Tourism written in the stars

Developing resources

At the Jinmao Pureal Mountain Lijiang hotel, one of the recommended places on Lijiang's stargazing map, the nighttime activity has become an integral part of the guest experience.

General manager Zhang Qiyu has been developing snowy mountain and starry-sky resources for many years and has witnessed firsthand how stargazing has drawn an increasing number of visitors.

He says the hotel, located at an altitude of 3,100 meters on the eastern foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, offers clear views of both peaks and stars, as all 89 suites and villas face the mountains.

When Zhang began working at the hotel in 2018, he noticed that while guests enjoyed the daytime scenery, nighttime activities were relatively limited. Having lived in Beijing for many years before moving to Lijiang, he realized that the brilliant night sky could become a distinctive experience, especially for visitors from large cities.

During the 2018 Geminid meteor shower, Zhang organized stargazing events and livestreamed them — a tradition that continues today. The hotel now has its own observatory equipped with dozens of telescopes.

During 2025's Geminid meteor shower, the hotel scheduled a 15-minute lights-off period each night, allowing guests' eyes to adjust to the darkness and better appreciate the stars.

"Many of our guests return every year during the Geminid meteor shower, and say it brings them emotional healing," Zhang says.

"Through these stargazing activities, we've successfully increased the average length of guests' stays," he adds. "We're delighted to see stargazing become a major event in Lijiang's cultural tourism, and we hope it will grow into a major highlight nationwide."

To enrich the mountain resort experience, the hotel also offers forest walks and hands-on activities related to the Dongba culture (its ancient script was included on the UNESCO Memory of the World list in 2003), including papermaking, clay tile cat sculpture, and tie-dyeing. Dongba culture is a core element of the Naxi ethnic group's ancient heritage, preserved through the Dongba religion.

Each morning, sunlight spills over the mountainsides, creating the golden glow known as rizhao jinshan, a daily ritual many visitors make a point of witnessing.