Lijiang
A UNESCO-listed old town of water channels and Naxi culture in high northwest Yunnan, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain nearby.
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Lijiang is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Yunnan Province, China, bordering Sichuan. Its Old Town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1997, is the main draw, with water channels running through streets that show several historic building styles. The city sits in the Lijiang Basin at over 2,400 m, and the Naxi people are the main ethnic group. Their Dongba script is pictographic.
Day trips are the main reason to leave the Old Town. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lies about 15 km from the city government, and its main peak reaches 5,596 m. Baisha village, about 15 km north, has the Baisha Fresco. The altitude calls for care: expect thin air and take your first day slowly. Spring is dry and sunny until late May, and the rainy season runs from June to late September, when about 80% of the rain falls.
Lijiang in five
- Allow time for altitudeUNESCO puts the Old Town of Lijiang at 2,400 m. TravelHealthPro advises ascending gradually, so do not schedule a hard hike on your first day.TravelHealthPro: China
- Pick Dayan, Shuhe or Baisha as your baseUNESCO lists the Old Town as three parts: Dayan Old Town, Shuhe and Baisha. Dayan is the busiest, while Shuhe and Baisha are smaller clusters with a quieter feel.
- Check Jade Dragon Snow Mountain access firstCable-car and park arrangements on Yulong Snow Mountain depend on weather and capacity. Check the official operator before you plan a morning around the mountain.
- Start walking early in DayanThe main lanes fill with day visitors by late morning. Walk the canals and the Black Dragon Pool early, and keep the afternoon for a quieter village.
- Combine it with Dali and KunmingLijiang sits at the northern end of the western Yunnan rail route, so most itineraries run Kunming, Dali, then Lijiang. Book rail legs on 12306 with passport details.Dali
Things to do in Lijiang
See all attractions in Lijiang
Need to know
- Airport
- Lijiang Sanyi (LJG)
- Getting there
- Rail from Dali and Kunming; flights from major cities
- Getting around
- Walking in the old town; taxis and buses for villages
- Best base
- Shuhe or Baisha for quiet, Dayan for food and sights
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with a mountain or gorge trip
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh12°Low-2°Cool, dryJanuaryClear
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- FebruaryClear5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh14°Low-1°Cool, sunnyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, sunny
- MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh18°Low2°Mild, clearMarchClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low6°Warm, clearAprilClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low10°Warm, clearMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- JuneRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low13°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 275 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy season
- JulyRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low13°Rainy seasonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 369 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy season
- AugustRain28 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low13°Rainy seasonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 360 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy season
- SeptemberRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh20°Low12°Mild, clearerSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 289 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Mild, clearer
- OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Clear, crispOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, crisp
- NovemberClear4 rainy daysHigh15°Low3°Dry, crispNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, crisp
- DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh13°Low0°Cool, dryDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in Lijiang, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lijiang
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 44%
Lijiang
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today22°9°44%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 44%.
- Wed22°8°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 22°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu23°8°0%Thursday: Fog. High 23°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri22°8°2%Friday: Fog. High 22°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat21°8°2%Saturday: Clear. High 21°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun21°7°30%Sunday: Clear. High 21°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Mon14°8°88%Monday: Rain. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 88%.
Updated 01:40 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Baishashort ride from LijiangA UNESCO component village with old murals and a quiet street.
- Shuheshort ride from LijiangA UNESCO component cluster with canals and courtyard cafes.
- Tiger Leaping Gorgeroad trip from LijiangA deep Yangtze gorge with a trekking route; check trail and road conditions first.Read the guide
Before you go to Lijiang
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Rules for Lijiang, checked
- Check whether you need a visa or qualify for visa-free entry for your nationality on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you fly.Source
- Hotels and guesthouses register foreign guests at check-in. Bring your passport to every stay.
- Declare cash and goods above the limits on your arrival form. Customs officers may inspect bags for meat, plants and other food.Source
Plan around Lijiang
Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities
Read the guideDaliErhai Lake and Bai villages
Read the guideKunmingYunnan's capital and Shilin gateway
Read the guideShangri-laTibetan culture in the highlands to the north
Read the guideChina visa-free entryThe 30-day list and the 240-hour transit
Read the guideMoney and costs in ChinaCashless payments and backup cash
Read the guideTiger Leaping GorgeThe Jinsha River trek north of town
Read the guideLijiang FAQ
Is Lijiang worth visiting?
Yes, for the UNESCO-listed Old Town, its canals and the mountain setting. It is busy at peak times, so visit early and stay in a quieter village if you can.
How high is Lijiang?
UNESCO puts the Old Town of Lijiang at 2,400 m above sea level. TravelHealthPro lists altitude illness as a risk at 2,500 m or higher, so take it easy on arrival and avoid sudden climbs.
How many days do you need in Lijiang?
Two days cover the Old Town and one nearby village. Add a third for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or a gorge trip. One night is enough if you are only passing through Yunnan.
When is the best time to visit Lijiang?
March to May and October to November. Spring and autumn are clear and mild, summer is wet, and winter is crisp and dry. Mountain access can depend on weather.
Should I stay in Dayan Old Town or Shuhe?
Dayan has more restaurants and nightlife, but it is the busiest. Shuhe and Baisha are quieter UNESCO component villages with a short ride to the main town. Choose by evening plans and noise tolerance.