Old Town of Lijiang (Dayan)
丽江古城 大研
A UNESCO World Heritage Naxi old town with Sifang Street, the Mufu Palace, the Wanguhou Pavilion on Lion Hill, and three waterways running through it. Wander the lanes by day and head to the bars at night.
Dayan Old Town was first built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties and served as the center of rule for the Mu family's Naxi tusi (native chieftain) government. It has no city walls. It is known for its Three-Eye Well, the Yu River waterways, and a layout described as 'every house with running water, every door with willows.' It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Main highlights: Sifang Street (the old town's central square, where Naxi dancing takes place in the evening), Great Stone Bridge, Mufu (the residence of the Mu chieftains, modeled on the Forbidden City, about 60 yuan admission, essential for understanding Naxi history), Wanguhou Pavilion on Lion Hill (the best spot for views of the old town's tiled roofs and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, about 50 yuan admission), Wuyi Street and Qiyi Street (quieter old lanes with many handicraft shops and cafés), and the bar street on Xinhua Street, lively at night.
Suggested route: enter from the Great Waterwheel at the north gate, then Sifang Street, then Mufu, then watch the sunset from Wanguhou Pavilion, then return to Sifang Street for the dancing, then finish at the bar street or Zhongyi Market (a local food market, better visited in the morning).
Entry to the old town is free, but you must register your ID at the entrance. A 50-yuan maintenance fee was once charged, but ordinary visitors are generally no longer asked to pay it. Check the posted notices on site.
Getting there: the airport shuttle from Sanyi Airport to the old town gate takes about 40 minutes. A taxi from Lijiang Railway Station takes about 20 minutes. Motor vehicles are banned inside the old town, but guesthouses can send someone to meet you at the south or north gate.
Tips: guesthouse quality varies widely, so choose one with a private bathroom and heating or an electric blanket. Bars are loud at night, so if you are noise-sensitive, stay on Wuyi Street or in Shuhe. Products in the old town are very similar, so avoid impulse purchases of rose cakes and silverware. Dongba paper and Dongba script calligraphy experiences are worth trying.
Opening hours
Open all day; Mu Mansion 08:30–17:30, Wanguo Tower 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Zhongyi Market
- Mu Mansion
- Wangu Pavilion (Lion Hill)
- Sifang Square
- Naxi Ancient Music Concert
- Lijiang Water Wheels
- Black Dragon Pool
- Lijiang Romance Park
Places to eat nearby
- Junziyou Wild Mushroom Hotpot & Specialty Courtyard Restaurant (Lijiang Old Town Store)
- Erge Rice Noodles (Lijiang Store)
- No. 88 Snack Shop
- Xiaoxike Yunnan Specialty Restaurant (Naxi Courtyard Store)
- Apoqing Cured Rib Hotpot (Old Town Flagship Store)
- Fuxian Xiaoguofan Yunnan Folk Flavor Restaurant (Shuhe Ancient Town Store)