7 Best Tourist Places to Visit in Lijiang

7 Best Tourist Places to Visit in Lijiang
Lijiang has been one of the most prominent ancient cities in China, since it was a major trading outpost on the Ancient Tea Horse Route. It is a treasure trove of both historic and scenic tourist attractions. However, we at iEagle picked only the best places to visit in Lijiang for your travel bucket list. 

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
One-hour drive away from Lijiang lays an unconquered massif with 13 main peaks and a 35km wide stretch. It is one of the most breathtaking places to visit in Lijiang. Its resemblance to a silver dragon lazing in the clouds, gave the mountain range its name – Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Also known as the “kingdom of medicinal materials”, the mountainous region is a botanist’s haven with over 13000 plant species. What you shouldn’t miss is the magnificent view of the mountains from the Black Dragon Pool gardens in Lijiang as it is considered one of “China’s finest views”.

Old town of Lijiang
A former trading town on the ancient tea horse road well known for its well-preserved ancient architecture and complicated waterworks system. Since it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Town of Lijiang has been gaining popularity among as a historic tourist attraction in Lijiang. Actually, with a growing number of tourists, the local inhabitants are moving away due to a surge in cost of living. The most notable thing about the old city is its sophisticated and orderly water system with history dating back millennia.

Tiger Leaping Gorge
Between the Jage Dragon massif and Haba Snow Mountain on the Jinsha River, there is a deep and unnavigable river canyon with one of the world’s most spectacular views – Tiger Leaping Gorge. At the narrowest point of the canyon, according to the legends, a tiger leaped about 25 meters across the river to get away from a hunter – earning its nickname. It is no doubt one of the best places to visit in Lijiang.

Shuhe Ancient Town
The most important ancient town in Lijiang is the Shuhe Ancient Town as it is one of the earliest settlements of Naxi people. When the old city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, they named Shuhe as the most important part of the Lijiang Ancient City. It has also played an important role as a trading outpost on the Ancient Tea Horse Route. As one of the best places to visit in Lijiang, the architecture and the ancient building in this town are well-preserved and well-maintained making them alluring to tourists.

Lugu Lake
At the Yunnan-Sichuan border, 300km away from Lijiang, is a high-altitude plateau lake called Lugu Lake. Also known as the “mother lake” among the inhabitant Mosuo tribesmen, it is mostly renowned for its beautiful scenery as well as unique indigenous culture. The Musuo tribesmen who inhabit the region follow a unique, well-preserved matriarchal culture where married couples don’t live together while their children are raised by their mothers and maternal family.  

The Mufu Wood Mansion
In the heart of the Lijiang Ancient City is a massive palace that could compete with the likes of Forbidden City in terms of grandiosity. The current structure of the Mufu Wood Mansion is a modern recreation of the ancient Naxi palace which originally covered twice as much area as its replica. It is one of the best tourist places in Lijiang to visit. 

First Bend of the Yangtze River
One of the most popular places to visit in Lijiang is the First Bend of Yangtze River, a turning point along the river where it changes its course by 90 degrees within a distance of one kilometer. Historically, it is a key military strategic point where Kublai Khan’s troops - a grandson of the Genghis Khan who founded the Yuan dynasty - once marched and fought.

Put these 7 best places to visit in Lijiang on your to-do list. Especially don’t miss the view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or the Old City of Lijiang from high vantage point. Hope this article helped you find the best tourist attractions in Lijiang to visit. 
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