Must See Attractions in Lijiang, China

Looking for a magical getaway filled with breathtaking landscapes? Look no further than the ancient city of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, China. In Lijiang, it has many must see attractions that are great additions for peoples bucket list destinations. From majestic snow-capped mountains to its awe-inspiring sunsets, this historical location is one of the most beautiful places to visit in all of Asia. Come explore the magical landscapes and discover why Lijiang is quickly becoming one of the world’s must-visit destinations!

Discovering the Magical City: An Introduction to why this Cultural Gem in Lijiang is a must see attraction!

Firstly, Lijiang is a city located in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province, China. Lijiang is known for its stunning scenery and its well-preserved old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most importantly, the city is surrounded by mountains which makes it a must see place for scenic hiking and photography.

In addition to its natural beauty, Lijiang also has a rich cultural heritage. The old town is an incredibly well-preserved example of a traditional Chinese city. It’s winding alleyways lined with traditional Naxi architecture make for stunning photos. Moreover, the old town has many traditional shops and restaurants, making it easy to explore in a small area.

In my opinion, Lijiang is part of Lijiang’s must see attractions for very good reasons. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast like me, then this place has something for you. Above all, Blue Moon Valley and Tiger Leaping Gorge are two exciting places to explore here and are not to be missed!

In this article, I will explain where to stay, where to eat and how to complete Blue Moon Valley and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Exploring The Beautiful Jade Dragon Snow Mountain And Blue Moon Valley: Don’t Miss Lijiang’s Must See Attractions!

Places that deserve to be on Lijiang’s must see attractions are Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley. They are two incredibly beautiful destinations in China. These majestic sights captivate everyone who visits them. From breathtaking mountain peaks to entrancing valleys, these locations offer some of the most stunning views imaginable.

One of my favourite things to do in Lijiang is to walk around Blue Moon Valley. The water is the bluest water I have ever seen! It is nestled between mountains and has lots of mini waterfalls and Yaks! It is just a really beautiful place, making it part of Lijiang’s must see attractions! Moreover, our first time to Blue Moon Valley, we got a little bit confused. This blog post will hopefully help you plan a better trip, so you don’t make the same mistakes as us.

Entrance Costs and Mistakes

You will often hear people talk about Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley being Lijiang’s must see attractions. Blue Moon Valley is in the same place as the famous mountain, but it needs research before simply entering. First off, you have to pay 50rmb to visit Blue Moon Valley and there are other parts of the park that you will also need to pay a separate price for. I wish I had known about this before I had gone to the park. It is quite a big place, and it can get a little confusing about where to go and how to pay for certain things.

My recommendation is to look at the park’s map and investigate the areas you plan to visit. Due to our lack of research, we only saw Blue Moon Valley. Even though Blue Moon Valley was gorgeous, the area has so much more to see. For example, there is a cable car that takes you up to a place called ‘Yak Meadow’ and we missed it because the park closes at 6PM. Furthermore, there is also the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in this location and this is a must see…that we missed! To sum it up, plan your trip better than us!

To better plan your travel to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain take a look at this website. It gives really helpful information and can give you very specific details about how to explore the park- much better than I can! Blue Moon Valley, Lijiang, China | Baishui River (chinadiscovery.com)

Where To Stay In Lijiang? Our Top Pick For The Best Place to Stay

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Lijiang, you have a wealth of options. You can find great places to stay in this wonderful city; from luxury hotels to bed and breakfasts, there is something for everyone.

In my opinion, a great way to experience Lijiang is by staying in its old town. Due to its cobblestone alleys, stunning mountain views and a gorgeous panorama of its rooftops. Our stay at Yunsu Snow Mountain View Boutique Inn was fantastic as the place offered us great views of the surrounding mountains and the best location for reaching all the must sees. Furthermore, the owners helped us find our way to the hotel upon making the booking through Trip.com – they even added us on WeChat! I definitely recommend allowing them to help you with reaching your accommodation as it can be quite tricky navigating around the Old Town.

Exploring The Delicious Cuisine Of Lijiang: The Top Restaurants To Try

First off, staying in Lijiang Old Town gives an abundance of Chinese dining options, but not many for western food. One place worth noting is N’s Kitchen. The food there was absolutely delicious and so comforting. Plus, the owners were ever so welcoming and generous in providing us with a map of the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike – which we relied on heavily during our trip. However, if western food is not what you want on a cultural trip around Yunnan, then try the many street food options that line the alleyways in the Old Town. There is something for everyone in this old city.

Trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Ultimate Hiking Adventure In Lijiang and Must See Attraction!

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the best-known attractions in China and a must-see for any traveler. It is renowned for its beauty and magnificence, amazing scenery and incredible views.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is situated in Yunnan Province and part of the UNESCO Heritage Site. It is renowned for being China’s deepest river canyon. I experienced one of the most peaceful moments here, walking along the trail which took us 6hrs and 45minutes to complete. No other person in sight made it a rare event in this hugely populated country.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is definitely worth doing if you find yourself in Lijiang. Don’t worry if the thought of hiking for multiple days terrifies you – Daniel and I are not experts when it comes to maps and compass usage, yet we still managed! All that’s required is a good pair of boots and a positive mindset. If you stick with our directions, it’ll make the experience even more enjoyable.

Experience The Thrill Of Trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge: A Comprehensive Guide to One of Lijiang’s Must See Attractions!

I’m going to provide helpful information on how to take on the 2 day hike and make it to Shangri-La. We faced a bit of a challenge as we couldn’t lug around a large backpack/suitcase while trekking. Here I’ll outline how to get to the start of the route, where you can rest on the first night and how to arrange for your luggage on the last part of the hike.

Stay Over At The Famous Halfway Guest House

Knowing where to stay the first night of hiking is important. The best place to stay overnight after the first day’s hike is ‘Tiger Leaping Gorge Halfway Guest House.’ From the entrance to the Halfway Hostel, it took us 6hrs and 45 minutes! It looks shorter on the map- in reality, it takes a lot longer. This place was an amazing choice- gorgeous views of the high peaked mountains and delicious food. It is also then just 3hrs walk from here to the end.

Transport to the Start of the Hike and Luggage Transfer

Most importantly, you need to know how to get from your accommodation in Lijiang Old Town to the Entrance of the hike. Here I will put the WeChat contact of Tina’s Guesthouse(Weixin ID: zql921227052). Tina’s Guesthouse is the last part of the hike and this contact helped book transport from Lijiang Old Town to the entrance. They also then took our luggage to Tina’s Guesthouse. This made the whole trip so much easier. Top Tip- the bus from Lijiang Old Town will take you to Qiaotao town where you can buy your ticket to do the hike. The bus will stop and everyone will get off to get their ticket. Once purchasing your ticket, make sure to get back on the bus and wait for the driver to instruct you to get off at the starting point of the trek.

What You Need To Know Before Going On Your First Hike

When the bus stops to drop you at the starting point, you may feel a bit lost. It’s not what I expected- there were no signs to follow. However, having the map from N’s Kitchen made it easier. We started off by walking uphill along a road and eventually saw a sign for Naxi Family Guesthouse. Once you see this sign, you know you are heading in the right direction and it is simple to follow the trail from that point onwards.

Reaching The Famous 28 Bends

Your second reference point is a sign that says ’28 Bends.’ This is arguably the hardest part of the hike.  In short, it is lots of bends up the mountain. The hardest part I found was the increase in elevation. I am not particularly unfit, but I did find it hard to get enough air. Most importantly, just before the start of the ’28 bends’ there is an opportunity to buy energy drinks and snacks from a lady there. In order to buy snacks and drinks, you will need cash.

Your Third Reference Point: Teahorse Guesthouse

After you finish the 28 bends, keep going until you reach Teahorse Guesthouse. This is a great spot to take a breather and enjoy some good coffee; if you find it then you know you’re heading in the right direction.

Finding the Halfway Guesthouse

Eventually you will rejoin a road and you will see signs for different guesthouses. You will see many signs along the trail that are marked with ‘Halfway Guesthouse in 1km.’ This was super helpful. Once you reach the Halfway Guesthouse you will be welcomed with the best view of the mountains. You can sit up on the balcony with a beer and good food and end your 1st day. The walk is about 15KM to this point. When you sit and look at this view, you will see why this place is a must see attraction in China.

Day 2: Trekking to Tina’s Guesthouse

After a good nights sleep and hot meal, it is time to do the second part of the trek. This 3hr trek/5KM stretch to Tina’s Guesthouse will take you to your luggage, and then the bus to Shangri-La. While the first part may have been safe and familiar. The second half isn’t as friendly -waterfalls, thin cliff sides make it a bit scary.

Arriving at Tina’s Guesthouse and Departing to Shangri-La

When you arrive at Tina’s Guesthouse, you can get some food and have a good rest. If you make sure to leave early in the morning, you can walk a further 40 minutes down from Tina’s to reach the famous gorge. Unfortunately for us, we couldn’t do this as the last bus for Shangri-La left Tina’s at 2:30PM, so we didn’t have time to do it.

Overall, Lijiang Has Many Must See Attractions!

Exploring the magical landscapes of Lijiang is a must-do if you are planning a trip to Yunnan Province, China. From its old town to its breathtaking nature spots and unique culture, there is no shortage of things to do and discover in this majestic city. If you want to experience authentic Chinese culture coupled with some stunning views, then make sure to add Lijiang to your must see attractions list! Furthermore, I hope this post has been useful in alerting you to some of my pitfalls – like missing out on the rushing rapids and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain!