Must-see attractions in Lijiang

Lijiang is a hot tourism destination throughout the year. There are many must-see places.

The Old Town of Lijiang is the best preserved old town with ethnic features in China. Ethnic folk houses and clean creeks can be seen almost everywhere in the town. During the tourist high seasons, the Old Town of Lijiang is extremely crowded. Visiting in low travel seasons is ideal if time is not a major concern.

The Yulong Snow Mountains are worshiped by the Naxi ethnic group. The Naxi protection god Sanduo is believed to be the embodiment of the Yulong Snow Mountains. The snow coverage has dropped because of global warming, so visitors are encouraged to visit the Yulong Snow Mountains as early as possible.

Lugu Lake has not been contaminated by modern civilization and maintains its tranquility and primitiveness. People of the Mosuo ethnic group living by Lugu Lake still follow a primitive matriarchy system and women control and handle family affairs.

There is also a street named Sifang in the Old Town of Shuhe, similar to the one with the same name in the Old Town of Dayan. People like to stroll along the street in the evening, holding lanterns resembling flying fireflies. The activity is regarded as one of Shuhe’s famous scenes.

As a wetland with a well-preserved ecological environment, Lashihai Lake is a habitat for hundreds of thousands of migrant birds in winter. Migrant birds play or fly around, making Lashihai Lake an ideal place for observing various kinds of birds.