Visiting Lijiang, China: Top Sights on Foot

Lijiang is a historic city in northwestern Yunnan, where centuries-old traditions meet dramatic mountain scenery. Located at around 2,400 meters near the Yunnan–Sichuan border, the city is best known for Lijiang Old Town, also called Dayan. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Lijiang with 8 narrated places and one walking tour.

Explore Lijiang’s highlights

Mu Mansion

Set beneath Lion Hill, the Mu Mansion was the former residence and administrative centre of the Mu family, who ruled Lijiang during the Ming dynasty. Much of the original complex was destroyed in warfare at the end of the Qing dynasty, but it was rebuilt in 1999 and now houses the Lijiang Ancient Town Museum. The restored site covers about forty‑six mu and its central axis stretches 369 metres, giving visitors a clear sense of the scale of the original government compound.

Lijiang Museum

At the northern end of Black Dragon Pool Park stands the Lijiang Museum, also known as the Museum of Dongba Culture. Opened in July 1984, it is recognised as a national second‑level museum. Its exhibitions cover the local history of Lijiang and the Dongba traditions of the Naxi people, displaying artefacts that illustrate how the region’s past and its living culture are intertwined.

Old Town of Lijiang

The heart of the city, Lijiang Old Town (Dayan), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed on 4 December 1997. Its stone lanes, timber homes, small bridges and carefully designed waterways create an atmospheric historic district that reflects centuries of trade along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The town remains a living centre where Naxi culture, traditional crafts and daily life continue to shape its character.

Statue of Mao Zedong at Red Sun Square

On the eastern side of Red Sun Square stands a statue of Mao Zedong completed on 1 October 1969. The monument, 14.209 metres tall, is a rare surviving example from the Cultural Revolution period and was listed as a protected cultural relic of Yunnan Province in 2003. The statue’s dimensions carry symbolic references to dates in Chinese communist history, and the square was renovated in 2011.

印象丽江 (Impression Lijiang)

This large‑scale outdoor performance takes place against the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The mountain’s highest peak, Shanzidou, reaches 5,596 metres above sea level and is regarded as sacred by the Naxi people. Since 1988 the area has been part of the Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, which earned national 5A tourist‑attraction status in 2007. The show combines music, dance and visual effects to highlight the natural and cultural landscape.

Black Dragon Pool (Jade Spring Park)

Situated at the foot of Elephant Hill, a short walk north of the old town, Black Dragon Pool is famed for its clear water, historic pavilions and views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Moon‑Embracing Pavilion, originally built in the late Ming dynasty, was reproduced in 1963 after a fire in 1950. The Dragon God Temple dates to 1737 and received its name from the Qianlong Emperor, while the Five‑Phoenix Tower, constructed in 1601, was moved to the park in 1979.

Jinjiang Tuzhu Temple

This modest religious site is dedicated to the local community deity and is protected as a cultural heritage site of Yunnan Province. Though less visited than the major attractions, it offers a glimpse into the everyday spiritual life of the Naxi inhabitants and the continuing importance of traditional belief systems in the region.

Yongsheng Dali Guild Hall

Located in Jinjiang Village of Taoyuan Town, Yongsheng County, this building is also known as the Jinjiang Mosque. It has been recognised as a protected cultural site of Yunnan Province. The hall reflects the historical presence of Muslim traders along the southwestern trade routes and adds another layer to Lijiang’s multicultural heritage.

Explore Lijiang with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide for Lijiang includes eight narrated places and one self‑guided walking tour. The tour, titled “Lijiang Old Town to Black Dragon Pool,” covers 3.4 kilometres, takes about 80 minutes and stops at five key sites: the Old Town of Lijiang, Mu Mansion, the Statue of Mao Zedong at Red Sun Square, Black Dragon Pool and the Lijiang Museum. As you walk, the app plays the story of each location exactly when you reach it, allowing you to move at your own pace without a group or a fixed schedule. Narration is available in eleven languages, so you can choose the language that suits you best. Download Neywo before your visit and let the city’s history, culture and scenery unfold step by step.