Located at an altitude of 2,400 m on the Yunnan Plateau, the ancient town of Lijiang (Dai Yan Ancient Town) is the only ancient city in China without surrounding walls – but it has a dense network of canals and over 350 stone bridges connecting every alley. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997, Lijiang is a place that fully preserves the culture of the Naxi ethnic group – one of the oldest script-using ethnic groups in the world.

In the morning, sitting and sipping a cup of Pu'er tea in a small shop by the gently flowing canal, you will see Naxi people in blue clothes going to the early market, and elderly women painting Dongba characters on silk paper to sell to tourists. In the evening, Lijiang transforms into a red lantern festival – thousands of lanterns hanging along wooden corridors reflecting down onto the canal, traditional instruments playing from small tea houses. This is the most beautiful moment, worth spending 2 hours walking slowly through the Sifang Square and then turning towards the Dashi Bridge.

Don't miss Black Dragon Pool Park, just 1 km from the ancient town – where the "water mirror" reflects the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rising 5,596 m. In the 18–22°C weather of April to October, the lake's surface is as smooth as a mirror, and the snow-capped mountains cast a breathtaking reflection. In June, the peak of Jade Dragon is snow-covered year-round; you can take the Glacier cable car for about 400 CNY (~1.4 million VND) to an altitude of 4,506 m, close to the permanent snow.

Note for tourists: Lijiang is beautiful year-round, but April to June and September to November are the most ideal, avoiding the heavy rainy season in July and August. An 80 CNY (~280,000 VND) maintenance fee applies when entering some ticketed attractions. Note the altitude: 2,400 m can cause mild altitude shock – take it slow on the first day, drink plenty of water, and bring Diamox if you are prone to altitude sickness. It is recommended to stay at a Naxi homestay in the ancient town (price 300–500 CNY/night) to wake up to the sound of flowing water and the smell of ancient pine wood — a very different experience from hotels outside the town.

Lijiang is especially suitable for couples on their honeymoon, photography lovers, and travelers wanting to "slow down" after bustling urban life. You will leave with the feeling of having just lived a week in ancient China.

Content generated by AI. Illustrative image: iVIVU.com. Reference information: Lijiang Ancient Town – iVIVU & UNESCO World Heritage List.