Lijiang Ancient Town

Paved with multicolored stones, Sifang Street is the old town's trading heart, where Jade River water runs through lanes lined with willows by every home.

Praised by Xu Xiake for halls rivaling a king's, the Mufu was the seat of the hereditary Mu chieftains who ruled the Naxi.

At the north end of the old town, spring water gathers into a famed pool that mirrors the Five-Arch Bridge, Deyue Pavilion and the peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Crowning Lion Hill, this five-storey all-timber tower with flying eaves looks out over the rooftops of Lijiang's Dayan old town.

In 1253, Kublai led a southwestern campaign, crossed the Jinsha River, entered the Lijiang area, and advanced toward Dali.

In 1639 Xu Xiake reached Lijiang at the invitation of the Naxi chieftain Mu Zeng and stayed at Jietuolin, leaving valuable records of the region.

Old Towns and Villages on the World Heritage List

The Ancient City of Pingyao and the Old Town of Lijiang were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997, followed by Xidi and Hongcun in 2000, Kaiping Diaolou and Villages in 2007 and Fujian Tulou in 2008.

In 1997, the Old Town of Lijiang was inscribed for its urban landscape, shaped by the fusion of cultural traditions and adapted to its mountain setting.