Lijiang 5-Day Snow Mountain & Gorge In-depth Tour
360° Lijiang: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain + Tiger Leaping Gorge + Relaxed Ancient Town
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
Arrive in Lijiang, check into an old town inn, and explore Lijiang Ancient Town (Big Water Wheel, Sifang Street) in the afternoon.
Lijiang Ancient Town
Lijiang Ancient Town is located in Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is one of China's historical and cultural cities and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The ancient town blends various historical architectural styles and boasts a complex and ancient water supply system. It is a multi-ethnic settlement, home to 22 ethnic minorities in addition to the Han Chinese. It was once an important post station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road and a political, commercial, and cultural center for the Naxi and other ethnic groups, carrying a rich history and unique ethnic customs.
Lijiang Ancient Town - Ancient Town Grand Waterwheel
An iconic attraction of Lijiang Ancient Town, located at the entrance of the ancient town. Two huge waterwheels slowly turn, making it an excellent spot for tourists to take photos and symbolizing the history and culture of Lijiang Ancient Town.
Sifang Street
Sifang Street is the core and iconic attraction of Lijiang Old Town, located in the center of the old town, and is the liveliest market and activity center within the old town. It is a must-visit place for tourists to experience Naxi ethnic customs and feel the pulse of old town life. The street is paved with colorful stones, surrounded by quaint Naxi residences, with numerous shops selling various ethnic specialty goods, handicrafts, and local snacks. When night falls, bonfires are lit on Sifang Street, and people gather around the bonfires to sing and dance, creating a lively atmosphere. It is the center of commerce and cultural exchange in Lijiang Old Town, and also an important hub on the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
2
Full-day tour of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, including Glacier Park (big cable car) and Blue Moon Valley. Optional Impression Lijiang show.
Yulong Snow Mountain
Yulong Snow Mountain is located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China. It is a mountain range or a small mountain range. Its highest peak is called Shanzidou, with an elevation of 5,596 meters (18,360 feet). Yulong Snow Mountain is part of the larger Hengduan Mountains in the southwest region. The northwest side of the mountain forms one side of Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the Jinsha River (upper Yangtze River) dramatically descends between Yulong Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. Settlements surrounding Yulong Snow Mountain include Baisha Town to the south, Longpan Township to the west, Daju Township to the northeast, and Yushui Village at the eastern foot of the mountain. The view of the mountain from Lijiang Black Dragon Pool Park is renowned as one of China's most beautiful landscapes. The mountain is part of the Yulong Snow Mountain National Scenic Area and National Geopark, which is an AAAAA-rated scenic area. The park operates a tourist cable car that reaches a viewing platform at an elevation of 4,506 meters (14,783 feet), and there is an even higher viewing platform at 4,680 meters (15,350 feet), which is one of the highest viewing platforms in the world, offering close-up views of the snow-capped peaks. Due to the extremely high altitude, many people experience hypoxia and carry compressed oxygen tanks for assistance. Some people criticize the cable car for accelerating snowmelt and reducing the mountain's water retention.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Scenic Area Glacier Park
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Scenic Area Glacier Park is located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, and is an important part of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The park features magnificent modern glacial landforms. Visitors can take a large cable car directly to a viewing platform at an altitude of 4506 meters to closely admire the glaciers and snow-capped mountain scenery. The park is located in a high-altitude area, so visitors should be aware of altitude sickness and are advised to bring oxygen bottles and warm clothing. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a famous tourist attraction in Lijiang, boasting unique natural scenery and rich ethnic minority culture.
Blue Moon Valley, Yulong Snow Mountain National Scenic Area
Blue Moon Valley, also known as Baishui River (White Water River), is located at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is named Blue Moon Valley because its lake water appears azure blue on sunny days and is crescent-shaped, looking like a blue moon embedded at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain from a distance. The lake water is clear, formed by the melting snow of Yulong Snow Mountain, and creates multiple small lakes and waterfalls in the valley, layered and well-arranged. The valley boasts lush vegetation and pleasant scenery, and is an important part of the Yulong Snow Mountain National Scenic Area, attracting numerous tourists with its unique natural beauty.
Impression Lijiang
Impression Lijiang is a large-scale live-action performance directed by Zhang Yimou, Wang Chaoge, and Fan Yue. It is staged at the Ganhaizi Blue Moon Valley Theater, located at an altitude of 3100 meters on Yulong Snow Mountain. With Yulong Snow Mountain as its backdrop, and themed around the culture of Lijiang's local ethnic minorities, it showcases the original lifestyle and customs of Yunnan's ethnic minorities, including the Ancient Tea Horse Road, Dongba culture, and ethnic song and dance. It is divided into six parts: "Ancient Road Caravan," "Drinking Wine by the Snow Mountain," "Heaven on Earth," "Dajiao Medley," "Drum Dance for Heaven," and "Prayer Ceremony." The performance boasts a large cast, with over 500 non-professional actors from 10 local ethnic minorities. Through the form of a song and dance drama, it expresses the emotions of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and gratitude to heaven and earth, possessing strong artistic impact and ethnic characteristics, making it a major highlight of Lijiang tourism.
3
Morning visit to Shuhe Ancient Town. Afternoon to Baisha Ancient Town to see Baisha Murals; optional visit to Yushui Village for Dongba culture.
Shuhe Ancient Town
Shuhe Ancient Town, located in Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, is an important part of the Lijiang Old Town, a World Cultural Heritage site, and a well-preserved important market town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The ancient town is built by mountains and rivers, with residential buildings scattered in an orderly fashion, preserving the traditional architectural style and living customs of the Naxi people. Its environment is ancient and tranquil, making it an excellent place to experience Lijiang's slow pace of life and feel the culture of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
Baisha Ancient Town
Baisha Ancient Town is a historic ancient town in Lijiang City, once the birthplace of the Lijiang Mu family and one of the important cradles of Naxi culture. It preserves many original Naxi ethnic buildings and cultural relics, such as the Baisha Murals, which showcase exquisite mural art from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient town's environment is tranquil and rustic, far from the hustle and bustle, making it an excellent place to experience authentic Naxi customs and feel the weight of history.
Baisha Murals
The Baisha Murals are an important cultural heritage of Lijiang's Baisha Ancient Town, located next to the Baisha Township Government. These murals date back to the early Ming Dynasty and are part of the Lijiang Murals, blending artistic styles of Han, Tibetan, Naxi, and other ethnic groups. They are valuable resources for studying Lijiang's diverse culture and religious art. The murals are rich in content, depicting religious stories, myths and legends, and scenes from daily life, possessing immense artistic value and historical significance.
Lijiang Yushui Village Scenic Area
Yushui Village is an important scenic area in the northeast of Lijiang Old Town, one of the birthplaces of Naxi traditional culture, known for its natural scenery, Dongba culture, and sacred springs. It features clear spring water, lush forests, and ancient Dongba architectural complexes, making it an excellent place to learn about Naxi Dongba culture and get close to nature. Yushui Village is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, hailed as the 'Dongba Holy Land,' and an important window for visitors to experience authentic Naxi culture.
4
Private car or group tour to the First Bend of the Yangtze River viewpoint, then to Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge for stunning canyon views.
First Bend of the Yangtze River
The First Bend of the Yangtze River is located in Shigu Town, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is a famous natural landscape formed by the mighty Yangtze River just before entering the border between Yunnan and Sichuan. Here, the Yangtze River, originally flowing from north to south, is blocked by the Hailuo Cliffs, suddenly making a sharp turn of over 100 degrees, turning northeast, forming a rare 'V'-shaped great bend. The river water has scoured out a drum-shaped sandbar near Shigu Town, hence the name 'Shigu' (Stone Drum), which also contributes to the unique charm of the 'First Bend of the Yangtze River'. The scenery here is beautiful, the river water is clear, and both banks are lush green, making it an excellent spot to admire the magnificent scenery of the Yangtze River.
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge is located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge and is known for its majestic and precipitous gorge scenery and turbulent rapids. It is one of the world's famous hiking routes and an excellent spot to admire the magnificent views of the Jinsha River. Legend has it that a fierce tiger once leaped across the river here, hence its name.
5
Visit Mu’s Residence, climb Wangu Tower, and explore Black Dragon Pool Park. Depart Lijiang according to schedule.
Lijiang Ancient City Museum - Mu's Residence
Mu's Residence is the core part of Lijiang Ancient City, formerly the mansion of the hereditary Mu family chieftains of Lijiang. It is a complex of buildings constructed in the style of Beijing's Forbidden City, blending architectural art styles from the Central Plains and the Naxi people, showcasing the glorious history of the Mu family and the essence of Naxi culture. Inside Mu's Residence, the Lijiang Ancient City Museum is located, serving as an important venue for understanding Naxi history, culture, religion, and architectural art, and also a significant landmark attraction of Lijiang Ancient City.
Lijiang Old Town - Wangu Tower
Wangu Tower is located on Lion Mountain in Lijiang Old Town. It is a landmark building of Lijiang Old Town and an excellent viewing platform to overlook the panoramic view of Lijiang Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Wangu Tower is a magnificent all-wood structure with bracket arches, flying eaves, and upturned corners. Its name signifies 'eternal glory and brilliance through all ages.' Inside the tower, there are 2300 auspicious patterns, representing Lijiang's 23 ethnic groups, and patterns of 9999 dragons. With one more dragon in the caisson ceiling, there are a total of 10,000 dragons, symbolizing the eternal preservation of Lijiang culture.
Black Dragon Pool
The Black Dragon Pool is located at the foot of Elephant Hill in Lijiang, and is a famous garden in the northern part of Lijiang Old Town. The park was first built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty, and is famous for its crystal-clear pool water that reflects the magnificent scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Within the park, there are several ancient buildings and attractions such as Deyue Tower, Longshen Temple, Wufeng Tower, and the Stele Forest, as well as the Dongba Culture Research Institute and Dongba Culture Museum, making it an important place to learn about Naxi history and culture. The Black Dragon Pool was designated as one of Lijiang City's first batch of cultural protection units in 1999, upgraded to a national key cultural protection unit in 2006, and rated as a National 4A-level tourist attraction in 2009.
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