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, its thirteen peaks winding and curving like a soaring white dragon poised to leap into the rushing Jinsha River.

If you’re heading to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, make sure to stop here. I’m sure you’ll be just as pleasantly surprised by the scenery as I was.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has a cable car that goes straight to the summit—this is probably the most convenient way to reach a snow mountain peak in China.

But note: to get to the summit, you need to take the large cable car, and tickets usually need to be booked in advance as there is a daily limit on the number of visitors.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has a cable car that goes straight to the summit—this is probably the most convenient way to reach a snow mountain peak in China.

At an altitude of 4,860 meters on the snow mountain, each breath and heartbeat feels intensely real.

Good weather is crucial when visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Today we had blue skies and white clouds—felt like my luck had finally turned around.

In the afternoon, the sunlight hits the water, creating layers of sparkling ripples—truly beautiful.

People say Blue Moon Valley is a mini Jiuzhaigou. The water here is crystal clear, and at first glance it does resemble Jiuzhaigou a bit.

Due to the terrain’s elevation differences, the valley has many small waterfalls, which also look great in photos.

The lake water in Blue Moon Valley comes from melting snow. As it flows down, the terrain’s obstacles create four larger pools, known as Jade Liquid Lake, Mirror Pond, Blue Moon Lake, and Listening to the Waves Lake.

When I first heard the name Blue Moon Valley, I thought it sounded so beautiful. It used to be known as the ‘White Water River.’

On sunny days, the water is blue, and the valley is crescent-shaped. From afar, it looks like a blue moon embedded at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, hence the name Blue Moon Valley.

Shuhe Ancient Town gets a perfect score—highly recommended. I went with my partner and thoroughly enjoyed the slow, intimate time together. The environment is superb. I loved the town’s waterways the most. We wandered around all day and will definitely return. A highly recommended leisure town.

🫕 Coming down from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, we headed to the nearest Shuhe Ancient Town. This restaurant has high ratings on review platforms. Its decor is fresh and natural, and there’s even a live singer performing, adding an extra touch of charm to this laid-back ancient town.

The signature clay pot rice is probably baked, giving it clearly separated grains with a crispy, aromatic texture. Paired with tender potatoes 🥔, carrots 🥕, and diced meat, the simple ingredients are incredibly satisfying.

A small portion of steam pot chicken is a great deal and just right for two people. The chicken is tender without being dry, and the broth is flavorful and refreshing, not greasy at all—a must-order!

The sizzling plate tofu with coating is a snack you’ll find in many tourist spots across cities, but rarely is it this delicious! The tofu is thin, crispy outside and tender inside, with the flavors fully absorbed—perfect with rice.

「Porcini Mushrooms」 A Yunnan specialty. According to the owner, these are freshly picked. Usually this type of mushroom 🍄 needs to be stir-fried with plenty of oil to taste good, but this dish doesn’t feel oily at all, and the mild spiciness is just right.

Lijiang Old Town: scenery everywhere.

Every corner of the courtyard is a picture-perfect scene.

On a day with no itinerary, enjoying a garden afternoon tea at the guesthouse—such idly spent time is just too wonderful.

Lijiang Old Town is an ancient city without city walls. Smooth, clean bluestone roads, traditional earth-constructed houses, and ubiquitous bridges over flowing water, along with the passing crowds, create a lively landscape.

Shuhe Ancient Town feels like a condensed version of Dayan Old Town, but even more tranquil. Walking on the smooth bluestone paths, listening to the babbling streams, and peeking into street-side shops—a day passes just like that.

As night falls, the sky turns deep blue, and the lights in the old town come on one by one. Melodious songs drift from the bar street, and Lijiang at early evening looks even more enchanting.

Square Street leads in all directions, and a small alley beside it is hung with colorful oil-paper umbrellas, appearing especially romantic at night.

Under the night sky, Lijiang transforms into a different world, where visitors from all directions compose their own varied revelries.

There are still many photo spots in Lijiang, and I’ll keep updating when I have time.

The Lijiang story, to be continued…

I love the blue skies and white clouds here in Lijiang. I come several times a year, and each time brings different feelings and surprises.

Everyone has a travel dream, wanting to capture beautiful moments.

Lijiang, the tranquility of the old town

———— stirs the desire within us to set off.