Shuhe Ancient Town
束河古镇
A Naxi ancient market town on the Tea Horse Road. It is quieter than Dayan and features Sifang Listening Square, Qinglong Bridge, Jiuding Dragon Pool, and the old Leatherworkers' Street. It is the top choice for a slow-paced stay in Lijiang.
Shuhe lies about 4 kilometers northwest of Dayan Old Town. In Naxi it is called Shaowu, and it was an important town on the Tea Horse Road, once famous for its leatherworkers. Along with Dayan and Baisha, it forms part of the Lijiang Old Town World Heritage Site. It is smaller than Dayan, has fewer tourists, and its streets and waterways are closer to their original state.
Highlights: Sifang Listening Square (the heart of Shuhe, with Naxi singing and dancing in the afternoon), Qinglong Bridge (a Ming-dynasty stone arch bridge and a symbol of Shuhe), Jiuding Dragon Pool (a pool fed by snowmelt, with clear water that reflects the Dragon King Temple), the Tea Horse Road Museum (murals in Dajue Palace, free), and the cafés and handicraft shops along Yanliu Road and Zhonghe Road.
The ancient town is free to enter, though a maintenance fee was charged before 2023.
Suggested route: enter from the south gate of Shuhe, then Sifang Street, then Zhonghe Road, then Qinglong Bridge, then Jiuding Dragon Pool, then the Tea Horse Road Museum. This takes about 2 to 3 hours. In the evening, sit by the dragon pool or at a street-side terrace, drink tea, and watch the snow mountain.
Getting there: a taxi from the north gate of Dayan Old Town takes about 15 minutes (about 20 yuan), or take Bus No. 11. Shuhe and Baisha are about 6 kilometers apart and can be linked by bicycle. The airport shuttle does not go to Shuhe, so you will need a taxi.
Notes: Shuhe is a good base for staying in Lijiang, and guesthouses offer better value than in Dayan. There is little nightlife, so if you want to go to bars, stay in Dayan. Electric carts can take you around the town, but walking lets you appreciate it more. Shuhe's cured pork rib hotpot is the signature dish.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Puji Temple
- Baisha Village
- Black Dragon Pool
- Lijiang Water Wheels
- Naxi Ancient Music Concert
- Sifang Square
- Wangu Pavilion (Lion Hill)
- Mu Mansion
Places to eat nearby
- Fuxian Xiaoguofan Yunnan Folk Flavor Restaurant (Shuhe Ancient Town Store)
- Apoqing Cured Rib Hotpot (Old Town Flagship Store)
- No. 88 Snack Shop
- Xiaoxike Yunnan Specialty Restaurant (Naxi Courtyard Store)
- Erge Rice Noodles (Lijiang Store)
- Junziyou Wild Mushroom Hotpot & Specialty Courtyard Restaurant (Lijiang Old Town Store)